Supes underage drinking

[LOONEY]

Neither of them is 21 yet unless i missed a few years. This means that one they are not old enuff to drink. Which means that he is too young to buy it. This means that he stole the liquor? Then did some underage drinking and unmarried sex. Sounds like hes not so super right now.

[JudasAce]

Season 1: 15/16
Season 2: 16/17
Season 3: 17/18
Season 4:18/19
Season 5: 19/20
Season 6: 20/21
Season 7: 21/22

Any way you figure it, he's over 21 by now.

[LOONEY]

Did he just not graduate last season? that would make him 18
(i graduated at 17)
The opener was the metor shower at graduation right? even if not and it was the season before hand that would still have him under 21.
He didn't graduate in season 3 i know that.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Did he just not graduate last season? that would make him 18
(i graduated at 17)
The opener was the metor shower at graduation right? even if not and it was the season before hand that would still have him under 21.
He didn't graduate in season 3 i know that.

Each season is one year of real time. Season 1 was Freshman year in high school. Season 4 was his last year of high school. This is season 7. Therefore, no, he did not graduate high school last year.

Look back at JudasAce's post. He did a good job of answering your question.

[LOONEY]

Okay so i've only watched this show for 7 years now so what season opener was the 2nd meteor shower? that was the day of graduation. I thought the beg of season 6 was the shower and the black ship (braniac) and the 2 tonians....
So you say that season 5 was the graduation opener then? Still puts him under 21.

[TampaVille]

I again have to refer you to JudasAce's post. I can't explain it any better than he did. I can copy and paste exactly what he typed if you like, but I really don't see the need, since it's simply a scroll up on this very page.

If Clark was 15 at the beginning of Season 1, he would be 21 at the beginning of Season 7. I turned 15 the summer before my freshman year of high school. I was among the older people in my class, but there were several older than I was. Clark could very easily have been 15 at the beginning of Season 1. That would make him 16 at the beginning of Season 2, 17 at the beginning of Season 3, 18 at the beginning of Season 4, 19 at the beginning of Season 5, 20 at the beginning of Season 6, and 21 at the beginning of Season 7.

Since we are now 7 episodes into Season 7, it is safe to say that he could easily be 21 at this point. He COULD be younger, but if you're getting upset because he appears to be drinking underage... the evidence isn't there for it.

[LOONEY]

Why won't anyone just tell me what season opened with them graduating? that tells you that he was 18 at the beg of THAT season. If that was season 6 like i think it was then hes no more than 20 right now more than likely still under.
Just show me the season opener with graduation. thats all
Not getting upset just making a point that the worlds biggest hero used to steal booze and drink underage while bangin' earth chicks.

[elhector2]

Season 4 ends with their graduation, the first episode of season 5 is the arrival of the aliens, Milton Fine, etc. So the end of season 4 was the end of their 4th year in high school...showing that each season marks the passage of approx. one year's time

[wrinkles]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Why won't anyone just tell me what season opened with them graduating? .

It was the end of season 4 that they graduated - episode "commencement" I thinks.

If you need any further convincing, the first season was in freshman year. Now not being American I may have this wrong, but there are four years in high school. That means it was season 4 that they graduated.

It then takes 3 years (because 7-4=3) to get to where we are now. So 18 years old plus another 3 years makes 21 years old.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Why won't anyone just tell me what season opened with them graduating? that tells you that he was 18 at the beg of THAT season. If that was season 6 like i think it was then hes no more than 20 right now more than likely still under.
Just show me the season opener with graduation. thats all
Not getting upset just making a point that the worlds biggest hero used to steal booze and drink underage while bangin' earth chicks.

He's had sex with one woman. That is hardly "bangin' Earth chicks."

I haven't caughed up the episode in which the 2nd meteor shower took place for several reasons. One is that I don't know it off the top of my head. Another is that I don't see the need. The math involved is simple. 15 + 6 is no more difficult than 18 + 3. Did you follow the very simple counting that JudasAce and I both laid out for you? I don't mean to sound condescending. I simply don't understand why you're still having trouble. Each season is 1 year in length, and he started as a freshman in high school. Very simple, clean, cut and dry.

However, because you have been so insistent, and because I don't want it to look like I'm being evasive, I answered to your beck and call and did the research to look up the exact episodes you wanted. The second meteor shower takes place at the end of Season 4 (Commencement) and the beginning of Season 5 (Arrival). It's safe to assume that Clark was 18 in those two episodes. In the second episode of Season 5 (Mortal), it is clear that some time has passed, since most of the Kent Farm has been rebuilt (recall it was destroyed in the meteor shower). If we assume that Clark was 18 at the beginning of Season 4, his senior year of high school (as I was myself), that would make him 19 by the early part of Season 5. Which would make him 20 by the early part of Season 6. Which would make him 21 by the early part of Season 7.

Note that your system, starting at the meteor shower, reaches the exact same conclusion as mine, starting at day 1 of Smallville. Clark MIGHT not be 21 yet, but there's no reason to definitively say that he isn't. He very easily could be. Last time Clark faced the issue of underage drinking, it was specifically addressed. Don't see why it wouldn't be now, if he weren't 21 yet.


Originally posted by wrinkles
It was the end of season 4 that they graduated - episode "commencement" I thinks.

