Lionel plays three notes on the piano

[montidatta]

I think he was playing the first notes of "Three blind mice..." What do you think? Here are the lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme:

Three blind mice,
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run!

They all ran after
The farmer's wife
She cut off their tails
With a carving knife
Did you ever see
Such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?

[fattire]

I Dunno about that one man, you may be looking too far into it.

what I got out of it was that he was kryptonian (not lionel) and didn't understand music... but still felt conflict concerning lex so tried to hit a note

[NotTodayPete]

yeah I thought it was kind of funny, he just hits 3 random notes then it switches scenes. I was like WTH was that about?. Good insight fattire.

[Small2]

I don't believe Lionel is kryptonian but still human and knows what he does because he was posessed by the Voice/ZOD/Brainiac. Kind of like the sharing of two minds, and for whatever reason (s) he keep the memory of the encounter. He knows everything the Voice/ZOD/Brainiac knows, which is most everything.

It was Lionel himself who tells Lana that the Disciples of Zod are coming and that their planet is their only poison. He was fighting to get his knowledge out. It was why he was struggling to carve the symbol of ZOD into the floor. He was fighting the control that the Voice/ZOD/Brainiac had over him.

It's why he knew about Prof. Fine and the spacecraft.

For some un-revealed reason, he is keeping this knowledge to himself, and in his own weird way is looking out for his son and possibly Clark.

Starting this season the storylines have gotten more complex. Good episode.

[superkent511]

yeah those three notes was odd

[Kal EL2380]

Its Jor-El that is in Lionel. He sent Chloe after Fine. If he hadnt done that, the fortress might have been destroyed and Zod would have been free. So i seriously doubt it is Brainiac that is inside Lionel.

[tw190]

He's just tickling the ivory a bit... though I'm surprised he didn't launch into a full sonata or something. :D

[Lex3]

It's not Jor-El! Do you recall when that linguist gained so much knowledge from the caves and was also put in an asylum? It's a bursting of knowledge, and Lionel still has it. The Jor-El possessing thing was only temporary.

[creolemommie]

I am inclined to agree that Lionel is still being inhabited by Jor-El. I think if Lionel were acting on his own freewill he would have either clued Lex in on Clark's secret or he would have done something to Clark on his own. He's being too docile and helpful and concerned to everyone (like his transformation after being transferred with Clark last season). Lionel is being very unLionel like in not being evil, but he's very matter of fact about things (like telling Lex that Lana will never love him) without emotion like an alien (Kryptonian or Vulcan from ST) would be... just my two cents

[Watching Smallville]

I'm wondering whether the notes were B D A ...:lol:

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by fattire
I Dunno about that one man, you may be looking too far into it.

what I got out of it was that he was kryptonian (not lionel) and didn't understand music... but still felt conflict concerning lex so tried to hit a note

Wait wait, all the original poster said was that Lionel played the notes from Three Blind Mice, how is that reading too much into it? Whereas you posted a theory about Lionel being inhabited by Jor-El still. While I agree with that theory in some ways, it's still far more of a stretch (i.e. reading too much into it) than Lionel simply playing Three Blind Mice.

[sstray72]

I was hoping that a secret door would open, leading to the Batcave. Seriously, I was.

:p

[Brainiac_13]

That's a hilarious connection.

I'm still wondering whether or not Jor El is still 'seeing through Lionel's eyes' as it were.

[Lana_Lang #1]

I thought it was the ominous "duh, duh, DUH!" Hehehehe!

BDA That's hilarious!

[Magus]

Right now, my school is doing a play based on Clue that I'm doing but also The Mousetrap. There's one scene in The Mousetrap where a guy hits 3 notes with one finger. I think Lionel might've been playing the first three notes. "Three blind mice" is 3 notes i believe so it makes a little sense.

[Brainiac_13]

I'm still chuckling over this. :)

3 blind mice: The two disciples of Zod and "Brainiac"?

Attempt to free Zod by force, first by coercing or getting rid of Clark, second by literally going after the farmer's wife.

They get their tails cut off.

Man, that's awesome.

