Anyone annoyed with the lack of glasses?

[kal-05]

When the title for this episode was announced back in the summer the first thing that came into my head was that this would be the episode where Clark takes on a double identity and starts wearing the glasses.
Unfortunately this was not the case.
My question is was anyone annoyed that they let that opportunity slip?
If not now then when will he put them on?

[dreamsofnever]

Yup, I think he needs the darn glasses! Though it's too late at this point, since EVERYONE from the mythos has seen his face. It's not like they're suddenly going to 'forget' what he looks like without glasses.

Kinda stupid.

Maybe they'll incorporate the glasses next episode, since he's just now accepting tha the needs the dual identity thing?

[SteveS]

Yes.

[wolverine316]

Donning glasses after 8 seasons is kind of silly.

[Theshadow129x]

i am...i think its starting to get really utterly ridiculous to believe them to be able to explain how people wont recognize him without superman wearing a mask or there being a mind wipe.

----- Added 1 Minutes later -----

i honestly think there will be a mindwipe at the end of this show. theres no other way this can be explained

[Skybound]

.................................... superman will never exist in the Smallville universe thanks to restrictions.

[Theshadow129x]

^so true.

[superspider02]

yea who knows how this clark will ever be a maskless superman. And i really wished they kept clark with glasses after he went blind in season 3. That would have solved meeting lois/jimmy and all that.

[kal-el_Girl]

When lois was talking about interviewing "superman" well, that's exactly what I thought, how on earth is she not going to recognize clark in the S outfit? I think it's going to get tricky but I'm loving it so far!

[unfocused]

I guess some people are so blind to let a pair of glasses fool them. Personally, I don't like having my intelligence insulted like that.

I can honestly tell you that glasses, sunglasses, bifocals or even binoculars WOULD NOT hide anyone's identity from me.

A mask? Haha Superman in a mask? I don't care if it's an AU, EW, CW, CBS or WWE... it's a ridiculous idea.

[jazzylg]

The whole premise of someone wearing glasses, and not being recognizable is ridiculous. But....if they had met him, and known him the whole time, as a nerd wearing goofy glasses, like the comics(like chris reeve), then it would have been slightly more feasable. Smallville has taken a more realistic approach to the whole thing, and like unfocused said, no need to insult our intelligence.

[ForzaItalia]

It's really time for Clark to start wearing glasses to the Daily Planet.

[Khyla]

It's really time for Clark to start wearing glasses to the Daily Planet.
To restate Clark's own words to Ollie, "Not in this lifetime."

(I know he was referring to the cape at the time, but you get the point.)

[smallvillerocks45]

yea who knows how this clark will ever be a maskless superman. And i really wished they kept clark with glasses after he went blind in season 3. That would have solved meeting lois/jimmy and all that.

It would have been a nice touch to keep those season 3 glass (I loved that episode!)- but you know, PS3 could reincorporate that story into this season. I mean, for all we know, Clark could be wearing "contacts." I know it's a stretch (and he really isn't), but the whole idea of Clark wearing glasses in the comic books and not being recognized as Superman is a bit of a stretch too... I think it could work. Maybe now he wants to be taken "seriously," so he is getting rid of the "contacts" and will now wear glasses, LoL... *shrugs* maybe?

[Imzadia]

I guess some people are so blind to let a pair of glasses fool them. Personally, I don't like having my intelligence insulted like that.

I can honestly tell you that glasses, sunglasses, bifocals or even binoculars WOULD NOT hide anyone's identity from me.

A mask? Haha Superman in a mask? I don't care if it's an AU, EW, CW, CBS or WWE... it's a ridiculous idea.

:eek: :lol: Wow! I really like your post and the Clever way you said that Clark wearing eyeglasses, at this point, is STUPID. :rotfl: IMO, it's at this point or any other point in the history of Clark Kent being "the mild-mannered reporter" and the IDEA of him EVER Wearing eyeglasses as a Disguise (:confused:) is Ridiculous. Too late, now?

:rolleyes: However, for those who would like to see him wearing 'the eyeglasses', I don't think it's about anybody 'being fooled' by the disguise anymore, per se, but the long history during his existence from his creation until -Smallville, Clark Kent, the Reporter, has worn eyeglasses, albeit as part of his duel-persona disguise. :\ They want it 'just because it's always been that way'.

:cool: Uh, 'jazzylg', I Totally agree with you, too. I said almost the exact Same thing somewhere else on another similar Thread in this forum. :D

So, NO. I'm NOT Annoyed with the lack of glasses. :\

[SnowBird]

Smallville is different in so many ways and I don't think we need to see Clark in glasses now or in the future. If we would ever see Superman in SV (which is doubtful) then it would be time for Clark to wear glasses. They each go together.

[smallvillerocks45]

:eek: :lol: Wow! I really like your post and the Clever way you said that Clark wearing eyeglasses, at this point, is STUPID. :rotfl: IMO, it's at this point or any other point in the history of Clark Kent being "the mild-mannered reporter" and EVER Wearing eyeglasses as a Disguise (:confused:) is Ridiculous. Too late, now?

:rolleyes: However, for those who would like to see him wearing 'the eyeglasses', I don't think it's about the disguise, per se, but the long history during his existence from his creation until -Smallville, Clark Kent, the Reporter, has worn eyeglasses, albeit as part of his duel-persona disguise. :\ They want it 'just because it's always been that way'.

:cool: Uh, 'jazzylg', I Totally agree with you, too. I said the almost the exact Same thing somewhere else on another similar Thread in this forum. :D

So, NO. I'm NOT Annoyed with the lack of glasses. :\


Your post reminded me of the whole concept of kryptonite. I remember reading somewhere that kryptonite did not exist until the Superman radio program was created. Apparently, the man who played Superman was not able to perform one week so a different man had to play the role. To justify the voice change, kryptonite was introduced to the story, and it has been cannon ever since. I know this story does not have much to do with glasses, but my point in telling it is that sometimes it's okay to change the story around a bit. It's the essence/the core of Superman that fans have fallen in love with (I think), and although I believe the glass can still be incorporated into the Smallville story, I agree, they aren't essential to the current story.

