Smallville (TV series)

Smallville is a WB television series, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, following the adventures of the young Clark Kent in his hometown of Smallville before he became Superman. It is primarily filmed in the Lower Mainland in and around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The first season, while relying heavily on Kryptonite as a plot element, eventually established its cast of characters and back-story, and rose steadily in popularity, running into at least 4 seasons so far. The series is loosely based upon the Superboy continuity introduced in the comics in the late 1940s-early 1950s.

The most significant plot arc is the relationship of Clark and his best friend, Lex Luthor. The editors are laying the groundwork for how their relationship will inevitably slide into the legendary conflict between superhero and supervillain. The relationship of Clark and Lana Lang is also a significant plot arc with Clark's need to hide his alien nature endlessly complicating matters between them. A probable conclusion could reflect the comic books with Lana Lang having Clark's nature revealed to her by Clark and they settle their relationship as simply a close friendship. At the end of the 3rd season, we begin to see the demise of Clark and Lex's relationship as best friends. Clark discovers that Lex has not stopped investigating Clark as he had promised. Clark ends the friendship although several questions are left unanswered.

Season four begins with the answer to the cliffhanger posed by the third season finale. Not surprisingly, all regular members of the cast survive their death sentences through a series of technicalities used by the wily writers of Smallville. As season four starts, Clark breaks away from his Kryptonian destiny yet again in the season opener through the help of the Black Kryptonite. An interesting relationship between Lois Lane and Clark Kent develops as they join together to solve many mysteries in Smallville.

The WB television network airs new episodes on Wednesdays at 8:00 EST.

Regular cast

• Tom Welling – Clark Kent, Kryptonian name Kal-El
  • Also plays the young Jor-El, Clark's biological father from Krypton
• Kristin Kreuk – Lana Lang
• Michael Rosenbaum – Lex Luthor
• Eric Johnson – Whitney Fordman, Lana Lang's boyfriend (1st season)
• Annette O'Toole – Martha Kent
• John Schneider – Jonathan Kent
• Sam Jones III – Pete Ross (2001–2004)
• Allison Mack – Chloe Sullivan
• John Glover – Lionel Luthor
• Jensen Ackles – Jason Teague

Recurring and significant characters

• Terence Stamp – Voice of the elder Jor-El (5 episodes as of the end of season 3)
• Christopher Reeve – Dr. Virgil Swann is a scientist who discovers a message from Krypton. (appeared in #2–17 (aired February 25, 2003) and #3–17 (aired April 14, 2004))
• Erica Durance – Lois Lane
• Jill Teed – Maggie Sawyer, police lieutenant in Metropolis' Special Crimes Unit.
• Rutger Hauer – Metropolis crime boss Morgan Edge (2 episodes)
• Joe Morton – Mad scientist Dr. Hamilton (4 episodes)
• Patrick Bergin – Metropolis crime boss Morgan Edge (1 episode)
• Ian Somerhalder – Adam Knight died in a car crash but was revived by Lionel Luthor who discovered a method of keeping dead people alive by using Clark's blood (8 episodes)
• Kelly Brook – Victoria Hardwick, Lex Luthor's girlfriend (4 episodes)
• Emmanuelle Vaugier – Dr. Helen Luthor (née Bryce), Lex Luthor's ex-wife
• Camille Mitchell – Sheriff Nancy Adams (#2–19 ff.)
• Sarah Carter – Alicia Baker, a girlfriend of Clark's who has the ability to teleport. She revealed Clark's powers to Chloe before being killed. (3 episodes)
• Margot Kidder – Bridgette Crosby, a colleague of Dr. Swann introduced in season four who was killed off in the episode entitled, "Spirit".

Inconsistencies with the comic books

It should be noted that while the show is not entirely consistent with the DC Comics titles about Superman and Superboy, this is not only unexpected but inevitable. There is, in fact, no single Superman continuity, but instead a wide variety. The first given origin of Superman, in Action Comics #1 (1938), it is stated that Clark was turned over to an orphanage, rather than raised by the Kents, who had various names before being identified as Jonathan and Martha. The source and nature of Clark's powers have varied over the years, as well. The show is not meant to be a recreation any particular comic book continuity, but a complete revisioning of the Superman mythos.

Smallville is located somewhere in Kansas, a completely landlocked state, yet in one episode, Clark and Lana can see Metropolis from the top of a Smallville windmill. Both the TV Series and comic books have established Metropolis as a coastal city. Also, the writers have indicated that Metropolis is approximately 150 miles (240 km) from Smallville. It is interesting to note that the early Superboy comics indeed had Smallville in close proximity to Metropolis.

