When Smallville debuted in 2001, I was 21 years old. It was a different time back then and the series is ending after 10 seasons next year. My parents were pretty healthy and we used to watch the show together. I was in college at the time and I found the series refreshing and loved the way’s that young Clark Kent’s powers were filtered through his own teen angst and puberty. When he developed heat vision for instance, he couldn’t control it, his hormones raged out of control. Developing x-ray vision gave him the chance to see underneath the clothes of the girl of his dreams, his first love, Lana Lang. Lana Lang went from sweet, mixed-race hottie and small-town girl to a nasty witch (both literally and figuratively), the writers sensing the hatred of her, really destroyed her character, but that grip is for another time and another place. Smallville was not perfect (to say the least) in its first season, but it was a lot of fun. Famed Washington Post critic Tom Shales dubbed Smallville “Superman’s Creek” due to its dewy brooding and alt rock music, it resembled The WB’s Dawson’s Creek more than an action adventure for comic book fans. This wasn’t all a bad thing as the series developed a loyal following of teenyboppers who were in love with Clark Kent.
Red is still the best episode of the series and offered the funniest image of a badass, biker Clark Kent.
Season 2 is when the series really took off. The stories got better and the critics and ratings responded. Michael Rosenbaum was perfectly cast as the evil Lex Luthor while the adult actors like John Glover (Lionel Luthor) and Annette O Toole (Ma Kent) and Jonathan Schneider (Pa Kent) gave the series some heft and support. The series was carried mostly by a then pretty green model named Tom Welling. New to acting he struggled at times, but his scenes with Rosenbaum and Glover got better and better. Season 2 had the episode “Red” that is probably the best episode to this very day. Clark Kent is exposed to red kryptonite and it exposes his darker impulses. Welling reveled in revealing a new, nastier Clark and the episode, written by comic book writer Jeph Loeb, was stylish and thrilling.
Season 3 was the nadir of the series. It had too many goofy storylines, then would get too dark at the flip of a switch. This was the season that almost got the show canceled. Luckily season 4 had Lois Lane and some really cool episodes as the series more fully tapped into the Superman mythology. The episode “Run” where Clark meets a petty thief who becomes The Flash was another terrific episode and stands as one of the best of the series.
One of the things I’ll miss most about Smallville are the superhero team-up episodes. Starting with Justice, Legion, and this season’s awesome JSA movie Absolute Justice. Smallville also lucked out with hiring Justin Hartley as The Green Arrow. Initially skeptical of yet another pretty boy cast on the Models Inc version of Superman known as Smallville, he’s added maturity and depth to the series and become a consistently good actor.
Season 9 of Smallville was the best overall since season two. It had very few duds and Clark started wearing a cool Matrix-inspired suit. Clark acted more like a mature leader, aware of his destiny, and the series had some of its best episodes. There were the usual filler episodes but many of them were really good. I especially liked the episode about the goofy Wonder Twins, the two episodes with Metallo (played by my hero BAG from 90210), and the opening and closing episodes of the season. Saying goodbye to Smallville won’t be easy, I just realized it’s been a part of my life for almost a decade now and I don’t have another show to replace it. I haven’t felt like this since The X Files went off the air years ago. The only difference is X Files was a walking corpse for its final two seasons while Smallville is still fresh and fun. I feel like I’ve matured the same way Clark has. Clark went from growing up in the fields of Kansas to becoming an adult ready to accept his destiny and leave his past life behind. It’s a metaphor for life that mirrors my own, and it’s the reason that Smallville will always mean so much to me.
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John Kaufman
May 21, 2010 -
I quit watching the show after Season Six but the early seasons of Smallville are among the most well produced, entertaining programs I’ve seen.
I think what you’re feeling, as the show leaves the air, is something like the way I felt when the last episode of MASH or Cheers were over.
TV shows, unlike movies, become a part of one’s weekly life. We spend almost as much time with favorite characters as we do with our real life friends and family. When a show ends, there’s a definite feeling of loss.
It’s not quite as bad when a program like Smallville is allowed to conclude on its own terms. Worse is when a great show,. like Freaks & Geeks, isn’t given a chance.
At its best, Smallville was super.
Jon The Bad Movie Guy
May 21, 2010 -
I only watched occasional episodes from when it began up until the last season. Some of ’em I liked, while the rest weren’t my cup of tea. I tried to really get into the show, but alas, no dice. It wasn’t until Heroes came onto the scene that I could have a show I could embrace the way CCF embraces Smallville. But I think I’ll give the last season a try and watch a few of the episodes when they start up again.
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May 21, 2010 -
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Paladin
May 21, 2010 -
Smallville had a good number of quality episodes. It’s always a laugh when they start “advertising” movies and pop culture, but at the same time they really seem to try to make a good show.
A lot of the actors–either guests or recurring, are pretty decent, although I wish they would use some characters better. I know the show is about Superman, but I wish they would have used Green Arrow more and did a better job with the Oliver Queen character–Spin-off? LOL!
All in all, it’s a shame Michael Rosenbaum left the show, he was a great part of it and a great actor–he can do better than character voices in cartoons.
Good show, good article and where are the damn pictures of Chloe?!? LOL!
smallville 9
May 21, 2010 -
Four word “OUT OF THIS WORLD” show God I just love smallville, after waiting for a long 8 years for smallville to come so awesome for season 9. I just love it so much. Now I am all depressed and sad and no more waiting for smallville on Friday. Please someone, someone out there tell me when the season 10 going to start. I just cannot wait anymore. Also anyone, who was the women in hospital outside tests room, maybe checkmate women or some other government operative or maybe LEX LUTHOR sidekick.
Magnus782
May 22, 2010 -
Great article CCFMDS! I can honestly say that ”Smallville” is the only show I ever watched consistently for the past 10 years.
Smallville 9: In regards to your question, the SV fans believe that the old woman at the end of the season 9 finale was Granny Goodness.
Kevin
Jun 15, 2010 -
I certainly understand how you feel. I, too, discovered Smallville that first season. In those days, I was younger and more optimistic about life. I’ve mellowed since then, while the show was ramping up. More guest stars, more characters brought in from the comics, and in the center of it all has been Chloe. At first I didn’t like her, she was a substitute for Lois, I thought. But over the years, she’s become much more. The one guest star, if I could pick one for the last seaason, that I’d like to see would be Bruce Wayne. He doesn’t even have to be Batman, but he and Clark should at least meet.