If you need any further convincing, the first season was in freshman year. Now not being American I may have this wrong, but there are four years in high school. That means it was season 4 that they graduated.

It then takes 3 years (because 7-4=3) to get to where we are now. So 18 years old plus another 3 years makes 21 years old.

Thanks wrinkles. JudasAce and I both already made this exact same point, but using slightly different terminology. Hopefully one of us makes sense to Looney! =)

[curiosity]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Neither of them is 21 yet unless i missed a few years. This means that one they are not old enuff to drink. Which means that he is too young to buy it. This means that he stole the liquor? Then did some underage drinking and unmarried sex. Sounds like hes not so super right now.

First of all I didn't notice any drinking? Second, alcohol doesn't affect Clark at all. Third, Lana clearly stated she was 18 at the beginning of season 4 , when she was dating Jason the football coach. They said it was all legal, beause she was already 18, they just didn't want anyone to know.

Also, it was stated that Clark was 18 at the beginning of season 5, when he was shot, they said, male, age 18 when they were wheeling him....but then that may have been their best guess? Remember, Clark doesn't actually know his real birthday.

So there you have it, Lana is definately 21 because

(season) 4 + (season) 3 = (season) 7

and 18+3=21.


I hope this clears some things up for everyone.

[wrinkles]

Originally posted by TampaVille
Hopefully one of us makes sense to Looney! =)

Haha, well, I thought you and JudasAce and elhector were pretty clear also. But sometimes answers just need to go simple concepts like 18+3=21. Small words and all that.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by wrinkles
Haha, well, I thought you and JudasAce and elhector were pretty clear also. But sometimes answers just need to go simple concepts like 18+3=21. Small words and all that.

Heh. I really hope that Looney is not taking offense at any of this. Like I said before, I'm not trying to sound demeaning. I actually DID use the math, haha. I tried 15 + 6 and 18 + 3. It's been well established that each year of the show represents roughly one real world year. That's how if they have, say, a Christmas episode, it can come out around Christmas, lol. I thought starting from the beginning and adding 6 would be simplest. He wanted to start at age 18 and add 3. 21 either way!

And my apologies to elhector for not mentioning him earlier as well. I'd mentioned JudasAce so many times that one sprang to mind. I'd forgotten about elhector's fairly concise explanation of why it would be a little over 6 years since day 1.


Originally posted by curiosity
First of all I didn't notice any drinking?

When exactly in the episode did it occur?

[ScottM1956]

TPTB said in an interview that Kara was 19 years of age, then they said that would put Clark a couple of years older than her.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by ScottM1956
TPTB said in an interview that Kara was 19 years of age, then they said that would put Clark a couple of years older than her.

That is yet another reason to believe that Clark is indeed 21...

[TOMophilus]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Neither of them is 21 yet unless i missed a few years. This means that one they are not old enuff to drink. Which means that he is too young to buy it. This means that he stole the liquor? Then did some underage drinking and unmarried sex. Sounds like hes not so super right now.
Are you stuck in the 19th century, or what? :rolleyes: What´s wrong with unmarried sex and a small glass of champagne coming with it?

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by TOMophilus
Are you stuck in the 19th century, or what? :rolleyes: What´s wrong with unmarried sex and a small glass of champagne coming with it?

I agree with you, vehemently. The unmarried sex is an issue for another thread though (the thread does exist). As far as the alcohol thing, who knows. I suspect both are religious issues, which is why people can get so gung ho about them.

[bobowayney]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Did he just not graduate last season? that would make him 18
(i graduated at 17)
The opener was the metor shower at graduation right? even if not and it was the season before hand that would still have him under 21.
He didn't graduate in season 3 i know that. Clark, Chloe & Lana all graduated in the season 4 finale "Commencement" - technically Lana did NOT get her diploma cause Lex was trying to get her out of town (and get her part of the crystal) while Clark was seen to get HIS sheepskin right before the National Guard arrived to evacuate everyone before the meteor shower. It gets tricky about the age - IF Clark was 18 when he graduated he is 21 now, if not maybe in the SV universe the legal drinking age is 20 (j/k)


Originally posted by LOONEY
unmarried sex. Sounds like hes not so super right now. I see where you are coming from, but Clark has normal sexual feelings - in the 1st season episode "X-ray" Clark looks into the girls locker room and sees Lana in only a towel and she takes it off (off camera) Clark is seen smiling; in the 2nd season episode "Heat" Clark cant keep from staring at the teacher Desiree Atkins and inadvertly activates his heat vision in class; so unfortunately there IS a precedent in SV for Clark having very strong sexual desires and in the movie "Superman II" after having been de=powered it is heavily suggested that Superman/Clark had unmarried sex with Lois. While you and I may NOT agree with Superman doing these things, the writers seem to think this will make Superman more appealing to a wider audience

[chantal]

Originally posted by JudasAce
Season 1: 15/16
Season 2: 16/17
Season 3: 17/18
Season 4:18/19
Season 5: 19/20
Season 6: 20/21
Season 7: 21/22

Any way you figure it, he's over 21 by now.

I don't know where you went to high school, but in my town the age for freshman year would be 14/15. Anyone still in high school at 19 is on the 5-year plan!

However, 14 + 7 is still 21, so no problem. As long as Clark didn't steal the stuff like the maple syrup.

