The episode "Forsaken" was designed to set up many of the plot points in the season finale, particularly those dealing with Clark's feeling of isolation, specifically that of Pete and Lana's departure from Smallville. Next to establishing a heart condition for Jonathan, the team also wanted to address the idea of Clark's mortality, or lack-thereof. The concept in "Hereafter" of Clark possibly never dying came from an idea that sprouted after season one's "Hourglass". In "Hourglass", Cassandra Carver, a blind elderly woman who can see the future of the person she touches, shows Clark a future where he is surrounded by the tombstones of everyone he loves. For "Hereafter", Jordan Cross can see the moment of death for anyone he touches; when Jordan touches Clark he does not see Clark's death, only a billowing red cape. According to Verheiden, they wanted to illustrate how Clark's alien heritage put him on a different plane of existence, and allowed him to alter destiny.