In the future’s rendition of Superman (2025), as a dedicated fan, it’s clear that James Gunn has packed quite a punch for our beloved hero from the get-go. The film opens with Superman battered and wounded after his initial skirmish. From there, it’s a relentless barrage of colossal monsters, madcap billionaires, and even a doppelganger – not to mention a heated confrontation with his girlfriend. Yet, the most crushing revelation for Superman comes when he uncovers the true essence of the message his Kryptonian parents, Jor-El and Lara, sent him to Earth with. In the initial segment of the video transmission, they express their affection for their son and implore Superman to serve the people of Earth. However, once Lex Luthor’s associate, The Engineer ( María Gabriela de Faría), mends the file, we discover – just as Superman does – that Jor-El and Lara intended their son not only to be a hero among men but also to become a “god among men” on Earth by taking multiple wives and eventually restarting the Kryptonian race.
In Smallville, fans didn’t find Jor-El’s intentions for his son on Earth as surprising as Superman and Metropolis residents did, since it had been a significant plot point throughout the series, rooted in the post-Crisis era of DC comics, providing one of the richest sources of ongoing conflict spanning the show’s ten seasons.
The idea was initially presented during Season 2’s standout episode “Rosetta,” which remains one of the most significant and memorable episodes of Smallville because it marked the debut of Christopher Reeve as a guest star. In this episode, Reeve portrayed Dr. Swann, an astronomer and satellite communications mogul who enlightened Clark about his true origins as the last son of Krypton. Notably, the message from Jor-El and Lara to their son in this series mirrored the Superman narrative. In 1989, the same year that Clark arrived on Smallville, Dr. Swann’s satellites intercepted a transmission containing the following words: “This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil. We will be with you, Kal-El, all the days of your life.
Clark utilized the fresh wisdom he’d gained to open the spaceship that the Kents had hidden in their storm shelter since his arrival, accompanied by his adoptive father, Jonathan. Upon opening it, however, Clark found a message from Jor-El that was not what they expected: “On the third planet orbiting this sun, Sol, you will be a deity among humans. They are an imperfect species; rule them with might, my son. Your greatness is in their subjugation.
In the TV show Smallville, just like Superman, Clark grapples with the mission destined for him on Earth by his biological father. Both characters experience an inner turmoil due to this revelation, but since Jonathan Kent is present during Clark’s realization on Smallville, the crisis is shorter in duration. As in Superman, where Pa Kent comforts Clark and tells him that his actions define who he is, Jonathan also reassures young Clark in a similar manner on Smallville.
Jonathan encourages Clark, ‘You are the one who gets to choose the type of life you want to live,’ he says firmly. ‘Nobody else – neither I, nor your mom, nor your birth family.’
In Smallville, instead of focusing on Jor-El’s mission to procreate and continue the Kryptonian line, the show chose a different route. On this series, Jor-El’s consciousness was housed as an AI within the ship and later the Fortress of Solitude. This digital version of Jor-El posed a challenge for Clark, often conflicting with his ideas about fulfilling his destiny. Initially, the unveiling of Jor-El’s plans for Clark created a captivating plot twist for Smallville, providing an excellent foundation for incorporating more Superman background. However, there were instances throughout the show’s run where the interaction between Clark and Jor-El felt excessive and repetitive. This was particularly true because the AI Jor-El possessed significant real-world power that wasn’t always clearly explained.
Despite Gunn possibly drawing inspiration from Smallville for this plot twist, he cleverly altered how Superman receives the significant message. Unlike Clark Kent, who could privately discuss Jor-El’s intentions with his adoptive father, Superman learns of it publicly, putting him on edge throughout the movie’s second act. This public revelation offers a glimpse into Superman’s internal conflict as he grapples with his identity and purpose while confronting enemies, rival tycoons, and relationship issues. The delay in receiving the message also sets the stage for a poignant conversation between Superman and Pa Kent later in the film, serving as a redemptive moment for the character. While Smallville and Superman approach this theme differently depending on the character’s age, both series effectively use Jor-El to emphasize Superman’s human qualities and his ability to make choices, leaving a lasting impression on us.
Superman is now playing in theaters, and Smallville is available to stream on Hulu.
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2025-07-21 22:10