Tom Welling as Superman

[Milkman95]

OK, thats what I was getting at, whcih is what in your mind is the difference between Clark Kent with powers and Superman.

I guess I can see your point, however I'd argue that Clark in Smallville is closer to Superman than he is to the "Clark Kent" that shows up in Metropolis later on down the line. And that the "dual identity" actually is the creation of the facade known as "Clark Kent" i.e. bumbling reporter, mild-mannered, etc. rather than the onset of the Superman personality. He's more or less "Superman in the shadows" right now, doing the deeds without anyone knowing it...but yes he still has a lot to learn.

I guess all of this will be rendered moot anyway in the final few shows when Clark actually dons some form of the suit anyway...

I can agree with this...........as far as TW actually wearing a suit, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, I don't think it's a done deal, but that's just my opinion.

 

[triplet]

I can agree with this...........as far as TW actually wearing a suit, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, I don't think it's a done deal, but that's just my opinion.

Why wouldn't he pull on the suit?

The show is about him building up to that moment. To not have him actually pull on the suit would leave the show unfinished.

 

[Gmanofsteel]

i agree

less stupid coments, more tom in the suit

 

[AgentPat]

I can agree with this...........as far as TW actually wearing a suit, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, I don't think it's a done deal, but that's just my opinion.

The final scene(s) of SV is about as done a deal as you can get. G&M knew a long time ago how they were going to end it. That said, options for what might happen *after* that is what's currently up in the air.

Literally.

 

[Milkman95]

i agree

less stupid coments, more tom in the suit

Nice. Great spelling....

 

[Milkman95]

The final scene(s) of SV is about as done a deal as you can get. G&M knew a long time ago how they were going to end it. That said, options for what might happen *after* that is what's currently up in the air.

Literally.

Well, I meant how TW is going to be presented as Superman. It will probably be from a distance with him flying out of the FOS.......

 

[AgentPat]

Well, I meant how TW is going to be presented as Superman. It will probably be from a distance with him flying out of the FOS.......

They haven't elaborated on the scene specifically, but they KNOW fans want to SEE that it's Welling and uh... not somebody else. So comments like this...

Of course not. TW isn't Superman, and he never will be.

...will finally be a thing of the past. I know I speak for a lot of people in this forum when I say we're getting VERY tired of seeing that BS here. It needlessly stirs the pot. Things were fairly peaceful during the last week or so. Why can't you guys let us sleeping dogs lie, eh?

 

[Max]

I still can't see how they are going to say Lex is one of the smartest people on the face of the earth. Yet he has now seen Clark with out glasses for 7 years and can't tell he is Superman.

And yet you can't figure out that Clark Kent is Superman WITH the glasses? PUHLEEEZE. It's the biggest plot hole in Superman lore, in my opinion. His whole disguise is centered around a pair of glasses and hair gel. EVERYONE should be able to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman. Duh. If that's your main gripe, then I think you need to rethink your whole perception of the Superman story.

 

[AgentPat]

Max,

I'd LOVE to see SV's version of Lex know EXACTLY who Superman is when the time comes. He'll drop hints to Clark that he knows, but he'll never fully admit it to his face, which will always keep Clark guessing. If you think about it, Lex is almost at that point already. Obviously he KNOWS Clark is different. Radically different. This was made painfully clear at the end of Hidden. But every time Lex has it just about figured out, Clark lucks-out and throws him a curve ball. But Lex isn't being fooled anymore, so he's not starting from scratch every time Clark pushes the re-set button. He'll go about his business, but he'll always lie in wait for the opportunity to "out" Clark for the alien that he is. Lex will look at it as only being a matter of time, and he has plenty of patience.

