What crimes didn't Clark stop when he turned back time?

[Mars Investigations]

The first time around, Clark didn't pick Lois up from the airport because he was busy stopping crimes as the Red-and-Blue Blur. So, when he turned back time, didn't he allow those crimes to go ahead by going to pick up Lois instead? Didn't he essentially let people suffer and possibly die through things that he knew would happen and could prevent?

[od25star]

Maybe he prepared in advance knowing that he had to go save people and arrive at time to pick Lois up?!?!

[blackcelebration]

Maybe he called the police :lol:

[Sunny8]

Clark went back two days before the day he had to pick up Lois. I think that whatever super hero stuff he had to do that day he probably prepared for in advance so that he could pick up Lois.

[davidbrenton]

Yes, it's funny when you think about it that way. But, it's Smallville and I think the general assumption is he got to them well in advance realizing it's important to pick up Lois.

[Mars Investigations]

But surely he couldn't have got to them in advance, because the times of the crimes occurring would've been the same.

[Candice]

But surely he couldn't have got to them in advance, because the times of the crimes occurring would've been the same.
The most obvious answer is that he alerted the authorities to the crimes. He could have also just done the jobs faster knowing that last time his speed hadn't been enough to prevent him from being late.

[EternalTwilight]

But surely he couldn't have got to them in advance, because the times of the crimes occurring would've been the same.

Preemtive strike, maybe? He anticipated the crimes so he was able to take preventative measures against them.

[bobsuncorp]

I had the same thought when I watched that part, then I reasoned that there were now 2 Clarks in the world, 1 was stopping those crimes, the other was picking up Lois. Then I realised that would be far too complicated so I embraced the paradox.

[luvinChlark]

Thats what I was thinking too, I just hope nobody died without Clark's help...

[Skaterpen357]

Perhaps Clark was just on patrol the first time; superspeed or not, I suppose that takes some amount of time. The second time around, he knew exactly what was going to happen, and when, so he simply stopped those crimes, and didn't need to patrol...?

[BadToad]

I'm sure with advanced knowledge of when these crimes were going to happen, he was able to stop them before they started. For instance, if a person was going to be mugged at a certain spot, he can just do something a little while earlier to make sure that person can't make it, or that the mugger was apprehended before hand, or he could just call J'onn Jones and tell him to be there.

I very much doubt that we were supposed to get the impression that Clark just said "screw it" and decided picking Lois up at the airport was more important. Frankly, I'm surprised that viewers of this show would even think that was a possibility. Do you really think so little of Clark? I guess so :\

[cksidekick]

i thought about it... in fact i'm glad i found this thread before i started one myself...it's not about Clark saying "screw it." it's the same problem he always has with humanity...he can't be everywhere at once...at some point, Lois has to become a priority...yes, even though it means people WILL die...it's not a maybe...he COULD be somewhere saving someone...but being Superman 24/7 is an imposibility for him...he would get burned out...

i have no problem thinking that somewhere, he had to let a car crash happen because Lois needed him to be there...does that sound bad? shure, but it's a lesson in priorities that EVERY incarnation of Superman has had to come to terms with...in fact, i hope they dedicate an entire episode to this idea in season 9...MM has already given him a lecture on the topic...


edit: and Danny Turpin gave him a bit of insight on this...it's also the reason he destroyed the Legion Ring...He would like to be able to save everyone, but you just can't play around with time like that...i like to think that Chloe not finding out about Davis is just one of many things that changed, and yeah, that should include a couple of crimes Clark had to pass up on in order to deal with Linda Lake and Lois...


second edit: In fairness to the point being made here i also like to think that any life threatning situations fall into his priority list, but perhaps he had to let a purse snatcher get away or he had to leave a cat in a tree somwhere...;)

[BadToad]

Lois has to become a priority...yes, even though it means people WILL die...

And I'm sorry, I don't mean to be blunt here, but I think thats intolerable. No way do I believe that Clark would let someone die because Lois needed to be picked up at the airport. If its something he's not aware of, and it occurs while he's picking Lois up at the airport, and just living his life, then of course thats out of his control. What you are suggesting is that he actually let something bad occur so he could pick Lois up at the airport. And I just disagree with that totally.


he COULD be somewhere saving someone...but being Superman 24/7 is an imposibility for him...he would get burned out...

But he can't ignore things that he has prior information about and just blow it off either. Yes, I agree, he can't be Superman 24/7. But he also couldn't be Superman if he knew someone was going to need his help, and he just blew it off to pick someone up at the airport. Lois, or anyone else.


i have no problem thinking that somewhere, he had to let a car crash happen because Lois needed him to be there...does that sound bad? shure, but it's a lesson in priorities that EVERY incarnation of Superman has had to come to terms with...in fact, i hope they dedicate an entire episode to this idea in season 9...MM has already given him a lecture on the topic...

Again, if Superman knew where that car crash was going to happen, and knew he could stop it before it happened, and he just ignored it and blew it off? Then he's not very Superman-like, is he?

If he doesn't know about it, and he's just going about his life? Then yes, he can't be everywhere at once.

But that isn't the situation here. Nor do I believe that they were trying to suggest that Clark just blew off saving and protecting people because Lois needed an airport pick-up. And it saddens me that people have such a low opinion of Clark as that.

[cksidekick]

i must have been editing my post with those secondary thoughts as you were writing your reply to the first part...i think we are coming at it from the same angle...and it brings to my mind the bigger idea of just how much he can do and figuring out how to find peace within the idea that he does his "fair share"...to do "all he can" makes him Supes all the time...and with the Legion Ring involved things are even more complicated because he could go back to make up for mistakes or plan in advance...eventualy it would be "Groundhog Day"...

[the highlander]

in a city like metropolis... What would be the average crime occurance /s? 20 secs? Now... Where does he set the boundaries? In the movies he was around the world. So.. He can't save the world and I really disliked that some people where blaming Clark for the accidents he didn't save. Not fair at all... Once a favor, becomes a responsibility then an obligation?

[Sunny8]

...at some point, Lois has to become a priority...yes, even though it means people WILL die...it's not a maybe...he COULD be somewhere saving someone...but being Superman 24/7 is an imposibility for him...he would get burned out...

i have no problem thinking that somewhere, he had to let a car crash happen because Lois needed him to be there...does that sound bad? sure, but it's a lesson in priorities that EVERY incarnation of Superman has had to come to terms with...

Actually this answer's one of my question's that I asked on another thread as to why Lois, or anyone for that matter, had to know Clark's secret. Now I see why. In the Lois and Clark series, when Lois knew Clark Kent's secret she never allowed him to put her before rescuing people. Unless she needed to be rescued herself, Lois and Clark always made the decision that Superman had to save people above anything else.