Clark is still not so bright

[galatians221]

Again, Clark has to have Chloe decipher the info on the crime report. "Please see if you can make sense of this" or something like that. It's insulting to the legend of Superman. Clark isn't stupid. He also denied to MM having a photographic memory, he says "it's more like speed reading". Now I see why he can't fly; he might crash into a building. He has to get supersmart before he gets all of his superpowers. I hate that they are depicting him like this.

[xrayvision]

I thought he asked her to decipher something about the DNA pattern.

The main thing that bothered me by that scene was that Clark was using Brainiac's presence to his advantage rather than helping Chloe. But I think that is due to the circumstances (he couldn't ignore the stuff that was going on & he has no way of ridding Brainiac from Chloe until the FOS is rebuilt). And because this is a show that has a plot stretched across an entire season, they aren't going to make Clark find the crystal that quickly/easily.

[warriorrenegade]

It wasn't stupid of him to ask for her help. He hit a snag in understanding the bloodwork, asking Chloe with her "superbrain" is understandable.

He was asked did he have another superpower by MMH in jest<sp? Clark just said "it's more like speed reading, but let's not get into it" its a reasonable response. I don't see how this makes Clark stupid.

Now granted previous season's had Clark dumbed down. But this season by far has had Clark take a more logical approach to his situations no where near being dumbed down.

[dru-zod2501]

this sounds like the kind of post I would have made last season:lol:.

Look, I'm usually the first guy in the Clark-bashing line, but it's ok to give credit where credit is due.

Chloe wasn't the leader this time. If we were back to the "Stupidman" days, it would have been far more overt. He didn't ask her for directions and marching orders, he just asked for her input, which is completely acceptible

[origin]

It wasn't stupid of him to ask for her help. He hit a snag in understanding the bloodwork, asking Chloe with her "superbrain" is understandable.

He was asked did he have another superpower by MMH in jest<sp? just="" said="" more="" like="" speed="" reading,="" but="" let="" s="" not="" get="" into="" it="" its="" a="" reasonable="" response.="" i="" don="" t="" see="" how="" this="" makes="" clark="" stupid.="">

Now granted previous season's had Clark dumbed down. But this season by far has had Clark take a more logical approach to his situations no where near being dumbed down.

ITA.

</sp?>

[warriorrenegade]

I thought he asked her to decipher something about the DNA pattern.

The main thing that bothered me by that scene was that Clark was using Brainiac's presence to his advantage rather than helping Chloe. But I think that is due to the circumstances (he couldn't ignore the stuff that was going on & he has no way of ridding Brainiac from Chloe until the FOS is rebuilt). And because this is a show that has a plot stretched across an entire season, they aren't going to make Clark find the crystal that quickly/easily.


Also with Chloe. She asked Clark not to help her. Her symptoms haven't gotten worse up to this point other than "super intellegence" so as by her wishes, he hasn't stepped in. Can't help someone who doesn't want help.

[davidbrenton]

Chloe being super smart is a great way to super speed through the plot without getting stuck on the standard "figuring it all out" process that previously took up a lot of the episodes. Clark is making decisions and acting on them without help and he's proactively seeking out those in danger and is consciousess of maintaining the status quo of his relationships. I'd say he's not acting stupid.

And, there are less of those "scene" enders which attempt to highlight Clark as thinking, but just make him look confused.

[wolverine316]

Calling Clark stupid is a little silly. I agree he acted like that the past few seasons but not now.

[Liquid-Prince]

Again, Clark has to have Chloe decipher the info on the crime report. "Please see if you can make sense of this" or something like that. It's insulting to the legend of Superman. Clark isn't stupid. He also denied to MM having a photographic memory, he says "it's more like speed reading". Now I see why he can't fly; he might crash into a building. He has to get supersmart before he gets all of his superpowers. I hate that they are depicting him like this.


When has Superman been super smart...? I mean he is quite smart, but believably. He starts getting very smart at a much older age but not when he was a teen.

[Isabel14]

I wouldn't call him stupid. He puts the pieces together and asks Chloe for help, but clearly he's becoming more mature and he uses the logical more and more often.

