Chimmy before ZOD

Retconning Heat

Chloe and Jimmy as a couple on Smallville can actually be traced back as far as the Season Four episode "Unsafe." This episode explores the themes of love, sex and marriage. The episode deals with the question, "When is the right time in a relationship to consummate your love (have sex)?" Alicia Baker and Clark Kent (under the influence of Red K) face this question. Lana Lang faces this question with her boyfriend Jason Teague who is older than her (college age). She goes to Chloe Sullivan for some relationship advice and we find out that Chloe faced this question herself years ago...

"UNSAFE" - Season Four, Episode Eleven

Chloe Sullivan is typing away at THE TORCH for the evening and Lana Lang tentatively enters.

Lana: Hey.
Chloe: Hey. Missed you in A.P. Lit today, what happened? You decide you just couldn’t face the love songs of J. Alfred Prufrock? [Continues typing away cheerfully.]
Lana: No. Um… I went to go see Jason.
Chloe: I’m sensing it didn’t go so well. Sorry, a poker face isn’t exactly your strong suit. [stops working] What’s up?
Lana: I think I’ve finally figured out why he’s been so cryptic. He doesn’t think that I’m ready for THAT kind of a relationship.
Chloe: What? What kind? [Lana looks but says nothing.] Oh that kind. Oh. Ok. [clears throat] Wow That answers a question I’ve been dying to ask you all semester.
Lana: Does everyone think that we…
Chloe: Lana, you were alone with him for three months in Paris.
Lana: Right… um… Well, we haven’t. But I’m starting to think that I’m ready.
Chloe: First off, don’t do this just because you’re afraid to lose him if you don’t.
Lana: It’s not that. It’s just, Jason is in college and I think that he’s used to relationships that are… that are a little more adult.
Chloe: Ok well, at the risk of going after school special on you, two thirds of all people under the age of 18 regret doing it too soon. [slowly] And on behalf of that two thirds just be sure that you’re really ready.
Lana: Wait a minute, are you saying that you’ve…?
Chloe:Yeah, during my internship at the Daily Planet. His name was Jimmy. He was very cute in a bow tie kind of way. You know, I mean, it was a summer infatuation that I thought was the real thing.
Lana: Do you wish you hadn’t done it?
Chloe: Sometimes. I mean it wasn’t awful by any means but it just wasn’t special. And as cliché as it sounds it only happens once… so… Just make sure Jason is the one you want to remember forever.

Thus is Jimmy Olsen introduced to the world of Smallville. Hang on! Chloe says she met Jimmy, "during my internship at the Daily Planet." This would be during the summer break between Episode One (Vortex) and Episode Two (Heat) of Season 2.

"HEAT" - Season One, Episode Two

Before the summer break, Chloe and Clark decided to remain friends, at Chloe's suggestion (Episode 2-1 Vortex). After his initial disappointment Clark is fine with the arrangement and in "Heat" lusts after Lana. Chloe, however cannot conceal her disappointment and sadness. "Heat" is the first episode after summer break. Chloe has returned from Metropolis and is still discontent with her "friendship" status with Clark.

It's the first day of school. Lana Lang heads up the stairs to her next class as Chloe Sullivan walks up to Clark Kent. He is gazing after Lana Lang. Admiringly? Chloe thinks so.

Chloe: Good to see some things never change.
Clark: [visibly delighted] Chloe! [He hugs her.]
Chloe: Hi.

Chloe grins, but as soon as her face is out of sight her grin fades. Clark breaks the hug and she plasters the smile back on her face, feigning casual ease.

Chloe: Yeah, fresh from the wilds of Metropolis and the Daily Planet Internship Program.
Clark: Pete said you were a big hit. I thought we’d lost you for good.” Clark is eager to catch up.
Chloe: Well, my dad decided to give Lexcorp another shot, so here I am, back in the boonies.

Chloe’s smile fades as Clark, laughing takes her arm, pulling her towards him so he can give her a side hug.

Clark: Well, I’m glad you’re back.

He can't keep the smile off of his face.
Chloe: Yeah, I could tell from the voluminous emails you sent.
Clark: Yeah, sorry. With the farm and… you know…

Chloe listens to his apology but it quickly dissatisfied with his answer.

Chloe: [quickly, cutting him off] Don’t worry about it, Clark, it’s not a big deal.

Clark can tell that she’s hurt.

Clark: Well… I’m – I’m really excited to hear all your stories.

Chloe lashes out.

Chloe: Yeah actually, you know what? There aren’t any stories. Oh except that I did meet this really hot intern from Metropolis High. It was great. [She grins wide.] He made me forget all about Smallville for three whole months.

Clark is shut down. Chloe glances back to see if the blow landed. Then heads to class.

This scene pushes the first mention of Jimmy back to the episode "Heat" in Season Two! OK... Chloe was embellishing a bit to make Clark jealous but still very cool. Unfortunately there's a snag. In a later scene Chloe opens up to Lana about her feelings for Clark and her summer in Metropolis.

Chloe Sullivan opens up to Lana Lang in the Talon.

This scene takes place in the Talon. Lana is eager to hear all about Chloe's summer Internship in Metropolis. Chloe isn't so eager to tell about it.

Lana: So it must have been fun spending the entire summer in Metropolis.
Chloe: Yeah it was really nice to get away. Sometimes a little distance can just, give you a new perspective on things you’ve done, you know. Mistakes you’ve made.

[Lana immediately knows what Chloe is talking about.]

Lana: Going to the spring formal with Clark was not a mistake.
Chloe: Yeah it was. I let myself indulge in my feelings for him and I ended up getting hurt.
Lana: At least you were brave enough to take the risk.
Chloe: Oh yeah that’s me. Cupid’s cannon fodder. *they laugh* Three months. (pause) I thought I’d be over it by now, but when I saw him in the hallway all those feelings just came back. I even made up some lame story about meeting a guy in Metropolis to try and get a rise out of him.
Lana: Clark still really cares about you Chloe.
Chloe: I know. But he cares about you more.
Lana: I don’t want Clark to come between our friendship.
Chloe: Me neither. So what are we gonna do about that?
Lana: Define ourselves by what we do, not who we date.

Chloe agrees with Lana's words of wisdom and they smile at one another until Lex enters to interrupt the scene.

According to this scene the story Chloe tells Clark is completely made up, she never met a guy in Metropolis. If the writers forgot about this by the time the made it to "Unsafe" or decided to retroactively change the continuity. This is a "retcon."

For those who don't know what "retcon" means here's a definition thanks to the Double Tongued Dictionary." Isn't that a great name for a dictionary?

RETCON
v. to retroactively revise (a plot, storyline, character, event, history, etc.), usu. by reinterpreting past events, or by theorizing how the present would be different if past events had not happened or had happened differently. Also n. Subjects: English, Arts & Literature, Entertainment, Jargon

Editorial Note: Long common in comic books, but now used in historical fiction. Etymological Note: retroactive + continuity

Why did the writers make this change? Just to fit the themes of "Unsafe?" Did they make the decision in Season 4 to bring Jimmy Olsen onto the show in a couple of years?

Although I dislike lazy writing, I like this change. I think Chloe Sullivan is attractive. I never liked the fact that her love live was non-existent/off screen for so long. It's nice to think that she had fun during the summer after the "just friends" talk with Clark even if it wasn't a hot fling. It's kind of fun to think that Chimmy has been a part of the show since season two.

Thanks to keakack.com, elegant-kristin.com and allisonmackweb for the lovely screen captures.