As far as Lois is concerned, we already know how she's going to handle the big picture, so the whole recognizing verses not recognizing debate should be null. I could see her playing a similar "game" with Clark, but on a more playful level. She'd have the same relationship she does now with Clark - poking fun at him every opportunity she gets. He will respond in kind. But BOTH of them would change their demeanors around each other when Superman is there. Lois will be attracted to the "super" part of Clark and his save the world type mentality (just like she was with A.C.), so she'll get all weak in the knees around Clark when he's Superman (DUH!) Clark won't know she knows it's him (he's pretty dense when it comes to that), so he'll flirt back. As Clark, he'll never admit to being attracted to Lois because of their history growing up in Smallville, but as Superman, he can be "himself" and let his true feelings be known. It'll contribute to his character reversal in Metropolis where "Clark Kent" is the facade and Superman is the real deal - a man without secrets to the world, which is something Clark wants more than anything right now.

Yeah, that is what I'd like to see. It'd be a new spin on the mythos, something SV loves to do. It would be different and entertaining. It also makes the most sense from a reality point of view because who *wouldn't* recognize Clark as Superman (or vice versa) in the "real" world? That aspect of the mythos is probably the hardest pill to swallow, more so than who and what Clark actually is.

 

[M.O.Steel]

And yet you can't figure out that Clark Kent is Superman WITH the glasses? PUHLEEEZE. It's the biggest plot hole in Superman lore, in my opinion. His whole disguise is centered around a pair of glasses and hair gel. EVERYONE should be able to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman. Duh. If that's your main gripe, then I think you need to rethink your whole perception of the Superman story.

No, i actually think he has a point. The reason why this disguise is even credible is the fact that no one has seen clark with out his glasses, and have. Lex has seen clark without his glasses for the duration of the show. All of a sudden, when clark starts wearing glasses, that's all he recognizes, and when he takes them off, he forgot what clark looks like?? come on, give me a break. I think if anything, they would build the story around the fact that lex knows who superman is, yet he toys with clark. And whenever clark is about to do something to lex, he always knows deep down that lex knows him and could expose his secret any time. Can work for some interesting dynamics if you ask me.

 

[Milkman95]

They haven't elaborated on the scene specifically, but they KNOW fans want to SEE that it's Welling and uh... not somebody else. So comments like this...

Well, that's up to Tom and the Producers. Rumor has it that TW isn't looking forward to putting the suit on. It's also been reported that it took TW more than 3 offers to finally commit to the show because he never wanted to fly, wear the suit, or be a full fledged Superman. That's only heresay, so that could be way off, what do I know. I too want to see him in the suit. For me, the pay-off better be pretty big on this.............but I'm not holding my breath, that's for sure.

...will finally be a thing of the past. I know I speak for a lot of people in this forum when I say we're getting VERY tired of seeing that BS here. It needlessly stirs the pot. Things were fairly peaceful during the last week or so. Why can't you guys let us sleeping dogs lie, eh?

I hope you're right. I'd like to see a lot of different interpretations of Superman, not just SV or SR. I'm actually looking forward to seeing Ben Affleck in the George Reeves biopic. I doubt we'll see him in the suit though.

What BS? TW not being "Superman"? It's a logical debate, and a relevant one. Discussion is what runs this board, whether it's stirring the pot or not. It would be boring around here if everybody just agreed and kissed the ground TW and the production walks on..........oh, wait, that happens already......

 

[musclesforsupes]

I still miss the old thread all those posts are now going to fade away never to be seen again eventually

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

And yet you can't figure out that Clark Kent is Superman WITH the glasses? PUHLEEEZE. It's the biggest plot hole in Superman lore, in my opinion. His whole disguise is centered around a pair of glasses and hair gel. EVERYONE should be able to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman. Duh. If that's your main gripe, then I think you need to rethink your whole perception of the Superman story.

