SV: Reckoning

[norwich36]

Rewatching "Reckoning" last night, I had a few additional thoughts on it.

First of all, I went back and reread all four of the reviews I posted on this episode, just to make sure I wasn't being repetitive, and I hereby make a new rule for myself: no parentheses! Geez! What is it with me and parentheses?

I remember, vaguely, when this episode first came out there was a lot of discussion about destiny and choice and the extent to which Clark's choice was responsible for Jonathan's death. As I watched it this time, though, what I was thinking about was how much Jonathan was responsible for Jonathan's death. Here I'm not merely thinking about the deal he made with Jor-El to bring Clark back from Metropolis, but also his lifelong choice not to attempt to reign in his temper. We know, for example, that he alienated Martha from her family by punching out her dad when they first met, an encounter neither side has ever forgiven.

And here he brings on his own fatal heart attack by punching out Lionel. Why?
What on earth could he hope to gain from such a thing? Men like Lionel Luthor aren't intimidated by violence; in fact, punching out Lionel Luthor is more likely to endanger Clark's secret than to save him. If anything, Jonathan's decision to attempt to protect Clark through violence is even more impulsive and ill-considered than Clark's bargain with Jor-El to save Lana--at least in that case Clark knew he'd be saving someone. Even if Jonathan hadn't ended up giving himself a heart attack, though, his attempt to protect Clark by beating down Lionel would have inevitably failed.


I'm not saying this to knock Jonathan, by the way. I wouldn't say he was my favorite character, but I always did respect his genuine love for Clark and Martha. I'm saying this because rewatching this episode in the light of the rest of the season has given me hope that TPTB know that Jonathan was flawed, and though Clark has inherited his moral code, maybe he's supposed to learn that Jonathan's rash impulsiveness and rush to solve things physically isn't the right way to go. Thinking about this has also made me somewhat less irritated at Martha's plot arc. Maybe they're trying to (eventually) make Clark into a golden mean between the extremes of his two parents (especially vis-a-vis Luthors): he needs to avoid Jonathan's extreme judgmentalism and his impulse to solve everything with his fists, AND to avoid Martha's extreme of trusting too soon and making herself too vulnerable because her faith in people swings too much the other way.

Or something like that. I can hope, anyway.

The whole funeral scene, especially the musical montage, still utterly destroys me. Even though I still think this episode should have been a two-parter to fully develop the themes it explores (especially the reveal to Lana), every time I watch this episode I like it more.

Comments

[myownghost.livejournal.com]

this makes a lot of sense, i think. jonathan has been so clearly flawed in his judgment and behavior, yet we're supposed to have seen him as a good guy (which was problematic because of his prejudice against lex). i like your idea about clark needing to learn from jonathan's failures and flaws, and also from martha's.

but i think you're lots smarter and more perceptive than the producers and writers. i want to see the show done your way!

[lacylaces.livejournal.com]

I watched again last night and I had a somewhat similar reaction to Johnathon starting that fight. And I started thinking about his temper and failure to think things through rationally before acting as well. What was he hoping to accomplish - brawling with a heart condition is just not a good idea. And starting a fight while declaring your moral superiority over the other party seems contradictory. I think he would have done better to find out as much as he could about what Lionel was up to and told him to leave. And talked with his family about it and how to deal with whatever.

We really don't know for sure that Johnathon was going to survive the night regardless of Clark's choice to change time. Although we didn't see who it was, didn't he get a call in the 1st time? We just didn't see that play out.

I think we are supposed to think and wonder about the choices Clark makes, but I'm not sure that the decision to save Lana is one of them. I think Johnathon is to blame for his own death and not Clark.

I think two parts would have given them the time to develop the themes and outcomes much better. I think that the 1st time line is some of the best SV I've seen. But it's kind of diminished by how quickly it all got wiped away.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I'd have loved a two-parter, with the first episode ending on Lana's death. It would be so cool to see KK getting the chance to play at a reaction that made sense, then Lana coming around and accepting Clark's proposel. Clark so relieved and thrilled, then bam!

Plus playing with the timelines, means we could see season 5 Lex's reaction to Clark's secret. We so briefly get a look at his face as Clark rushed up, and then that's it. Pfft


I wonder at Vengeance with Clark deciding to hold back on violence by thinking of how his dad would have responded. From back in Rogue, Jonathon has always been lashing out with his fists

[pepperjackcandy.livejournal.com]

I was never all that fond of Bo, way back to the pseudo-tolerant reaction to Martha's desire for a child in the Pilot.

But I digress.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

his lifelong choice not to attempt to reign in his temper
Yes!

even more impulsive and ill-considered than Clark's bargain with Jor-El to save Lana
Oh, I'm very glad I scrolled back and found this post of yours! That's an excellent observation, and I agree. Jonathan frequently lost my sympathy through this trait off his. It frustrated me that he never saw how destructive his actions could be. His death was perfectly, if stupidly, in character.

Maybe they're trying to (eventually) make Clark into a golden mean between the extremes of his two parents (especially vis-a-vis Luthors): he needs to avoid Jonathan's extreme judgmentalism and his impulse to solve everything with his fists, AND to avoid Martha's extreme of trusting too soon and making herself too vulnerable because her faith in people swings too much the other way
*nods* I can see them going that way--they've already played with the idea that a balance of maternal and paternal influence is ideal.