I don't wish for a mind wipe, but something does need to be done to distinguish Clark Kent from Superman. The issue, at least, should be addressed. So far, PS3 has done a good job of explaining things, let's see how they explain this one.

[kyl-el]

Maybe in the Smallville realm Clark Kent doesn't wear glasses, but Superman does :p

But in all honesty, I have to agree with others who have stated that the whole concept of glasses as a disguise was ridiculous in the first place. I know that many people love the glasses since they have been a part of Superman canon forever. Be that as it may I'd still rather they just forget about them and focus on creating an awesome costume that hides his identity and completely revamps the classical look, but then again I am a progressive when it comes to those sort of things and that's a whole other argument.

[maryjanewatson]

yea who knows how this clark will ever be a maskless superman. And i really wished they kept clark with glasses after he went blind in season 3. That would have solved meeting lois/jimmy and all that.

I have been saying this since I first saw that episode! They should have used that incident of going blind as an excuse to start him wearing the glasses permanently. His parents could have said something like "Clark, maybe you should just keep wearing the glasses. No one would expect someone with glasses to have such great abilities as you. And, NO ONE would believe that you could go blind and recover in a day and a half. This might be a good deterrent for anyone who suspects you for having special abilites."

ya. too bad. 5 seasons too late.

[vyperman7]

I was just going to make a post about Whisper, and then I realized that someone beat me to the punch. I completely agree that this all could have been solved if they had Clark stay in glasses after Whisper in S3. Clark could have pretended that his vision back came back impared. It would have made much more sense and been more believeable then claiming that he had a miraculous recovery. This would have solved the whole problem and made Clark realize that he comes off more mild mannered. No one would have ever expected him of anything after that.

Unfortunately now that everyone has seen Clark's face, I have no idea how they will pull it off. The writers are lazy in that aspect because they figure that since we will never see Superman, it isn't their problem.

[Malicieux Toutou]

It makes no sense for him to start wearing glasses unless he has decided he is going to go public as Superman. Superman Returns & Lois & Clark both had him wearing glasses well before he had made this decision, and it never made sense.

[vyperman7]

It makes no sense for him to start wearing glasses unless he has decided he is going to go public as Superman. Superman Returns & Lois & Clark both had him wearing glasses well before he had made this decision, and it never made sense.

Actually it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Having the glasses accomplishes two things. The first is so that Clark can pretend to be normal and mild mannered. Even before he was "Superman", he wanted to use his abilities to help people. The glasses are able to make him an unbelieveable choice if anyone suspected him of being more than normail. The second is obviously to keep people from recognizing him as Superman. The longer that Clark is without glasses, the more people get to know his face. He should have kept the glasses after Whisper back in S3. If they had gone that route, it would have helped Clark to seem more mild mannered and it would have made him an unlikely suspect for being "super". It also would have eliminated all of the problems ahead with people recognizing Clark as Superman. This is the whole problem with having all of these people from Clark's future in his life. They know him, and there is no way in hell that they won't recognize him.

[sithius]

I have to disagree with the mask idea on Superman. The whole point of Supes is that he doesn't hide his face, people aren't in fear of what lies underneath. 'What does he look like? What are his true intentions? What does he have have to hide?'

By being a public figure, he can show that there is nothing to be afraid of and stand up for Justice with a smile, something which cannot be achieved with a mask.

Just chuck on the glasses. At least it becomes somewhat realistic, if by an incredibly long stretch. No realism can be found without some sort of cover up for Clark Kent; ie hair and glasses.

[susangail]

He needs to get on with the glasses. Silly as they might be in the real world, they're one of those iconic transitional elements. I mean, Clark whips off the glasses and rips open his shirt to become Superman! It just wouldn't be the same without them.

Yeah, I know they wouldn't fool a whole lot of people, but I wear glasses. When I was still wearing contact lenses part-time on special occasions, I didn't go a single wearing without being told how different I looked without glasses. (As in double-take "whoa -- I almost don't recognize you with contacts in"). It didn't ultimately stop people from knowing who I was, but it took that extra second or two for their brains to put it together.

Anyway, this is a comic book. We're talking regular violations of the laws of physics, chemistry, and biology here... Realism is over-rated.

[galatians221]

Glasses won't work since Lois, Jimmy et al already know him and playing a bumbling CK won't work either. I've said for years that his FOS training should give him the power to disguise himself. This would eliminate the "where does he keep his boots and cape" stuff. It's simply another ability. This is not consistent with the mythos but the mythos has always been screwed up. George Reeves had multiple Supe Suits in his closet, Dean Hatcher had it made by his mommy out of his blankie while Chris Reeves simply emerged from the fortress with it on. We see Chris fall out of the DP window and just morph into the suit; his arms and legs don't move, the suit just appears. My suggestion is that the writers give him the ability of disguising himself without a mask. I mean the Hulk can transform himself just by his heartbeat so this isn't so far fetched. From time to time, when we see a picture of Superman in the DP it would be a different actor but we would of course always see Tom Welling but knowing that the others in the drama are seeing something different. We just can't have Lois, Jimmy and others playing fools again because Clark puts glasses on and combs his hair differently. Another thing; we can't have the bumbling CK like on Superman Returns or the Chris Reeve movies; it has to be like George Reeves or Dean Cain which is preferable to me.

[susangail]

I agree that we don't need BDA Clark as an alter ego. TPTB also missed their chance to do it right -- it should have happened in "Whisper." But it can and should be done.

[harryandginnyfanatic]

They'll get around to it eventually.

[BadaBingBadaBoomsday]

[quote=kyl-el;4119247]Maybe in the Smallville realm Clark Kent doesn't wear glasses, but Superman does :p
quote]

Now that would be funny. Totally reverse the glasses thing. Superman flying with glasses.

