My theory on why the "No flight, no tights" rule...

[zerohour films]

My guess is that adolescents on Krypton learn - either in school or as part of some other training - about other planets with known life and how Kryptonian bodies work on those planets. Jor-El, Barbie & Ken, and Kara were all plenty old enough when they arrived on Earth to have benefited from that schooling. Clark was not. That's what his father's training will cover - in part - when he finally gets to it.

Since Kryptonians have often been described as emotionally cold, I was thinking that early Kryptonian visitors to Earth figured out the flying thing pretty easily but possibly not things related to emotions - heat vision would be obvious - but I think Barbie & Ken negated my logic here. I'm having trouble coming up with another explanation.

The only problem I have with that explanation and on the show having Jor-El visit earth previously. Is if it is widely known that Kryptonians become gods basically on Earth or other planets under a yellow sun. Then what would stop the really evil ones such as Zod from coming here and taking over?

 

[Cmill216]

When that "No flight, no tights" was brought up the show was just coming out and trying to be different then all other previous incarnations of Superman. And also I honestly think that the producers never thought (May have dreamed) that the show would be on long enough to where the two rules would matter.

I hate to be a bit of a jerk here.....

...But this wins the 'No Duh' Post of the Year award.

 

[ariellem]

The only problem I have with that explanation and on the show having Jor-El visit earth previously. Is if it is widely known that Kryptonians become gods basically on Earth or other planets under a yellow sun. Then what would stop the really evil ones such as Zod from coming here and taking over?

Yeah, that's another thing. Could be the Kryptonians have very advanced communications but mostly stay home and have very few spaceships - just a few built on demand for specific purposes. If so, access to them would be restricted and it would be difficult for Zod or his ilk to get hold of one.

I'm sure someone in here knows the comics well enough to pipe up about this.

 

[zerohour films]

Yeah, that's another thing. Could be the Kryptonians have very advanced communications but mostly stay home and have very few spaceships - just a few built on demand for specific purposes. If so, access to them would be restricted and it would be difficult for Zod or his ilk to get hold of one.

I'm sure someone in here knows the comics well enough to pipe up about this.

From what I recall they were depicted as a very advanced race in science and technology but either had not master space travel or shyed away from it. I think it varied depending on the decade it was written. That's why Jor-El only had a small prototype ship to send Kal-el to Earth in. And also why it was such a great risk to do.

But with smallville we see they obviously have visited earth before and we see spaceships such as Braniac's and the one the two kryptonians were in.

 

[RakuMon]

From what I recall they were depicted as a very advanced race in science and technology but either had not master space travel or shyed away from it. I think it varied depending on the decade it was written. That's why Jor-El only had a small prototype ship to send Kal-el to Earth in. And also why it was such a great risk to do.

But with smallville we see they obviously have visited earth before and we see spaceships such as Braniac's and the one the two kryptonians were in.

Actually, the ship with the two Kryptonians was Brainiac.

I honestly don't think the writers are ever going to explain the power discrepancies among the Kryptonians who've been on the show. I mean, why didn't Aethyr and Nam-Ek fly when they arrived? Same thing with Raya. She too oly super-sped on Earth. They just super-speeded everywhere like Clark does. Yet, a Zod-possessed Lex, Kara and Brainiac are shown flying everywhere.

To me, I think Clark's lack of flying ability is simply a mental barrier. He knows he's capable of doing it. Unlike everyone else on the show, whenever Clark's under the influence (be it RedK or Jor-El) he's still able to remember everything. He even described to Jonathan what flying felt like at the end of "Crusade." I think, like everyone else has said, he's just denying himself his flight because that's the point of no return.

But what sticks in my crawl about the "no flights" rule is that one of the reasons given was budgetary. For some reason, they couldn't afford to show people on the show flying everywhere. (I remember reading how Clark's Crusade flight basically broke the bank.) If budget was really a reason, I don't understand how they can afford to have Kara flying everywhere this season.

