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>>212446659
Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel is arguably the most nuanced and compelling version of the character ever brought to screen. Unlike earlier portrayals, which often depicted him as a purely wholesome, salt-of-the-earth father figure, this Jonathan is layered with real-world anxieties. He’s not just raising a boy with powers — he’s raising a potential god. His fear isn’t rooted in ignorance or weakness, but in the overwhelming responsibility of guiding someone who could either save or enslave the world.
What makes this portrayal so powerful is how deeply Jonathan understands human nature — both his son's and society’s. He fears what could happen if Clark is treated unjustly, bullied, rejected, or hunted: that the pain could twist him into something vengeful, a Brightburn-style figure who turns his wrath on humanity. But he also dreads the opposite — that too much adoration, too early, could create a false sense of moral infallibility. That Clark might become addicted to praise, shaping his identity around public perception rather than true character, ultimately turning into a Homelander-type figure who demands love and obedience instead of earning it.
This Jonathan Kent walks a razor's edge, trying to teach restraint, humility, and patience to someone who could change the world with a flick of his wrist. It’s this tension — between fear and hope, power and humility — that makes him feel less like a superhero mentor archetype and more like a real father navigating an impossible situation.
