Fans of Smallville have long been frustrated by the “no flights” portion of producers Al Gough and Miles Millar “no flights, no tights” policy established 7 years ago at the start of the first season. As a matter of fact, as the series has evolved, the fact that Clark (Tom Welling) still does not fly on the show has become pretty ridiculous.
Many other characters on the show have had the ability to fly, including Clark’s cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoort) and other Kryptonians. On toleapsp of that, portraying Clark, who is virtually indestructible as having a fear of heights is at this point ridiculous – especially as we enter Smallville’s 8th (and supposedly final) season.
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Sure, they’ve thrown us a bone here and there with him making giant “leaps” and actually showing him flying when he was possessed by other characters, but the producers have stubbornly clung to their original premise. As long as they were in charge we weren’t going to see Clark fly.
But they aren’t in charge any more.
Now we have Kelly Souders, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, and Brian Peterson running the show. Between them they’ve written 100 episodes over the course of seven years. That’s the equivalent of four full years of Smallville.
Comic Book Resources interviewed them recently and they had some interesting things to say about this upcoming season. While season 7 started to pull away from the arc of the previous six years and finally showed Lex go over completely to the dark side, it’s looking like season 8 will be a big leap forward in the evolution of the characters and the series.
Here are the highlights:
- They will not attempt to bring in a character to replace Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) as the prime antagonist.
- All of the characters will be moving on to the next phase of their lives.
- The show will be moving on to the next phase in the Superman mythology.
- They want to bring Clark closer to the traditional Superman character that we all know.
- There will be an episode that explores the relationship between Clark and Chloe (Allison Mack), and the underlying sexual tension that’s been brewing there for so long.
- On the other hand the season will move Clark and Lois (Erica Durance) towards the relationship that is well established in the comics and films.
- They will highlight the need for Clark to maintain a dual identity and move heavily in that direction.
Ah… but what about Clark flying?!
They dropped a couple of hints that leave me no doubt that he will indeed be finally taking to the skies this year:
“We have a lot of conversations [about flying and the costume], the only thing that we are saying is that we can absolutely confirm that there is no tights, so that’s pretty much all we can say on that.”
And:
“Saving people in Smallville was one thing — when he had to run to the factory to save Chloe the roads weren’t very crowded, the streets weren’t very crowded. Being alive in Metropolis as Superman is a very different experience and you will find very quickly in this season he discovers it’s not so easy when you’re running through crowded streets or your having to run into a crowded crisis situation.”
Take those two comments, along with their plan on moving the story towards the traditional Superman mythos and I’d say we’ll finally get our wish in the flight department.
Here’s what I’m hoping: This team of writers wants to really put their mark on the show as producers and will really hit it out of the park this year. It would be fantastic if this turned out to be the equivalent of Manny Coto coming on board Star Trek: Enterprise in its final season. That show had been ruined by the direction its producers had chosen, but Coto came in fresh in the final season and turned the show around big time.
And of course they’ve finally decided to get rid of Lana (Kristin Kreuk), thank goodness. That can’t do anything but help make the show better. And that’s NOT a slam on Kristin – they just ran the whole Clark/Lana thing so far into the ground that it became nauseating. Also gone is Kara, who never really worked for me as a character on the show.
Here’s hoping that season 8 of Smallville brings us better things than last season did.
Source: Comic Book Resources
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154 Comments
So ummmm, will this guy play the new Superman?
I don’t think so. Although at this point I think he’d make a great Superman, I’m sure WB doesn’t want the movie to be tied into the TV series.
Vic
What a mess.
With the WB concentrating on solo superhero films, it looks the show will be only place to show a live-action Justice League and that’s good for the show.
Last season saw five characters flew and Clark isn’t one of them. That’s what made the last season so frustrating to watch.
I’ve been bothered by the whole ” no tights/no flights ” thing since day one.
Its a show about Superman for crying out loud !!!!!! I know , I know …it chronicles his development yada yada yada.