If it's a legit reference, it's proof that at least SOMEbody on the writing committee isn't a complete ass. If it's not, it's proof at least of the ability of the audience to find a morsel of sustenance in the vast wasteland of the storyline.

[MediaGuy0979]

I too thought those notes had some sort of meaning, but can't figure it out. Perhaps we'll find out later! Looking forward to the theories until then...

[luthorcorp]

it was funny
but also weird even for smallville
i think there is indeed a deeper meaning and lionel is some what different in his character
i just hope its all revealed!!

[MyOwnSuperhero]

It may have just been John Glover, doing what he does. When he acts, he loves to fiddle with stuff and interract with the set - it probably brings a greater sense of realism to things. He's done it in the past - the scene a few seasons back where he and Lex are in his office, and he's chowing down on that peach? That was all John. It was awesome, and gave a more predatory feel to Lionel, but it was pure John Glover, actually doing it as a challenge to the editors, doing all he could to make it impossible to edit out. Honestly, he does it all the time. Pull out the DVD's and watch. He's either toying with a prop fiddling with something in most every scene.

[iloveit]

lol ya my brother thought the camera was just left rolling and John Glover was just like ya...do do do.
lmao BDA!

[Elite]

you know i just heard it and it is 3 blind mice. he might be referring to 3 ppl who cant see whats infront of them or something??
or he just likes that song cos he used to be blind... :D

[Silent Kal]

"Montidatta," I'm so glad someone else picked up on this.

That's EXACTLY what I thought as soon as he played the notes. "That's 'Three Blind Mice.' WTH?" And it wasn't just the notes, it was the cadence too, kind of. And if I remember correctly, he had a bit of a smile on his face.

And I have to second "MyOwnSuperhero's" thoughts on JG's acting style. In fact, I popped in my "Batman:The Animated Series" DVD last night, just to listen to JG provide the "Riddler" voice. He rocks.

"Braniac 13", I hope it was intentional, too. Because your theory fits in a cool way.

[UDStyle]

Originally posted by sstray72
I was hoping that a secret door would open, leading to the Batcave. Seriously, I was.

:p That's exactly what I was thinking! lol I thought a bookcase would open when he did that.

[Elite]

rofl @ batcave

also, i thought lex was gonna twist lionels neck when he grabbed it. he was definitely thinking about it...

[trusupagyrl]

Originally posted by UDStyle
That's exactly what I was thinking! lol I thought a bookcase would open when he did that.

Me too! I was all like, "Are they taking the secret door fom BB?" It was crazy. I honestly am not too sure about what it meant or if it meant anything. Confusing though?

[wickedsmart]

its probably that Lionel was possessed by an overload of intelligence, like Prof. Walden in season 2, and after he recuperated, he knows everything about krypton and so forth.
that probably wont explain why lionel hasnt gone all whacko or on a human crusade against the kryptonians like walden wanted to, but maybe the crystals had some kind of emotional effect (like after transference) in which hes a more pleasant person. he might regress to becoming a threat once again but will probably die, as the show winds down and he is not a pivotal character in the superman saga.

[UDStyle]

Maybe Jor El was discovering music for the first time.

"daaahhhh music gooood!"

[Watching Smallville]

I like the three blind mice, idea. "They all went after the farmer's wife" -- which is exactly what they did. They were blinded to Fine's true purpose because they were concerned about Martha. Obviously one "blind mouse" would be Clark, one would be Chloe (although she discovered the truth)? one would be Jonathan? Or Lex, because he doesn't see Jor-El. Maybe I'm reaching.

Or perhaps Lionel was just playing three keys in succession -- that would give you 3 blind mice, too, but not on purpose.

[gusgorman]

It was definitely "3 Blind Mice." I think it was one of those SV inside jokes that they often do to see who's paying attention. Like when Clark and Aquaman talk about forming a Junior Lifeguard Association.

I do like the three blind mice as ... clark, fine and chloe. They were all blind to different plot points.

Oh and did anyone catch the Strangler reference. The Strangler was an old time Superman enemy.