I sort of remember wine being served at the Kent family Thanksgiving last year, which surprised me as Clark and Chloe might have been underage then.

[svfan50]

heheee....okay..!! I can't go through all of the posts...!!! I dont know and cant recall them being under or over 21...!! and frankly..i dont care..!! Doesn't everbody know that nobody(almost nobody) waits for being 21 to drink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LMAO

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by svfan50
heheee....okay..!! I can't go through all of the posts...!!! I dont know and cant recall them being under or over 21...!! and frankly..i dont care..!! Doesn't everbody know that nobody(almost nobody) waits for being 21 to drink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LMAO

If you can't read 19 posts, and don't care what they say anyway... why are you reading and posting in this thread?

[Super Maverick]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Did he just not graduate last season?

no

[The Great Ymmij]

Originally posted by chantal
I don't know where you went to high school, but in my town the age for freshman year would be 14/15. Anyone still in high school at 19 is on the 5-year plan!

However, 14 + 7 is still 21, so no problem. As long as Clark didn't steal the stuff like the maple syrup.

I sort of remember wine being served at the Kent family Thanksgiving last year, which surprised me as Clark and Chloe might have been underage then.
I agree about the whole high school age thing. I started watching Smallville when I was a freshman in high school. I always thought that it was cool to be the same age as Clark while watching the series. And yes, I graduated when I was 17, just turning 18. I'll be 21 soon, and I know Clark's "birthday" is earlier than mine (this is due to one of the episodes in either season 4 or 5 where they celebrated his b-day in the early episodes of the season) even though we were born in the same year. So yes, he could definitely be 21 years old at this point.

[Superboy2]

One of the episodes of season five he turned 20 after his dad died and Clark got baseball tickets. Hes not 20 yet, his b-day is in may.

[Kryptonian-Ronin]

Ok, I have to admit I don't even recall them drinking.

Lana got married and I assume drank at the reception, no?
Aren't her and Clark the same age ?

I am pretty sure Clark has drank a beer before, probably while fixing the tractor, isn't that the american thing to do ?

:)

[MrZeppo]

Lana mentioned that Clark brought wine after they got off the horses. I'm guessing they just came back from a picnic or whatever. That's where they reference drinking. That's what Looney is talking about.

Any way you cut it, he turned 20 at the end of season 5, so he turned 21 at the end of season 6, so there. Done. Settled. He and Lana are not underage. He probably didn't steal booze, and if so, who cares? Let this thread die.

[Mello Penelo]

Originally posted by LOONEY
Then did some underage drinking and unmarried sex. Sounds like hes not so super right now.

I don't get it. What in the HELL is wrong with unmarried sex? It makes him more believable as a character.

[Kryptonian-Ronin]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
I don't get it. What in the HELL is wrong with unmarried sex? It makes him more believable as a character.

Some people like the thought of a virgin Superman.
Ah, the issues...

[Mello Penelo]

Let's just put him in a habit and smock.

[Kryptonian-Ronin]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
Let's just put him in a habit and smock.

I don't know about that, I mean, when he has to take off that stiff to change into Superman all people will find will be a priests clothes and will think there is naked priest running around, that is a while new can of worms !!

[ClarksGal]

Well, I guess we don't really know how old Clark is, since his birthday was just a made up date on the calendar for the adoption papers. :) Maybe Kara can tell him when his real birthday is? : )

I don't really see the big deal here. They are either both 21, or mere months away from it. Besides, I believe everyone was driving way before they should have been, and I know both Clark and Chloe were hanging out in night clubs in metropolis when they were like 16, so what's the difference? It's not like they were wasted and swinging from the rafters if they had a glass of champagne.

I can understand the premarital sex issue if you are very religious or if you are perhaps not from the U.S. Unfortunately, many kids in the U.S. start having sex quite early (most of my friends in high school lost their virginity between 14 - 18 yrs old), and none of them were married. So while premarital sex may seem very provocative for Supes, the reality that I live in is that he is actually quite conservative.

[Kii]

Al Gough said in an interview Clark is in fact 21 this season, even though Clark's birthday has been established as being towards the end of the season(Oracle), which would still make him 20.

[Mello Penelo]

Well, Clark had to have been 16 when the first season started, since he drove the new truck Lex gave him back to the mansion after Jonathan said he couldn't have it.

So he's 21. Out and out 21.

[BlackIce]

actually in some rural states kids can get their license at 15.

[Superboy2]

He turned 19 at the end of S5. Cause in the beginning of S4 he was 17. By the end he turned 18. He turns 21 by the end of the season.

[Super Maverick]

Originally posted by Superboy2
One of the episodes of season five he turned 20 after his dad died and Clark got baseball tickets. Hes not 20 yet, his b-day is in may.

What?

If he turned 20 in season 5, and this is season 7, that would make him 22 now, right???

[Mello Penelo]

Originally posted by BlackIce
actually in some rural states kids can get their license at 15.

And Kansas isn't one of them.

Only in Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico and South Carolina. And in South Dakota it's 14.

Here's a list. Check it out.

http://www.2pass.co.uk/ages2.htm

So Clark was 16 in the pilot. Making him 21 now.

