Greetings,
So the weekend is over, and I have spent the last couple of days recovering from what happened on Friday night. It was a very bittersweet event, also known as the last episode of Smallville. I was not disappointed, mostly, because one of the great loves of my life, Lex Luthor, returned after a three year absence. But I thought it was a good ending, bringing together everything, and moving us on into the future that we knew we would get to from our past Superman experiences. A very good episode, getting honorable mention, though not exactly making my personal top ten. Those ones, which were difficult to choose, I will share right now.
#10. "Red" (Season 2) - When it comes to this show, I have obviously always been more of a Lex girl than a Clark girl. See, Clark is a good guy, which sometimes can translate into boring. Sorry. So there are moments of watching the show when we are at the Kent farm, where I yawn and think "Can we please go back to the Luthor mansion where something interesting might be happening?" In this episode, however, we are introduced to red Kryptonite, which doesn't hurt Clark or take his powers, but simply takes a way his inhibitions. In other words, it turns him into an awesomely awesome bad boy. So, after this episode, instead of requesting a change of scene venue, I could just ask for some red Kryptonite to spice things up.
#9. "Rosetta" (Season 2) - When most of us think of Superman and his legacy, our minds immediately go to Christopher Reeve. So I had to have this episode on my list. Here, Mr. Reeve is introduced as Dr. Virgil Swann, a scientist who somehow knows more about Clark's origins than anyone. The two meet and the doctor tells Clark many of the things he always wanted to know about himself, including, I think, his real name. Even though Christopher Reeve died a few years later after one more appearance, this character plays a huge part in years that followed. So it was an excellent introduction. And if you get the DVD, give this one a whirl with the commentary going. Oh, my poor, sweet Kristin Kreuk. Those boys barely let you get a word in! But we still love you.
#8. "Labyrinth" (Season 6) - I usually hate when shows steal ideas from other shows, which is what kind of happened here. Still, it's so good, it must be counted. Clark is locked in a mental institution having everyone tell him he is not a hero, but crazy. (Hello! Buffy, season six, "Normal Again". I guess James Marsters wasn't the only thing Smallville snatched up.) Anyway, he escapes, only to find the world outside is way lopsided. His mother is married to Lionel Luthor, Lana is living at the farm and in love with Clark, and, the best part, Lex pulls a Lt. Dan being in a wheel chair with no legs and blaming Clark for it! Only Chloe believes Clark's "delusions", but everyone says she's nuts, too. Another good thing here is that we meet the Martian Manhunter for the first time, and he is a big help in setting everything straight again.
#7. "Pilot" (Season 1) - I had to mention this one. It was an amazing opening to such a great show. The effects and the story were both extremely well done, not to mention the actors. And, of course, we have the iconic meeting of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, which leads them to being best friends, then best enemies with best frenemies in between. Such good frenemies, in fact, that I'm surprised Gossip Girl wasn't a spin off of this show.
#6. "Absolute Justice" (Season 9) - I can't believe I have an episode that doesn't include Lex, but it was so good, I had to do it, for a lot of reasons, but mainly one - Hawkman! But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is actually something of a two part episode, which is why I think it's the only one that has a two word title. Anyway, we get to meet some new superheroes, Hawkman, as I mentioned, (played by the amazing Michael Shanks) Stargirl, Dr. Fate, and a little villain called Icicle (this one led to the problem of bad jokes like, "I'm gonna turn that icicle into slush". No, thank you.) But it was very interesting as we learned of the Justice Society, which is like the Justice League but not quite, in a silent montage as we go through their home/headquarters. As a writer, I really love this episode, because the story is absolutely brilliant.
#5. "Arctic" (Season 7) - This is actually considered somewhat of a final episode for me, because it is the last one featuring Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. It culminates with a standoff between Lex and Clark in the Fortress of Solitude of all places. Lex now knows everything about Clark and accuses him of not being a good friend because he didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth. In fact, he thinks Clark is a danger to the whole world and believes that he can save everyone by destroying his one time best friend and, in a way, brother. It gives us a good taste of what would become of them in the future.
#4. "Truth" (Season 3) - I like episodes where someone other than the MAIN main characters gets center stage. In this case, it's Chloe, one of Clark's best friends who wants to be more. After a trip to a Luthor Corp facility, she is infected with something green(I wonder), and when she asks people questions, they are forced to tell her the truth, a dream come true for a reporter. She exposes a teacher's criminal past, the fact that Lex wants his father to love him, and that Lionel Luthor killed his parents. She thinks these things are good info, but it leads to trouble. Trouble out of which, ultimately, Clark has to get her. Of course.
#3. "Spirit" (Season 4) - End of high school means graduation and, of course, prom, which brings in girls obsessed with being prom queen. This is no different in Smallville. We have a girl who really, REALLY wants to be queen, but she dies. This doesn't change things, because her spirit still wants that crown. She hops from body to body with that goal in mind. She even possesses Martha Kent, which gives us one of the funniest scenes in the shows history.
#2. "Transference" (Season 4) - Again, I hate thievery (Buffy, season 4, "Who Are You?"). However, this one was done so well, it had to be included. Lionel Luthor is in jail, and, with the help of some magical device, he wants to switch bodies with Lex, his own son, who put him there. Through a series of missteps, it is Clark who does the switch. Now what happens is what one would expect. Lionel discovers and enjoys all of Clark's powers, and Clark finds out some devastating info about Lionel. I must say, though, what makes this episode so great are the performances of Tom Welling and John Glover. Both of them absolutely nailed each other's mannerisms and speech. They were both phenomenal. Pay special attention to a scene between Martha and who she thinks is Clark, remembering that Lionel has always had a thing for her. A little creepy, but also hilarious.
#1. "Shattered" (Season 3) - There are many movies that make me not trust/hate the Oscars. This, my favorite episode, is one that makes me not trust/hate the Emmys. It has the most amazing performance by Michael Rosenbaum, and considering what a great actor he is, that is saying a lot. In a perfect world, he would have seven Emmys for each of his years on Smallville, but there you go. Here, Lex Luthor begins to behave in a way that makes many people question his sanity. Ultimately, after witnessing Clark using his powers and trying to convince people of what he saw, his father has him committed. The final scenes are breathtaking and, yes, Emmy worthy, for both Rosenbaum and John Glover. But I guess the best they will get is a top spot on my list. I hope they appreciate it.
And so, after ten years, this show has come to an end. It was interesting and entertaining and, despite what people may say about "shows like this", it showcased some of the finest actors and writers to ever be involved in television. Let's all pray for a spin off. I'm hoping for a little Superman/Batman something in our future. Fingers and capes crossed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