[jimmyolsenblues]

"daaahhhh music gooood!" <--funny :))
"Fire.....BADD"
Jor-El becomes Frankenstein

[trusupagyrl]

Strangler???

[CLS]

It may be John Williams' Superman theme.

Which is 3 notes, deh dun duh!
Superman!
BDA!

-cs™

[Chlark828]

Randommmm

maybe he was bored?

[spideyfan]

Originally posted by sstray72
I was hoping that a secret door would open, leading to the Batcave. Seriously, I was.

:p

NOW that wouldve been sweet!
funny bro

[CLS]

Oh great Lex is Batman!

The Bald Knight Returns!

*cues Danny Elfman music*

-cs™

[UDStyle]

Originally posted by CLS
Oh great Lex is Batman!
Ahhh so that's why Lex wanted me to tell all my friends about him.

[JRoe85]

The thing about film is that they dont show you something unintentionally..the sets and scenes are planned out and set up, if it was just JG fiddling, then it would have been cut out becuase it would have no significant value, (I was in media communications for 2 years in highschool so i know what im talking about) Braniac 13's explination makes the most sense



Originally posted by Brainiac_13
I'm still chuckling over this. :)

3 blind mice: The two disciples of Zod and "Brainiac"?

Attempt to free Zod by force, first by coercing or getting rid of Clark, second by literally going after the farmer's wife.

They get their tails cut off.



The kyrptonians Nam-Ek, Ayerth(i cant remember her name), and Braniac are all blind to the human race and thought that he would turn against them and help them free Zod, but when he didnt they went after his mother (the farmers wife) Martha and metaphorically had their tails cut off..... Great writing by the writers on this episode for that reference!!!!


p.s. Lionel is still Jor-El just becuase he knew about braniac after he was on earth for about 5 months and he hasnt been able to catch clark using his powers for 5 years!!!!

[soreal]

I think jor-El is still in lionel. what happened to lionel isn't the same thing that happen to dr. walden. Dr. Walden was hit by the information in the cave and Lionel was activated by the crystal making him an oracle of kryptonian knowledge and a kryptonian vessel for Jor-El to enter like he explained in episode 5-03. I feel that he can still control him when he wants to.

[Ultron]

I thought it was basically saying "Su per man" like how the Superman movies had three notes that essentially seemed to make that sound.

[Clex1115]

It sounded like three blind mice to me as well

[LuthorRequiem2]

Maybe it wasn't really a specific tune at all? Maybe it represented Lionel's inability to control his son. Lionel is so used to controlling everything. Now, his son has gone too far, and he can't control anything anymore. The only thing he can control is three random keys on a piano? Just a thought.

[my3cats]

Maybe a hint that Lionel isn't really himself, he knew how to play the piano before, and how did he know about Fine?

[ketsugi]

The three notes were B, A, G (unless my pitching is off). Just a descending scale, which means Lionel probably hit a random key and then just went on to hit the next two on the left. I find the "Three Blind Mice" connection to be tenuous at best. Let's not read too much into things; this isn't some kind of literature lesson.

I did think he was going to activate some kind of secret room, though, the way he was staring straight ahead past the camera when he tapped those keys.

[jennaj]

thought that three notes was the ending of John Williams score :P

[Godko]

I like the theory of "Three Blind Mice", but inconsistancy was that the farmer's wife didn't retaliate like the nursery rhyme suggests "who cut off their tail with a carving knife". It was Clark, as far as we know that ended the disease that Martha had.

[superman05]

or maybe he was just frustrated and thought to play the piano but when he played iut he thought whats the point and finished

[Magus]

three blind mice. it's in The Mousetrap. The recreation of the scene can't be a coincedence

[j03superbat]

Originally posted by Lex3
It's not Jor-El! Do you recall when that linguist gained so much knowledge from the caves and was also put in an asylum? It's a bursting of knowledge, and Lionel still has it. The Jor-El possessing thing was only temporary.
Dr. Walden got blasted by the caves after putting the key into a wall. Lionel got blasted by one of the Three Stones of Knowledge. Different situations, different results.

