What was with Clark’s dissolve at the end?

[Kryppy]

Was that just the editor’s style (like River Phoenix dissolved at the end of Stand By Me)? Or was that to show Clark is a ghost?

[cksidekick]

Clark Kent is dead.

[susangail]

Style.

[smallvillesweetie]

ok, now i'm confused. Did doomsday really kill him?

[Exedore]

Style.

Ditto.

This is all there is to it. If they decide to retcon it over the summer then it will be something else. Right now this is all there is.

[dimefan90]

superman 3

[jpfort1957]

That was some of tonights special effects..........budget concerns, you know!!!!!

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


ok, now i'm confused. Did doomsday really kill him?

I almost think it was Clarks attempt at suicide!!!!!!! I believe he took DD down the shaft and waited to be sealed in there.

[moviefan2k4]

I think the "ghost" angle would be an interesting one. they could have the long-absent "3 months later" tag open the Season 9 premiere, and have Clark absent for the bulk of it, until the very end. At that point, we see Clark's headstone, and suddenly his fist smashes through to the surface. It'd be a cool nod to the comics, and Tom could direct the premiere.

[Kryppy]

we see Clark's headstone, and suddenly his fist smashes through to the surface. It'd be a cool nod to the comics

How's that?

[galatians221]

Here's what I know:

Clark changed clothes. He came all dressed up with a lavendar dress shirt, dark slacks and a dark coat, like something one might wear to a funeral. Ghosts don't change clothes. (I don't think)

Clark hugged Chloe. They touched; corporeal beings, two solids making contact.

I can't say what happened when he vaporized except that perhaps it's artistic license to make the point that Clark Kent is dead. This is the metaphorical death that was described in the spoilers. Why have him vaporize? I don't know other than artistic license. It was a metaphorical vaporization.

[vagrant]

[Mod Edit]

[Kevin24]

I am pretty sure that he used his super speed but they decided to show him disappearing like he did in promise back in season 6 to add to the drama.

[FozzyRock]

Kinda adds to the "Chloe is all alone" thing they got going if they have Clark disappear from her point of view. Quite frankly I'm just gonna wait til September and see what happens rather than speculate.

[malft]

I was thinking hologram but he and Chloe did hug. BTW how about Chloe hung out, all her men are gone, and her family. She got a long summer ahead.

[Aries83]

Clark fading away only added to the uneven tone of the episode, quite frankly. I realize why it was done, but it was just odd, especially for a season finale.

[galatians221]

Clark fading away only added to the uneven tone of the episode, quite frankly. I realize why it was done, but it was just odd, especially for a season finale.

I suppose Jor El could have transported him to the FOS in some manner or Rokk could have brought him to the future but that doesn't fit the story line. I would guess that the appearance of Zod somehow stimulated Jor El to complete his son's training. If he isn't ready now he never will be.

[Forney2414]

sticky please :P

Clark is not a ghost. He could be 2 people because of the black K or the Eradicator saved him and is impersonating him while the real Clark is healing from the battle or maybe just maybe he feels responsible for jimmy and davis' deaths, even though he couldn't control what they did to each other, and is going to just be only a superhero and nothing else for a while. I mean Lois is gone too... I thought he was in love with her. What does he need Clark for if all his friends are other superheroes or dead or Lex Luthor.

[Polomontana]

I don't know.

Clark said he didn't know how he survived the blast and he said he didn't get out fast enough to save anybody but they were all at the funeral.

Clark was very confused at the end and he might be dead and he doesn't know it.

[Forney2414]

Wouldn't they have a funeral for the others and maybe have a big story about the disappearance of Oliver Queen in the Daily Planet or other news sources?

Edit: Plus they were all at Jimmy's funeral that took place after the fight. This was not a 2 hour process. It takes time to plan a funeral. They could have just gone separate ways after the funeral took place.

[galatians221]

I don't know.

Clark said he didn't know how he survived the blast and he said he didn't get out fast enough to save anybody but they were all at the funeral.

Clark was very confused at the end and he might be dead and he doesn't know it.

I suppose being dead can be confusing. I've never thought of it that way. He touched Chloe. He's not a ghost.

[alienkinfolk]

if he's a ghost I hope he comes back with some fighting skills

[galatians221]

if he's a ghost I hope he comes back with some fighting skills

I'm hoping that he comes back as Superman.

----- Added 14 Minutes later -----


I am pretty sure that he used his super speed but they decided to show him disappearing like he did in promise back in season 6 to add to the drama.

Dramatic license; exactly. They told us that there would be a metaphorical death and that is what that scene was about (I think)

[Joren DarkStar]

I am thinking Eradicator, tbh.

Eradicator and Zod at the beginning would be sweet, and would make what "Clark" said to Chloe make sense.

[teddybairs]

I don't think he's a ghost either, but it does sound like he's got a lot of thinking to do. Meanwhile, what kind of havoc is Zod going to wreck where his "son" failed? that's the big question. Clark or Kal-El can't be out of the picture for too long otherwise it won't take Zod long to totally dominate Earth.

