Which father did Clark mean?

[Rift]

When Clark told Zatanna that he knew how she felt because he too "lost his father", I instantly assumed he meant JK. But the exact wording he used regarding his father being proud of the man he has become makes it work more for Jor-El imo.

The fact that he stayed away from specifics and never mentioned the word "death" or "dying" makes the speech actually work for the way he may feel about both men.

So who do you think he meant?

Heck, even Lionel said "I'm proud of you, son". :D

[BadToad]

For me, it was clear he meant Jonathan Kent. IMO, thats the only person that Clark has truly considered his father.

[Hopefulsuicide]

He's the man JK always hoped he would be. What Jor-el wanted of Clark has never been consistently portrayed.

[sithius]

Well technically, Clark did see Jonathan after his death, and he told Clark that he was proud of the man he is going to become.

Also, Jonathan has helped guide and direct Clark in his life, AI Jor'el has not. Just sort of bullied him, and AI Jor'el is not his real father, which must be stressed too.

In the context of death and such, it also implies that Clark was speaking of Jonathan, since Zatanna directly asked him what he would know about it (or something to that effect).

[skylar]

Jonathan Kent

[Rift]

All true to an extent, but when I think back to when AI Jor-El helped him save Chloe and told Clark how proud he was of him, Clark said "thank you, Father" and seemed to actually mean it, which I thought was a real turning point in their "relationship". So I'm not so sure he doesn't feel real loss for his biological father as well at this point.

[Crouching Lurker]

This is a good question. I immediately thought Jonathan Kent, but when Clark said it his hair had the very pronounced S-curl. So I'm really torn.

[Isabel14]

Jonathan Kent, he was the one that Clark considered a trully father..

[geminis]

He was deeply affected by and only remembers the loss of Jonathan but has been growing in his acceptance of Jor-El and his Kryptonian heritage and the fact that his hair had a pronounced curl was a pointed reminder of his birth father and his admitted willingness to use his powers for good.

I say both.

[sithius]

All true to an extent, but when I think back to when AI Jor-El helped him save Chloe and told Clark how proud he was of him, Clark said "thank you, Father" and seemed to actually mean it, which I thought was a real turning point in their "relationship". So I'm not so sure he doesn't feel real loss for his biological father as well at this point.

Zatanna says... 'what do you know about losing the one man who made you who you are?' and Clark replies 'the day that I loss my father. I thought my world would never be the same. It felt like something had been ripped away from me forever, and I had to let him go.'

He concludes with 'I'm finally the man my father WANTED (not wants) me to be'. True, this line could be in regard to his biological father, and not AI Jor'el, but everything that precedes it points to the death of his father and his grief at the time... ie Jonathan.

I think it's pretty clear it's Jonathan... I don't see how you can see otherwise?

[Isabel14]

I'm pretty sure he said something like 'when I loss my father, I thought I would never get over it' or something...
The only one he lost and felt like that was Jonathan..

[stenochick]

His statement is literally true in reference to Jor-El and Jonathon, but I think in that moment he was referring to Jonathon Kent.

[sithius]

The only one he lost and felt like that was Jonathan..

Edited my post for exact wording. :)

[mjs1973]

I think Jonathan/Jor-El should be up there. I think that he was talking about both fathers. Jonathan because he was there, he raised Clark and he knew how lost he was without Jonathan. I also think that he was talking about Jor-El because of Jor-El's help and understanding when Clark made the choice to have Chloe's memories erased. It made a big statement when Clark called him Father instead of Jor-El.

[Rift]

Sorry mjs--I never thought of that option. But I think you have something there that I might agree with.

[rajman]

jonathan ofcourse
but both fathers wanted him to become who he is now

[wingster55]

Clearly Johnathan.

[sithius]

Sorry mjs--I never thought of that option. But I think you have something there that I might agree with.

Why? Read my post.

[Hopefulsuicide]

He never lost Jor-el...

His whole life, he'd never had him, then he found out he was dead... that's not 'loosing your father' it's different (I can't explain properly, but trust me, i know)

To then have your father show up as Artificial Intelligence brings it very far away from 'loosing' your father.

So i don't see how he could have been talking about Jor-el...

[workshyslacker]

Jonathon Kent

[Rift]

Why? Read my post.

heh--I did. I'm just more open to the possibility that it's not as clear cut as many automatically assume. In fact, I think the addition of the "curl" may have been a clear sign that it was *meant* to be ambiguous. But you are obviously welcome to disagree. :)

[DigitalKing]

This is one of the times I will agree with the majority. Overwhelmingly Jonathan Kent, and good on him for connecting with Zatanna using his father's memory. He would be proud.

[mjs1973]

He never lost Jor-el...

His whole life, he'd never had him, then he found out he was dead... that's not 'loosing your father' it's different (I can't explain properly, but trust me, i know)

To then have your father show up as Artificial Intelligence brings it very far away from 'loosing' your father.

So i don't see how he could have been talking about Jor-el...

I can see where you're coming from and I think that what happened to Chloe would have ended a totally different way had Johanthan been there. Fact of the matter is Clark made a HUGE decision to keep his kryptonian past from Chloe, "You saved me more then I could ever save you." and Jor-El understood the decision that Clark was making. He kind of took over at that point and stepped into the shoes that Jonathan left. That's why I think Clark could have meant both fathers. Both Clark and Jor-El have come to trust one another now and that couldn't be more clear after Clark called him "Father." The Fortress went dark so in a way Clark did in fact lose Jor-El, also. I guess it's just the way you have to look at things. I do agree with everyone when they say Jonathan because of the loss he did feel when his dad died.

