Smallville, a show that aired from 2001 to 2011, set the stage for the surge in popularity of live-action superhero TV shows. The series, which followed the journey of Clark Kent as he discovered his superpowers and became Superman, made a significant impact on the genre. Despite its uniqueness and contributions to the superhero terrain, Smallville remains fairly distinct and unlikely to be replicated in the near future.
Smallville’s depiction of Clark Kent’s flawed journey towards heroism and its handling of certain character dynamics have aged poorly, but the show still offers valuable inspiration for future superhero media. The series’ traditional broadcast TV format, with 20+ episode seasons and standalone “freak of the week” episodes, is a departure from modern superhero adaptations.
The show, which aired on The WB and subsequently The CW, follows a young adult Clark Kent as he learns about and grapples with his alien heritage while protecting the titular Kansas town from superpowered threats before moving to Metropolis and becoming Superman. The series updates the Superman mythology from comic books and other media and tailors it to appeal to a wide, contemporary audience. Its success contributed directly to that of later superhero series such as Arrow and The Flash.
A Still From Smallville (Via IMDB)
The series’ “freak of the week” episodes, which featured one or more meteor freaks or other kinds of villains, were a key aspect of its traditional broadcast TV format. While this allowed many episodes to serve as satisfying standalone stories, it also made most of the serialized plots move very slowly. The show’s characterization of Clark Kent might also be divisive for modern audiences, as it was not afraid to put him through serious, sometimes dark, emotional challenges.
Parts of the series haven’t aged well, including its handling of topics like mental health and the portrayal of certain relationships. The show’s writing for Lana Lang is a recurring weakness, and her will-they-won’t-they dynamic with Clark drags on way too long. The series also handled topics like mental health in ways that are somewhat uncomfortable to watch now.
Despite its unique qualities and contributions to the genre, there is unlikely to be another superhero show like Smallville for the foreseeable future. The series demonstrates methods of making a television adaptation that are significantly less popular than they once were, and viewers’ expectations, especially for the superhero genre, have changed dramatically. The creators of superhero media would still benefit from looking to Smallville for some inspiration, and its unique nature means the show is still worth watching for both old fans and new ones.
Smallville is available to watch on Hulu in the U.S.
