randomness

[winterbadger]

I was watching an old episode of "Smallville" the other day. Two villains (one played by the inimitable Rutger Hauer) meet at the quayside in Metropolis, complete with seagulls, ocean waves, passive container ships, etc. Er, WTF?

For those who are not familiar with it, Smallville is a TV series about the early life of Clark Kent, later to become Superman. The (fictional) locations it centers on are the small town of Smallville and the big city of Metropolis (plus the more recently invented Edge City). All of which are in Kansas. KANSAS. One of the 24 land-locked US states*. Odd.

Of course, in another episode, kids from Smallville High were swimming at a lakeside beach in the mountains. Mountains which, last time I checked, were about 200-300 miles from Kansas.


* (I think I have that nummber right, and, no, I'm not counting the Great Lakes or tidal estuaries like the Potomac or the Delaware rivers).

Comments

Metropolis where ?

[gr-c17.livejournal.com]

I've never seen an ep of Smallville so now I'm confused. I thought Metropolis was originally a disguise for New York. Later with Batman Gotham took that role and Metroplis was seen as a big city, but keep on whatever coast. I belive the movies and the current animated series all have Metropolis with "docks". Truth is it's kind of like Springfield in the Simpsons...it's got whatever you need for the story. And the state was never mentioned in any of these, the Simpsons using it for comic effect.

Re: Metropolis where ?

[winterbadger]

With the Simpsons it is (or has become) intentionally "any state"; they reportedly chose the name Springfield becaus there's one in every state, though the choice may be urban myth.

At least in the Smallville series (I don't know Superman mythology so well), New York City is New York City*. Clark Kent goes to NYC at one point to see a famous reclusive millionaire with a penchant for astronomy (played by Christopher Reeve before his death). Metropolis is definitely in KS in the TV show--it's close enough you can drive from Smallville to Metropolis in an hour or so (though the prententious Luthors always take their corporate helo), and there's never been any intimation that I recall that one crosses state lines to do so.

I know a little bit about Kansas, only because the MLS team the Kansas City Wizards (originally the Wiz, if you can believe it) play in Kansas City, *Missouri*, not Kansas City, KS, and because I've spent time with the Army in such garden spots as Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Riley.

*(BTW, there's a Manhattan, KS--one of my freshman entrymates in college was from Manhattan, and years later I had the dubious pleasure of flying into Manhattan on the way to beautiful Junction City.)

Were both right

[gr-c17.livejournal.com]

A quick spin thru Wiki shows that Metropolis was indeed created as NYC in disguise. Smallville was originally not far from Metropolis on the east coast but in a 60-70's revamp it was placed in IL. Metropolis stayed.

"Smallville" indeed has both citys about 100 miles apart and in KS. So your original confusion is valid.

I guess "Hollywood never lets the facts get in the way of a good story" now includes geography.

As a strange aside both Gotham and Metropolis represent different aspects of NYC. Day/Night or Above 14th/Below 14th streets. But NYC exists with the two citys within there comics. Look just enjoy the show and try not to think about it :)