[Poweranimals]

Chloe wasn't the leader this time. If we were back to the "Stupidman" days, it would have been far more overt. He didn't ask her for directions and marching orders, he just asked for her input, which is completely acceptible

He's never asked her for directions or marching orders. He's used her skills on plenty occasions, but not went to that extent. The thing with Chloe is she's too pushy and most of the time Clark ends up apologizing. It was interesting the first few seasons when Clark kept his secret from her, but now that she knows the secret she tries to play his mother. One example is in Aqua when Lois is drowning, she nudges Clark to go after Lois and I couldn't help but thinking, "Um.. he's not an idiot. He can figure it out himself." but she didn't even give him a chance. I like it though when he stands up to her like in this episode.

[hansioux]

I don't know about other Superman series, but in Lois and Clark, the new adventures of superman, Dean Cain's Clark Kent did have photographic memories.

[Stu.Kent]

the speed-reading line was pretty cool imo i don't remember anything specific about superman having a photographic memory anyway. reminded me of the scenes in lois and clark where he reads through a massive book in like 2 seconds.

[xrayvision]

Also with Chloe. She asked Clark not to help her. Her symptoms haven't gotten worse up to this point other than "super intellegence" so as by her wishes, he hasn't stepped in. Can't help someone who doesn't want help.

Only problem with that is that Chloe is being selfish given that Brainiac can be unleashed at any time and put the world in danger again.

[Minela]

Clark was great in this episode and not stupid at all. He is almost Superman, but not quite since Superman is not this brooding and obsessive. I'm so happy Clark is stepping up to the plate. So awesome.

[Kalista]

Only problem with that is that Chloe is being selfish given that Brainiac can be unleashed at any time and put the world in danger again.

The problem with Chloe and the Brainiac download is we don't know to what extent he is affecting her judgement and decisions.

[oqllcksmallville]

I wouldn't call him stupid. He puts the pieces together and asks Chloe for help, but clearly he's becoming more mature and he uses the logical more and more often.
- i know ,
like he speed-read this week guys !
i was so excited . = )
i mean , that was great ;
for him to use his knowledge ! = D

[dru-zod2501]

He's never asked her for directions or marching orders. He's used her skills on plenty occasions, but not went to that extent. The thing with Chloe is she's too pushy and most of the time Clark ends up apologizing. It was interesting the first few seasons when Clark kept his secret from her, but now that she knows the secret she tries to play his mother. One example is in Aqua when Lois is drowning, she nudges Clark to go after Lois and I couldn't help but thinking, "Um.. he's not an idiot. He can figure it out himself." but she didn't even give him a chance. I like it though when he stands up to her like in this episode.
to go in and help someone from drowning? perhaps, but that's about as complex an action as I would ever have trusted Clark with in previous years. Yes, in previous years he WAS an idiot, largely inept without Chloe

[xrayvision]

The problem with Chloe and the Brainiac download is we don't know to what extent he is affecting her judgement and decisions.

Well, it doesn't really matter because he is danger waiting to break out. Then again, Chloe can't really do anything about it except try to find the crystal, and doing that while having Brainiac in her would probably be a very bad idea (if she wasn't already taken over by Brainiac to steal the crystal in Instinct).

[galatians221]

I guess it all comes down to whether or not, in the mythos that Brainiac is supposed to be smarter than Kal El. I mean Brainiac got the worst of the battles so far so I'll leave it to those who follow the mythos; isn't Superman supposed to be amazingly smart?

[Sweetie]

Compare to the previous seasons,he is a genius.Even the greatest hero needs a little help from time to time.

[TECHWON]

the speed-reading line was pretty cool imo i don't remember anything specific about superman having a photographic memory anyway. reminded me of the scenes in lois and clark where he reads through a massive book in like 2 seconds.