I think that the glasses arn't exactly a disguise, but to show thathe has a flaw and is human. Nobody would ever assume that the 'perfect' Superman has bad eyes and needs glasses.

Plus even without the glasses, Lois has so got it into her head that Clark is useless and could never actually be Superman that he could change into his tights right infront of her and she would still say

"Who do you think you are, Superman, wake up Smallville your just a farmboy, go and play with your tractors, HA" Then struts off mumbling to herself.:lol:

[Cowl-El]

Actually, you guys, famous people do it all the time. Put on glasses, change the way they do their hair, go out without make-up on, in less than flashy clothes, and walk the streets all the time. Most of the time it's such an AMAZING transformation that nobody questions it, thinks twice, or even considders the possability that Britney Spears or Michael Jackson or Ricky Martin would POSSIBLY walk amongst them. So they treat them like regular people.

It may sound incredibly stupid and insulting to your intelligence but if a star walked up to you in your place of business dressed in glasses, their hair done differently, without makeup, and less than flashy clothes, I guarantee that you would not instantly peg them for who they really are, either. :)

Yes, it's about time for Clark to start wearing glasses. Yes, it's about time for Clark to start worrying about how he's going to be doing his hair differently, maybe a professional looking haircut so he can leave his hair "wild" as Superman. Clark is already coming to work in a shirt and tie and that's a brilliant first step in the transformation!

I can't wait for the days when we'll watch Clark go whole episodes wearing glasses and the crew will come to know him for the glasses. :)

[Animation]

It could be that Jor-El and the Fortress help him construct a shielding technology that prevents people seeing him, or even photographs of him, as the same. His suit could have that technology built in, and his Glasses would have it built in for his human guise.

Hey, if that Kryptonian technology can make Braniac, split the earth, and give Lex super powers, surely it could do some kind of mind cloak effect?

If the way it works is that when the suit is visible it prevents people from realizing he is Clark, and when the glasses are on it prevents people from realizing he is Superman (even when looking at a photo or digital image) then you could still have the fun with him possibly accidentally having his glasses knocked off. It would interrupt the field generation.

Lewis

[BadaBingBadaBoomsday]

My My My......

I dont even know where to start with the previous post.:lol:

Ill just say smallville is complicated enough for me at the mo without that one.

But I like your thinking, it is a way to get around it, and you do have a very creative mind.

^^That was not meant in a bad way but as a compliment

<THAT a p compliment< as but way bad in ment not was complimet<THAT meant>

[unfocused]

Why can't Clark just put a pair of glasses on one morning and let it be at that?!

When Lois, Jimmy, Mercy, etc ask "why are you wearing glasses?" Clark can just say "they help me read, and I like the way they look." They, in turn, make some lame comment about Clark's fashion sense, and then we move on to the real story...

That simple, right?

[Mars Investigations]

I don't see a need for the glasses on this show...I'm indifferent, I could take them or leave them. As for them not recognising him as Superman, I gess it comes down to the suspension of disbelief again.

[unfocused]

I would love for him to wear the glasses, but it doesn't bother me AT ALL if he never does.

I agree with others that said he should have just kept them since Whisper, even though that would make even less sense. Because Clark wasn't going through any identity crisis back then and he didn't need a disguise.

I just think he looked really good in them and they were an excellent nod to the future Clark Kent disguise. He should have just decided to keep wearing the glasses every now and then to throw people off from thinking he may be some meteor-enhanced teenager with super powers.

[pizzahead2490]

i have a feeling there gonna do a mind wipe on everybody and then clark show up with galsses and start working at the dp...

but even that is a strecth.. if they allowed clark to wear glasses from the show strated in s1 we wouldnt be in this mess.

[Iluvgreen]

He needs his glasses.

[ms.c.]

Clark can't just start to wear glasses. Every has already seen him without them. Something major would have to happen to let him start over again with that disguise.

[last man of krypton]

I guess some people are so blind to let a pair of glasses fool them. Personally, I don't like having my intelligence insulted like that.

Honestly, it could work. I'd worn glasses day in, day out for years. After I changed to contact lenses, a few of my colleagues actually didn't recognize me, to the point where I had to convince them I was the same person. And I always have trouble recognizing a workmate if I unexpectedly see them outside of their work uniform.


or even considders the possability that Britney Spears or Michael Jackson or Ricky Martin would POSSIBLY walk amongst them. So they treat them like regular people.

There was an issue of JLA when the heroes revealed their identities to each other. When Superman revealed his alter ego, the heroes were shocked because they didn't think he had another identity. That Superman doesn't wear a mask is enough to make people think that being Superman is all he does, and anyone that looks similar is just a coincedence.

[Kevin24]

Well right now I really don't mind that he doesn't have glasses on. Even if they did give him glasses now, what good would it do? Most of the people he tries to hide his super powers from already know what he looks like.

The people at the Daily Planet know what he looks like and so does every important person in the cast. If he does put on glasses it won't change much of anything.

I also don't agree with him wearing a mask to hide his face. If he didn't work at the Daily Planet I think it would have been fine if he started to wear glasses because everyone there would just know him with his glasses on.

Although that would mean he would have to let Jimmy and Lois in on his secret. So I think it would have worked prior to him getting a job at the Daily Planet. Now I just think it's a little to late for that.

I can't see anyway it would work unless they erased people's memory.

[FaaipDeOiad31]

While I will probably get lamblasted for saying this... I liked the way Birthright did the glasses and bumbling Clark Kent. Obviously, Clark doesn't need glasses, but as Ma Kent said, "something is missing..." Bam... they steel Pa's specticles and we've got ourselves a modern day Clark Kent.

I bet they have this Clark go out for a year or two, much like a Bruce Wayne going to find himself... at that point, they could flash forward and show him coming back with the glasses, different hair, and sporting the sweatervest in mid-July.