First off thats not my main problem. The thing about Superman was no one knew or even heard about a Clark Kent till he came into town and Superman followed after months, weeks, day? I dont know nor do I care. So my problem was how can you say Lex is one of the smartest people around held up there with Batman or higher and say he won't know who Superman is after seeing him almost everyday for 7 years stright? Please the glasses is a huge plot hole because all people see when you see Clark is a man who is shy and really didn't stand up for himself, plus he didn't look as big as Superman because he always wore clothes bigger then what he needed to hide his body and make him look smaller and that is how hey knew Clark from the moment of seeing him. Now if I met Clark and he was saving everyone and doing all these things they show on the show. Then there is no way in hell I wouldn't be able to put 2 and 2 together. I mean come on now for one you make Lois look real dumb by her not being able to tell and you make Lex look like a chimp. Seriously the idea of the glasses being the big reason why they cant tell one another went out the door when they brought Lois on to the show. I mean you can always go with that idea everyone has a twin somewhere but its stupid. I mean hell even in the comics (pre-crisis) Clark wore glasses and acted like a nerd because he wanted to help people and use his powers(pre-crisis Superboy) which this show pretty much is with out the suit. Hell they even are pretty much going more with the pre-crisis story line(Lex, Lois being in smallvile before he becomes Superman, the multi-colored kryptonite,etc) I mean seriously they really should start living up to their word in many ways because from what they said this season is SIT and all I have seen is the same thing over and over again the only real Superman moment I have seen this season is him stopping the nuke and him saving Lois in that chopper other then that nothing and before you say it yea the FOS parts are good but really how is that SIT? I mean the first time he was there Chole came and spoiled the moment IMO of him really learning more about himself and the second time she is there walking around like everything is all good. If this season really is a SIT season then what they should do is work on getting Lois out of there because as much as I love Lois she should not be there this is not Lois and Clark. They need to put Lex in as a guest role now by having him start his empire in the big city and have him stop through every now and then or Clark bump into him every now and then. That is how you could fix things because with Lex gone he will slowly think of himself above that city and the world(Birthright) that he wouldn't even give Clark a second thought. Then you could bring in why people could never tell the two apart. Birthright handled that pretty well, I mean they kept Clark away from Smallville for years after he finshed High School staying pretty much out of the public eye and everything else and even though Lex was his friend there and was very smart he himself left Smallville like a year or two before Clark and as I said before thought of himself later on above the whole city. Thats what SV really should be doing this season because to explain something that big you can't do it in one show it takes more then that. And as I said for Lex to be as smart as he is you can't just have him leave SV and not know the truth with out some great deal of time passing bye.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

It would be boring around here if everybody just agreed and kissed the ground TW and the production walks on..........oh, wait, that happens already......

yes, in many a forum on this place it does....

 

[Milkman95]

yes, in many a forum on this place it does....

Agreed.

 

[AgentPat]

Well, that's up to Tom and the Producers. Rumor has it that TW isn't looking forward to putting the suit on. It's also been reported that it took TW more than 3 offers to finally commit to the show because he never wanted to fly, wear the suit, or be a full fledged Superman. That's only heresay, so that could be way off, what do I know. I too want to see him in the suit. For me, the pay-off better be pretty big on this.............but I'm not holding my breath, that's for sure.

Perhaps you should stop relying on hearsay and listen to what Welling has said himself ON CAMERA during various interviews?

Does anybody have the ABC Family Backstage interview handy? I'm at work and don't have it here, but he spoke at length about his turning down the role for SV and why. And NO!!! It had NOTHING to do with flying or wearing the freakin' suit. The show was described to him as Superman in high school, which he had no interest in playing. They wouldn't give him the script to read (sounds familiar, actually) but wanted him to come in to audition anyway. They told him if he came in for an audition and they liked him, they'd let him read the script. So after the second time he turned them down, they convinced him to come in and read. They loved him, and he loved the script. Please take this information over yonder and let the luminaries know that, kay? They seem to be under the same incorrect assumptions.

I hope you're right. I'd like to see a lot of different interpretations of Superman, not just SV or SR. I'm actually looking forward to seeing Ben Affleck in the George Reeves biopic. I doubt we'll see him in the suit though.

I'm looking forward to the Affleck film too. I grew up with the G. Reeves' show, so that should be quite interesting.