In the Smallville continuity, Clark Kent reveals his alien nature to Pete Ross. In the continuity of the Superboy comics, Pete witnesses Clark changing into Superboy – a fact which he never reveals even to Clark. Periodically he would assist Clark in keeping his secret identity in subtle ways. Interestingly enough, there is one story in the Superman comics ("I Can't Go Home Again", Superman #270, 1973) in which Pete Ross once again attempts to help Clark by arranging for his boyhood home in Smallville to be destroyed, which he believes will assist Clark in keeping his secret identity. He realises, however, that Clark does not keep the house to keep his secret, but rather because he is sentimental about his childhood home. Pete is able to undo this mistake when Clark reminds him of an Indian cave, which hints at a treasure buried underneath the Kent home. In the modern comic book continuity, Pete is not initially aware of Clark's secret. However, the secret was known by the villainous Manchester Black, who informs then-President Lex Luthor of the secret, only later to wipe his memory of it. However, prior to losing the knowledge of Clark's secret, Lex informs his Vice President, Pete Ross, that his close friend Clark Kent is in fact Superman. As with the former continuity, Pete has yet to reveal to Clark that he knows the secret. A minor difference between the television and comic book versions of the character is that in the comics, Ross is caucasian, while in the series, he is African-American.

Kryptonite is handled differently in the television series. The most common variety, Green Kryptonite (usually referred to simply as "Kryptonite") has the additional effect of producing super powers in humans in the television series, which is, in fact one of the major plot devices of the series. This is not the case in the comics continuity, and in fact long-term exposure to Kryptonite has caused cancer. In the show, Red Kryptonite produces a psychological effect, while in the comics it causes random physical transformations that last from 24 to 78 hours. Black Kryptonite, whose exact effects are not quite stated in the series, never appeared in the comic.

Smallville also differs from the comics in how Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane first meet. In the TV series they meet while Clark is still living in Smallville. In the current comics continuity, Lois Lane first meets Clark when he uses his powers to save an airplane. Clark is surrounded by reporters and curious eyewitnesses, then flees. He then reappears as Superman, and Lois tries to get his story. She eventually succeeds, only to discover that a new reporter, Clark Kent, has beaten her to the story. The TV series also establishes that Lois is older than Clark (the comic book leaves this point ambiguous).

The character of Lana Lang is typically depicted with curly red hair in the comic books (and in the movie adaptation). Kristin Kreuk, who plays Lang in Smallville keeps her hair straight and nearly jet-black, making her appearance much closer to that of the comic books' Lois Lane. In the comic books, Lana also had a long-term on-and-off relationship with Pete Ross, of which there has been no indication so far in the tv series.

The character of Bart Allen (a super-powered teenager known as Impulse and Kid Flash in the comics) has a completely different origin for his powers in the series. (In the comics, he is born with them as the grandson of the second superhero to use the identity of The Flash.) Bart Allen is portrayed as being around the age of Clark Kent, when he is considerably younger in the comics. (It should be noted that the Bart Allen of the television series uses several aliases, including Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Wally West-- the names of the three DC Comics characters who have taken on the identity of The Flash.)

Episode list

Season 1 (2001–2002)

• Episode 1–01: The Pilot (Airdate: Oct 16th, 2001)
• Episode 1–02: Metamorphosis (Airdate: Oct 23rd, 2001)
• Episode 1–03: Hothead (Airdate: Oct 30th, 2001)
• Episode 1–04: X-Ray (Airdate: Nov 6th, 2001)
• Episode 1–05: Cool (Airdate: Nov 13th, 2001)
• Episode 1–06: Hourglass (Airdate: Nov 20th, 2001)
• Episode 1–07: Craving (Airdate: Nov 27th, 2001)
• Episode 1–08: Jitters (Airdate: Dec 11th, 2001)
• Episode 1–09: Rogue (Airdate: Jan 15th, 2002)
• Episode 1–10: Shimmer (Airdate: Jan 29th, 2002)
• Episode 1–11: Hug (Airdate: Feb 5th, 2002)
• Episode 1–12: Leech (Airdate: Feb 12th, 2002)
• Episode 1–13: Kinetic (Airdate: Feb 26th, 2002)
• Episode 1–14: Zero (Airdate: Mar 12th, 2002)
• Episode 1–15: Nicodemus (Airdate: Mar 19th, 2002)
• Episode 1–16: Stray (Airdate: Apr 16th, 2002)
• Episode 1–17: Reaper (Airdate: Apr 23rd, 2002)
• Episode 1–18: Drone (Airdate: Apr 30th, 2002)
• Episode 1–19: Crush (Airdate: May 7th, 2002)
• Episode 1–20: Obscura (Airdate: May 14th, 2002)
• Episode 1–21: Tempest (Airdate: May 21st, 2002)

Season 2 (2002–2003)