[xrayvision]

Jonathan. Clark wasn't on Krypton when Jor-El died and didn't know about it until several years later. He hadn't accepted Jor-El as his father until Abyss, and even then Jor-El didn't have the impact that Jonathan did.

[SuperSheltie]

Clark also then said, and I don't have a direct quote, but something along the lines of being ripped apart and potentially doing the wrong thing, which he is referring to the episode with the Angel of Vengence.....which occurred after Jonathan died and he had not fully grieved yet.

I also believe that there is some blending of the term "father" with Clark to encompass all three of the male influences in his life, Jonathan, Jor-El and Lionel....

[Mickey_Bickey]

Johnathan!

[xrayvision]

Clark also then said, and I don't have a direct quote, but something along the lines of being ripped apart and potentially doing the wrong thing, which he is referring to the episode with the Angel of Vengence.....which occurred after Jonathan died and he had not fully grieved yet.

I also believe that there is some blending of the term "father" with Clark to encompass all three of the male influences in his life, Jonathan, Jor-El and Lionel....

When he said that, I thought he referred to Reckoning also, but thattime reversal happened before his father died.

[alma]

No doubt in my mind....JONATHAN.

[mrw66855]

I think he meant both of his fathers, but used the experience of Jonathan's death. So he could connect with Zatanna and help her out of the situation She was in. We forget that, although jor-el was a jerk and was kind of forcing Clark into being a hero is what he wanted Clark to do. Now that Clark has become the hero that his biological father wanted him to be in that sense, his biological father can be proud of him. Also remember that when Jonathan died he finally knew what jor-el wanted Clark to do and besides Jonathan had always been proud of Clark. Remember. Just my opinions

[kg1507]

Papa Kent

[Smallville Vamp]

J.K

[Tompouce]

johnathan!
of course !;)

[NIGHTRAVENXLR1]

No doubt JONATHAN.

[Alicia Chipy]

The man who nurtured him with love and was his true moral barometer........Jonathan Kent.

[chlo-el]

Jonathan.

[Clark/Lois-fan]

When Clark said that he had to let him (Jonathan) go, my mind thought of the end scene in Vengeance.... :(

[MrZeppo]

As awesome as Jor-El is, the only one man, one father, I can imagine Clark describing there. And that man was Jonathan Kent. Because Jonathan is Clark's hero.

[Iluvgreen]

Jonathon Kent. Remember........ "Life for a life..." same concept.

[alejandrita439]

i think it was Jonathan :)

[Jaderoyale]

Jonathon.

[ClLaLeChFAN01]

i say jorel and JKent

[Lexsghost]

Lionel ?????????????????????????????????????????????

[<Adam Knight>]

Jonathan!

[The Dark Knight74]

Jonathan.

[susangail]

Jonathan.

[ptsiotakis]

Both his fathers

[Durancelover]

Jonathan of course.

[Krypto_marcus]

JONATHAN KENT, of course.

[marcella]

Jonathan

[borednow]

How about all of the above? :lol: Why not? He's lumped them all together before... but seriously I think he was talking about Johnathan...

[SGuthrie27]

Yeah, I had to go with Jonathan Kent, too. Clark and Lionel definitely had begun to bond by the end of the elder Luthor's time on Smallville, but I would hardly consider them father-and-son material, even if Papa Luthor did feel a bit paternal to Clark. And as for Jor-El, he's been dead since the show started; it's just his imprint -- his spirit -- that has lingered behind in the Fortress (and the Kawatche caves, the ship, etc.). I think he definitely meant his adoptive, human father. Jonathan's been the biggest impact and positive influence on Clark's life, bar none.

--SGuthrie ><>' :)--

[Kschreck]

When Clark told Zatanna that he knew how she felt because he too "lost his father", I instantly assumed he meant JK. But the exact wording he used regarding his father being proud of the man he has become makes it work more for Jor-El imo.

The fact that he stayed away from specifics and never mentioned the word "death" or "dying" makes the speech actually work for the way he may feel about both men.

So who do you think he meant?

Heck, even Lionel said "I'm proud of you, son". :D


I am pretty sure that he meant Johnathon Kent. While Kal-El did accept Jor-El as his father, I'm sure Jor-El was and will always second when it comes to his father. His entire life was formed around the morals that the Kents instilled into him.

[Vergon6]

Jonathan Kent was the one that raised him and Jor-El died before he was born. He definitely meant Jonathan Kent.

[LuthorKent90]

I automatically thought of Jonathan. :D :lol:

[Bizarrolover]

Jonathan of course. There was an interesting paralell between what Zatanna was doing and what happened to Clark in season 5. That's why he understood her better than anyone and his words were so meaningful to me. When Clark was brought back to life, his father's life was exchanged for his and here Zatanna was sacrificing herself to bring her father back, something I'm sure Clark would have done had he had the chance. Excellent continuity from one of the most important events of season 5.

[mistaguitarmasta]

I got definite Jonathan Kent vibes from Clark.

[Clois4eva89]

Without a doubt it's Jonathan Kent Clark was talking about.

[superjude]

I definitely got the impression that he was referring to Jonathon Kent.

[jpfort1957]

The only father he ever knew..........
Jonathon Kent

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[Syn]

Clark never lost Jor-El. Jor-El died but Clark never really knew him.

[BIGBMH]

He doesn't remember losing Jor-el since he was so young. I don't even think he really looks at Jor-el as his father. Jonathan was his father figure and the one he loved.

[Lonnietoons]

I don't think both Jonathan and Jor-El. Why make it so complicated? ^_-
I think it was pretty obvious just by the "One life for another" and then Clark talks about his dad. I just think you can see on him when he talks about Jonathan and when he talks of Jor-El. I dunno, he always seem a little different (its the eyes man! lol) when he talks of Jonathan.
Lionel? Never