[Vergon6]

The average high school graduate has either turned 18 or will turn 18 by the end of the calendar year. In my case, my birthday fell around the same time as high school ended, so days before convocation, I turned 18. Given Clark having a birthday around the same time (at least according to his adoption papers), he would have turned 18 at the end of season 4, which means he would be 20 at the end of Season 6, around the time of Phantom or shortly before that. So he won't turn 21 until the end of this season. Although he could very possibly have his real birthday much earlier, but we just don't know it (and neither does he).

But I don't see underage drinking as that much of a problem, as long as they don't do it to excess and don't make a habit of it. It seemed like it was something special, rather than an every day occurrence.

I don't if the age of majority in Kansas was a 10-15 years ago, but there was a time when the drinking age was 18 or 19 in some states. Now its all uniform across the US-21.

But back in Canada, the drinking age is 18 years old, except in B.C. and Ontario, where its 19. Would it be immoral for Clark and Lana to super speed to British Columbia and drink even though its the drinking age there? Underage kids cross the border all the time to do this sort of thing.

Also, in other countries, there is more flexibility with the drinking age as well.

I can understand why the set the drinking age so high, because they expect people over 21 to be more mature.

But in reality, our frontal lobes don't reach full maturity until around the age of 25. That area of the brain is involved in impulse control and judgment. So would people rather have the drinking age and even driving age that high?

So really the drinking age is sort of arbitrary, and given that Clark was raised by humans, he shouldn't be held to such high standards. Just because you had a glass of wine occasionally when you are 20, doesn't mean that he is so morally bankrupt that he doesn't deserve to ever become Superman :p

Was it ever shown that Clark actually had got his license around that time or is it just based on the assumption because Lex gave him that truck?

Sometimes on farms at least, people can be a little more flexible in terms of whether your driving with or without a license. I am not saying this is common practice, but it happens. Although, if he was driving in town under age, you would think they would take issue with that.

Also, if it was true that he was 16, that would mean he was older than the other kids. If he was a baby when he arrived in Smallville, then did the Kents keep him out of school an extra year or so because of his powers? This was never discussed.

[Mello Penelo]

Originally posted by Vergon6
there was a time when the drinking age was 18 or 19 in some states. Now its all uniform across the US-21.

In Louisiana, you can be 19 and drink in public if your parents buy it for you and they're with you while you drink it.

Drinking age is determined by the state, not by the federal government. But here's the deal with it being 21 across the country. When the Volstead Act was repealed, the federal government essentially said, "Ok, we want the drinking age to be 21, but if you don't raise it like we're asking, we'll stop funding the Interstate system through your state."

Every state except for Louisiana agreed. Louisiana's highways got really bad, until they finally agreed to the demands (but kept their provisions). That's why there's always so much road construction and so many signs that say, "Working for you!" all across Louisiana.

Oh yeah, and smoking age across the country is 18, with the exceptions of Alabama and Utah, where it's 19.

[msleggie]

Do the laws really matter at this point? They've all drank before at one time or another on the show and that was while they were in high school. The majority of people drink underage, I know I do!

[superman07]

Alright all religious beliefs and laws aside they never actually showed them drinking (unless i am wrong) they just said it which was a somewhat smart move by the director....

but i would agree that he is 21 because he gratuated in season 4 making him 18 as far as the premarital sex its a little late to complain about that they already did it in season 5

[JudasAce]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
I don't get it. What in the HELL is wrong with unmarried sex? It makes him more believable as a character.

Because he's Superman, and Superman is supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be able to rise above base animal urges and simple human failings and say "No." He may feel temptation, but he doesn't give into it. Superman isn't supposed to be just like you and me, he's supposed to be the ideal you or me, representing the best that everyone could be, representing our aspirations to not just be normal, but to be special. To not be ordinary, but extraordinary. To not be average, but to be SUPER.




.....I knew there was a reason I never really liked him.

[ClarksGal]

Originally posted by JudasAce
Because he's Superman, and Superman is supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be able to rise above base animal urges and simple human failings and say "No." He may feel temptation, but he doesn't give into it. Superman isn't supposed to be just like you and me, he's supposed to be the ideal you or me, representing the best that everyone could be, representing our aspirations to not just be normal, but to be special. To not be ordinary, but extraordinary. To not be average, but to be SUPER.
.....I knew there was a reason I never really liked him.

I guess I can see your point, but to me it's not immoral to have premarital sex. Quite frankly, if he hadn't, I probably wouldn't see him as manly. But hey, that's just the hollywood influence on me, I suppose.

[Hydra]

In the third episode of season five, I believe Clark is quoted as being 18. If his b-day is at the end of the season that would make clark 20 right now. It doesn't matter what Miles/Gough say becaus they've already established his birthday and age.

[TOMophilus]

Originally posted by JudasAce
Because he's Superman, and Superman is supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be able to rise above base animal urges and simple human failings and say "No." He may feel temptation, but he doesn't give into it. Superman isn't supposed to be just like you and me, he's supposed to be the ideal you or me, representing the best that everyone could be, representing our aspirations to not just be normal, but to be special. To not be ordinary, but extraordinary. To not be average, but to be SUPER.
Your argument presupposes that premarital sex is a moral issue. But that is not the case. Sex among consenting people is not a moral problem; it is nothing bad. It´s just as normal as eating or breathing. So why should Superman not be entitled to have a normal life? Superman is an ethical role model, yes. But by having sex with someone, he´s not violating any moral norm, except for the arch-conservative views of some people who don´t want others to have a happy and healthy life. War, poverty, exploitation, violence, murder: these are moral issues. Sex is not, unless it involves any of the above.

