The Government's Reaction

[devilneedsaride]

So, you're the government. You hear that there's this indescribably powerful alien running around, but the good news is that he appears to be on your side! You hear that he may have been involved in some shenanigans, but he's very friendly and cooperative during your investigation.

Do you...
a) Physically attack him and threaten his family and friends, thereby ensuring that he has several very good reasons to hate you. Keep in mind that there's no way you can actually overpower him.
or
b) Treat him with respect, or at the very least, caution.

Did anyone else think their judgment was kind of hilariously bad?

[Sunny8]

In SV the evil government agents always appear whenever anything goes down. They always attack and think that Clark is evil. Couldn't they do an investigation of him first, then make their decision? NO, they just go in, guns loaded, blasting up everything in sight.

[krpto]

The government has a long proud tradition of overreacting to the people who are around to help and teaming up with villians to destroy the good guys especially in tv shows and movies so I'm not surpirsed the government guys opened fire on clark if anything I'm surprised it took them that long to try and kill him.

[devilneedsaride]

It's not even that so much, but you'd think they'd want to avoid antagonizing him for their own sakes. I mean, what if he really WAS evil? Is bouncing several pounds worth of bullets off his chest really the smartest way to go about that?

[MrZeppo]

Depends really... Are we talking about the Bush administration or the Obama administration? :)

[krpto]

Depends really... Are we talking about the Bush administration or the Obama administration? :)
Sadly I think both administrations would have people opening fire one the ones trying to help them not just one or the other.

[Harrison_Bergeron]

You ask him to help you win your otherwise endless war, this victory leads to increased tensions with other superpowers inciting the creation of a doomsday clock which warns of the Armageddon that eventually comes to fruition leading to a tentative peace for fear of future attacks.

I should write comic books.

[omegadirective]

You ask him to help you win your otherwise endless war, this victory leads to increased tensions with other superpowers inciting the creation of a doomsday clock which warns of the Armageddon that eventually comes to fruition leading to a tentative peace for fear of future attacks.

I should write comic books.

Isn't that the basic plot of the "Watchmen" comic book? Dr. Manhattan is asked by Nixon to intervene in Vietnam...the US wins the Vietnam War, and the Cold War just gets worse and worse and the world comes closer to Armageddon.

[dsfjr1190]

I think the government was wary of Clark since the second he revealed himself. They just couldn't make a move because the public adored him. Once Linda Lake, a well-known gossiping liar, published those lies the government used that as an excuse to try and experiment on Clark.

[Lexsghost]

Not the smartest way to study science by killing it first.

[sithius]

Sad thing is I believe the Government would act exactly like they did in that scene.

[FlashInSV]

Sad thing is I believe the Government would act exactly like they did in that scene.

True. Even though my government is not the US government, I think every country's regime would react in the same manner. And when one country failed to kill him, the neighbouring country would say "Obviously they can't aim! We'll get the job done!" and it would go on and on...People are stupid that way. :(

[xrayvision]

My question is what will be different when Superman appears? Can't Lex or someone else just spread the lies about him? Isn't there another Linda Lake out there who would try the same thing? Maybe not since she specifically was around him in a very camouflaged form. But what about Lex finding people who Clark didn't save and then blame him or incite the government to hunt him down? These things could easily happen to him when he becomes Superman. I hope they distinguish Superman from the Blur by explaining why this wouldn't happen to Superman. Why Superman is free of the flaws that cause the Blur to be accused of such crimes. Why Superman is trusted by the government. Why Lex and others can't fool the people about who Superman really is.

In the comics it's obvious why this would happen to Superman--because he has the history of good deeds & sacrifice on his side along with being a symbol of hope and the government isn't written to want to kill him without any questions. With the plot presented in Infamous, TPTB are going to have to work hard to convince me that Lex will be incapable of doing to Superman's name & image what Linda Lake did to the Blur.

I've read articles that say the next Superman film (whenever it will come out) will be dark. I wouldn't doubt it one bit if the entire world is against Superman in the next film like we saw the country turn against Clark in Infamous. A world where Superman has to defy negative opinions people and the government have of him. I don't like the prospects of such a plot, but I'd bet such a plot will be used in the next Superman film.