As to Welling, my personal opinion is he enjoys playing characters who don't have all the answers. From his POV, once Clark is Superman in Metropolis, the "fun" of fleshing out the character is over. There's not much more development to be made. As an adult, Superman is merely on a quest for truth, justice, and "other stuff." LOL Plots become one in which Clark/Superman swoops in to save the day by the end of the episode/film. For an actor, that can get pretty boring after a while, and I can TOTALLY see how that would be of ZERO interest to Welling. And just to reiterate, that has nothing to do with wearing a peculiar costume or being strung up in front of a green screen.

Give him the opportunity to play a character that doesn't have all the answers, one that makes "human" mistakes but learns from them, and one who is allowed to be "unpredictable" as far as the audience is concerned, and Mr. "that's-not-spandex-is-it?" Welling will be happy as a clam in a mud flat. Listen to his interviews. It's not THAT hard to figure out what he likes about playing Clark Kent and why. It's less about what Clark isn't or doesn't do (fly, wear the costume, etc.) than what he is (naive, conflicted, flawed, and most importantly, still learning.)

What BS? TW not being "Superman"? It's a logical debate, and a relevant one. Discussion is what runs this board, whether it's stirring the pot or not. It would be boring around here if everybody just agreed and kissed the ground TW and the production walks on..........oh, wait, that happens already......

I was talking about the "TW isn't Superman, and he never will be" crack. If you don't see him as the character, that's one thing, but making these "never will be" assertions as if it's one of Newton's Laws is BS.

 

[avidreader]

First off thats not my main problem. The thing about Superman was no one knew or even heard about a Clark Kent till he came into town and Superman followed after months, weeks, day? I dont know nor do I care. So my problem was how can you say Lex is one of the smartest people around held up there with Batman or higher and say he won't know who Superman is after seeing him almost everyday for 7 years stright? Please the glasses is a huge plot hole because all people see when you see Clark is a man who is shy and really didn't stand up for himself, plus he didn't look as big as Superman because he always wore clothes bigger then what he needed to hide his body and make him look smaller and that is how hey knew Clark from the moment of seeing him. Now if I met Clark and he was saving everyone and doing all these things they show on the show. Then there is no way in hell I wouldn't be able to put 2 and 2 together. I mean come on now for one you make Lois look real dumb by her not being able to tell and you make Lex look like a chimp. Seriously the idea of the glasses being the big reason why they cant tell one another went out the door when they brought Lois on to the show. I mean you can always go with that idea everyone has a twin somewhere but its stupid. I mean hell even in the comics (pre-crisis) Clark wore glasses and acted like a nerd because he wanted to help people and use his powers(pre-crisis Superboy) which this show pretty much is with out the suit. Hell they even are pretty much going more with the pre-crisis story line(Lex, Lois being in smallvile before he becomes Superman, the multi-colored kryptonite,etc) I mean seriously they really should start living up to their word in many ways because from what they said this season is SIT and all I have seen is the same thing over and over again the only real Superman moment I have seen this season is him stopping the nuke and him saving Lois in that chopper other then that nothing and before you say it yea the FOS parts are good but really how is that SIT? I mean the first time he was there Chole came and spoiled the moment IMO of him really learning more about himself and the second time she is there walking around like everything is all good. If this season really is a SIT season then what they should do is work on getting Lois out of there because as much as I love Lois she should not be there this is not Lois and Clark. They need to put Lex in as a guest role now by having him start his empire in the big city and have him stop through every now and then or Clark bump into him every now and then. That is how you could fix things because with Lex gone he will slowly think of himself above that city and the world(Birthright) that he wouldn't even give Clark a second thought. Then you could bring in why people could never tell the two apart. Birthright handled that pretty well, I mean they kept Clark away from Smallville for years after he finshed High School staying pretty much out of the public eye and everything else and even though Lex was his friend there and was very smart he himself left Smallville like a year or two before Clark and as I said before thought of himself later on above the whole city. Thats what SV really should be doing this season because to explain something that big you can't do it in one show it takes more then that. And as I said for Lex to be as smart as he is you can't just have him leave SV and not know the truth with out some great deal of time passing bye.