[Superhuman]

Clark is 20. His birhtday is always at the end of each season. The first time Lana and him kiss...(the end of season 2) I believe they celebrated it again either last season or in season 5 also. In the beginning of season 4 the episode "FLASH" Jonathan tells clark when they are walking out of the hospital that he wants him to enjoy being a 17 year old boy. Which would make him 18 by the end of season 4, 19 at the end of 5, 20 at the end of 6, and 21 by the end of 7. So to answer your question...Clark either found the alcohol in his house, or yes he stole it...Hey maybe he even has a fake ID. I on the other hand couldnt care less.

[JudasAce]

Originally posted by TOMophilus
Your argument presupposes that premarital sex is a moral issue. But that is not the case. Sex among consenting people is not a moral problem; it is nothing bad. It´s just as normal as eating or breathing. So why should Superman not be entitled to have a normal life? Superman is an ethical role model, yes. But by having sex with someone, he´s not violating any moral norm, except for the arch-conservative views of some people who don´t want others to have a happy and healthy life. War, poverty, exploitation, violence, murder: these are moral issues. Sex is not, unless it involves any of the above.

Superman was founded on traditional American Values, which include very traditional beliefs about marriage.

While there may be differing opinions about the validity of those ideals, the fact remains is that the character of Superman was designed to uphold them.

Having Superman condone premarital sex would be like having "Captain Nazi" supporting Israel. There may be valid reasons to support Israel, but Captain Nazi loses a whole lot of his character if he's the one doing it.

The same thing for Superman. If he strays from the traditional view, he may be right or wrong, but he isn't Superman any more.

[xrayvision]

Clark is probably still 20 now. His only documented birthday that the government recognizes is May 4th. For him to have been in the same grade as Lana and Chloe, he was probably born in 1987. We know Lana is born in 1986 (her birthday in Craving & crusade is in the fall). Chloe was born in 1987 according to her tombstone in Gone. Clark's real mother had just gotten pregnant with him in 1986 (and we don't know what time of the year it was or how long Kryptonian women are pregnant for), so it's likely he was born the following year.

But that doesn't matter because he has to be 21 years old based on the documented birthday. If his birthday is May 4th, 1987 (which would allow him to be in the same class as Chloe & Lana when he went to school), then he is recognized by the government to be 20 years old.

We know even if he drinks underage, he can't get drunk. Alcohol doesn't affect his mind like it does to humans. But knowing Clark and not abusing his powers, he would normally obey the laws as he told Bart to do in Run.

And seeing the preview for Blue, we may learn Clark's actual birthday after all this time.

[Kal-El Fan]

Despite what we saw in Lara, Kal-El would have been born Earth year 1986. He landed on Earth in 1989 at the age of three. It has been said in interviews and perhaps even on the show that Clark is 21!

[Mello Penelo]

Originally posted by JudasAce
Because he's Superman, and Superman is supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be able to rise above base animal urges and simple human failings and say "No." He may feel temptation, but he doesn't give into it. Superman isn't supposed to be just like you and me, he's supposed to be the ideal you or me, representing the best that everyone could be, representing our aspirations to not just be normal, but to be special. To not be ordinary, but extraordinary. To not be average, but to be SUPER.

Sleeping with the person you're in a committed relationship is not an "animal urge." An "animal urge" would be grabbing a woman on the street and having your way with her.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Superboy2
One of the episodes of season five he turned 20 after his dad died and Clark got baseball tickets. Hes not 20 yet, his b-day is in may.

If he turned 20 in Season 5, then yes, by Season 7, he definitely is 20 lol. Actually, he's 21... which is sort of what I and several others have been saying for some time. I don't see that there is much reason for this thread to continue...


Originally posted by MrZeppo
Lana mentioned that Clark brought wine after they got off the horses. I'm guessing they just came back from a picnic or whatever. That's where they reference drinking. That's what Looney is talking about.

Any way you cut it, he turned 20 at the end of season 5, so he turned 21 at the end of season 6, so there. Done. Settled. He and Lana are not underage. He probably didn't steal booze, and if so, who cares? Let this thread die.

Thank you. Also what I and others have been saying all along. This thread is pointless lol. The question was answered, accurately and adequately, by JudasAce before I or most of us ever saw this thread.


Originally posted by Mello Penelo
I don't get it. What in the HELL is wrong with unmarried sex? It makes him more believable as a character.

lol, your wording is rather ironic. Many believe that unmarried sex is a "sin"/sends you to hell. A lot of people have trouble with CK not sharing their beliefs.


Originally posted by Kii
Al Gough said in an interview Clark is in fact 21 this season, even though Clark's birthday has been established as being towards the end of the season(Oracle), which would still make him 20.

If he turned 20 at the end of Season 5, then he turned 21 at the end of Season 6. His birthday could be at the end of Season 7, but that would just mean he's not 22 yet. He would still be 21.