 

[Kaboom]

But what sticks in my crawl about the "no flights" rule is that one of the reasons given was budgetary. For some reason, they couldn't afford to show people on the show flying everywhere. (I remember reading how Clark's Crusade flight basically broke the bank.) If budget was really a reason, I don't understand how they can afford to have Kara flying everywhere this season.

its six years later, budget may have gone up, prices may have come down. Also, they cut out some actors like annette o'toole and john schneider which frees up that money.

plus clarks flight had all thouge surrounding compressing effects, you dont see those anymore.

 

[NHawk19]

For what it's worth and I'm not sure whether anyone else pointed this out but when Clark was explaining to Chloe that Bizarro could fly didnt she make a remark like "That's one power you'll have to figure out soon" or something.

It may not mean anything but then again it could be some foreshadowing because prior to that flight was never really pushed.

 

[triplet]

For what it's worth and I'm not sure whether anyone else pointed this out but when Clark was explaining to Chloe that Bizarro could fly didnt she make a remark like "That's one power you'll have to figure out soon" or something.

It may not mean anything but then again it could be some foreshadowing because prior to that flight was never really pushed.

He knows he's behind the curve on that...

He must if he'd discussed it with Chloe.

 

[greenlantern248]

I thought he flew in another episode.

The one I am thinking of is the episode where he father died. He told Lana the truth about him he took her to the FOS and I thought he flew up to the top with her in his arms.

I could be wrong but I do remeber them in the air inside the FOS

 

[NHawk19]

I thought he flew in another episode.

The one I am thinking of is the episode where he father died. He told Lana the truth about him he took her to the FOS and I thought he flew up to the top with her in his arms.

I could be wrong but I do remeber them in the air inside the FOS

He jumped/flew in that one. It goes back to someones point about the season 4 Kal flight is the only one that can't be contested in anyway.

 

[Migu-EL]

Episode 7.11 "Flight"

 

[DvilDog]

Episode 7.11 "Flight"

Seriously or are you joking?

 

[Migu-EL]

Seriously or are you joking?

You'll just have to wait to find out.

 

[DvilDog]

You'll just have to wait to find out.

Great thats like 3 or months away. Now I will spend my days wondering lol until the official episode description comes outt:

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I think it is very strange that kara can fly and Kal-El cannot yet. It makes very little since ven after reading some of the very interesting explanations on here.

One thing I noted however is that in season 6 (watching it now on blu-ray), Smallville is starting to feel like the journey of both Clark and Lex is finally happening.

 

[EagleVision]

Agreed.

I think the fact that it has made it as long and the direction the story has taken (introducing Lois, spending alot of time in Metro and Daily Planet) that now it just seems strange that he hasn't worn the suit.
But when you actually look at it in the context of the story, he is still very young and should not technically be Superman yet.

Even though I would love for that to happen.
I am very excited for this season, but like I told my wife the other day...it is going to frustrating seeing Supergirl zipping around Smallville and Clark stuck on the ground.

Tru. The least they could do is let Clark fly in the last epsiode of the series. By then I'm sure he'll officially move to Metropolis. I can't believe he's only 18 in the show...

 

[DvilDog]

Tru. The least they could do is let Clark fly in the last epsiode of the series. By then I'm sure he'll officially move to Metropolis. I can't believe he's only 18 in the show...

Actually I believe he is 20 in the show

 

[EagleVision]

Actually I believe he is 20 in the show

Yeah, slight slip-up there, you remember when Kara said how long has it been and Clark said 18 yrs? I was like man, there's no way Clark is 18, and it can't be. Season 4 he graduated- most likely he was 18, he should be 21 now, depending on his B-day

 

[zerohour films]

Yeah, slight slip-up there, you remember when Kara said how long has it been and Clark said 18 yrs? I was like man, there's no way Clark is 18, and it can't be. Season 4 he graduated- most likely he was 18, he should be 21 now, depending on his B-day

don't think it was a slipup. I believe he was 3 yrs old when the kents found him. So that should put him at 21 now.