[Bizarrolover]

I don't want to be offensive, but American authorities are a bit paranoid around aliens. My mother travelled to the States not long ago, she's a 73 year old read head, caucasian woman (born in Uruguay) and was delayed and isolated in a room with another man (from Colombia) for six hours at Miami airport because she filled the wrong form during her flight. They treated her like a criminal and never gave her the chance to explain until an officer showed up to interrogate her and she told him that they ran out of white forms on the plane and the stewardess gave her, wrongly, a green one. After that she was released without giving her an apology. Just for you to see how dangerous my mom looks like, she walks with a walking cane and moves around the airport in a wheelchair. The man from Colombia -who sported an American green card- told my mom that it happens to him all the time just because he was born in Colombia. So, I guess, even if this it's not the Bush administration (I haven't traveled to the US in a couple of years), I'm not surprised that the government did this to Clark. In fact, it was the reaction I was expecting.

Now, about Superman's fears, I once read a coming when Sups expressed to Lois his fears about humanity turning against him, or not accepting him anymore. he's aware of his strength and power and how people might think he, one day, will be corrupted by this power and use it against humanity. Clark faced a similar dilemma after defeating Bizarro the first time, when he said that he saw himself in Bizzy's eyes and realize the monster he can become. Then we have Lex, who, despite his own greed for power, actually thinks he's protecting the world when he starts his quest to destroy the Traveler (Descent).

[stenochick]

In SV the evil government agents always appear whenever anything goes down. They always attack and think that Clark is evil. Couldn't they do an investigation of him first, then make their decision? NO, they just go in, guns loaded, blasting up everything in sight.

Yes, but they usually turn out to be goons on the Luthor payroll posing as the Feds. This time they actually were government agents. IMO, TPTB did not take long enough to make Clark's situation realistic. It seemed like it all happened in two days. If the show were a serial like Heroes instead of episodic, these events could have transpired over a few episodes and it would have seemed more believable.

[Hopefulsuicide]

I don't think the government's reaction was particularly OTT, i simply feel it was completely OTT because their reaction was soely based on Linda Lake's claims... which had no proof, no grounding whatsoever, and she's a discredited gossip monger!

[ClLaLeChFAN01]

Depends really... Are we talking about the Bush administration or the Obama administration? :)

Please...Lets not and say we did! ok?

[Xanusus]

was Matt Damon in this episode?

[Kj-El]

Shoot/kill then ask questions, lol.

Of course this is hollywood so the evil over the top government agents take to task hunting down the alien for society's sake. Of course Clark being the Red-Blue Blur was a non factor and the fact that he performed many good deeds is out weighed when a gossip columnist "outs" Clark.

Thank god the National Enquirer is not taken seriously, I would hate to see what the Government would do to Big Foot. :)

[boatsboston]

Our government is ready to talk to tin pot dictators like Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Kim-Jong Ill, the Taliban and any other POS so why does anyone think The One wouldn't have a sit down with Superman?

I think Clark comming out as an alien leaves too many questions to be asked. Why hide amoung us? What have you been doing since you got here? Your whole life has been a fraud why should we trust you now? And it leaves his friends and family open to a lot of questions as well. We heard what happened to his mother and she had power.

That's why I think just showing up on the scene as Superman is a bit easier to take. People will think he just arrived. They will think no way could somebody like him just blend into our society, he's too amazing. His first acts will be of heroism and saving the day. And then he just disappears until the next time. He'll be bigger than life, an icon and not have the personal baggage of a normal person.

[gx25236]

I think after the disciples of Zod killing several police agents and dissapearing, the weird attacks by the phantoms, BRAINIAC's attempts to take over the world and agent Carter being killed when he was investigating Kara Kent, it's not surprising that the goverment doesn't trust aliens.

[Iluvgreen]

Not really. I thought it was believable! Extrememly.

[Var-Zol]

How did the bullets that ricocheted off of Clark's body not penbetrate the walls of his house and hit everyone who was snapping pictures right outside of the door?

[xrayvision]

Our government is ready to talk to tin pot dictators like Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Kim-Jong Ill, the Taliban and any other POS so why does anyone think The One wouldn't have a sit down with Superman?

I think Clark comming out as an alien leaves too many questions to be asked. Why hide amoung us? What have you been doing since you got here? Your whole life has been a fraud why should we trust you now? And it leaves his friends and family open to a lot of questions as well. We heard what happened to his mother and she had power.

That's why I think just showing up on the scene as Superman is a bit easier to take. People will think he just arrived. They will think no way could somebody like him just blend into our society, he's too amazing. His first acts will be of heroism and saving the day. And then he just disappears until the next time. He'll be bigger than life, an icon and not have the personal baggage of a normal person.

