When I first heard about Smallville, I was very hesitant to give the show a chance. A show that took place before Clark Kent became Superman seemed like a big step in the wrong direction. I feared it would be the most underwhelming Superman show ever, so I avoided it for over a decade.
After giving the show a chance, I can say that I'm happy to be proven wrong. If anything, I feel regret over not giving Smallville a fair chance when I first heard about it.
Smallville is a show that takes place when Clark Kent is a high schooler. He has superpowers, but he doesn't yet know how to control them. He goes out of his way to help those in trouble, but he hasn't yet become Superman. His adopted parents, Jonathan and Martha, help him keep his powers a secret. Clark is friends with a teenager named Chloe Sullivan, who has a crush on him, but Clark's distracted by his feelings for Lana Lang. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor attempts to be a good businessman, unlike his father, Lionel, who is a corrupt mastermind and a bad influence on his family. Clark and Lex form an unexpected friendship, but Lex suspects that Clark is keeping secrets from him.
When I was a kid, one of the main things that made me become a superhero fan was the costumes. I loved how unique and special they looked. I heard that Clark wouldn't have the classic costume in Smallville, so that led to me judging the show in an unfair way. Sure, I miss seeing the Superman costume, but Smallville deserves to be celebrated as a good version of Superman.
The most important attribute that Superman has is that he's the symbol of hope. He uses his powers to bring safety and optimism into the world. In Smallville, that's exactly what Clark does. This is demonstrated in the very first episode where Clark saves Lex's life. Clark's passion for helping others is shown throughout several episodes. Clark doesn't just help his family and friends. In one episode, Clark saves the life of a teenager who had been bullying him. Despite everything the bully had done, Clark rushed to his rescue. Clark's compassion helps give the show a lot of heart. Even without the costume, Smallville's version of Clark is a true superhero.
Getting an actor to play Clark is no easy feat. Thankfully, they casted the right person for the part. I couldn't of predicated what a good actor Tom Welling would be. After seeing the first episode, he already impressed me and proved to me that he had what it took to play one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. As the show goes on, he continues to bring Clark's morality and heroicness to life. Tom Welling was in his twenties when he did Smallville, so it might be hard to take him seriously as the teenage version of Clark. However, that doesn't change the fact that he did a fantastic job at playing the man of steel.
Michael Rosenbaum plays a very unique version of Lex Luthor. When the show first starts out, Lex isn't a villain. In fact, he and Clark become fast friends, and Clark and Lex constantly do favors for each others. It becomes clear that Lex will eventually become bad, but this is still one of the most sympathetic versions of the character. John Glover, who voiced the Riddler in Batman: The Animated and played Dr. Woodrue in Batman and Robin, gives a very charming performance Lex's sinister father. Annette O'Toole, who played Lana Lang in Superman 3, gives a tender performance as Clark's adopted mother.
Christopher Reeve was a fan of the show. In fact, he guest-starred on the show as a man who gives Clark lots of knowledge and wisdom. Christopher Reeve giving Tom Welling the show his approval and support was a very touching thing. In addition to that, the makers of the show supported and promoted the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
It's easy to dismiss Smallville for being a romantic drama set in high-school that doesn't have Clark wear his Superman costume. However, if you look past those elements, Smallville is a show that expresses Superman's compassion and heart in a touching, meaningful way.
After giving the show a chance, I can say that I'm happy to be proven wrong. If anything, I feel regret over not giving Smallville a fair chance when I first heard about it.
Smallville is a show that takes place when Clark Kent is a high schooler. He has superpowers, but he doesn't yet know how to control them. He goes out of his way to help those in trouble, but he hasn't yet become Superman. His adopted parents, Jonathan and Martha, help him keep his powers a secret. Clark is friends with a teenager named Chloe Sullivan, who has a crush on him, but Clark's distracted by his feelings for Lana Lang. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor attempts to be a good businessman, unlike his father, Lionel, who is a corrupt mastermind and a bad influence on his family. Clark and Lex form an unexpected friendship, but Lex suspects that Clark is keeping secrets from him.
When I was a kid, one of the main things that made me become a superhero fan was the costumes. I loved how unique and special they looked. I heard that Clark wouldn't have the classic costume in Smallville, so that led to me judging the show in an unfair way. Sure, I miss seeing the Superman costume, but Smallville deserves to be celebrated as a good version of Superman.
The most important attribute that Superman has is that he's the symbol of hope. He uses his powers to bring safety and optimism into the world. In Smallville, that's exactly what Clark does. This is demonstrated in the very first episode where Clark saves Lex's life. Clark's passion for helping others is shown throughout several episodes. Clark doesn't just help his family and friends. In one episode, Clark saves the life of a teenager who had been bullying him. Despite everything the bully had done, Clark rushed to his rescue. Clark's compassion helps give the show a lot of heart. Even without the costume, Smallville's version of Clark is a true superhero.
Getting an actor to play Clark is no easy feat. Thankfully, they casted the right person for the part. I couldn't of predicated what a good actor Tom Welling would be. After seeing the first episode, he already impressed me and proved to me that he had what it took to play one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. As the show goes on, he continues to bring Clark's morality and heroicness to life. Tom Welling was in his twenties when he did Smallville, so it might be hard to take him seriously as the teenage version of Clark. However, that doesn't change the fact that he did a fantastic job at playing the man of steel.
Michael Rosenbaum plays a very unique version of Lex Luthor. When the show first starts out, Lex isn't a villain. In fact, he and Clark become fast friends, and Clark and Lex constantly do favors for each others. It becomes clear that Lex will eventually become bad, but this is still one of the most sympathetic versions of the character. John Glover, who voiced the Riddler in Batman: The Animated and played Dr. Woodrue in Batman and Robin, gives a very charming performance Lex's sinister father. Annette O'Toole, who played Lana Lang in Superman 3, gives a tender performance as Clark's adopted mother.
Christopher Reeve was a fan of the show. In fact, he guest-starred on the show as a man who gives Clark lots of knowledge and wisdom. Christopher Reeve giving Tom Welling the show his approval and support was a very touching thing. In addition to that, the makers of the show supported and promoted the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
It's easy to dismiss Smallville for being a romantic drama set in high-school that doesn't have Clark wear his Superman costume. However, if you look past those elements, Smallville is a show that expresses Superman's compassion and heart in a touching, meaningful way.