Farewell Pa Kent

Today the fans of Smallville honor the memory of an important character lost to the 100th Episode which aired last night on the WB. Pa Kent died of a heart attack after winning the race for Senate against Lex Luthor. We all knew it was coming but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. Played by John Schneider,and one of my favorite characters on the show, Pa Kent was kind, gentle, ethical and down to earth. I enjoyed the dynamic he had with all the characters, but especially the relationship between he and his wife Martha. It is a sad day in Smallville. We will miss you Jonathan Kent!


In an interview with Kryptonsite (link found on my sidebar), John Schneider talks about his experience and if he will ever return to Smallville in some capacity. I have posted part of the interview here:

He felt Jonathan Kent went out like a hero. "It was like John Wayne and the cowboys. An empowering death. Which is so important, because if Jonathan Kent had just died, it would have been terrible. It would have been meaningless."

If there is anything about Smallville that Mr. Schneider would miss more than anything else, it would be his working relationship with Tom Welling. "I miss working with Tom. We have a really remarkable relationship with regard to the father and son bit. We're fun, and we're both big guys and all that sort of thing, but when you really get right down to it, the relationship you see on Smallville is very like the relationship we have. My son is 14, and I'll have that relationship in a couple of years. But I don't have that, really, yet," he said. Schneider's last scene filmed with Welling for "Reckoning" was holding Clark back after Lana's fatal crash. The words "there's nothing you could have done" are effective for not only that situation, but Jonathan's passing as well.

John Schneider is aware of the support his character has received from fans online since the first rumors of Jonathan's demise surfaced prior to Season 5. "I do honestly believe that the fans had a lot to do with Jonathan Kent lasting as long as he did," he said.

Schneider wouldn't rule out the possibility of returning to Smallville as a director again at some point. His Smallville directorial debut, "Talisman," was well received by fans. "I'd love to, but that's up to the Powers That Be. In that realm, I'm like the vampire. I must be invited in."

Could this be the last time we see Jonathan on the series? "There's one little thing in the 13th episode. It's like Old Yeller. It's heart-wrenching. It's fantastic," he tells us, though we're not sure if he's talking about an appearance of Jonathan or just the quality of the script.

My guess for the 13th episode which airs next week? I think we will find out what Lionel had on Jonathan. Perhaps he will be back as a flashback to let us in on what the photograph was. Any thoughts?