Mar
15
I was 13 or so when I first saw an episode of Smallville on Channel 4, by chance, in 2001. I was enthralled – with the show towering over Lois & Clark with its high-end production values, I proceeded to go out of my way on every Sunday for the following four years to catch every last episode of the show, until around the seventh season, when Kara Zor-El managed to disintegrate my good feelings towards the Superman-branded TV show.
Smallville has rarely been artful or revolutionary television, but it was always dependable – striking a nice middle ground between relationship-based drama and villain-of-the-week DC mash-up, it’s perfect fodder for teenagers and anyone who doesn’t want to be challenged by television.
Like a lot of TV, it’s been ruined for me slightly by the quality of acclaimed series, like those made by HBO, FX or AMC, but its second and third seasons still make me a little nostalgic. This, I believe, is when the show hit its creative stride. Smallville experimented with smaller narrative arcs within the standalone storylines, exploring the fraying relationship between the two Luthors, while making baby steps towards Clark’s eventual rivalry with Lex.
Personally, I found Smallville much more interesting when none of the pieces were in place – no Fortress of Solitude, no Lois (though Erica Durance is rather good in the role), no Jimmy Olsen and no Daily Planet. I think being so far away from established Superman lore gave Smallville an unparalleled creative freedom, as if every trapping of the DC universe was so far away, only the characters in the immediate foreground mattered. It’s that side to the show that I prefer to remember.
Correction: Kara joined the show in the seventh season, not the sixth, as I originally stated.
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I stopped watching Smallville as early as the end of season three (though I did see the beginning of season four). Is it worth seeking out the other seasons or has Smallville become stale?
Season 9 has brought new life to the show! It’s definitely ranks up to the top of my favorite season. I think my top 5 favorite seasons were:
1. Season 3
2. Season 5
3. Season 9 (so far, so good)
4. Season 4 (I love the humor/lightness of this season: football/lois/senior year; Commencement = best season finale)
5. Season 2
Season 8 was good but got a little strange at the end of the season, had a bad season finale. Season 1 will always be incredible (the introduction of it all) but too freak of the week for me. Season 6 had it’s moments and was good at times. Season 7 was probably the weakest though.
Smallville has gotten even better, with the exception of the Doomsday fiasco. This season is the best one yet. Tom Welling portrays Clark Kent unbelievably well. I think anyone who hasn’t seen it in a while should try to catch up so they can enjoy the rest of the season and tune in next year for the record breaking season ten.
Smallville is even better now than the first few years (except for the Doomsday arc). Tom Welling is amazing as Clark Kent. Everyone should try to catch up so they can start watching again, then join us for the record breaking season ten next year. It’s going to be amazing.
I and my family love smallville and we have watched it from season one and still are watching it. Renee cape cod
That’s fair enough – from what I’ve seen of the past two seasons, it has regained some momentum.
Perhaps it’s time to go back?
I really enjoy Smallville now more than ever. While I own all the DVD sets, and I agree that S7 was the weakest link, the show came back charging in S8 and S9 has been spectacular. I actually plan on going out with Friends after it airs on Friday night and that is a feat in itself. So if you gave up on Smallville, give it another chance as it truly is pretty magical stuff this year. The characters grew up w/ me so having them at the Daily Planet now, just feels right.
i got into smallville at season 5 and loved it so i watch season 1 to 4 was brilliant best show ever was hooked the story of the early years was brilliant but season 7 was a let down with the story and season 8 was good with it going back to the superman story but doomsday was a hugh let down but season 9 its fantastic with the dc comic heroes and the movie it has really got good again the story lines r brilliant with clark and lois together and chloe and oliver great idea can not wait for rest of season and season 10
Thanks guys, I will give it a try again! Scifi channel were showing it from the beginning again for a while then gave up – anyone know if it’s going to be shown again?