WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for "Crisis on Infinite Earths," the latest Arrowverse crossover.
One of the biggest surprises in the "Crisis of Infinite Earths" crossover was just how crucial Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor was to the overall plot. For someone killed off in the Supergirl series, to make his return in such resounding fashion, well, let's just say no one even expected him to be a Paragon of Truth, let alone help to stop the Anti-Monitor.
Jon Cryer's Lex really delivered the goods, as seen with the sly wink he gave Kara right after the DC Multiverse was put back together. The Paragon's victory wasn't just one for all of existence, but one for the nefarious schemer himself. When you process what Lex did, where he's at right now and what he could do, make no mistake, this Lex really is the best live-action version ever put to screen.
Now, Gene Hackman's Lex does deserve a lot of credit but apart from real estate schemes, all he ended up being was Zod's lackey. Kevin Spacey's Lex was just a rehash of Hackman's, while John Shea's Lex from Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was nothing more than a cheesy network TV villain. Jesse Eisenberg's Lex was pretty quaint and left a lot to be desired from the intimidating villain we've known for decades. To this point, the best depiction of Superman's archenemy was the cold, vindictive and super-intelligent Michael Rosenbaum version from Smallville.
Cryer's Lex, however, embodies all of these traits: he's cunning, he's got jokes and every move he's made, no one saw coming. He erased Earth-96's Superman, becoming a Paragon in the process, which felt like he'd turned full villain in the heroes' darkest hour. However, he proved them all wrong, especially Supergirl. Sure, he betrayed them at the Vanishing Point but Lex redeemed himself in stopping the Anti-Monitor, acting like a hero with the other Paragons. In the Legends of Tomorrow episode, though, we see why this version of Lex is the most successful.
Smallville's Lex may be president but Earth Prime's Lex is a legit hero who runs the D.E.O. and a couple of other organizations. He's Supergirl's boss and apparently, Lex is revered by her loved ones, rubbing salt in Kara's wounds. The thing is, he's genuinely making a difference and acting as a force for good, which feels like the mastermind Grant Morrison wrote. When he accepts the Nobel Peace Prize, it becomes obvious just how he's playing the world, or so we think. It's possible he did turn to the light after reality was restored. But then again, it's Lex and as he winks to Supergirl, we can tell it's a long con and he has something big planned. Simply put, the present is his, as he has the world eating out his hands, but he could also have the future locked given that he may still hold the Book of Destiny.
Lex may have orchestrated everything after that, including the Anti-Monitor's demise, Oliver Queen/Spectre restoring the Multiverse and the merging of planets to form Earth-Prime, all so he could be placed on a pedestal for some future endgame. It's the kind of scheme you'd expect from a cosmic being but let's be real, wouldn't it be crazy to find out a human plotted this all out using a book that would kill most. Well, let's correct that -- Lex is anything but ordinary or a simpleton, so he may have just set the right dominoes in place for something bigger. After all, he does have the mind to run the show without anyone knowing. If this scheme is successful, it would shape him up to be the Arrowverse's most dangerous tyrant, something seen time and time again in the comics.
As it stands, Lex is a master puppeteer but clearly one shrouded in mystery. He can't be touched as he's a poster boy for heroism and a beacon of hope like the Kryptonians. Most of all we don't know what other secrets he got from the Book, and ultimately, destiny seems to lie within his palms and there may be nothing the newly formed Justice League can do about it.
"Crisis on Infinite Earths," the latest five-show crossover between all the Arrowverse series, is now available on The CW's streaming service in its entirety.