There's no "right way" to incorporate the glasses, but I definitly agree with previous posters that they should have kept the glasses on following Whisper.

[mistaguitarmasta]

Without revealing any spoilers, just speculation, do you guys think the glasses will be the climax of an episode? Like at the end of an episode, the moral of the story will be that he needs to wear the glasses to further protect his identity? Or do you think it'll just be a sidenote?

[Kevin24]

Yeah I think if he decides to start wearing glasses that it should be a big deal type of thing and most of those things happen at the end of an epsiode.

[baltazor]

I was actually expecting too to see some glasses around this episode. But since this season is all about Clark's double identity i expect to see him in glasses for good by the end of the season...

[SnowBird]

Without revealing any spoilers, just speculation, do you guys think the glasses will be the climax of an episode? Like at the end of an episode, the moral of the story will be that he needs to wear the glasses to further protect his identity? Or do you think it'll just be a sidenote?

I'm thinking that Clark will put on the glasses as Clark Kent and become Superman the very last episode of SV. This way they won't have to explain how everyone who knows Clark as a friend and as the reporter accepts him with glasses on as a disguise. Just as the suit, I don't think Tom wants to have to wear glasses which is just IMO.

[Blue Orange NY]

EXACTLY SOMETHING BIG HAS TO GO DOWN.....BECAUSE EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS WHO HE IS AND HOW HE LOOKS LIKE.....I THINK IT MIGHT BE TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEASON (ESPECIALLY IF 8 IS THE LAST) AND JOR-EL WHIPES EVERYONE'S MEMORY SO THEY CAN REMEMBER CLARK AND BOOM THE GLASSES, my opinion, what do you guys think


Clark can't just start to wear glasses. Every has already seen him without them. Something major would have to happen to let him start over again with that disguise.

[ElVibo]

Clark gains some Hypnotic Abilities from Jor-El so when his Superman he causes people to have a different Perception of him. When his Clark Kent, he just turns that perception off when he wears glasses. If there is a Season 9 I think he'll be wearing glasses from the Premiere to the Series Finale.

[Pantalaimon]

The glasses were ridiculous in Lois and Clark too. But they are always a funny aspect of the superman/CK double identity. That's more important to me.

Hopefully they will do something with it.

What might actually work is if they make it so unbelievable that Clark is the red&blue blur/superman, people won't believe it even if they look very much alike. They've already done that with Jimmy now. I'm guessing Lana will always know. Lois is the big one of course. But she's so blindsided about Clark, they should be able to come up with something faintly believable, and more importantly, funny.

[Theshadow129x]

i just cant buy the fact that no one recognizes him in the future. im really annoyed with him not having the glasses! ugh

[KoopaBowserSSBM]

Maybe Chloe should put the glasses on for him lol.

[Cyn]

Maybe in the Smallville realm Clark Kent doesn't wear glasses, but Superman does :p

But in all honesty, I have to agree with others who have stated that the whole concept of glasses as a disguise was ridiculous in the first place. I know that many people love the glasses since they have been a part of Superman canon forever. Be that as it may I'd still rather they just forget about them and focus on creating an awesome costume that hides his identity and completely revamps the classical look, but then again I am a progressive when it comes to those sort of things and that's a whole other argument.

I agree with this. In the movies, Clark Kent is the disguise for Superman. He has to wear something that helps hide who he is. However, in Smallville, Clark Kent is the real person and Superman will be the disguise. I kind of want to see him in Dark Blue Leather/Pleather with red accents and Sunglasses. <G> If you can't visualize, just let me add that in my head, he is very sexy. LOL! I still can't decide if he should have the red cape or a red duster. Hehehe!

[devilneedsaride]

Honestly, the SV writers have already borked up the Superman canon to the point where it's pretty much time to let go and just say this is an alternate timeline (after all, the original superman was an adult in 1932 :lol:). I mean, Lois has feelings for Clark, everyone in the story has seen his real face and/or known him in high school, Lex knows his identity, etc. They really aren't going to be able to make that fit, so I think they ought to take the story they've created to a place that makes sense, rather than trying to slap glasses in in some hamhanded way. I never liked the whole glasses-as-a-disguise thing anyway, maybe that'll fool some random person he saves from a burning building or whatever, but not an intelligent, observant reporter who is in love with Superman and works with Clark Kent every freakin day. Suspension of disbelief will only take you so far.

Clark will have to find some other way to hide his identity. I agree that a full-fledged mask would have the wrong feel, but they might be able to get away with one of those flimsy half-face masks or something. I read a fanfic once where Clark hides his identity by using his superspeed to blur back and forth so his facial features can't be clearly distinguished, some clever thinking like that might be the way to go. It'll be interesting to see how the writers deal with this.

[unfocused]

Honestly, it could work. I'd worn glasses day in, day out for years. After I changed to contact lenses, a few of my colleagues actually didn't recognize me, to the point where I had to convince them I was the same person. And I always have trouble recognizing a workmate if I unexpectedly see them outside of their work uniform.

Ah, ok well it makes sense in some cases, but...


I never liked the whole glasses-as-a-disguise thing anyway, maybe that'll fool some random person he saves from a burning building or whatever, but not an intelligent, observant reporter who is in love with Superman and works with Clark Kent every freakin day. Suspension of disbelief will only take you so far.

I couldn't agree with you more on this.


I read a fanfic once where Clark hides his identity by using his superspeed to blur back and forth so his facial features can't be clearly distinguished, some clever thinking like that might be the way to go.

I've ALWAYS wondered if that was one of Superman's methods. As a kid, I couldn't quite grasp the fact that people seriously let themselves be fooled by a simple, clear pair of glasses. I didn't know anything about a mind wipe power (and I am still unsure about this) so I thought he used his speed to blur his facial features and physique from everyone. I'm hoping we do get some clever writing ideas like this in the future.

[kal-05]

The annoying thing is that they have to do the mind wipe now. There was no need for it because they could have incorporated it ages ago. Or even with this episode. It's so stupid.

