| [–] |
Show Menu |
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• (8)
• (5)
• (2)
• (1)
• (1)
• (1)
•
• (3)
•
•
• |
| [+] |
Empty Sections |
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
• (0)
|
| [+] |
Show Contribs |
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• |
| [+] |
Episode Contribs |
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• |
|
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman :: Vatman (01x19)
 |
Episode Information |
| |
| Title: | Vatman |
| Episode #: | 01x19 |
| Production Number: | 455317 |
| Original Airdate: | Sunday March 13th, 1994 |
|
| |
|
| |
Episode Summary |
| |
[x] Remove Ad
A plane nears tragedy in Paris. Without landing gear, the chances of a successful landing are not high. Fortunately, Superman intervenes to save the plane and its passengers. But how can that happen while Clark Kent watches from the Daily Planet newsroom? Clark doesn’t know, but he will find out. Eventually he discovers a man who appears to be an exact replica of himself – a man who believes himself Superman’s enemy and successor! Meanwhile, Perry takes up dangerous hobbies and makes other changes in his life, forcing Jimmy Olsen to wonder if The Chief’s time on Earth is drawing to an end...
| | There are no foreign summaries for this episode: Contribute |
| |
|
| |
Guest Stars |
| |
|
| |
Main Cast |
| |
|
| |
Episode Notes |
| |
This episode is loosely based on the origin of the character Bizarro from the Superman comic books. Long before the idea of cloning people was widely discussed, Lex Luthor created a “duplicator ray” and used it to create a duplicate of Superman. This “bizarre” and flawed being possessed strange speech patterns, twisted logic and an odd personality and appearance. Viewers familiar with the cinematic history of Superman will also recall that in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Lex created a “Nuclear Man” by cloning Superman from a strand of his invulnerable hair. Although Lex’s “Vatman” clone is more normal than Bizarro, it has some of the same problems. Those interested in a full recounting of Bizarro’s history can find a reasonably accurate account here.
|
|
| |
Episode Quotes |
| |
Lois: Look at this. In the last thirty-six hours, Superman saved a plane in Paris, righted a sinking ship in Rio, and rescued a busload of schoolchildren in Suriname... wherever that is. And on and on – never once talking to the press, or even hanging around to see how things turn out!
| Superman: Who... are you?
Vatman: I don’t want to talk! You’re my enemy!
Superman: Why would you say that?
Vatman: I am the most powerful man in the universe! You have outlived your usefulness!
Superman: Who told you all these things?
Vatman: My father.
Superman: Who is your father?
Vatman: I promised never to tell!
| Lex: You and I are destined to control this city. Eventually, the world. But you must remember that all that counts... is winning. That ultimately, all that satisfies, is power. And above all, might is right!
| Lois: Superman!
Vatman: (not recognizing her) Yes?
Lois: It’s me... Lois!
Vatman: Um hmmm. (He flies away, leaving Lois mystified.)
| Jimmy Olsen: The other day he said something about living on the edge.
Cat Grant: Perry? The man’s a permanent fixture in the slow lane!
| Lois: Clark, we have to talk. Something’s wrong with Superman. I watched him throw his robbery suspect into a police van twenty feet away! Knocked the guy out cold! Superman wouldn’t do that!
Clark: Are you saying you saw Superman? He’s here?
Lois: Earth to Clark, yes, hello?!? I saw him this morning.
Clark: Where?
Lois: Merchant’s Bank... hostage situation. Where have you been, anyway?
| Lex Luthor: Once again... why must the old Superman die?
Vatman: Because he’s outlived his usefulness.
Lex: And why is he our enemy?
Vatman: Because he stands between us and unlimited power.
| Lois: I don’t know who just flew out that window, but I’ll tell you one thing: that was definitely not Superman!
| Clark: A clone?!?
Lois: Yes! It’s so obvious! There’s no technology in the world that could produce a robot like that. I mean, we know Superman doesn’t have a twin.
Clark: Well, how do we know that?
Lois: Because he would have told me. So there’s only one possibility: someone has cloned Superman!
| Vatman: You’re not even Superman! You’re Clark Kent!