Originally posted by superman07
Alright all religious beliefs and laws aside they never actually showed them drinking (unless i am wrong) they just said it which was a somewhat smart move by the director....

but i would agree that he is 21 because he gratuated in season 4 making him 18 as far as the premarital sex its a little late to complain about that they already did it in season 5

Actually I think he may have had alcohol on screen before he turned 21. My memory's a bit fuzzy, so I could easily be wrong. It was the episode with the MetU football guy who had super-tackle powers (I wish I were joking lol). CK goes to a party and I recall him having a beer can in his hand. I believe he took a sip on screen.


Originally posted by JudasAce
Because he's Superman, and Superman is supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be able to rise above base animal urges and simple human failings and say "No." He may feel temptation, but he doesn't give into it. Superman isn't supposed to be just like you and me, he's supposed to be the ideal you or me, representing the best that everyone could be, representing our aspirations to not just be normal, but to be special. To not be ordinary, but extraordinary. To not be average, but to be SUPER.

Your explanation is accurate, but does not apply to alcohol or sex. You assume that there is something inherently wrong with alcohol and sex, and therefore Superman should not be partaking in those two activities. There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol or having sex. You might as well say you're disappointed in Clark on SV for eating food. Isn't he suppsed to be "better than that"? Can't he "rise above base animal urges and simple human failings" like eating?

Of course not. There's nothing wrong with eating. Just like there's nothing wrong with having some champagne or having sex with your girlfriend. This isn't a shortcoming for Superman.


Originally posted by JudasAce
Superman was founded on traditional American Values, which include very traditional beliefs about marriage.

While there may be differing opinions about the validity of those ideals, the fact remains is that the character of Superman was designed to uphold them.

Having Superman condone premarital sex would be like having "Captain Nazi" supporting Israel. There may be valid reasons to support Israel, but Captain Nazi loses a whole lot of his character if he's the one doing it.

The same thing for Superman. If he strays from the traditional view, he may be right or wrong, but he isn't Superman any more.

I respectfully disagree with your closing line, JudasAce, that if Superman strays from his original views, he isn't Superman anymore. Superman is allowed to grow and change over time and still be Superman. Your Captain Nazi comparison is apt, but extreme. If Superman began working with Lex Luthor to commit horrible crimes against humanity and reveled in creating suffering for humans, then your argument would be completely appropriate. That would be a complete reversal of the core principles that really DO make Supes who he is.

Superman was not founded as the anti-underage-drinking and anti-premarital-sex Superhero. Frankly I can't imagine such a superhero would sell many comics, lol. He's grown and evolved over time in many ways that make him different now in his modern incarnation than he was back then. His powers have changed dramatically. He's gone through remarkable changes in character, but is still Superman.

[Dodge006]

Don't forget the fact that this is filmed in B.C. and there the drinking age is 19.

As for people upset about the sex...what the hell is wrong with you? It's not the 1900's!

[Vergon6]

Originally posted by Kal-El Fan
Despite what we saw in Lara, Kal-El would have been born Earth year 1986. He landed on Earth in 1989 at the age of three. It has been said in interviews and perhaps even on the show that Clark is 21!
Lara was pregnant in 1986, but that doesn't mean she necessarily gave birth in 1986 (but it's of course a possibility). How far along was she supposed to be? What time of year was it supposed to be?

Let's just pretend that May 4th is his real birthday, and that Kryptonians give birth after 9 months. If she visited earth shortly after she found out she was pregnant, she could have visited Earth during August-September 1986, and given birth to him around May 1987, making him 20 ;)


Originally posted by Mello Penelo
In Louisiana, you can be 19 and drink in public if your parents buy it for you and they're with you while you drink it.

Drinking age is determined by the state, not by the federal government. But here's the deal with it being 21 across the country. When the Volstead Act was repealed, the federal government essentially said, "Ok, we want the drinking age to be 21, but if you don't raise it like we're asking, we'll stop funding the Interstate system through your state."

Every state except for Louisiana agreed. Louisiana's highways got really bad, until they finally agreed to the demands (but kept their provisions). That's why there's always so much road construction and so many signs that say, "Working for you!" all across Louisiana.

Oh yeah, and smoking age across the country is 18, with the exceptions of Alabama and Utah, where it's 19.
Yeah I know its state by state, just like its province by province in Canada. I seem to remember something about what your saying about the US federal government encouraging the drinking age to be 21 across the board, but I did not recall the specifics. I didn't know about the Louisiana situation either.

[xrayvision]

Originally posted by Kal-El Fan
Despite what we saw in Lara, Kal-El would have been born Earth year 1986. He landed on Earth in 1989 at the age of three. It has been said in interviews and perhaps even on the show that Clark is 21!

Interviews don't mean anything. It has to be presented in the show. There is still much info we're missing. Hopefully we'll get it next episode.

We don't know how long before the destruction of Krypton that 1986 scene in Lara took place. From Kara, we know that she knew Clark on Krypton long enough that she called him a chubby baby who smiled when his feet were tickled. Maybe the yellow solar radiation Lara was exposed to on Earth sped up her pregnancy.

Ahh, I gotta cut the speculation out and wait until next episode. If Clark has a chance to talk to his mother, one of the first things he would logically ask is when he was born.

[kp1984]

Lana's actually 21 now. In SC4 she turned 18 in the frist eposide.

[maryjanewatson]

actually, I think clark turns 21 in may. They are all one year older than me. Lana turned 21 at the beginning of sept, and clark will turn 21 in may. I just turned 20. me and clark are the same age for about 6 months.

i always new how old they were by the year in school they were back when i was in highschool. they were a year ahead of me in school, making them a year older than me.