[Kager05]

Clark is not a ghost. He could be 2 people because of the black K or the Eradicator saved him and is impersonating him while the real Clark is healing from the battle or maybe just maybe he feels responsible for jimmy and davis' deaths, even though he couldn't control what they did to each other, and is going to just be only a superhero and nothing else for a while. I mean Lois is gone too... I thought he was in love with her. What does he need Clark for if all his friends are other superheroes or dead or Lex Luthor.

I agree with the Eradicator part. It is either the Eradicator impersonating Clark like you said or the Eradicator altering Superman's mind to make him the "ideal" Kryptonian.

[Luthor5339]

Clark’s not a ghost. He’s just going through a really tough time right now. He’s starting to question who he is.

As an international adoptee, a child of two worlds, I’ve also been going through a difficult identity crises and wondering if everything would be better if I stopped trying to act like I belong and just accept my “alien side” – my birth right.

So, why does Clark seem different? We’ve always seen him question this side of himself and now he’s at tipping point more than ever before, basically he feels it’s safer to truly accept the birth side than human side, which is really a confusing question and does reflect in how you act on things. Recently I made myself promise to recognize and hold strong to this otherness, to not forget that I am different and to stop pretending, that’s what Clark’s also done, I’m not sure if he’s right or wrong. I’m starting to wonder if it might be easier… so nope, not a ghost – just giving up trying to fit in. The writers even hinted as much….

Next season’s going to be epic, the battle of identity being of two worlds has a lot of conflicts, trust me… Hopefully it ends in flying…

[KAL..EL]

ok guys we have seen this before, remember back in season 6 "promise" when we saw from lana's pov how it looked like clark just vanished??? well they did the same thing here just in slow motion. he walked at normal pase towards the door and as soon as he was at the door WOOSH GONE. if you watch it again you can hear the slight WOOSH sound. by the way the line "clark kent is dead" was also said by kalel back in season 4 "crusade" he meant it the same way we just heard clark say it in this episode. so in other words "clark kent is dead, it is time to fulfill my destiney" its time to become SUPERMAN. IMO he is going to the fortress to find a way to restore it and start training.

CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASON 9.

SMALLVILLE RULES!!

[wiserommer]

Does anyone remember the episode, where lana locked Chloe down in the cellar (luther Mansion) and she hid behind the wine racks? Lana witnessed clark come and resue chloe, but not only this he super clarked out, when he was done. So, when Lana saw him go away, you didnt hear the wosh or the after affects of the sonic boom. Clark simply disappeard!!

I believe that chloe witnessed the same thing, it wasnt a ghost, but dark clark simpy running of from her point of view.

[jedimorton21]

that was different.. in this one he faded away the other one he just was gone in a split sec.

[wiserommer]

I still think the same principal applies, but it was more a dramatic exit.

[Imzadia]

Clark told Chloe that Clark Kent is Dead. Then "Good-bye, Chloe". IMO, the "vanishing" was 'Symbolic' and its meaning is associated with Clark "vanishing" out into the world where he will not be able to be found unless he chooses to. His 'presence' is now 'vanished' from her life. It's the same way the CBS series, "Without A Trace", shows the viewer that the person who 'vanished' is now 'Missing'.

[Dominicus]

Clark told Chloe that Clark Kent is Dead. Then "Good-bye, Chloe". IMO, the "vanishing" was 'Symbolic' and its meaning is associated with Clark "vanishing" out into the world where he will not be able to be found unless he chooses to. His 'presence' is now 'vanished' from her life. It's the same way the CBS series, "Without A Trace", shows the viewer that the person who 'vanished' is now 'Missing'.Yah, totally what I was going to say. And the effect, if he literally disappeared, don't ya think Chloe would've made a puzzled expression? All she had was a non-reactive expression. People are reading into too much with this one, it was just a dramatic effect.

[Kschreck]

The fading out at the end of the episode was simply to signify that Clark Kent as we know him is dead. Clark really isn't dead though.

[gaz_md]

why did clark fade out as he walked out the door after saying "Clark Kent is dead" this makes no sense, was it really clark??

[Orbital2]

why did clark fade out as he walked out the door after saying "Clark Kent is dead" this makes no sense, was it really clark??

I assume they were just trying to show Clark leaving from Chloe's point of view, ala moving so fast that he that he just appears to fade out. Kinda like they did in the episode with lana in the wine cellar where she finds out his secret

[pibegardel]

Hopefully its no more than dramatics, much like the slo-mo walk-aways. I think if it had been more than that then Chloe would have reacted to Clark ACTUALLY fading away.

[Doomville]

I assume they were just trying to show Clark leaving from Chloe's point of view, ala moving so fast that he that he just appears to fade out. Kinda like they did in the episode with lana in the wine cellar where she finds out his secret

i kinda disagree in the episode where lana finds out clarks secret, he disappears in a blink but in this he fades away because if you pause it as he is fading it looks as if he is a shadow. so i think he is just fading away the clark kent part of him or something or maybe he was a figment of chloes imagination as she has just lost everyone in her life.

[closertohome]

I think it was just an effect they threw in to drive the point home that Clark Kent had metaphorically died. I don't think he physically did any fading.