I'll admit it - I don't know how to react to Lana. She's constantly changing her mind and acting what people would call 'out of character,' as is Chloe and half of the cast. But I don't necessarily think that it's because of the writing...I take that back, it is because of the writing, but not in the way that most people think it is.
The problem is simple, people are becoming more and more upset with the quality of the show, and I think it's because they're all acting like normal people!!!! Gasp of horror and all that. I hear so many complaints of 'oh, Lana is terrible', or 'Chloe's spunk/spine/Lois-ness has been stolen,' or much the same with half of the others. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand that there is a good chance that it's all just because the writers are hacks or something to that effect, but I choose to believe that there's more to it. I don't believe that the writers are hacks, I just think that they are writing the characters more like real people than people like to see. As much as so many would deny it, I think there really is an attachment to one dimensional characters, for a while anyways.
Take Seinfeld for instance. Sure, weird things happened to them all the time, but they never really learned anything important, became better people, or grew up, so to speak. The show was a hit for who knows how long. Now let's consider Buffy. The majority of people will tell you that the first 3 to 4 seasons were the very best, but then things got all sucky. I may be a bit off here, but I think it was because around seasons 4 and 5, the characters began to change from the molded people they had been all throughout high school. Buffy started to become more of a responsible adult and less of cutesy vamp slayer; Willow started becoming more and more powerful and less of the cute booksmart girl we all knew (plus the gay thing); not too mention that Xander started to become more of an ordinary stand up worker guy than the wisecracking dopey guy. Sure, major events happened in the first few seasons, and all of the characters changed, but they really seemed to keep the same spark of one dimensionality (is that a word?). After Dawn came, people started to dislike the show, and I'll agree that she's something of a whiner, but I think people disliked the show then because all of the group dynamics started to change. Buffy had to become the hard working mom figure and all of the scooby gang helped take upon the role as well. The show itself had changed in season 6 from a fun one dimensional show, to a more dark and sad one. Now, these type of things happen quite frequently in life, but people tend to escape to tv, as I know I do, and I don't believe that many of us want real life, except for in those hokey reality shows where circumstances are rather funny and sometimes crazy. We like our one dimensional characters, and we start to squirm when they get a bit realistic.
Now, back to what I was saying about Smallville. I agree that there have been moments beyond cheese, but for the most part, I think what's causing so much controversy is that the characters keep acting like real people might. Real people change their minds (Chloe's attitude toward Lana at some points, Lana's views of Clark), real people make stupid decisions and mistakes, real people will act like major asses to their friends, real people will hide secrets, real people will be irrational and emotional and odd times, and real fucking people will surprise and annoy the hell out of you. I am aware that the show is not real, and that so many crazy things don't happen, but the point remains that the characters are beginning to act like real people, and that's putting people off. People say that Lana never seems stressed about going to school and running a business; I say, it happens. Sure, some people might stress over such a workload, but you know what? I know a lot of people who could not only do it, but would have a great time of it too. I know tons of kids who work during school who would love to be the boss and still keep up fine with school. I know several people who work full time while still getting damn fine grades and still remain completely perky and fun. With season one Lana, people liked her because she was still just a pretty and nice character with no real personality, and Chloe was the strong headed reporter with a crush on Clark. Now, things have changed. Chloe has shown she has feelings and wants, and even different aspects of her character that might not be as 'tough' as she first appeared. Is putting up a sarcastic and tough facade all that hard to imagine? People are just not giving enough credit to the show. I love the show, and even if I may find a character annoying, or irrational, it'll just make the experience more enriching to me. I hope everyone can at least consider it.
*edited to add - How many times do you think I said people? :p
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