You're right. On top of all that, he wears a bright & colorful suit with the 3 primary colors. Rather than having to fess up for stuff he failed to stop in the past (meteor showers, evil aliens, etc), people will think he just arrived. I never really thought about humanity not accepting him if they found out he lived amongst them for years & did good deeds all those years. But I guess it's true. Their suspicions would get the better of them & outweigh the good that Clark did.

[llk6165]

So, you're the government. You hear that there's this indescribably powerful alien running around, but the good news is that he appears to be on your side! You hear that he may have been involved in some shenanigans, but he's very friendly and cooperative during your investigation.

Do you...
a) Physically attack him and threaten his family and friends, thereby ensuring that he has several very good reasons to hate you. Keep in mind that there's no way you can actually overpower him.
or
b) Treat him with respect, or at the very least, caution.

Did anyone else think their judgment was kind of hilariously bad?

hmm. I'll have to think about this one --- NOT:rolleyes:

especially when he is indestructible (as far as they know)

[thehenry89]

It doesn't suprise me a bit. Like someone else said I'm suprised it took them so freakin long, if I buy more than one bag of fertelizer at a time the FBI is running a backround check on me.

[actaeon]

It was idiotic. The cops/Feds/sheriff/whatever are assumed to be not only fascist thugs, but STUPID fascist thugs. I mean, trying to shoot the bulletproof, indestructable Kryptonian? What did they think was going to happen? And, I mean, what was the point of the SWAT guys wearing body armor and helmets. If the guy turns hostile (say, because you're SHOOTING at him!), what's the helmet going to do for you???

This show has always gone to a dark place when it comes to the government, or police, or people in general. It's a paranoid view of the world that doesn't really fit the Superman universe. It actually brings up the question, why would someone like Superman bother defending humanity? They don't deserve saving. This episode proved that humans don't care about Truth: they instantly believe a mentally unstable gossip columnist and ignite a witch hunt not only against Clark Kent but against everyone associated with him. In a world like this, why not just let Zod take over?

[xrayvision]

It's a paranoid view of the world that doesn't really fit the Superman universe. It actually brings up the question, why would someone like Superman bother defending humanity? They don't deserve saving. This episode proved that humans don't care about Truth: they instantly believe a mentally unstable gossip columnist and ignite a witch hunt not only against Clark Kent but against everyone associated with him. In a world like this, why not just let Zod take over?

This is why something like this would not happen in the Superman comics. The government is not written to be so paranoid. I can understand how it would be very cautious given all the messed up events that happened. I think it should have triggered some debate, but the reaction was well over the top.

[j-kent]

So, you're the government. You hear that there's this indescribably powerful alien running around, but the good news is that he appears to be on your side! You hear that he may have been involved in some shenanigans, but he's very friendly and cooperative during your investigation.

Do you...
a) Physically attack him and threaten his family and friends, thereby ensuring that he has several very good reasons to hate you. Keep in mind that there's no way you can actually overpower him.
or
b) Treat him with respect, or at the very least, caution.

Did anyone else think their judgment was kind of hilariously bad?

yeah i agree, a little irrational, and a probably the worst way to go about a situation involving a powerful being but they were scared and there's no way they would've known that their bullets couldn't penetrate...they only knew the blur was fast and maybe (later) strong

[xrayvision]

yeah i agree, a little irrational, and a probably the worst way to go about a situation involving a powerful being but they were scared and there's no way they would've known that her bullets couldn't penetrate...they only knew the blur was fast and maybe (later) strong

Yeah, I doubt Clark told Lois to publish all his strengths & weaknesses (which is why they didn't know about kryptonite--would be stupid for Lois to have exposed this).

[old guy]

Depends really... Are we talking about the Bush administration or the Obama administration? :)

What difference would that make? My parents were rounded up and put into concentration camps....I mean "relocation centers" when WWII broke out. And that was under the Roosevelt administration, one of Obama's heroes. Forget Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan, etc., doesn't matter. The government would have reacted the same with great fear of anything different regardless of who the president is.

[smallvillerocks45]

It's just amazing to see how readily the government took the word of an obscure gossip reporter. Sure, she had a name two years ago, but she essentially dropped from the face of the Earth, and out of nowhere she claims to know the "truth" and what's what about Clark Kent and some alien invasion. What makes her the ultimate authority?

Not to mention her bringing up Lex Luthor's name - as if half of the people in Smallville actually liked the man. Geeze, you'd think all the people who knew the Kents and watched Clark grow up would have vouched for him... where were they?