You try to feed me superheroes? I want action/adventure/costumes/displays of power
Primarily though ( for me ) the show has always been overloaded with too much relationship baggage and too many painful/longing gazing into eyes.
The guest heroes have been ( for me ) watered down and consistantly lame ( horrible costumes-Victor Stone ??? don’t get me started !!! )
This show has been on for 8 seasons for a reason ; because A LOT of people have really really liked it. Mine is but one opinion and they’ve done just fine without my support
This is such awsome news!!
I love Smallville and this season sounds like it’s gonna be awsome, way better then the last!
There’s been a lot of really good things about Smallvile and some not so good especially last year when it felt like the show creatively had run its course.They so badly exausted the LEX Luthor character that it hurt so much of what they developed before it.
I hope the show delivers on what you have written as theres no reason why WB dosen’t let clark become Superman. If they did that, the program could re-energize itself and go on for a few more years as a quality show, something the CW network badly needs!
Smallville is one of my favorite shows and I have enjoyed it immensely over the past 7 seasons. I am glad that Lana is finally gone as that storyline was beaten to death. I am really looking forward to the new season and hopefully we have a great season of Smallville. Clarks NEEDS to fly, absolutely HAS to. He’s used every other power so far and they just didn’t want him to fly! WHY?!?! I mean he HAS to learn it eventually, right???
I’m hoping that the new producers can really provide a spark for the new season. Who knows, maybe it’ll be so good we’ll get a Season 9…and WANT it!!
Yeah, the staff this year has some work ahead of them to bring Smallville back from the brink.
I hope they’re up to the task.
Vic
Actually, I do hope that the show gets a 9th season. Fear of heights can’t be the reason why Clark hasn’t fly yet. It’s really something else.
Van,its not fear of heights.
its been explained that he hasent fully embraced his krytonian half yet.
In fact the only time he has flown was when his kryptonian half was in control
in the 4th season premiere,
He was Kal-El not Clark and he flew.
i think the writer of this biased article needs to get his/her facts straight. Kristin Kreuk decided not to renew her contract for season 8, not because they got rid of her. Same thing with Michael Rosenbaum, he left the show and decided not to come back because this show has been written so badly, ever since the 4th season. Very smart move Kristin and Michael. I wouldn’t want to be tied down on this career ruining show either. Kristin and Michael, well at least Kristin has moved on to bigger and better things. It’s gonna be so awesome to see Kristin’s celebrity status sky-rocket as she leaves Smallville behind, the show destined to be left at the dusty clearance shelf at the electronics’ section at Wal-mart.
Finally something that the fans of smallville can look forward to, this news is just amazing. I’m shocked because i thought that flying thing would never happen, now i’ve read this fantastic news i’m really really looking forward to season 8 of smallville.
to me, this show isn’t the same. two main characters are gone and they are trying to replace them please.
Clark had a chance to embrace his Kryptonian heritage back in the last season.
I found out that according to the new showrunners, there was a scene that was cut out from Veritas why Clark hasn’t fly yet. Kara explained that it’s a mental block.
Maybe I’m getting Smallville mixed up with some other show or movie but I thought Clark did fly (as Clark) when he saved Lana from the tornado? Sure, he didn’t think he was flying, he thought the wind from the tornado helped him get to lana, but if you control your position while going through the air, guess what that’s called? Flying. Also, I remember an episode where he was levitating after waking up. Am I crazy or have I mixed this up with some other show?
Also, Lex knows Clark’s secret; how will he be able to have a dual identity when his greatest enemy knows his secret?
John,
Those are some of the “bones” they’ve thrown us. And the levitation seen was in the very first episode in season 1.
Vic
Well, Vic, I’m tired of “bones”, I want some MEAT! One of the appeals of Supes is his flying, as has been said here. And now it looks like they are going to substitute the love interest Lana with Chloe. FORGET THE BLASTED LOVE INTEREST GARBAGE AND GIVE ME SOME BUTT-KICKING, LASER BLASTIN’, SUPER BREATHE BREATHING, FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET SUPES!!!
Thus ends the caniption.