[HeartChakraBabe]

Donning glasses after 8 seasons is kind of silly.

ITA. There's no point now.

[GhostRaider]

The annoying thing is that they have to do the mind wipe now. There was no need for it because they could have incorporated it ages ago. Or even with this episode. It's so stupid.

I don't think they necessarily have to go with the mind wipe. I think ultimately his transition into the glasses will be allowed to take place by some action the fortress and Jor El takes.

We know the Fortress can affect the world on the whole so why can't it just change how people who don't know his secret have perceived Clark. Just alter memories to include him always having worn the glasses and maybe add in a few character traits to these altered memories that might further throw people off his track.

[Fly by guy]

Glasses in this episode would have only made sense for me if it was when Clark was Helping Lois with her zipper. He might however torch her back like a ants, a kid, and a magnifying glass.
I don't want to spend the rest of the season watching Tom pushing glasses on his nose. I enjoy watching him being more confident and seeing the BIG picture and he needs no eyeware for that.

[redeem147]

In this continuity, it is Superman who will wear the glasses. And a fake moustache.

[malcrew]

I don't think they necessarily have to go with the mind wipe. I think ultimately his transition into the glasses will be allowed to take place by some action the fortress and Jor El takes.

We know the Fortress can affect the world on the whole so why can't it just change how people who don't know his secret have perceived Clark. Just alter memories to include him always having worn the glasses and maybe add in a few character traits to these altered memories that might further throw people off his track.

I think you have a great idea here. I'm sure the Fortress has technology to do this.
After all that has been said and done, do we really want a mind wipe of everyone?

[Pantalaimon]

I agree with this. In the movies, Clark Kent is the disguise for Superman. He has to wear something that helps hide who he is. However, in Smallville, Clark Kent is the real person and Superman will be the disguise.

Still, as the identity storyline progresses, I would like to see Clark struggle with the question what his identity really is: Is he the person that really needs to help people because that's why he's been given these amazing powers (the direction he is going in right now) or is he person that deserves to have a life like any other human being?

Interestingly enough the reporter identity is both a reflection of his teenage self and his choice to become more proactive about saving people - become more like superman.

I guess you could say that there is something of the true Clark in both the journalist persona and the superman persona. And if the true Clark is neither Superman nor the reporter, then it would still be a reasonable to assume that as the superman identity emerges more and more the reporter identity will become less like the Clark we know and more like a disguise to throw people off. It would have to be a gradual shift, but eventually the glasses might seem acceptable after all.

Sounds a bit too psycho-analytic (however amateurish)? Maybe, but it would also be interesting to show in Smallville. Maybe they won't show the suit at the end of the series (no tights in this lifetime, right?) but they will show the glasses.

[migo]

When the title for this episode was announced back in the summer the first thing that came into my head was that this would be the episode where Clark takes on a double identity and starts wearing the glasses.
Unfortunately this was not the case.
My question is was anyone annoyed that they let that opportunity slip?
If not now then when will he put them on?

They let the opportunity slip way back in high school. On the other hand, peoples eyes eventually give out, so Clark can really just randomly decide to start wearing glasses and nobody would be suspicious.

[galatians221]

They let the opportunity slip way back in high school. On the other hand, peoples eyes eventually give out, so Clark can really just randomly decide to start wearing glasses and nobody would be suspicious.

It goes beyond that; CK also has to be a bumbling, clumsy goofball who is totally unlike Superman. Well Tom Welling (CK) can't just all of a sudden act goofy around Lois and Jimmy to try and deceive them. They have both been saved by Clark too often. Lois was just saved from the crazy chair and has to know that Clark is the blur. It's too late for the traditional CK Chris Reeves bumbling act. It would have to be more like the Dean Cain depiction.

[unfocused]

The Dean Cain interpretation was better than the Chris Reeve interpretation of Clark Kent, I think. But I do like Chris Reeves Superman so much more.

[galatians221]

The Dean Cain interpretation was better than the Chris Reeve interpretation of Clark Kent, I think. But I do like Chris Reeves Superman so much more.

I agree 100%. I liked Dean as CK but hated him as Superman. He was too short, too oriental looking to fit the traditional look of Superman. I really think that Tom Welling could be the best ever. Chris Reeve came at a time when the special effects were pretty weak. The flying scenes in Superman Returns were amazing to me and if that technology could be used on Smallville or a morphed version going as Metropolis that would run for 5+ years I think there is a huge audience for that.

[migo]

Too oriental looking?

[Brakiss]

There is a simple but also kinda lame solution: let the girl from the LOSH bring magic glases for Clark that make everyone that has ever seen Clark remember him with the glases on. To make it even lamer but more effective the "spell" would have to also alter every picture of Clark without glases to Clark wearing glases.

To be honest i dont see any other way for them to get out of this mess

[unfocused]

I agree that Tom Welling has portrayed Clark Kent better than anyone ever has or ever will. He's a good actor, and he's had so much more time and focus on this character than anyone else will probably ever have. 8 years strong, so far.

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


There is a simple but also kinda lame solution: let the girl from the LOSH bring magic glases for Clark that make everyone that has ever seen Clark remember him with the glases on. To make it even lamer but more effective the "spell" would have to also alter every picture of Clark without glases to Clark wearing glases.

To be honest i dont see any other way for them to get out of this mess

Is it so hard to just believe Clark could put on glasses without needing some huge explanation for everyone else as to why he is wearing them? It's not like the glasses are going to fool anyone, into believing he's not Superman, in this day and age. Because I don't think some lame excuse such as magic is a good idea.

[Brakiss]

I was more thinking that when everyone just remembers a Clark Kent with glases and, in their memories, never saw him without them they wouldnt recognize a guy in a costume without glases that easily. Of corse the whole Superman/Clark Kent disguise never was that solid to begin with, so with the memory altering thing you pretty much would have it the way it should be.

