Smallville is one of my favorite series on the air. It’s just about to start its 8th (and most likely, final) season on Thursday, September 18th on The CW Network. I wanted to take the time to do a top ten list. These are my ten favorite episodes of the series in order, and as a longtime fan, it wasn’t easy.
Top 10:
1. Run- Clark meets a young version of The Flash in this flashy and fast-paced episode written by Jeph Loeb. Smallville at its most fun.
2. Red- Clark is exposed to red kryptonite and it changes his personality in this fan favorite episode from way back in season 2. Tom Welling gets a chance to sneer it up as a badass Clark Kent and it features the single most memorable/hilarious image from the series so far, Clark on a motorcycle wearing a leather jacket and smirking in his biker shades.
3. Justice- Another terrific stand alone episode with a lot of clever action, effects and some fan favorite heroes coming together to stop Lex Luthor and his evil Project 33.1. Props to Michael Rosenbaum here for going closer to the comics Lex than usual and for referencing George Bush and the war on terror, by referring to the Justice League as “terrorists”.
4. Rosetta- The great (and greatly missed) Christopher Reeves guest stars as a mysterious scientist named Virgil Swann who tells Clark about his heritage and possible destiny. A classic, well-written passing of the torch episode.
5. Reckoning- The episode where we lost Pa Kent, played with a lot of heart and surprising genuine emotion by the underrated John Schneider of Dukes of Hazard.
6. Perry- Michael Mckean steals every scene as a younger (and often drunk) version of the future boss of the Daily Planet, Perry White. The real-life husband of Ma Kent (Annette O Toole) did a terrific job and I’m hoping he returns to Smallville before it finishes its run.
7. Onyx- Michael Rosenbaum gets a chance to shine in this take on The Man in the Iron mask where Lex is split in two and a darker Lex takes control. Rosenbaum is pure evil in this episode and he gets one of the best lines of the series. ” You were right about me all along, Mr Kent. I am the villain of the story”
8. Descent- This is the episode that changed everything. Lex Luthor goes down the path of darkness and can never return and the final scene at the cemetary with Clark watching over him letting him know that he will always be around to stop Lex.
9. Pilot- The 90 minute pilot episode is far from perfect (Welling is green, acting-wise) and the episode is a bit too much “Superman’s Creek”, but its still a fine jumping-off point for what has really been a good series for the last 7 seasons.
10. Heat- This is a very clever (and funny) episode where Clark gets his heat vision…..and its triggered by his hormones. He has “problems” controlling…uh, it. A very cool (and easy to relate to) metaphor for any teen going through puberty.
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mongoose
Sep 2, 2008 -
somebody saaaave me!
Magnus782
Sep 3, 2008 -
Good picks CCFMDS! In regards to the episode ”Run,” The Flash is probably the coolest DC Comics superhero that appeared on ”Smallville.” The writers did a good job making him arrogant like in the comics.
Ccfmds
Sep 3, 2008 -
Yeah, I like that The Flash was young and started out as a minor league criminal using his powers to steal, it gave Clark a good chance to mentor a new superhero in the making, by showing him the right path.
John Spartan
Sep 3, 2008 -
I still can’t get into the series. For me, I still think the show is really cheesy, and that’s not what I want from Superman. Maybe I’m expecting too much?
Ccfmds
Sep 3, 2008 -
Smallville is a lot more entertaining to me than the last Superman movie (Superman Returns)….that’s for sure. What a disaster that film was with Prancing Spacey and a boring “plot” that was incoherent and pathetic. Epic fail for Bryan Singer.
Paladin
Sep 5, 2008 -
I’ve only seen a few episodes of Smallville. It’s ok, and I would have to say entertaining. Not all of them are good, but there are very interesting stories. I like a few with Green Arrow, the Red Krypto-ring (nothing more amusing than a model pretty-boy trying to act tough and yeah the motorcycle pic is funny.) Anything with Cloe in peril (that’s what the girl next door is for.) The Street Race episode in the early seasons was great Krypto-nitrous…fun.
Finally, the girl who plays Lois Lane has a decent resemblance to what she should look like. All in all, it’s not too bad of a show. I am not a fan but a certain person offered some for me to watch and I enjoyed most of them.
Good article.