I was never entirely sure why their date to the Kerth Awards had not counted as a date.
I also wondered why Lois was so shocked when Clark asked her out. I mean he had come to her place on Christmas, among other things.
Those are fair points, John. I think the answer is that they had always framed those interactions as just friends or coworkers. The Kerth awards was a "date" in the sense that they got dressed up and went out, but Lois never gave it any romantic meaning and looked at it more as a work-related function. Ditto for the White Orchid Ball and the shindig that Bill Church threw. In that one, Lois was even a good sport about Mayson cutting in on her and Clark because "we'll always be friends."
What changes (and what makes The Phoenix stand out for me) is that it's the first time they're not zigging and zagging. Usually, when one of them is ready to acknowledge their feelings run deeper than friendship, the other is in avoidance mode (House of Luthor and TOGOM are prime examples). In Phoenix, Clark flat-out states that he wants to date her. And Lois, after a little freaking out, says yes.
I love this episode, even though most of the scenes with Lex are so over-the-top that I have to roll my eyes. I love it because, like LLF mentioned, the chemistry finally pays off. I love it because the sexual tension is palpable when they end up on that couch together. It's why I return to it again and again when I'm writing. There are so many possibilities.
I originally intended to catalog everything I loved about this episode, but we'd end up with a thesis. Suffice it to say that every little second we spend with Lois and Clark in this one is imprinted on my brain. I even use it in the fics that aren't directly based off the Phoenix because it's the version of the characters that I love best. We get Clark daydreaming about Lois while at work. We have Lois babbling and panicking and flattered all at the same time. We get to see Clark frustrated and upset that Lex is stalking Lois. We get that fun scene with Bobby Bigmouth and Clark "mooning" over Lois. It's a fun nod to the fans, too. "A lot of people are really pulling for this to work out." We get to see both of them ogle each other.
Actually, we see Lois ogle him twice. Once at his shadow on the door and a second time when he gets up off the couch -- she definitely takes a survey of his posterior. Heck, she freely gropes him on the couch. She pats his chest long past the point of establishing that his shirt is wet (and a darn good thing he wasn't wearing the Suit underneath it -- someday I'm going to write one where he is wearing it). And then, when she's sitting up, she puts her hand on his thigh and leaves it there a lot longer than is necessary.
Clark gets his own unnecessary touching in by patting her stomach when she's sick and carrying her to the door. Neither one of them is ready to let go when he sets her down. She keeps touching his chest and he keeps one hand on her hip. Scenes like that are the reason the word "squee" was invented.
Thank you for the list, Iolan! There's one that you missed from last year, which hasn't made it to the archive yet.
Worth the Risk It picks up the day after the episode ends, with Lois and Clark taking time off from work (like Perry orders them to) and rescheduling the date.
The Phoenix isn't a perfect episode. But whenever L/C are on-screen together, it's darn close to perfection.