Superman: (alarmed) Have you told anybody else this? Your father?
Vatman: Not yet... but... I might...
Superman: Please... don’t.
Vatman: Well, why shouldn’t I?
Superman: Because someone has been lying to you, but it’s not me.
| Dr. Leek: We have a little problem.
Lex: Enlighten me. What is it?
Dr. Leek: His vital signs are weak. His brain wave activity is erratic. His pulse beat is irregular. And so on.
Lex: Prognosis?
Dr. Leek: He’s dying. Like the frogs. He was our first – the prototype. I warned you there would be some complications.
| (Dr. Leek and Lex discuss Vatman’s upcoming battle with Superman.)
Dr. Leek: What makes you think he can win?
Lex: Because if it means the difference between winning and losing, he’ll pick up a passenger train filled with people and use it to bash Superman’s skull in. Unlike Superman, he has no restraints – no morality. I taught him. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, he will kill Superman.
| Vatman: I never would have hurt you, Lois. But the only way I could guarantee Superman would fight me was to make him think your life was in danger.
| Vatman: Why don’t you want to rule, alone?
Superman: I don’t want to rule. I want respect, yes, but you earn that respect by caring for others, not overpowering them.
| Lex: Is it done?
Vatman: No.
Lex: What do you mean, no?!?
Vatman: I know the truth, now. He is the rightful Superman. I was just a pawn – something for you to use to kill him!
| Vatman: They could use some of my tissue to create another clone. You have to destroy the lock of hair... and me. (Superman shakes his head ‘no.’) I’m dying. I’m in pain.
Superman: I don’t think I can do that.
Vatman: You have to.
| Vatman: It’s... not really the end... as long as you’re still here, brother.
|
|
| |
Cultural References |
| |
Vatman confronts Superman at the Metro Bros. Film Studio. From the “MB” and “shield” logo, it is clear that this studio is a parody of the Warner Bros. studio that produced this show. DC Comics, owner of Superman, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc. which also owns Warner Bros.
| Alice White, Perry’s wife, tells him the toupee makes him look like “a young Dan Rather.” Born in 1931, Rather was a long time CBS news anchor, and before that a celebrated reporter. Rather trusted an unverified story that turned out false, and this embarrassment contributed to the end of his career at CBS. Actor Lane Smith, who played Perry White, somewhat resembles the newsman.
| Vatman tells Superman that he wants a Viking funeral, and Superman understands. The bodies of important Vikings were often set adrift on a burning boat. This pyre wholly consumed the body. Vatman knew his father might try again if he retained any genetic material, and as he did not wish this, he asked Superman to ensure his body was entirely destroyed.
|
|
| |
Analysis |
| |
Lex Luthor raises Vatman in part to view the old as expendable things that must die to make way for the new. This is insanely dangerous, as inculcating such a philosophy into a being of Superman’s power can backfire in a number of unpleasantly fatal ways – and Lex is smart enough to realize this. Ultimately, Vatman largely ignored Lex's "moral education" and adopted one more like Superman's, at least suggesting that on Krypton, morality is partially inherent.
| Clark Kent makes a similar mistake when he confronts the bogus Superman at Lois’s apartment, even going so far as to pit his strength against the imposter’s. At this point he knew, or should have, that the imposter was relatively immature emotionally. Had the fake Superman chosen to escalate that contest – well, battles between Superman and opponents of similar power typically result in tremendous collateral damage. It’s fairly unlikely Lois would have survived such a melee.
| The final showdown owes some of its drama to gunfight scenes from old Westerns, where two gunfighters face each other in a dusty street, and townsfolk scurry for cover as the realize what is about to happen. The fact that this particular fight actually occurred on a mock-up, and featured an interruption by a tour bus, injected some comedic elements.
|
|
| |
Other Episode Crew |
| |
| |
| |
Featured Songs |
| |
| |
| |
Episode Goofs |
| |
| |
| |
Episode References |
| |
| |
|
Digg
Furl
Del.icio.us
Google