• Episode 2–01: Vortex (Airdate: Sep 24th, 2002)
• Episode 2–02: Heat (Airdate: Oct 1st, 2002)
• Episode 2–03: Duplicity (Airdate: Oct 8th, 2002)
• Episode 2–04: Red (Airdate: Oct 15th, 2002)
• Episode 2–05: Nocturne (Airdate: Oct 22nd, 2002)
• Episode 2–06: Redux (Airdate: Oct 29th, 2002)
• Episode 2–07: Lineage (Airdate: Nov 5th, 2002)
• Episode 2–08: Ryan (Airdate: Nov 12th, 2002)
• Episode 2–09: Dichotic (Airdate: Nov 19th, 2002)
• Episode 2–10: Skinwalker (Airdate: Nov 26th, 2002)
• Episode 2–11: Visage (Airdate: Jan 14th, 2003)
• Episode 2–12: Insurgence (Airdate: Jan 21st, 2003)
• Episode 2–13: Suspect (Airdate: Jan 28th, 2003)
• Episode 2–14: Rush (Airdate: Feb 4th, 2003)
• Episode 2–15: Prodigal (Airdate: Feb 11th, 2003)
• Episode 2–16: Fever (Airdate: Feb 18th, 2003)
• Episode 2–17: Rosetta (Airdate: Feb 25th, 2003)
• Episode 2–18: Visitor (Airdate: Apr 15th, 2003)
• Episode 2–19: Precipice (Airdate: Apr 22nd, 2003)
• Episode 2–20: Witness (Airdate: Apr 29th, 2003)
• Episode 2–21: Accelerate (Airdate: May 6th, 2003)
• Episode 2–22: Calling (Airdate: May 13th, 2003)
• Episode 2–23: Exodus (Airdate: May 20th, 2003)

Season 3 (2003–2004)

• Episode 3–01: Exile (Airdate: Oct 1st, 2003)
• Episode 3–02: Phoenix (Airdate: Oct 8th, 2003)
• Episode 3–03: Extinction (Airdate: Oct 15th, 2003)
• Episode 3–04: Slumber (Airdate: Oct 22nd, 2003)
• Episode 3–05: Perry (Airdate: Oct 29th, 2003)
• Episode 3–06: Relic (Airdate: Nov 5th, 2003)
• Episode 3–07: Magnetic (Airdate: Nov 12th, 2003)
• Episode 3–08: Shattered (Airdate: Nov 19th, 2003)
• Episode 3–09: Asylum (Airdate: Jan 14th, 2004)
• Episode 3–10: Whisper (Airdate: Jan 21st, 2004)
• Episode 3–11: Delete (Airdate: Jan 28th, 2004)
• Episode 3–12: Hereafter (Airdate: Feb 4th, 2004)
• Episode 3–13: Velocity (Airdate: Feb 11th, 2004)
• Episode 3–14: Obsession (Airdate: Feb 18th, 2004)
• Episode 3–15: Resurrection (Airdate: Feb 25th, 2004)
• Episode 3–16: Crisis (Airdate: Mar 3rd, 2004)
• Episode 3–17: Legacy (Airdate: Apr 14th, 2004)
• Episode 3–18: Truth (Airdate: Apr 21st, 2004)
• Episode 3–19: Memoria (Airdate: Apr 28th, 2004)
• Episode 3–20: Talisman (Airdate: May 5th, 2004)
• Episode 3–21: Forsaken (Airdate: May 12th, 2004)
• Episode 3–22: Covenant (Airdate: May 19th, 2004)

Season 4 (2004–2005)

• Episode 4–01: Crusade (Airdate: Sep 22nd, 2004)
• Episode 4–02: Gone (Airdate: Sep 29th, 2004)
• Episode 4–03: Facade (Airdate: Oct 6th, 2004)
• Episode 4–04: Devoted (Airdate: Oct 13th, 2004)
• Episode 4–05: Run (Airdate: Oct 20th, 2004)
• Episode 4–06: Transference (Airdate: Oct 27th, 2004)
• Episode 4–07: Jinx (Airdate: Nov 3rd, 2004)
• Episode 4–08: Spell (Airdate: Nov 10th, 2004)
• Episode 4–09: Bound (Airdate: Nov 17th, 2004)
• Episode 4–10: Scare (Airdate: Dec 1st, 2004)
• Episode 4–11: Unsafe (Airdate: Jan 26th, 2005)
• Episode 4–12: Pariah (Airdate: Feb 2nd, 2005)
• Episode 4–13: Recruit (Airdate: Feb 9th, 2005)
• Episode 4–14: Krypto (Airdate: Feb 16th, 2005)
• Episode 4–15: Sacred (Airdate: Feb 23rd, 2005)
• Episode 4–16: Lucy (Airdate: Mar 2nd, 2005)
• Episode 4–17: Onyx (Airdate: Apr 13th, 2005)
• Episode 4–18: Spirit (Airdate: Apr 20th, 2005)
• Episode 4–19: Blank (Airdate: Apr 27th, 2005)
• Episode 4–20: Ageless (Airdate: May 4th, 2005)
• Episode 4–21: Forever (Airdate: May 11th, 2005)
• Episode 4–22: Commencement (Airdate: May 18th, 2005)

External links

• Smallville site on thewb.com
• KryptonSite – a fan site
• Smallville entry on IMDB
• Smallville entry on TV Tome
• Smallville on Cyclops.IT – fansite in Italy about WB Series Smallville.