[Mello Penelo]

He was 16 in the pilot. Seven years later, that's 23.

[maryjanewatson]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
He was 16 in the pilot. Seven years later, that's 23.
they were in 9th grade. he was 14. :\

[hightower6969]

JudasAce does have a point about premarital sex because of how Superman was made when George Reeves was Superman and the early comics because that is what the white American society was during those times. So going to those times, yes, Superman is suppose to be above all animal urges and fight for the American way.

Now, lets forward to today's time. Remember, Kal El(Clark) is not Superman yet, so in theory and natural entity of time and behavioral age, he will one day learn, not to do those things and will have a upper edge on animal instincts in which he will become Superman of what he is suppose to be.

In reality Clark is either 20 or 21earth years. But since he is Kryptonian, we don't know his exact age or if it is the same with Earthlings.

[DarkChilde]

Even if they were not 21, apparently you don't know small towns that well. Some one would have bought a bottle for them. Hell Lex would give it to them just so they would leave him alone for an episode so he can drink :)

[jack1487]

I see that this subject has taken a life all of it's own. First of all is that we do not know for sure how long the trip from Krypton took for him to arrive on Earth, which could and most likely had taken years.

Second most of us did the before marriage sex at least one time, and I can say the same about drinking alcohol beverage's. I know that I did and am sure that most of everyone did too!

When I was growing up things were a lot difference then it is now. And a lot more strict then they are now, we had our rules but we did find ways in which to at least brake them once in awhile..

Oh! one more thing is that Clark is not Superman as of yet and that does not and will not happen until he finishes his training.

Thanks for letting me rant,

Jack ;)

[JudasAce]

Originally posted by TampaVille
If he turned 20 in Season 5, then yes, by Season 7, he definitely is 20 lol. Actually, he's 21... which is sort of what I and several others have been saying for some time. I don't see that there is much reason for this thread to continue...



Thank you. Also what I and others have been saying all along. This thread is pointless lol. The question was answered, accurately and adequately, by JudasAce before I or most of us ever saw this thread.



lol, your wording is rather ironic. Many believe that unmarried sex is a "sin"/sends you to hell. A lot of people have trouble with CK not sharing their beliefs.



If he turned 20 at the end of Season 5, then he turned 21 at the end of Season 6. His birthday could be at the end of Season 7, but that would just mean he's not 22 yet. He would still be 21.



Actually I think he may have had alcohol on screen before he turned 21. My memory's a bit fuzzy, so I could easily be wrong. It was the episode with the MetU football guy who had super-tackle powers (I wish I were joking lol). CK goes to a party and I recall him having a beer can in his hand. I believe he took a sip on screen.



Your explanation is accurate, but does not apply to alcohol or sex. You assume that there is something inherently wrong with alcohol and sex, and therefore Superman should not be partaking in those two activities. There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol or having sex. You might as well say you're disappointed in Clark on SV for eating food. Isn't he suppsed to be "better than that"? Can't he "rise above base animal urges and simple human failings" like eating?

Of course not. There's nothing wrong with eating. Just like there's nothing wrong with having some champagne or having sex with your girlfriend. This isn't a shortcoming for Superman.



I respectfully disagree with your closing line, JudasAce, that if Superman strays from his original views, he isn't Superman anymore. Superman is allowed to grow and change over time and still be Superman. Your Captain Nazi comparison is apt, but extreme. If Superman began working with Lex Luthor to commit horrible crimes against humanity and reveled in creating suffering for humans, then your argument would be completely appropriate. That would be a complete reversal of the core principles that really DO make Supes who he is.

Superman was not founded as the anti-underage-drinking and anti-premarital-sex Superhero. Frankly I can't imagine such a superhero would sell many comics, lol. He's grown and evolved over time in many ways that make him different now in his modern incarnation than he was back then. His powers have changed dramatically. He's gone through remarkable changes in character, but is still Superman.

Again, at the time and under the circumstances in which he was developed, he very much followed the standard lines of decency etc...just like every other public figure at the time. You've got to remember that he was developed primarily for children, so at its roots, his character is going to have to be acceptable for kids in the 1930s to read - in other words, pure, chaste, noble, all of those things.

And Captain Marvel was even more whitebread than Superman, and outsold him by a mile. Because at the time, where the core of the character was developed, that's what made money.

Again, people these days may have different values, but the point is that Superman represents a certain kind of American ideology, and while you can bend and twist the character all you want in order to seem more hip or cool (Like that awful haircut he had in the 90s) but the fact is, once you twist him past a certain point, he loses anything that makes him special. While I've never been a Superman fan, I have absolutely no respect for no-talent, hack writers that can't think of anything better to do with the character than make him "Hip" "Dark" "Edgy" or "Kewl" by having him change his fundamental moral values.

Again, I'm not debating the moral value,, but the value that Clark hold (There are people the will strongly argue that it's ok to kill criminals that are trying to kill you. And they may be right. But that's not what Superman does.)

[Kal-El Fan]

Originally posted by Vergon6
Lara was pregnant in 1986, but that doesn't mean she necessarily gave birth in 1986 (but it's of course a possibility). How far along was she supposed to be? What time of year was it supposed to be?