[Sweetie]

I hope they are not going to do the stupid mistake to erase her memory that would be awful.The best thing they could do is Lois will know the thruth and she will help him even better that way(she already suspects him to be some kind of freak).Smallville is another univers of the superman's mytho remember?What?It only works with Lana and Chloe;)

[AndrewVDk]

(she already suspects him to be some kind of freak)

Where did you see that, please people, stop inventing things!

[galatians221]

Too oriental looking?

Dean Cain is I believe 50% Japanese and there is nothing wrong with that but I'm not used to seeing Superman looking that way. With his glasses on it wasn't that noticeable (to me) but as Superman he just didn't look in the mold of Kirk Allyn, George Reeves, Chris Reeve and now Tom Welling. More importantly, he was barely 6 foot tall and had a high squeaky voice and I just never accepted him as Superman. Back to the original point though, I loved him as CK; the way he dressed, he didn't do the bumbling act and I also liked the way Lois fell in love with both CK and Superman and had difficulty separating the two and of course in the end she didn't have to.

[migo]

I hope they are not going to do the stupid mistake to erase her memory that would be awful.The best thing they could do is Lois will know the thruth and she will help him even better that way(she already suspects him to be some kind of freak).Smallville is another univers of the superman's mytho remember?What?It only works with Lana and Chloe;)

Yeah, it's also highly improbable that Lex wouldn't have figured it out this soon, and Lois wouldn't either. In the original Superman, he was the only one with special powers, so it's easy to disguise yourself by wearing glasses. In Smallville people are used to meteor freaks. Clark would be just another one.

All in all, these problems are happening because they ran the show too long. Season 4 or 5 is where it should have ended, that was the logical conclusion. At this point all we can do is sit back and enjoy the show, and forget about continuity.

[iluvSmallvilleandi'm24]

I'd buy the idea that the FOS provides Clark with a cloaking ability so that Superman is not recognised by ppl. But by gee, the episode that illustrates that happening will have to have massive special effects to make it believable... Guess we'll have to wait and see what the writers come up with (if they actually decide to adress this aspect)

one question in my mind remains unanswered: who makes the suit for Clark, and who decides on the color scheme? The Identity episode suggests that since Clark wears red and blue all the time, those colors were accidently the color scheme. But isn't Superman all about 'truth, justice and the American way'. I always thought the color scheme was a deliberate patriotic choice on Clark's behalf (or the maker of the suit).

I thought it was gonna be ma kent, but nooo

----- Added 22 Minutes later -----

and omg omg, i just saw identity again, the first scene with clark and ollie (with clark telling ollie off) clark says: i can't mindwipe ppl that know my secret....

any importance to this?

[sailordom]

As someone who really, really dislikes the bumbling Clark Kent of the Donner films, I would rather Smallville didn't go in that direction. Goofy, nerdy, inept Clark Kent is just not Clark Kent.

But I really feel that the writers have written themselves into a corner in terms of a secret identity for Clark. I wear glasses, and I know that I look very different when wearing my contacts, so I can accept the plausibility of people not connecting Clark Kent and Superman.

But not when everyone has already met Clark sans glasses. That just stretches belief too much....And I read comics, so my beliefs can be stretched quite a bit. :)

The only thing I can think of is that the Smallville Superman must wear sunglasses or something....

[Theshadow129x]

Obama and Biden baby! Whooo!!!

[galatians221]

Obama and Biden baby! Whooo!!!

Pardon me if I don't "Whooo"

[HeartChakraBabe]

Obama and Biden baby! Whooo!!!

I agree with you, but I'm not sure this is the place to be stating your opinion on the election. This is for Smallville discussion. :)

[Pantalaimon]

I actually rather liked Brandon Routh's Superman. Young as he is he still managed to give Superman an aura of calm and deliberate maturity that was almost more distinguishing than the clumsiness of his CK, which was basically an imitation of Christopher Reeves.

I'm worried about Tom Welling portraying Superman. I'd like to see him do it, but portraying Superman requires a very specific quality that is hard to describe and I'm just not sure he has it. They will probably never go there in Smallville though.

[galatians221]

I actually rather liked Brandon Routh's Superman. Young as he is he still managed to give Superman an aura of calm and deliberate maturity that was almost more distinguishing than the clumsiness of his CK, which was basically an imitation of Christopher Reeves.

I'm worried about Tom Welling portraying Superman. I'd like to see him do it, but portraying Superman requires a very specific quality that is hard to describe and I'm just not sure he has it. They will probably never go there in Smallville though.

I liked Routh but he looked somewhat effeminate to me. As for Welling, we are invested in him as we have seen him as a character and as an actor develop before our eyes over the last eight years. It just wouldn't be fair to not see him as a fully developed Superman. I mean far beyond just putting on the suit, flying into the camera one time and the series is over. I'd like to see him as Superman for years to come. George Reeves played Superman on TV until he was about 40 years old. Welling is 31 and looks younger. There's no need to look elsewhere unless Tom refuses to do it.

[Pantalaimon]

I'd like to see him as Superman for years to come.

Part of me agrees. They've created a sufficiently alternate universe for me to be interested to see where they take it. And yet, as this is a show about CK before he became Superman, they should probably stop it at that point.

In any case, I seriously doubt Tom Welling will be willing to play Superman. :(

[smallvillerocks45]

I am confused. Is Smallville cannon, or isn't it? I have always considered the show to be another legitimate addition to the Superman story that future Superman comics and/or films can use, but some people call it an alternate universe. Well, why is that and what does it mean?

Because DC requires that Clark does not kill and has set up other such rules, I also tend to feel that this show is cannon, but I have never found a place that explicitly states that it is. I don't read many of the comic books (I've read some, but not enough to grasp a full understanding of the character and comic book standard procedure), so I'm wondering if perhaps my understanding of cannon is incorrect. Can someone help me with this concept? Thanks.