Maybe someone forgot to say, "Cut!". :\

[KalLover07]

i thought it was B G A

[Lex3]

Originally posted by j03superbat
"Dr. Walden got blasted by the caves after putting the key into a wall. Lionel got blasted by one of the Three Stones of Knowledge. Different situations, different results."
It's basically the same situation. Both have high kryptonian knowledge gained from Kryptonian artifacts. Besides, aren't the artifact and the cave entwined? Methinks so.

[Posterman]

I thought it was the same three notes that were played in 'Close Encounters', but who knows?

[No-El]

Originally posted by montidatta
I think he was playing the first notes of "Three blind mice..." What do you think? Here are the lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme:

Three blind mice,
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run!

They all ran after
The farmer's wife
She cut off their tails
With a carving knife
Did you ever see
Such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?


You know I looked at that scene again and again and it sure did sound like "Three Blind Mice"!!

[Watching Smallville]

I play the piano. Believe me, it was the notes for "Three Blind Mice."

[Videogamer49107]

If it was three blind mice maybe it was Lionel making the reference to Lex, Clark, and Lana who all three don't know what's right in front of them. Clark doesn't want to except his destiny even though the greater good of the earth needs him and he hasn't figured that out yet. Lana still has no idea what's going on and Lex is obsessed with every little trinket he finds but can't make heads or tails of it because it's far too advanced for him to understand. IF Jor-El was still in Lionel's body, and Krytponian's being of a smarter race as well, wouldn't Jor-El understand how to play the piano? I don't think it was just coincedence, but I don't think it served any higher purpose other than just as something to be puzzled by the audience seeking purpose in the show.

[photogirl]

I didn't get it. I still don't. It was totally random

[LuthorRequiem2]

Hahahaha. If John Glover is reading this discussion, I bet he's revelling in it! He loves to inspire thought in his audience. By the way, I agree with the person who said "Maybe he was just frustrated and started to play but didn't". Or maybe not. Who knows. I'm confused about Lionel/Lion-EL. We shall see where it all leads.

[ballofsteel]

Originally posted by Videogamer49107
If it was three blind mice maybe it was Lionel making the reference to Lex, Clark, and Lana who all three don't know what's right in front of them. Clark doesn't want to except his destiny even though the greater good of the earth needs him and he hasn't figured that out yet. Lana still has no idea what's going on and Lex is obsessed with every little trinket he finds but can't make heads or tails of it because it's far too advanced for him to understand. IF Jor-El was still in Lionel's body, and Krytponian's being of a smarter race as well, wouldn't Jor-El understand how to play the piano? I don't think it was just coincedence, but I don't think it served any higher purpose other than just as something to be puzzled by the audience seeking purpose in the show.

Maybe, but i don't agree...

Cause can Clark play the piano???

'Smarter Race' won't mean they know everything, just probably pick things up a little quicker...

[JRoe85]

I feel that lion-el playing three blind mice right after lex left shows that lion-el knows that lex has no idea what is going on and is right in front of his face....that part still made me smile due to its suddulty.

[Lex3]

Three Blind Mice can be played several different ways in several chords. Believe me, you are probably thinking into this way too much. Three Blind Mice is three notes. While I found the scene disappointing, I do not think that the producers would really think about it this much. I don't believe that Jor-El is still in Lex's body for my own reasons. Jor-El isn't really evil, for one thing, but just misunderstood. He becomes a crucial part in Kal-El's development. I believe that he can get everything done through the Fortress of Solitude. Jor-El took over Lionel's body because he saw that Kal-El really needed it, and that Kal-El's life was at stake. In life or death situations such as this, it is crucial that he save his life because he is so important.

[MidgardDragon]

Originally posted by Lex3
I don't believe that Jor-El is still in Lex's body for my own reasons. Jor-El isn't really evil, for one thing, but just misunderstood. He becomes a crucial part in Kal-El's development.

1) I assume you mean Lionel.

2) Many people believe Jor-El is still in Lionel's body *because* Lionel is still acting very benevolent. Thus, it would make since that Jor-El is possessing Lionel, because Lionel is doing some very OOC benevolent things, and as you said, Jor-El is likely not evil, but misunderstood (something I've been saying since day 1 of his appearance.)

