Smallville
Smallville
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Smallville

"Destiny is now."

8.2
Yr 2001
Rt 43m
Status Ended
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action & Adventure Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

The origins of the world’s greatest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 72 /100

Critical reception for Smallville is generally positive, with many reviewers praising the show for successfully grounding a legendary comic book icon in relatable adolescent drama. Supporters highlight the series as a definitive origin story that effectively prioritizes character progression and narrative arcs over traditional camp, often citing its ability to make the Man of Steel feel like a well-developed, compelling lead character.

However, the show is not without its detractors. Some critics have pointed to inconsistent writing quality and an over-reliance on high school relationship tropes, arguing that the series occasionally misses its potential to be a truly fantastic drama. While recognized as a significant blueprint for modern superhero storytelling, the series remains polarized between those who appreciate its serious, grounded tone and those who find its creative choices to be uneven.

“Smallville still holds up better with narrative and character progression than any other CW show or WB movie to date.”

“Smallville's modern re-telling of the Superman saga benefits from a focus on teen angst and small-town drama instead of comic book camp.”

“Overhauling a cultural icon without alienating longtime fans is a dicey business. But that's only part of the reason Smallville's take on Clark Kent's adolescent life isn't everything it's cracked up to be.”

“The writing is truly a marvel, and not in a good way.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Amazon Prime Video
CA
Netflix
UK • CA
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
CA
Show 4 more
Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • UK
ITVX Premium
UK
ITVX
UK
Hulu
US
Why fans love it

Smallville centers the classic superhero narrative within the quiet, mundane landscape of rural Kansas. By focusing on the teenage years of an extraterrestrial protagonist, the series frames the acquisition of extraordinary abilities as a source of social friction and personal anxiety rather than immediate heroism. It treats the familiar mythology of the Man of Steel as an exercise in growing up, where the primary conflict remains how a young man manages the divide between his secret origins and his everyday life.

The series relies heavily on the evolving tension between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor, played by Michael Rosenbaum. This portrayal of a disintegrating friendship grounds a fantastical premise in a grounded, character-driven drama. In a genre often defined by capes and spectacle, the show maintains its momentum by keeping the scale intimate, prioritizing the psychological weight of destiny over the immediate demands of saving the world.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 8
Longest run 216 eps
Tom Welling
Tom Welling
as Clark Kent
216 episodes
Erica Durance
Erica Durance
as Lois Lane
141 episodes
Kristin Kreuk
Kristin Kreuk
as Lana Lang
157 episodes
Michael Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum
as Lex Luthor
153 episodes
Cassidy Freeman
Cassidy Freeman
as Tess Mercer
64 episodes
Callum Blue
Callum Blue
as Zod
22 episodes
Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles
as Jason Teague
22 episodes
Allison Mack
Allison Mack
as Chloe Sullivan
201 episodes
Show 67 more
John Glover as Lionel Luthor 143 episodes Justin Hartley as Oliver Queen 72 episodes Annette O'Toole as Martha Kent 135 episodes Laura Vandervoort as Kara Kent 63 episodes John Schneider as Jonathan Kent 113 episodes Sam Witwer as Davis Bloome 22 episodes Sam Jones as Pete Ross 67 episodes Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olsen 53 episodes Eric Johnson as Whitney Fordman 23 episodes Alan Ritchson as Arthur Curry 4 episodes Kyle Gallner as Bart Allen 3 episodes Phil Morris as John Jones 9 episodes Kelly Brook as Victoria Hardwick 4 episodes Martin Cummins as Lawrence Garner 3 episodes Michael Ironside as Sam Lane 3 episodes Kim Coates as Special Agent Carter 3 episodes Jason Connery as Dominic Senatori 3 episodes Tom O'Brien as Roger Nixon 5 episodes Emmanuelle Vaugier as Helen Bryce 10 episodes Michael Cassidy as Grant Gabriel 7 episodes Adrian Holmes as Basqat 7 episodes Julian Christopher as Dr. MacIntyre 6 episodes Gary Hudson as Frank Loder 4 episodes Alisen Richmond-Peck as Lillian Luthor 4 episodes Joe Morton as Steven Hamilton 4 episodes Patrick Cassidy as Henry Small 5 episodes Ian Somerhalder as Adam Knight 6 episodes Jerry Wasserman as Yaeger Scanlan 4 episodes Stephen Lobo as Randall Brady 5 episodes Mitchell Kosterman as Ethan Miller 14 episodes Bill Mondy as James Beels 6 episodes Françoise Yip as Lia Teng 5 episodes Robert Wisden as Gabe Sullivan 6 episodes Jane Seymour as Genevieve Teague 6 episodes Jill Teed as Maggie Sawyer 4 episodes Fred Henderson as Dr. Langston 4 episodes Benjamin Ayres as Jason Bartlett 5 episodes Rekha Sharma as Dr. Harden 7 episodes Anna Galvin as Gina 7 episodes Camille Mitchell as Nancy Adams 22 episodes James Marsters as Milton Fine 13 episodes Jason Poulsen as Colin 4 episodes Ari Cohen as Regan Matthews 6 episodes Mike Dopud as Security Guard 10 episodes Connor Stanhope as Young Lex Luthor 5 episodes Monique Ganderton as Alia 4 episodes Ted Whittall as Rick Flag 5 episodes Sharon Taylor as Faora 7 episodes Ryan McDonell as Stuart Campbell 4 episodes Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe as Vala 4 episodes Alaina Huffman as Dinah Lance / Black Canary 5 episodes Keri Lynn Pratt as Cat Grant 4 episodes Alessandro Juliani as Emil Hamilton 14 episodes Chris Gauthier as Winslow Schott / Toyman 4 episodes Hiro Kanagawa as Principal Kwan 5 episodes Sarah-Jane Redmond as Nell Potter 11 episodes Terence Stamp as Jor-El (voice) 21 episodes Heather Doerksen as Isis Receptionist 4 episodes Anne Marie DeLuise as TV Reporter 4 episodes Michael Daingerfield as Gordon Godfrey 4 episodes Anna Williams as Eva Greer 5 episodes Chris Shields as Courier 4 episodes Mark Gibbon as Deputy Gibbon 4 episodes Joe Maffei as Newspaper Stand Worker 5 episodes Jackie Micallef as Nurse 5 episodes Dean Redman as Police Officer 5 episodes Dario Delacio as Doomsday 5 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Smallville overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

kansas, usa superhero based on comic alien super power origin story
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
October 16, 2001
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
43 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
4,562