Is this a show I should watch on DVD? I have never watched a full episode of it but alot of my friends really enjoy it.
So, do you guys think I should start playing catch up?
No Rob, ~~~~~these arnt the shows your looking for~~~~
~~~~You want to see LEXX and Red Dwarf~~~~~
I have never seen Smallville…From what I have read I am not missing much…
eureka…Vic will get that one!!
@Rob
Well, I loved the concept originally and it had its share of decent episodes. If there’s anything you can say with certainty about Smallville it’s that it is very uneven when it comes to the quality of the episodes.
Vic
Rob, I’ll read the Watchmen, if you check out the LEXX series.
That’s the deal,,,,
Smallville is crap,,,,,,, don’t tell anyone I told you. I think Vic’s a fan,,, Sshhhh
John, I’ve mentioned the levitation scenes (there were two or three) a few times on this board. No one ever mentions an explanation. He didn’t levitate upon waking up, he levitated until something woke him up–like his creepy mother entering her teenage son’s bedroom.
The 8th season will make me forget about the last two seasons.
Creatively, they still have plenty of room to go with all of the major characters “moving on to the next phase” of their lives. Change the title in Season 9 from “Smallville” to “Metropolis”, keep the actor playing Clark, and off we go.
I’m sorry 790, I remember seeing commercials of that on Space when I was a youngling, and I just IMDBed it right now to make sure it was the same thing…I can’t handle even looking at those characters, let alone watching them act out 4 seasons, hahah.
I think I’ll just have to suffer you not reading watchmen
As for Smallville, I don’t really understand what the series is about. I hear about all these other super powered people and heroes being in it, like the green arrow and even the Justice League…i don’t understand how that all fits in before this dude becomes Superman. I guess like the X-men films and tv shows, its not comic continuity, its rather a new take on his character developing right?
No prob Rob, enjoy Smallville.
Rob,
You should definitely check out the first season of Smallville. Either rent it or buy it (I think you can find it for less than $20 now). If you don’t like the pilot and first season, you won’t like the rest of the show.
Smallville is definitely NOT in continuity with the comic (which I am not a big stickler about) or even the movies. It’s more like an alternate-universe type of Superman, but not Bizarro Supes…LOL…
I think you will enjoy it. I love the show, it’s one of my favorites and I have all the seasons on DVD so far (except for #7). True, it can get a little “90210″ at times, but for the most part we get to see Superman becoming Superman.
ya, if I can just accept that its not in continuity (which like you, is hard for me) I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable. My buddy has the first 4-5 seasons on DVD, I actually bought him 2 of them so I’ll borrow it off him when im finished school in a few weeks.
thanks 790, and enjoy the graphic novel
I am a long time fan of Smallville and I have to say if Lana had not left I was going to stop watching the show.
this season I know that they are going to do an episode with the Legion of Superheroes and Green Arrow is going to be a permanent character but I hope the do an episode or two with Bruce Wayne/Batman and/or Diana Lance/Wonder Woman.
If they do bring in Wonder Woman it would be cool if they made her a temporary love interest.
Can Clark & Lois please have some SEX ! Then let him fly. Then Tom Welling should sign up for the new superman movie. Put Lana on Supernatural she’s pretty hot and deserves to stay on CW shows.
Vic ,
If i recall correctly during one episode
in season 1
He woke up one morning FLOATING in mid air!
@Gary
Yeah, I mentioned the specific episode in a comment above.
Vic
I am so glad that Lana isn’t there anymore. For years I’ve been waiting for her to get killed off and (I don’t know which season) they supposedly killed her off at the end of one season, which I was thrilled about, but then the next season, it was all a fake death, I was pissed. I don’t care if she left voluntarily, Lana was way passed tired and am so happy to know she’s gone. And I’m all for lovey-dovey scenes in other shows, but this is Smallville, they need to cut that junk out, youknowhati’msayin???
YEA i read that directors really want Tom to play superman on the big screen, I hope so even through i really thought that Brandon routh did a really good job as clark kent/superman. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next but really looking forward to season 8 smallville.
