It’s wild to think about, but Smallville first hit our screens 24 years ago. Back in 2001, it did something no other Superman adaptation, or rather any superhero adaptation, had really done before—it took us into Clark Kent’s early years.
Instead of jumping straight to the caped hero we all recognize, Smallville lets us see a teenage Clark, awkwardly navigating high school, friendships, and self-discovery while slowly coming to terms with his destiny. It wasn’t about Superman, the larger-than-life icon—it was about Clark, the person. And that’s what made it so easy to connect with.
For ten seasons, we got to watch him stumble, grow, and finally step into the hero we all knew he was meant to be. The show brought in classic Superman characters, but it did so in a way that felt natural, like they were always part of Clark’s world.
Even though Smallville was never officially tied to the DCEU, its impact on modern Superman stories is impossible to ignore. And honestly? I don’t think we’ll ever get another superhero show quite like it. It had heart, action, and just the right amount of nostalgia—something that’s pretty hard to replicate.
Superman’s teen years are shown beautifully in Smallville
What made Smallville so special to me was how it really took its time with Clark Kent’s early years. Most Superman stories or Superhero stories in general just give us a quick glimpse of his teenage struggles before fast-forwarding to him juggling superhero life and his job at The Daily Planet.
But this show? It lets us live through every moment of his journey—his high school drama, his friendships, and the overwhelming weight of having powers that made him different from everyone else.
And honestly, that’s what made it so easy to connect with. I mean, sure, none of us are out here shooting heat vision from our eyes or bench-pressing cars, but we all know what it’s like to feel different, to question who we are and where we belong. Clark, played by Tom Welling, just had the extra challenge of figuring all that out while also stopping meteor-infected villains and keeping his abilities a secret. His struggles didn’t just make him a hero—they made him human.
Another thing Smallville absolutely nailed? Clark’s relationships. His friendships, his first love, and even his complicated rivalry with Lex Luthor felt so real. Every choice he made, every mistake, every lesson learned—it all built up to his transformation into Superman in a way that felt completely earned.
By the time he finally became the hero we all know, it wasn’t just about the cape and the ‘S’ on his chest. It was about the person he had grown into, and that’s what made it truly unforgettable. No wonder Smallville still has a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Clark Kent wasn’t just a superhero, he was one of us
Let’s be real—Clark Kent is a superhero. He can lift cars, shoot lasers from his eyes, and, oh yeah, he’s basically indestructible. But Smallville made him feel so much more than that.
A big part of that came because of his relationship with his parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. They weren’t just there to give him advice when the plot needed it, but they were integral to his story. Jonathan, played by John Schneider, was a tough but loving father who did his best to guide Clark. Even when he didn’t have all the answers, he was there for him. He worried about his son, pushed him to be responsible, and always reminded him that his powers didn’t define him, his choices did.
Martha, played by Annette O’Toole (who funnily enough had played Lana Lang in Superman III), was just as important. She wasn’t just the nurturing mother figure; she had her own struggles and growth throughout the series. Over time, we got to see her as more than just Clark’s mom—she was a strong, capable woman in her own right.
Smallville showed us that heroes aren’t just born—they’re made by the people who love them. Without the Kents, Clark could have easily ended up on a much darker path. The show even explored this idea by contrasting Clark’s upbringing with Lex Luthor’s. If Clark had been raised under a domineering father like Lionel Luthor, would he still have become Superman? Or would he have ended up on the same path as Lex?
One of the best live-action villains was given to us by Smallville
When it comes to Superhero villains, the name of Lex Luthor comes to our minds almost instantly and I don’t think anyone did the character justice better than Smallville. Michael Rosenbaum’s take on the character wasn’t just great—it was iconic. Lex is a tough villain to get right because he’s not your typical bad guy. He doesn’t stomp around in a cape or plot world domination from day one. He starts as something else entirely—a friend. And that’s what made Smallville’s version of Lex so unforgettable.
At the start of the show, Lex wasn’t just some rich guy with world domination on his to-do list. He was Clark Kent’s best friend—someone who actually cared. And honestly, that’s what made their friendship one of the most gripping parts of Smallville. We all knew where it was headed, but that didn’t stop us from hoping, even for a second, that maybe—just maybe—things could turn out differently.
And a huge part of that was Rosenbaum’s performance. He gave Lex so much charm and vulnerability that even when he started making some pretty shady choices, it was impossible to completely hate him.
What made Smallville’s Lex so special was how naturally he evolved into the villain we all expected. He wasn’t born evil—he was shaped by life’s circumstances, his father’s twisted influence, and, most importantly, Clark’s constant lies. He wanted the truth. He deserved the truth. And when Clark refused to trust him, that betrayal became the very thing that pushed him over the edge.
The only thing that Smallville messed up? That finale twist where Lex’s memory got wiped. After watching his gradual descent for years, seeing it all erased felt like a cheap move. Lex’s hatred for Superman was never just about power—it was pretty personal. He felt betrayed by a friend, and that’s what made their rivalry so compelling.
But all in all, Smallville gave us a Superman we could relate to, a Lex Luthor we could sympathize with, and a world that felt real. 24 years later, Smallville still holds a special place in my heart. And honestly? I don’t think anything else will ever come close.
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