So I’m rewatching season 8 and I’m just thinking about the whole X story, I look up and everywhere says X is lex but it doesn’t really fit like he left luthorcorp to Tess but when she finds the crystal and is analysing it to find him he takes it stating she’s not ready. somehow reprograms advanced kryptonian technology to send Clark to the phantom zone when he touched it. Like he doesn’t even know of the PZ from what we know let alone know how to reprogram alien technology.

My opinion is that lex is not X. I think the phantom zone thing was either an accident or maybe punishment by jor-el because Clark let the fortress be destroyed. But back when Tess got the message that she was not ready yet the X was red intended to stand out, now who is known for wearing a Red X like symbol on the chest, and wants to protect Clark? Martian manhunter. I think MMH stole the crystal to protect Clark’s identity and kept the crystal safe untill he thought Clark was ready for it then gave it back to him. The crystal sending him to the PZ I think was either unintended or maybe Jor-El had MMH program the crystal to do so if it was Jor-El punishing Clark but that’s just my opinion/headconnon, probably not true but I like this version better