[Harrison_Bergeron]

This is why something like this would not happen in the Superman comics. The government is not written to be so paranoid. I can understand how it would be very cautious given all the messed up events that happened. I think it should have triggered some debate, but the reaction was well over the top.

I disagree, I've seen the Martian Manhunter get locked up by the feds a few times.

[xrayvision]

I disagree, I've seen the Martian Manhunter get locked up by the feds a few times.

Well, I meant doesn't happen to Superman. I think MM doesn't get the degree of acceptance that Superman gets because he doesn't look human in his true form, whereas Superman looks just like a human, except with superpowers. I'm almost certain I read a comic or a graphic novel where rogue White Martians attacked Earth. If my memory about such a story is correct, then this would give a motive for them to lock him up, even though MM is a Green Martian, but the authorities probably didn't know that.

[bobsuncorp]

The thing you have to remember is that the people who run the real world equivalent of these men in black agencies always think in terms of worst case scenario's. I mean seriously, imagine if Superman turned up and you had no real evidence that he was a good person other than what he said. With a being of that power, the potential for him to be a threat is just too great to ignore. And even if you believed him to be benevolent, then what if he has a bad day? What if he gets infected by some kind of kryptonite that compels him to do harm? The guy is just too powerful.

So the only way to guard against that kind of worst case scenario is to have control over Clark. And if they cannot control him they must destroy him, or risk the welfare of the planet on his possibly changeable good nature. The other point is that they attacked Clark when they knew that they couldn't kill him. I don't think they did know that, which makes them ignorant, since I'm sure the organisation that took Kara's spaceship knows about green K. Which incedentally is the exact reason why Clark can never let the government know about it.

[devilneedsaride]

The other point is that they attacked Clark when they knew that they couldn't kill him. I don't think they did know that, which makes them ignorant, since I'm sure the organisation that took Kara's spaceship knows about green K. Which incedentally is the exact reason why Clark can never let the government know about it.

Yeah, that was pretty much my point. It's not so much that they should have been held back for moral reasons, but for practical ones. I mean, before the gunfire he at least hadn't been overtly hostile in any way. Why on earth would they think that the best way to deal with someone that powerful was to severely antagonize him?

[Welling_is_pretty]

Ii thought the government's reacton seemed pretty close to the mark, except I would have expected them there sooner, with special ops to contain him and take him away to a special lab to be studied.

Also, knowing that Clark lived his whole life (well, while he was on Earth) in Smallville, they would likely want to test every person in the town and/or talk to them. Especially those that Clark had close contact with. Same for the DP.

I don't see them wanting to just know his story, I see them wanting to dissect him and find out what gives him his powers and how they can transplant those powers into humans. Either that or control Clark Kent for their own means.

But yeah, watching those dips shoot him? Did they not read Lois's article first or did Clark not tell her he was basically invulnerable? (I'm guessing he did. He said he wanted full disclosure.)
Reminds me of this one scene in a Superman comic where there's this thug who starts shooting at Big Blue with his gun and Clark just looks at him and asks "new in town?" :lol:

[stenochick]

It's just amazing to see how readily the government took the word of an obscure gossip reporter. Sure, she had a name two years ago, but she essentially dropped from the face of the Earth, and out of nowhere she claims to know the "truth" and what's what about Clark Kent and some alien invasion. What makes her the ultimate authority?

Not to mention her bringing up Lex Luthor's name - as if half of the people in Smallville actually liked the man. Geeze, you'd think all the people who knew the Kents and watched Clark grow up would have vouched for him... where were they?

You make good points. The writer simply could not do this story justice in 40 minutes. I can picture Ben Hubbard being interviewed on the TV news, "The Kents are the salt of the earth. Their boy, Clark, was always helpful and friendly and hard-working. He couldn't hurt a fly."

Regarding the crazy lady's accusations, the Fed guy did tell Clark that the points of her story line up. Clark knows that there are a lot of skeletons in his closet. He is responsible for meteor showers and power outages, and has left a trail of human carnage behind him.

[yaseen101]

Their reaction was more along the likes of What if Linda Lake was right? What if Clark did kill Lex Luthor? We know the Kents have a long history with the Luthors and what if Clark is part of an alien invasion? We've seen Zod attack the world and caused riots around the world and Clark is suppousedly even stronger then him and have been on Earth longer so none of the goverments weapons are going to surprise if he does turn out to be bad.

[krpto]

Their reaction was more along the likes of What if Linda Lake was right? What if Clark did kill Lex Luthor? We know the Kents have a long history with the Luthors and what if Clark is part of an alien invasion? We've seen Zod attack the world and caused riots around the world and Clark is suppousedly even stronger then him and have been on Earth longer so none of the goverments weapons are going to surprise if he does turn out to be bad.

