reasons why you should watch Smallville

[deird1]

1) Because Lois Lane is wonderful.

2) For the Lex/Clark interactions, especially as they get increasingly on opposite sides.

3) For Lionel Luthor, who is brilliant as a villain, and even better as an anti-hero.

4) For Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) arguing repeatedly with Clark about how superheroing is supposed to work.

5) As a silly spot-the-in-joke game, where you try to pick every reference thrown in for Superman fans.

6) For some actually quite decent special effects.

7) Because the Lois/Clark romance is REALLY GOOD.

Comments

[out_there]

I will agree with 2 and 3, but I stopped watching too early to have an opinion on the others. (I feel like I stopped watching mid s3.)

But it is a show that was a lot of fun to watch, with very pretty people having fun on their show.

[deird1]

There are really three distinct eras of Smallville.

Seasons 1–4 are the high school years, with a lot of monster-of-the-week episodes.

Seasons 5–7 are the dark years, where things are more serious, and Clark's trying to figure out his place in the world.

Seasons 8–10 are the superhero years, where Clark's working at the Daily Planet and moonlighting as a superhero ("The Blur" rather than "Superman"), and various other Justice League members are making regular appearances (with Green Arrow as part of the main cast). This is also when Clark and Lois fall in love.

In my opinion, the show gets better the more superheroey it is. So I'm LOVING my rewatch of the later seasons.

[out_there]

In my opinion, the show gets better the more superheroey it is. So I'm LOVING my rewatch of the later seasons.

That's good to know.

[shadowkat]

I watched, mainly because I was busy following James Marsters around at the time. But I really did like the show. Lana actually is developed in an interesting manner.

[deird1]

Yeah, the one thing I remember from when the show was on is seeing a clip of James Marsters talking to Clark.

Lana's arc is very interesting, isn't it? Once they stop just using her as a damsel she gets far better.

[shadowkat]

I was surprised by it, also how they made it impossible for her and Clark to be together - by actually empowering her. It had some good arcs, and Oliver Queen was a fascinating character. It was an underrated series in some respects.

[deird1]

Oliver Queen is SO WELL DONE.

Yeah, I was under the impression that it was kind of a crap show – but having watched it (nearly) twice now, it's much better than I had expected.

[shadowkat]

It didn't help that Chloe Mack and (the actress who played Lana) got embroiled in NXIUM. Lana got out and wasn't really that involved in it. But Mack is in prison now, serving time for being the leader's second in command.

It's uneven in places, and there are few stories that don't work, but you could say that about most network television series. (shrugs). It's among the better superhero shows.