If you're anything like us, Smallville's series finale provided something of a letdown in that aside from some well-written drama, the one wish we had was never truly fulfilled. And even if you hadn't kept up with the series, casual fans still wanted that one iconic money shot of Tom Welling's Clark Kent fully outfitted in the classic Superman costume, ultimately never to be seen.
So what happened? Tom Welling not feeling fit enough for the task? Likeness rights getting in the way? That famous legal drama that nearly tripped up Zack Snyder's upcoming Man of Steel? None of the above, if you take the word of The Hollywood Reporter's interview with Smallville executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders, who insist that putting Tom Welling in the famous suit was "just not super relevant and not what we were trying to do."
Fans who watched the two-hour finale will remember that though the super-suit (borrowed from 2006's Superman Returns) was displayed on several occasions, all we ever saw of Tom Welling in costume were far-away CG models, close-ups excluding the suit, and the final shot of the iconic- "S Shield" undeneath his suit.
Says Peterson of the decision:
"What we wanted to do all along was show hints at where he was going
because that is a whole different story that is yet to be told. It felt like it gave just enough without
starting to tell a whole different story that is left for all the other
media.
We were actually thrilled that everybody came together and was on board with the shots that we specifically picked. We all wanted it to be the end of Clark Kent’s journey because it’s a show about Clark Kent. In the days when we saw him in a flannel shirt, the suit was the furthest thing from his mind.”
"Red, blue and yellow suits are so 2006, anyway."
We agree that from a creative standpoint, that line of thinking holds up. But still, a small part of us will always remain super-disappointed that after ten years, we weren't so much as offered an explanation, or even preparation for why Smallville would end without one glorious final shot of The Man of Steel.
What say you? Were you disappointed by the finale, or do you feel Smallville did Superman absolute justice? Don a cape, and give just your thoughts below!