Exactly Why I think next season smallville should have the government trying to find out who or what the red blue blur is and working at cadmus labs to recreate lex's super soldier program and come up with other plans in case the red blur blur turns out to be hostile even though he as of yet appears to be helping humanity with his powers.

[kg1507]

yeah, the police and all them weren't very convincing.

[Chulance]

Now, I'm a big superman fan this episode had potiential to be great! The Governement acted extremly dumb in my opinion a guy who devotes his LIFE! to saving other people and protecting people, saves the world on a daly basis, and never kills! Now I hate when the Governemnt goes after superheroes and the sad thing is they would probably do it in real life. If I'm in alien saving lives the next day I'll be the world's most wanted man simply because man can't control me.

If the Governemnt has no control over this being he's unstable or do dangers. They went after Clark because he's dangerous because we all knew Clark causes destruction on a daily basis! I mean even if they don't trust him they asked him questions he answered he never even attempted to harm anybody so in return they shot him multiple times.

Did they read Lois's article about him being bulletproof? Anyway yeah I would have waited for Clark to make a mistake. Also this episode makes no sense I remeber an episode of Lois and Clark where something similar happanned now, why The crap do you attack Clark but when Zod was on the loose or Bizzaro were was the Governemnt to help people! I mean they go after Superheros but what about the people actually dangerous I mean why don't they investagate what happanned at Ace of clubs!!! Something useful!

[TheANIMAL (marcus)]

Now, I'm a big superman fan this episode had potiential to be great! The Governement acted extremly dumb in my opinion a guy who devotes his LIFE! to saving other people and protecting people, saves the world on a daly basis, and never kills! Now I hate when the Governemnt goes after superheroes and the sad thing is they would probably do it in real life. If I'm in alien saving lives the next day I'll be the world's most wanted man simply because man can't control me.


Hmmmm

[Chulance]

Wait, yeah the Smallville version of Clark is a murderor and very irresponsible. He killed Morgan Edge but he couldn't hurt Chloe even though everyone on earth would die. He refused to kill Lex and as a result is responsible for Black Thursday where people died. He caused the second meteor shower by disobeying his father and he's commited various crimes when exposed to Red-K. He has injured his friends and family under silver K.

He has gotten in to fights and injured people. So yeah he's different from the comib book version of Superman.

[xrayvision]

Wait, yeah the Smallville version of Clark is a murderor and very irresponsible. He killed Morgan Edge but he couldn't hurt Chloe even though everyone on earth would die. He refused to kill Lex and as a result is responsible for Black Thursday where people died. He caused the second meteor shower by disobeying his father and he's commited various crimes when exposed to Red-K. He has injured his friends and family under silver K.

He has gotten in to fights and injured people. So yeah he's different from the comib book version of Superman.

I agree with some things you said. He definitely didn't kill Edge though. If Edge is dead, which I'm hoping is not the case since I want Intergang next season, then Lex killed him with the bullets he shot at him. Clark just got in the way to stop the car from killing Lex. I doubt that impact would have killed Edge. I would probably Edge living what happened in Shattered more than I could buy Lex being shot at point blank range in the head & living in Fracture.

He did kill Wes Keenan & a few Phantom Zone prisoners, and even though he didn't know how else he could have stopped them, I do blame him & the writers for avoiding the training he could have gotten to prevent him from killing these characters. He did have a degree of responsibility in Dark Thursday, but Lex was the real one to blame. He was told not to continue doing what he did, yet he didn't listen, was taken over by Zod, and Clark again messed up since he was put in a no-win situation by the writers. The 2nd meteor shower happened mainly because of Lana and how she was involved in something she had no business in. I also blame Clark & the writers because they idiotically decided to waste time by using Clark in a football plot instead of making him go after the stones. Lana was thrown into the stones chase because the dumbest plot of the series--the witch plot. When you combine the 2 dumb plots & the dumb idea of bringing in Lois a season too soon (which forced them to put Clark together with Lois to satisfy 'shippers), we ended up with the travesty that was season 4 in which Clark was wasting 75-80% of his time playing football and in very mundane plots with Lois while Lana (who I couldn't stand in season 4) was the one interested in the stones and her idiotic witch heritage. That is precisely why I was so disappointed in season 4 (it could have been so good, but ended up so crappy). And Clark was made to look bad because of all these dumb ideas.