Smallville (Smallville)

Member Name: jane08

Product:	Smallville
Date:	11/09/08 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The early seasons weren't too bad and most characters are quite well done

Disadvantages: Clark and Lana

Smallville is a TV series which explores the character of Clark Kent in his teenage years before he becomes the superhero we know and love today. It began in 2001 and is currently due to air its eighth season which will begin in American on September the 18th. The show has a long list of characters from the Superman universe that you'll no doubt be familiar with as well as newly developed characters like Chloe Sullivan.

The format basically follows a freak of the week plot with occasional overarching storylines built in. The freaks are normal people who have become infected by kryptonite and subsequently developed unusual powers. The majority of these 'freaks' seem to turn bad and Clark Kent ends up saving the day while his close friend Chloe Sullivan investigates and reports on the unusual people. As the series has progressed the focus of the episodes has altered significantly with the introduction and departure of many minor and some major characters.

Tom Welling plays the important role of Clark Kent and in my opinion isn't particularly good. His acting ability is limited at best but it's the progression of the character that I have the most problems with. Smallville was supposed to be about Clark Kent developing and gradually becoming the character we know and love as he grows up on his parents' farm, Welling's Kent doesn't evolve at all. He's whiney and melancholic most of the time and shows little promise of becoming the superhero we expect. This Clark Kent would never fool Lois Lane or anyone else for that matter; I just wish he'd turn into a geek, stick the glasses on and go work at the Daily Planet.

Michael Rosenbaum on the other hand is a brilliant Lex Luthor when he's given the right storyline. Over the series his character has progressed from being Clark's good friend to a horribly manipulative and evil character, just what we expect! Unfortunately we won't be seeing him in the upcoming eighth season.

The rest of the major characters in Smallville work well, although I can't stand Lana Lang. Annette O'Toole is a wonderful Martha Kent and John Glover is delightfully duplicitous in the role of Lex Luthor's father. The introduction of the Chloe Sullivan, as played by Allison Mack, has proven very popular amongst fans many even wishing that she would morph into Lois Lane, although they're hoping for a miracle there as we've already had Miss Lane in the series. In season 4 Erica Durance made her first appearance and since then has become somewhat of a series regular. There have been some understandable complaints about her introduction, simply because Lois isn't supposed to meet Clark this early on in his life, but I personally think Erica is so good in the role that I can forgive the obvious plot hole problems.

Now for the big problem with Smallville, in one word Clana. That would be the relationship between Clark Kent and Lana Lang which when it began in the early season was tolerable but has now become unbearable. The relationship has been off and on for so long now that there seems no end in sight, we all know Clark is going to end up with Lois but the way Smallville has done this relationship it's difficult to imagine Clark ever getting over Lana. For seven seasons now this relationship has been the sole cause of Clark Kent's character assassination, they should have nipped it in the bud a good few season ago. Thankfully it looks like we're heading in the right direction as of season eight.

Ultimately the show is pretty much a teen drama set amidst the Superman universe, or at least that's how it's been going for the last few seasons. For true die hard Superman fans it may be a bit of a painful watch however I'm sure there are many people who love the never-ending love triangles and moaning lead character. I've been watching the later season mainly because I'm a Lois Lane fan and I've been sucked in out of habit. The early seasons are pretty good but after a while the writers needed to push the characters forward which they didn't do, with the exception of Lex and Lionel.

Summary: It's not dreadful but it has probably gone on a bit too long