I THOUGHT SO TOO I WANNA SEE HOW THE DOOMSDAY ANGLE IS GOING TO UNFOLD IT SEEMS MORE AND MORE LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT LET'S JUST HOPE THEY DON'T SCREW IT UP

[dru-zod2501]

I guess it all comes down to whether or not, in the mythos that Brainiac is supposed to be smarter than Kal El. I mean Brainiac got the worst of the battles so far so I'll leave it to those who follow the mythos; isn't Superman supposed to be amazingly smart?
yes Clark is supposed to be insanely smart. But BrainIAC is supposed to have an (x)th level intelligence. Brainy 5 has a 12th level intellect, and I've heard rumors that Lex isn't that far removed, But I don't know where exactly that puts either him or Original Recipe Brainy, or Clark for that matter

[old guy]

yes Clark is supposed to be insanely smart. But BrainIAC is supposed to have an (x)th level intelligence. Brainy 5 has a 12th level intellect, and I've heard rumors that Lex isn't that far removed, But I don't know where exactly that puts either him or Original Recipe Brainy, or Clark for that matter

Pre-crisis, Superman displayed super-smarts. As early as 1940, he was described as having a photographic memory. In 1943, he was described as having "super intellect". In 1948, he solved complex mathematical equations with the speed and accuracy of a giant computer (did they even have computers back then??). And in the 1950's he regularly was able to memorize textbooks, all the files of the Daily Planet and was even able to match up a suspect's fingerprints because he used his super-memory to memorize the entire fingerprint file of the FBI. I don't know if Superman is still supposed to have these powers post-crisis, but I though it was very cool that they finally acknowledged some skill in this area by calling it "speed reading". Reading the comics growing up, I always got the impression that Superman's intelligence was the result of his ability to read things at superspeed and, once read, it was committed to memory. Sort of like Data from Star Trek...;)

[galatians221]

Pre-crisis, Superman displayed super-smarts. As early as 1940, he was described as having a photographic memory. In 1943, he was described as having "super intellect". In 1948, he solved complex mathematical equations with the speed and accuracy of a giant computer (did they even have computers back then??). And in the 1950's he regularly was able to memorize textbooks, all the files of the Daily Planet and was even able to match up a suspect's fingerprints because he used his super-memory to memorize the entire fingerprint file of the FBI. I don't know if Superman is still supposed to have these powers post-crisis, but I though it was very cool that they finally acknowledged some skill in this area by calling it "speed reading". Reading the comics growing up, I always got the impression that Superman's intelligence was the result of his ability to read things at superspeed and, once read, it was committed to memory. Sort of like Data from Star Trek...;)

Thank you for the info. That's the Superman that I want to see. I suppose we could assume that along with flying, Clark will be whole after his FOS training if that ever happens.

[Bizarrolover]

In the Pilot (first scene with TW) clark was 'speed reading' in his computer and in some episodes of season 1 he could resove long calculations with just one look. Later in the show, Chloe became the 'bright' one. I guess it was more interesting to have them interacting and discussing facts instead of having Clark speed reading and arriving to certain conclusions all by himself. It seems that now that Chloe is more involved in Isis and has another purpose on the show, Clark is on the way to recover his intellectual abilities.

[Iluvgreen]

Clark is getting way better. and yeah he went to her as a source. it was one of the sources he new would have the answer. plus who wouldn't go to Chloe with her super smart powers. :eek: I would if i was Clark.

[vikingjedi]

I kind of like the idea that Clark isn't super smart, makes him easier to identify with. Dont get me wrong, he shouldnt be stupid. I just dont want to see him memorizing text books and stuff like that. I think they got it just about right this season.

[yaseen101]

Thank you for the info. That's the Superman that I want to see. I suppose we could assume that along with flying, Clark will be whole after his FOS training if that ever happens.

The problem is it makes him less relatable, yes that can be put when he is grown up but he is in his 20's now and not in his 30's where he could achieve that level. Also I still disagree on the Fortress training, I would rather that he became Superman based on his own experiences and morals rather than a cop out training regime.

----- Added 3 Minutes later -----

Also Pre-Crisis, he can only take in large amounts of information which is needed when flying and super-speed but he possess the memory power of a normal human being.
Also things have to be taken step by step, like his patrol timing, first with a police band, then listening to it on top of a building, then flying and zeroing in on the slightest hint of the word help and then to the point where he can hear a police band from Metropolis in the Fortress.

[LuthorKent90]

Clark is getting way better.

:lol::lol:


Clark has never been bright. Why would they try making him look smart now?

[smallvillerocks45]

Clark is plenty bright, but as I recall the commentary for the episode "Splinter" points out that he makes decisions based on his emotions. Now that his feelings have changed - he is "letting [his past] go," it would make sense that we are seeing him use his super brain in a different way.