3) I agree with you that the three notes had no significance in and of themselves. Lion-El's playing of the piano might have given us some insight into the character, but it was definitely not anything philosophical.

[All about Clark]

This is how I saw all of this. Jor-el used Lionel and entered his body to save his son and then left, but by doing this, the information is still there and Lionel is aware of it. He is still doing good because of Clark in Transference. Lionel was frustrated with his son because he can't seem to reach him. Lionel is using all of his old nasty ways to make good. He played Three Blind Mice as a reference to how everyone is blind and running around aimless. Simple as that.

[Small2]

I'm with you All about Clark.

[mosespeach]

If it was Three Blind Mice, it could have all sorts of cool connotations.

[soreal]

all about clark, I don't agree. If he is suppose to be good from Transference then why was he trying to get all of the crystals. don't tell me he was collecting them so that he could give it to Clark.

[All about Clark]

A good person doesn't necessary hand something over to someone else not knowing why. He forgot about Clark and his powers and not knowing the stones were for him. He seemed to be trying to keep the wrong people/wrong motives from getting the stones, that's it. Besides, he even admitted the stones weren't going to make his life any better. If he remembered anything, he would have given the stone to Clark, so he didn't remember.

But now after Jor-el, he's armed with alot of information and can do the right thing. But his old nasty ways are all he knows.

[Lex3]

Last episode, we got a sort of insight back into Lionel's character, (because we really haven't seen him for a while.) I believe that Lionel returned to his earlier personality for the following reasons...
1. When he told Chloe of Dr. Fine, He seemed to have ulterior motives. Besides that, he could very well have just have told her in order to generate an insight on the mystery that is Professor Milton Fine.
2. In Lexmas, we saw Lionel acting like his old self (not in vision, but in reality.) And, when Lex had the near-death vision, he saw Lionel returning to his old ways. Remember that there are several weeks difference between episodes. Anyway, Lex probably saw his father in the several weeks, and just a guess, but he probably knows his father best.
So, to know Lionel, we had to take a look into the psyche that is Lex Luthor, and understand his philosophy of his father. THEN we can see who his father is and/ or has been.
Please, keep in mind that this concludes very little at the moment. Jor-El very well could just drop in on occasion, (from time to time) to check up on Kal-El. Or, Jor-El could very well be a very good actor. I just... somehow doubt that Jor-El could be that eager to spy on his son, as to deliberately possess someone for a LONG period of time. When he did possess him, he had reason and Kal-El was dying. That is all. (For now)

[number8]

LOL, I was wondering about that.

I don't know much music, but I was like what's he playing?!

[Welling_is_pretty]

I finally got to see Solitude (on the repeat) last night and one of the things that made me sit up was that scene.
It made me flash back to the early Seasons when Lionel would be playing the piano and Lex would come in and they would talk (read: argue). Back then Lionel would play operettas and the like. This time it was 3 notes (was it 3 Blind Mice? If so that was a cute reference back to the days when Lionel was blind! :) ). I figured it had been done intentionally to demostrate the difference between Lionel then and Lionel now. Or to show that Lionel was "Jor-El" or something.

But probably all it was was John Glover plinking one of his Tony award winning songs or something and we are all reading too much into it! :lol:

[RedQ]

Expect the writers are throwing alot of Foreshadowing you have to read it.
Also that scene caught my eye was wondering what that was all about cause they could easily cut that scene short. since they didn't therefore it has meaning being both of them are blind and including Clark, etc...
Originally posted by gusgorman
It was definitely "3 Blind Mice." I think it was one of those SV inside jokes that they often do to see who's paying attention. Like when Clark and Aquaman talk about forming a Junior Lifeguard Association.

I do like the three blind mice as ... clark, fine and chloe. They were all blind to different plot points.

Oh and did anyone catch the Strangler reference. The Strangler was an old time Superman enemy. What is Strangler?

[Spirit Detective]

was it Z-O-D?