[migo]

Well for one, the official Superman mythos starts in the first half of the 20th century. Smallville starts at the beginning of the 21st century. That's an alternate universe to begin with.

[sailordom]

I am confused. Is Smallville cannon, or isn't it? I have always considered the show to be another legitimate addition to the Superman story that future Superman comics and/or films can use, but some people call it an alternate universe. Well, why is that and what does it mean?

Because DC requires that Clark does not kill and has set up other such rules, I also tend to feel that this show is cannon, but I have never found a place that explicitly states that it is. I don't read many of the comic books (I've read some, but not enough to grasp a full understanding of the character and comic book standard procedure), so I'm wondering if perhaps my understanding of cannon is incorrect. Can someone help me with this concept? Thanks.

The problem is that there is no one Superman canon. :) The movies, comics, cartoons and TV shows aren't part of any kind of shared universe.

If I'm understanding your question correctly, Smallville is not canon with comic book continuity. Indeed, it has absolutely nothing in common with comic book canon other than there is a guy named Clark Kent from a planet called Krypton who was raised by John and Martha Kent. Lana Lang, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor and Pete Ross exist, but have so little in common with their comic-book counterparts that there's really no way to consider Smallville to be telling their story, either.

I think Smallville fans tend to overstate the influence DC Comics has on the show. Warner Bros. may have set up certain rules for Smallville, but the Superman editors at DC Comics definitely have no involvement with the show. Because of that, there's no way it can be considered in-continuity for the comics. The comics end has no influence or control on the TV show or the movies, a very common complaint from comics fans, actually.

Plus, the show has come up with its own, completely different mythology and background such as Veritas, Green Arrow as the founder of the Justice League (LOL funny for anyone remotely familiar with the comics Ollie), Clark mooning over Lana Lang, etc., that don't exist anywhere else.

Like the Donner movies (and, to a certain extent, Superman Returns), Smallville is another, completely separate interpretation of Superman. It's what comic fans would call an "Elseworlds" -- comics/graphic novels published about characters with different histories, in different situations, etc.

----- Added 9 Minutes later -----


Well for one, the official Superman mythos starts in the first half of the 20th century. Smallville starts at the beginning of the 21st century. That's an alternate universe to begin with.

In comics continuity? No. :)

Well, I guess if you take all the Crises into consideration, then yeah, because the Earth-Two Superman's history still existed.

But really, that's just going to confuse the discussion. :rotfl:

For the purposes of New Earth's Superman (the guy currently starring in Superman, Action Comics, Justice League of America, etc.), the official start to Clark Kent's career as Superman begins about 20 years ago, maybe (probably) less depending on how much DC's fudging the timeline these days.

But really, the point remains -- Smallville, like the various TV shows, the movies and the cartoons, is its own, separate alternate universe. Although probably not an actual universe in the comics (of which there are 52), if I can add to the confusion....

[smallvillerocks45]

Thanks Migo and Sailordom. Someone once asked me if Smallville was cannon, and I just assumed it was. It turns out the concept is quite confusing.

What I don't understand is, what is the correct story? What makes something cannon?
I guess what I ultimately want to know is if Smallville is "valid" in the world of Superman. Can the events that occur on the show affect the comics? Can this version become Superman without the Clark Kent glasses?

I think I'm starting to understand - it's kind of like the Green Lantern who has different versions of himself (according to the Justice League cartoon, at least), or the Flash (Wally West, Bart, and Kid Flash)... They all represent the same person, but became that character differently. Right?

There are so many more comic books I need to read. I just never have the time, but all of this information is really interesting. I hope one day I can wrap my head around the whole concept.

[Clarky123]

yeh, ive been thinking alot about the glasses and stuff, but tbh, there are alot of things that dont match SV with the comics and Movies but IMO it's for the better. I mean if clark had glasses from day 1 i think he'd been way geeky, i prefer this Clark kent who is more of a man , then the normally displayed nervos and clumby clark :P. anyways, I think they will find a way to fix this

[sailordom]

Thanks Migo and Sailordom. Someone once asked me if Smallville was cannon, and I just assumed it was. It turns out the concept is quite confusing.

What I don't understand is, what is the correct story? What makes something cannon?
I guess what I ultimately want to know is if Smallville is "valid" in the world of Superman. Can the events that occur on the show affect the comics? Can this version become Superman without the Clark Kent glasses?

Well, the comics Superman is the "correct story" because it's the source material -- the stuff the adaptations are based on. It's the "original" (as in first) story.

Smallville the TV show has absolutely no effect on the comics universe, just as it has no effect on whatever movies WB Studios develop AND just as the comics have no effect on the TV show.

Now, the writers of the comics could at some point choose to incorporate something that happened on the show into the comics, but it would be their version of it. For example, there was talk that at some point a character named Chloe Sullivan would be introduced into the Superman books. But obviously, she wouldn't have been teenaged Clark Kent's best friend who helped him fight meteor freaks. (Because, of course, meteor freaks only exist on Smallville.)

The easiest way I can think of to explain it is to say that Smallville is a version of Superman. It's like Gossip Girl -- the TV show takes some ideas from the original books, but the show's storyline and characters have very little resemblance to the source material. The producers took the basic idea, ran with it and turned it into something different. Thus, on TV, Chuck Bass becomes a main character who falls in love with Blair Waldorf, whose mother is a fashion designer -- the names are all the same, some personality traits are the same, but the storyline is very, very different.

But Smallville isn't like, say, Harry Potter, which is an adaptation that remains fairly faithful to the books. (Not to say that things are changed, but the story is ultimately the same.)



I think I'm starting to understand - it's kind of like the Green Lantern who has different versions of himself (according to the Justice League cartoon, at least), or the Flash (Wally West, Bart, and Kid Flash)... They all represent the same person, but became that character differently. Right?

Actually, no. They do NOT represent the same person and are not intended to do so.

There is not just one Green Lantern. Green Lanterns (note the plural) are an intergalactic police force, so there are tons of them. Each Green Lantern represents a certain sector of space.