This is a continuity error. Before this episode, it was established that he was born in 86, given his age in the pilot.


Originally posted by maryjanewatson
they were in 9th grade. he was 14. :\
Lex gave Clark a truck in the pilot, which he was old enough to drive. Clark was 16 in the pilot.

Speaking of continuity errors, wasn't Clark's birthday said to be in the fall in one episode? I remember that Lana makes him a cake, and Clark says it's just a date that his parents made up for his birth certificate, but I don't remember when the ep aired.

[Javierocker]

U guys should check out the official SV timeline on the Smallville Wiki, it pretty much answers this, check this out.

Krypton was destroyed in 1986, Clark was already a big chubby baby and is sent 2 earth.

Clark's DOB on his adaptation papers is May 1987.

Lana was born in 1986

according 2 his adaptation papers Clark is 20 years old, but he is really 21.

Who says Clark purchased the wine, Lana might have.

unless Agent Carter was seeing the vision along with Kara, how would he know it was 1986. That might have just been speculation on his part.

[JEWCY]

Originally posted by Kal-El Fan
This is a continuity error. Before this episode, it was established that he was born in 86, given his age in the pilot.


Lex gave Clark a truck in the pilot, which he was old enough to drive. Clark was 16 in the pilot.

Speaking of continuity errors, wasn't Clark's birthday said to be in the fall in one episode? I remember that Lana makes him a cake, and Clark says it's just a date that his parents made up for his birth certificate, but I don't remember when the ep aired.

in season 2 he had a birthday in calling, which was aired as the second to last episode, thats the one where lana makes the cake

the other episode is late into season 5 was oracle where he had his birthday

actually both episodes are the 21st in production order, making clark's birthday perfectly fit into continuity.

[Mello Penelo]

Originally posted by maryjanewatson
they were in 9th grade. he was 14. :\

He drove the new truck to Lex's. He was 16.



And I don't even see why we're arguing over this. That 70s Show lasted for 10 years. The first episode was supposed to be in October 1976 and the show ended January 1 1980.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by hightower6969
JudasAce does have a point about premarital sex because of how Superman was made when George Reeves was Superman and the early comics because that is what the white American society was during those times. So going to those times, yes, Superman is suppose to be above all animal urges and fight for the American way.

Now, lets forward to today's time. Remember, Kal El(Clark) is not Superman yet, so in theory and natural entity of time and behavioral age, he will one day learn, not to do those things and will have a upper edge on animal instincts in which he will become Superman of what he is suppose to be.

In reality Clark is either 20 or 21earth years. But since he is Kryptonian, we don't know his exact age or if it is the same with Earthlings.

Making love to your girlfriend is not an animal urge.

Superman stands for "truth, justice, and the American way." He most emphatically does NOT stand for "truth, justice, and the American way as it was in 1939." The vast bulk of Americans think premarital sex is fine. Scroll up in this thread, I forget who posted the statistics, but they are very revealing. The American way includes premarital sex, even if a small but vociferous minority of the American population disagrees.

[Mello Penelo]

Sorry, but he only stands for truth and justice. He's a global hero. Not just America's.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
Sorry, but he only stands for truth and justice. He's a global hero. Not just America's.

It is truth, justice, and the American way.

[Mello Penelo]

Yeah, 30 years ago it was. It has to do with the Iranian Hostage Crisis. DC realized Superman was more than just America's hero. So they quit saying he was fighting for "the American way."

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
Yeah, 30 years ago it was. It has to do with the Iranian Hostage Crisis. DC realized Superman was more than just America's hero. So they quit saying he was fighting for "the American way."

"Truth, justice, and the American way" is not "truth, justice, and Americans." The American way is supposed to be things like liberty, freedom, individualism, tolerance, etc. He can fight for those things for everybody.

[Mello Penelo]

Sounds more like classical Greek philosophy to me.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
Sounds more like classical Greek philosophy to me.

Most of the founding fathers received classical educations. Probably not too dissimilar from Lex Luthors, haha. At any rate, that's what the country was founded on. Take a quick look at the Declaration of Independance and/or the Constitution. Both are fairly quick reads, and freely available online.

[Mello Penelo]

What does the Declaration of the Constitution have to do with Superman? He's a global hero. Not just America's. He stands for truth and justice.

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
What does the Declaration of the Constitution have to do with Superman? He's a global hero. Not just America's. He stands for truth and justice.

You did not seem to understand what the American way is. When I told you, you said it didn't sound like American. I suggested two thoroughly American documents you could take a look at to better understand what the American way is. If you understood it, you would understand that one can stand for the American way without standing only for Americans. I can't say this any more clearly. I don't think this conversation is going anywhere if my point is still unclear.

[Mello Penelo]

Ugh. Whatever. You still don't get it. It's just your way of saying "Superman's an American. America is better than everybody else." :\

[TampaVille]

Originally posted by Mello Penelo
Ugh. Whatever. You still don't get it. It's just your way of saying "Superman's an American. America is better than everybody else." :\

Actually that is not what I said at all, nor close to it. If you still think that's what I said, you can't understand what I was saying. I can't speak any more clearly though. Go back and read what I said more closely. You'll find what I was saying was near to the opposite of what you somehow misinterpretted.

[Randy G.]

[Mod Note:] Since it's been established that they're of legal drinking age, there's no longer a reason to keep this thread open.