Tony your basing your thoughts and opinions on what you already know of Superman lore. We already know that Smallville will take some liberties with the mythos and change them for their show.

Smallville could take a completely different route in bringing Clark Kent to Metropolis, whilst still protecting his secret identity.

Its great to speculate on how this is going to happen but I dont think we should get frustrated with what's going to happen simply based on a story that's already out there.

 

[avidreader]

Perhaps you should stop relying on hearsay and listen to what Welling has said himself ON CAMERA during various interviews?

Does anybody have the ABC Family Backstage interview handy? I'm at work and don't have it here, but he spoke at length about his turning down the role for SV and why. And NO!!! It had NOTHING to do with flying or wearing the freakin' suit. The show was described to him as Superman in high school, which he had no interest in playing. They wouldn't give him the script to read (sounds familiar, actually) but wanted him to come in to audition anyway. They told him if he came in for an audition and they liked him, they'd let him read the script. So after the second time he turned them down, they convinced him to come in and read. They loved him, and he loved the script. Please take this information over yonder and let the luminaries know that, kay? They seem to be under the same incorrect assumptions.

Well I have it readily available but I dont need to check it out as that is exactly what he said, and he has not only said it in that interview but in numerous interviews and always the same thing.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Perhaps you should stop relying on hearsay and listen to what Welling has said himself ON CAMERA during various interviews?

Does anybody have the ABC Family Backstage interview handy? I'm at work and don't have it here, but he spoke at length about his turning down the role for SV and why. And NO!!! It had NOTHING to do with flying or wearing the freakin' suit. The show was described to him as Superman in high school, which he had no interest in playing. They wouldn't give him the script to read (sounds familiar, actually) but wanted him to come in to audition anyway. They told him if he came in for an audition and they liked him, they'd let him read the script. So after the second time he turned them down, they convinced him to come in and read. They loved him, and he loved the script. Please take this information over yonder and let the luminaries know that, kay? They seem to be under the same incorrect assumptions.

.

Which is just how you guys looked at him anyways.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Tony your basing your thoughts and opinions on what you already know of Superman lore. We already know that Smallville will take some liberties with the mythos and change them for their show.

Smallville could take a completely different route in bringing Clark Kent to Metropolis, whilst still protecting his secret identity.

Its great to speculate on how this is going to happen but I dont think we should get frustrated with what's going to happen simply based on a story that's already out there.

I am not getting frustrated in anyway I was pissed at Max statement so I responded

And yet you can't figure out that Clark Kent is Superman WITH the glasses? PUHLEEEZE. It's the biggest plot hole in Superman lore, in my opinion. His whole disguise is centered around a pair of glasses and hair gel. EVERYONE should be able to figure out that Clark Kent is Superman. Duh. If that's your main gripe, then I think you need to rethink your whole perception of the Superman story.

thats what pissed me off not the point that they haven't given him glasses yet because I could care less about when he gets it just as long as the story is done right. Though I still think they missed their chance on giving it to him early on it is still a good show.

 

[Milkman95]

Perhaps you should stop relying on hearsay and listen to what Welling has said himself ON CAMERA during various interviews?

I really don't care what he says on camera. That will be all PC and not the entire truth and you know it. There's a lot more to it, come on.........

Does anybody have the ABC Family Backstage interview handy? I'm at work and don't have it here, but he spoke at length about his turning down the role for SV and why. And NO!!! It had NOTHING to do with flying or wearing the freakin' suit. The show was described to him as Superman in high school, which he had no interest in playing. They wouldn't give him the script to read (sounds familiar, actually) but wanted him to come in to audition anyway. They told him if he came in for an audition and they liked him, they'd let him read the script. So after the second time he turned them down, they convinced him to come in and read. They loved him, and he loved the script. Please take this information over yonder and let the luminaries know that, kay? They seem to be under the same incorrect assumptions.

Sorry, NOTHING is incorrect at this point. Again, do you actually think TW is going to describe everything that happened during his casting process and his likes and dislikes to the public? NO.