John Stewart, the GL of the Justice League cartoon, was picked in the comics to be a backup Green Lantern when Guy Gardner was comatose. Guy was the backup to Hal Jordon, a GL from Earth for Sector 2814. And Kyle Rayner, also from Earth, later became a Green Lantern. All four people are currently active as Green Lanterns -- it's not like Smallville!Clark and Comics!Clark, where they're different interpretations of Green Lantern, because the GLs are all part of the same story.

Regarding The Flash, it's easier to think of The Flash as a superhero identity than as a person. Barry Allen, Wally West and Bart Allen have all worn the mantle of The Flash -- that is, they've all taken on the identity of The Flash.

For them, it's a family thing -- Wally is Barry's nephew and Bart is Barry's grandson. Wally and Bart took on the Wally (who was the first Kid Flash) was Barry's sidekick, and he went on to become The Flash after Barry died during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Bart Allen (Barry's grandson from the future) went by Impulse, later adopting the identity of Kid Flash. He also later took on the identity of the Flash after Wally disappeared during Infinite Crisis.

But the versions of the Flash and Green Lantern in the Justice League cartoons are like Smallville!Clark -- different and separate interpretations of the comic book characters. Each adaptation (movies, animated series, TV shows) have their own canon that is separate from the comics.

[bychance]

Me! And its too late now. Unless "a wizard did it" and some mystical creature goes back in time and gives Clark glasses.

[Skaterpen357]

With Lex knowing Clark's secret, and Kara pushing Clark to tell Lois his secret, it seems likely that in this universe, Superman's secret will be a bit more available to those closest to him (Lois, Lex, maybe even Jimmy, etc.). Or perhaps he'll start wearing glasses, becoming the Blur long enough for him to "grow into" the "classic" Clark persona. Or perhaps he won't have a secret identity at all. (In Ultimate Spiderman, for example, everyone knows Spiderman's secret identity from the start, I think.)

My personal theory: given that the Donner movies seem to be the biggest influence on Smallville (Zod's defeat, the Fortress, Clark's superjump with Lois in his arms, Johnathan's death [not exclusive to the movies and SV, but definitely invocative], Christopher Reeve's and Marc McClure's guest appearences, Clark's elevator/flying safety comment, the Phantom Zone square pane things, the rings around the Crystal Chloe used in "Bloodline" [looks like the rings at the beginning of Superman I and II], and the list goes on and on), I think they'll take one final page out of Donner's book:

I predict that Clark will have to leave Metropolis for a while, returning at age 30 looking slightly different (you know, eight or seven years' difference), after spending that time at the Fortress. He'll wear glasses then, no one knowing what 30-year-old Clark looks like without them, and Superman will be born.

Alternatively, he could do the comic book thing and travel the world for a while, again coming back later in life.

However, this is all speculation, and will always be, because TPTB probably aren't going to satisfy this particular plot hole in the course of this show. :\

[smallvillerocks45]

Well, the comics Superman is the "correct story" because it's the source material -- the stuff the adaptations are based on. It's the "original" (as in first) story.

Smallville the TV show has absolutely no effect on the comics universe, just as it has no effect on whatever movies WB Studios develop AND just as the comics have no effect on the TV show.

Now, the writers of the comics could at some point choose to incorporate something that happened on the show into the comics, but it would be their version of it. For example, there was talk that at some point a character named Chloe Sullivan would be introduced into the Superman books. But obviously, she wouldn't have been teenaged Clark Kent's best friend who helped him fight meteor freaks. (Because, of course, meteor freaks only exist on Smallville.)

The easiest way I can think of to explain it is to say that Smallville is a version of Superman. It's like Gossip Girl -- the TV show takes some ideas from the original books, but the show's storyline and characters have very little resemblance to the source material. The producers took the basic idea, ran with it and turned it into something different. Thus, on TV, Chuck Bass becomes a main character who falls in love with Blair Waldorf, whose mother is a fashion designer -- the names are all the same, some personality traits are the same, but the storyline is very, very different.

But Smallville isn't like, say, Harry Potter, which is an adaptation that remains fairly faithful to the books. (Not to say that things are changed, but the story is ultimately the same.)



Actually, no. They do NOT represent the same person and are not intended to do so.

There is not just one Green Lantern. Green Lanterns (note the plural) are an intergalactic police force, so there are tons of them. Each Green Lantern represents a certain sector of space.

John Stewart, the GL of the Justice League cartoon, was picked in the comics to be a backup Green Lantern when Guy Gardner was comatose. Guy was the backup to Hal Jordon, a GL from Earth for Sector 2814. And Kyle Rayner, also from Earth, later became a Green Lantern. All four people are currently active as Green Lanterns -- it's not like Smallville!Clark and Comics!Clark, where they're different interpretations of Green Lantern, because the GLs are all part of the same story.

Regarding The Flash, it's easier to think of The Flash as a superhero identity than as a person. Barry Allen, Wally West and Bart Allen have all worn the mantle of The Flash -- that is, they've all taken on the identity of The Flash.

For them, it's a family thing -- Wally is Barry's nephew and Bart is Barry's grandson. Wally and Bart took on the Wally (who was the first Kid Flash) was Barry's sidekick, and he went on to become The Flash after Barry died during Crisis on Infinite Earths. Bart Allen (Barry's grandson from the future) went by Impulse, later adopting the identity of Kid Flash. He also later took on the identity of the Flash after Wally disappeared during Infinite Crisis.

But the versions of the Flash and Green Lantern in the Justice League cartoons are like Smallville!Clark -- different and separate interpretations of the comic book characters. Each adaptation (movies, animated series, TV shows) have their own canon that is separate from the comics.

Wow :eek:. I really learned a lot. Thank you for taking the time to explain all of this to me. It's really interesting information.

[The Great Ymmij]

Maybe the Legion of Superheroes will tell him to adopt the glasses disguise. Who knows?