I love the direction that the show is taking in the new season. Maybe they will get a 9th or 10th season out of it.
Well guys. I went throuth the seven seasons in just one week and I really enjoyed myself. I quite agree that it’s about time Clark starts flying.
I did sooo look fwd to this series and I’ve been soooo disappointed that there is NO SUPERman flying yet. Seems like they’ve got all the props they need, now they’ve got to get on the bandwagon before Clark goes grey or bald.
what a joke..
“They want to bring Clark closer to the traditional Superman character that we all know.”
“And of course they’ve finally decided to get rid of Lana (Kristin Kreuk),”
Those are two disappointing news. What made smallville so special was the originality of the previous producers. They did not make smallville another similar superhero story. It kind of sucks that this change is coming. As for Kristin Kreuk, she is fantastic, and personally, i do not know how many times I sat there in many episodes just hoping that Clark and Lana could finally be together. I do NOT want Clark to date Chloe because she already has Jimmy, and Lois is into Oliver Queen. She cannot be with him because she thinks sh would hold him back, and why should it be okay with Clark, who has an even greater calling. I think Kristin is the only one who would suit Clark, and besides they have been in love with each other for a long time, way back when they were kids, and still are. Anyway that is my opinion and it’s disappointing to see many fans happy to get rid of Lana.
@Maria
Sure, making things different WAS interesting, but at some point the two worlds (CW’s Smallville and DC’s Superman) have to merge somehow.
And as far as the Lana/Clark thing, what people got sick of was the never ending “will they/won’t they” get together thing, with all the false starts and teases.
Just gets old after a while.
Vic
okay, enuff of the Lana/Clark Saga. Yes, it was annoying at times, but hey, we all know where his destiny lies….and as for flying, this series, maybe I am crazy, but wasn’t this supposed to be about the boy becoming the man? I mean, go back and watch The Sneeze or any other episode where he discovers a new ability. Can’t all happen in one night. And Clark’s fear of heights….I like that one, it just highlights more of his ‘upbringing’ by humans. Just a thought.
you know what producers didn’t get rid of kristin kreuk she left. I don’t blame her. Every one hated her character, but you know what people still came back all these years to watch the show and it isn’t her fault that producers couldn’t write some of the stories better. But for all those people who didn’t like the lana character, they sure came back and continued watching more. Hope kristin kreuk success
ok looks like i am not alone. Non flying thing, crap. He is what 21-22 now. he is an adult, any powers he is going to get he should have by now.
Clark/Lana thing, just tired and old. Should have ended with her fake death. Kristen a hot and good actor but the character needed to go regardless. Clark/Chloe thing, please writers/producers don’t do it. It is as old and tired as Clark/Lana thing. Chloe has had the hots for him since season 1 and that storyline is old as well.
Rosebaum not coming back. Although the whole Lex storyline had gotten old as well, simply becuase Clark would not come to terms with him being a bad person, I like the character and anyone but Rosebaum would be bad.
Just let him be Superman for once and for all, he is no longer a boy learning his powers. He needs to man up, i thought the last 2 seasons just were overall and moved his character no where.
They also kept biulding towards this justice league thing but it just faded. Sounds like that is coming back.
Side note; how have they kept Tom Welling looking exactly the same age for 7 seasons, he has got some good genes or good makeup people.
I won’t belabor the issue, but everyone is so correct about getting Lana off the show. She has stunted the growth of “superman.” I agree flying would definitely bring the show to a new level, mainly because it’s what separates superman from all the meteor characters. However, removing Kara is a mistake. The show can use her as a gateway, besides the fortress of solitude, to bring the history of Krypton into the show. This is essential this early on in the mythology of Superman, because little of the Kryptonian race is still understood.
Please lana was a high school thing , clark moved on glad the show is to. As far as the justice leauge hes not even superman yet many things have to happen befor that, and if i remember right clarks dad died after high school he left for the fortress left the fortress able to fly , this show has gone a major screw- ball direction
That is right, he did fly in season 4…but he was not Clark, he was Kal-el.
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