I'm looking forward to the Affleck film too. I grew up with the G. Reeves' show, so that should be quite interesting.

Diane Lane should be fantastic as well.

As to Welling, my personal opinion is he enjoys playing characters who don't have all the answers. From his POV, once Clark is Superman in Metropolis, the "fun" of fleshing out the character is over. There's not much more development to be made. As an adult, Superman is merely on a quest for truth, justice, and "other stuff." LOL Plots become one in which Clark/Superman swoops in to save the day by the end of the episode/film. For an actor, that can get pretty boring after a while, and I can TOTALLY see how that would be of ZERO interest to Welling. And just to reiterate, that has nothing to do with wearing a peculiar costume or being strung up in front of a green screen.

True, I enjoy origin stories as well. Batman Begins and the original Donner film are classics IMO.

Give him the opportunity to play a character that doesn't have all the answers, one that makes "human" mistakes but learns from them, and one who is allowed to be "unpredictable" as far as the audience is concerned, and Mr. "that's-not-spandex-is-it?" Welling will be happy as a clam in a mud flat. Listen to his interviews. It's not THAT hard to figure out what he likes about playing Clark Kent and why. It's less about what Clark isn't or doesn't do (fly, wear the costume, etc.) than what he is (naive, conflicted, flawed, and most importantly, still learning.)

Agreed, but isn't that the main focus of any "superhero" character? For example, I'm more interested in the psychological make-up of Bruce Wayne than seeing him in the actual suit.........

I was talking about the "TW isn't Superman, and he never will be" crack. If you don't see him as the character, that's one thing, but making these "never will be" assertions as if it's one of Newton's Laws is BS.

Well, I guess it matters what your own personal definition of Superman is.........I stand by my quote until proven otherwise.........

 

[avidreader]

I am not getting frustrated in anyway I was pissed at Max statement so I responded thats what pissed me off not the point that they haven't given him glasses yet because I could care less about when he gets it just as long as the story is done right. Though I still think they missed their chance on giving it to him early on it is still a good show.

I still cant see how giving him glasses now will prevent Lois/Lex from knowing that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person later on. He will still be Clark Kent saving the day, but wearing a pair of glasses.

I really don't care what he says on camera. That will be all PC and not the entire truth and you know it. There's a lot more to it, come on.........

So basing what he says on rumour and speculation is a more accurate account of how he feels about the character than what you've actually heard him say.

 

[triplet]

You know, I tried the read all the posts in here but it's giving me a headache...

The number of rants per capita has gone up substantially in the last day, I should think.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

I still cant see how giving him glasses now will prevent Lois/Lex from knowing that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person later on. He will still be Clark Kent saving the day, but wearing a pair of glasses.

It doesn't what would do it is years of not seeing one another and little to no contact with one another. Thats what kept them from not knowing. Birthrights Lex was Clark best friend but after Lex left he didn't see Clark for years and later thought of himself above all so it worked on why he couldn't tell. But you just can't have Clark/Superman show up only after a year of Lois and Lex not seeing Clark and expect them not to be able to tell who is who because then it is like saying they can't even do simple math. You would need years apart between the two and now is the perfect time to start that see it you only have 2 more seasons left.

 

[avidreader]

It doesn't what would do it is years of not seeing one another and little to no contact with one another. Thats what kept them from not knowing. Birthrights Lex was Clark best friend but after Lex left he didn't see Clark for years and later thought of himself above all so it worked on why he couldn't tell. But you just can't have Clark/Superman show up only after a year of Lois and Lex not seeing Clark and expect them not to be able to tell who is who because then it is like saying they can't even do simple math. You would need years apart between the two and now is the perfect time to start that see it you only have 2 more seasons left.

Which brings you back to what most people around here think and that is Lex and Lois will know that he is Superman. Each will keep their thoughts private for different reasons. In my opinion that gives the character of Lex and Lois more substance, credibility and intelligence.

I've read Birthright, and frankly I thought Lex not knowing or even recognising Clark was unbelievable.