Smallville: Jonathan Kent's Death No Surprise

[tv star collector]

Yes, No. 100 ("Reckoning") was a sad episode, but Jonathan Kent's death was
really no big surprise to longtime fans of Superman. In nearly all the previous
incarnations (the comics, the 1950s TV series, and the 1978 movie), Mr. Kent's
death was addressed. The difference is that, in all the earlier versions, Jonathan
(or "Eben Kent," as he was called in the George Reeves TV show) was depicted
as a much older man (played by veteran actor Glenn Ford in the Christopher
Reeve film). John Schneider, with his still-boyish face, is only middle-aged. So,
to be taken while still in his prime was more dramatic, esp. in light of his victory
in the senatorial election.

That race is, I think, a mere stepping stone for Lex Luthor, who has already
expressed loftier goals, namely the White House. And why not? In the comic
books, a slightly older Lex Luthor is the President of the United States.

[Storywriter]

Yes, No. 100 ("Reckoning") was a sad episode, but Jonathan Kent's death was
really no big surprise to longtime fans of Superman. In nearly all the previous
incarnations (the comics, the 1950s TV series, and the 1978 movie), Mr. Kent's
death was addressed. The difference is that, in all the earlier versions, Jonathan
(or "Eben Kent," as he was called in the George Reeves TV show) was depicted
as a much older man (played by veteran actor Glenn Ford in the Christopher
Reeve film). John Schneider, with his still-boyish face, is only middle-aged. So,
to be taken while still in his prime was more dramatic, esp. in light of his victory
in the senatorial election.

That race is, I think, a mere stepping stone for Lex Luthor, who has already
expressed loftier goals, namely the White House. And why not? In the comic
books, a slightly older Lex Luthor is the President of the United States.No it really wasn't because I knew it would be him.I just kinda guessed and I was right.His Death is no Surprise for me but my guess was being right Surprised me.

Just as much as my Guess Samantha was the one killed on Reunion was a surprise because I was just guessing it was her and I was right.I should play the guessing game more often.;)

[lockdown06]

I was sad to see it happpen already. Being a Dukes fan he was one of my favorite characters on the show.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I was sad to see it happpen already. Being a Dukes fan he was one of my favorite characters on the show.
At least him and Tom Wopat got to do an episode together.

[tv star collector]

Yeah, that was fun seeing John and Tom reunited on SMALLVILLE. Good episode.

[dave insinga]

sooner or later clark has got to leave smallville and actually become SUPERMAN so how much longer can we stay here i love this show but if goes on beyond another season i think i agree with DR.THONG the quality of the storylines will indeed shrink and the whole point of the series will be lost.

[tv star collector]

I cannot see the series running for more than one more season. The characters
cannot remain frozen in time, and eventually they will have to mature and go
their separate ways. For Clark (and Lois Lane), that means moving to Metropolis (as we all know).

[TJL]

I finally got to check out the big episode last night...

I was a bit disappointed at first that they did decide to go the traditional route and kill off Jonathan, but things were done in a very good way, so I can't complain.
It is a shame that John Shneider had to go. He did a great job on "Smallville."

[robyrob]

i was disappointed, thought that it was too predictable, i was really hoping that they would suprise us by choosing someone else to kill off.

of course this DOESNT mean we wont see John Schneider on the show anymore, I am quite sure that they will bring him back for flashbacks, or ghostly visits or something....

[friendsfan77]

Ever since I saw the end of the episode, I had this weird feeling that maybe they faked Jonathan's death. I kept wondering why did they killed off a main character? Then tonight during the opening theme his name is still in the credits. I think that really could mean something to come.

[barb1686]

I didn't catch the show :( I forgot to record it cause I was running late for work...Anyways, was there flashbacks? Or maybe they're still having him come back as a ghost for a short while. But they said that in fact that person is dying for good, no lie. We'll see. I don't see why Jonathan wouldn't die, that's how he's suppose to die.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I didn't catch the show :( I forgot to record it cause I was running late for work...Anyways, was there flashbacks? Or maybe they're still having him come back as a ghost for a short while. But they said that in fact that person is dying for good, no lie. We'll see. I don't see why Jonathan wouldn't die, that's how he's suppose to die.
He was on at the very end of the show tonight in a home movie and you could here him say Bye Bye. Really sad. :(

[tv star collector]

I think that is why John Schneider's name was in the credits on last night's
episode ("Vengeance"). Although it was supposed to be an "old" home movie,
it was actually the first time that clip ever aired. So it was a "new" appearance
by Jonathan, to the viewers. If he appears in next week's show opening, it will
probably only be in the scene in which he is standing next to Clark when he
flips the tractor in the air.

[spunkygirl]

Jonathan's death was a waste and it basically confirmed they're trying to go the SpiderMan route with Clark that the death of someone is what helps him become Superman.

This Clark isn't going to want to be Superman only out of obligation :cuss:

[tv star collector]

They're just being faithful to the original source material, namely the comic
books (like most of the previous film versions on television and in movies). I would prefer they do that than to try to rewrite the Superman mythos as creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster envisioned him. (Yeah, I know John Byrne did that and that's why Jonathan and Martha Kent were still alive when Clark was living in Metropolis in LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN .. and why they were alive in the comics when Doomsday killed Superman (in the infamous 1993 story arc that got so much press, remember?).) Of course, they found a way to resurrect Superman but I
digress.

[Rachel3118]

It's better that it follows the tradition superman storyline. It is could to have his death lead Clarke to be the person that he is. If it was someone else it wouldn't really fit in with the storyline. Nothing would be that suprising because we already new someone close to Clarke would die and that desn't leave very many people.