On October 16, 2001, The WB aired the first episode of a new television series that would retell the tale of a young Kansas farmboy that would one day become Earth's greatest hero: Superman. With a cast of unknown actors, the show had its work cut out for them, but through great acting, great writing, and a solid base for a series, the show would become one of the most beloved and truest incarnation of the Man of Steel. The show's name explained it all... "Smallville". With a strict rule of "no tights, no flights", Smallville told the story of a young Clark Kent, struggling with his emerging superpowers and to find his place in the world. More importantly, it told the story of the real character: Not Superman, but Clark Kent.
Ten years and 218 episodes later, Smallville has become this CBMer's favorite live-action incarnation of the character. By making the story about Clark Kent before Superman and before the "Clark Kent Disguise" that he uses later at the Daily Planet, Smallville portrayed the character in a very real world and made him a very relatable character. For so long, Superman has always been the character who always makes the right decisions and does what's best for everyone, and no one could ever really understand why he does it. Within the ten years of Smallville, we have seen all the struggles, conflict, and pain that taught Clark, through experience, that you can never do what's easy. And we see him struggle with that. But it is also the love and compassion that he received from Jonathon and Martha Kent and Lois Lane that we see why his heart is so big and so strong. This truly is the Superman of our current generation.
Having watched every single episode since October 16, 2001 as it aired, it's easy for me to admit that my expectations were high for this series finale. Having gone through ten years of Superman references, close calls with flying, and different incarnations of a red and blue suit, I knew that I would be hard to please in this finale. I am very happy to say as a Superman comics and movies fan since I was 6 (I am now 24), this 2-hour episode did everything that I wanted and expected.
One of the biggest factors in any episode of Smallville is the writing. Writing iconic characters like Clark Kent and Lois Lane are hard enough, but to take on the daunting task of writing the story that will culminate the span of 10 years, do justice to the characters, and please the fans is a job I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Hour/Part I was written by Al Septien and Turi Meyer. Hour/Part II was written by executive producers and show runners Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders. While everyone, including myself, was hoping to see a huge, epic slugfest between Clark and Darkseid, I now am more in love with what these four writers did. While there was a constant, threatening presence of Darkseid and Apokolips, it was the focus and attention to Clark's relationships that made this finale great. Through the years, we've seen Clark have several loved ones and mentors who have helped to shape him into the man and the hero that he is: Jonathon Kent, Martha Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, Jor-El, Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan, etc... Souders, Perterson, Septien, and Meyer do a fantastic job of giving Clark appropriate amounts of time and focus to each of these characters. Each of them plays an integral part in this episode to help Clark take that final step to becoming the hero that he needs to be. Even when Clark is, once again, met with self doubt and wonders if he is doing the right thing, Jonathon, Martha, Lois, and EVEN Lex help Clark to realize that he is the light. He is and always has been the man that he needs to be for the world. These four writers did an excellent job writing the interactions between Clark and Jonathon. They go right back into that classic, Americana father-son relationship that we all loved so much for the first five seasons. And the way they wrote the interactions between Clark and Lex shows us not only how much history and hate there is between the two of them, but also why they make perfect enemies for one another. And lastly, the relationship between Lois and Clark leaves no disappoint. Their wedding vows were perfectly written and show us exactly why they are meant to be together. If you're a big fan of Clark's relationships, past and present, you will love this episode.
Perhaps one of the strongest elements of the story was the presence of Darkseid, his minions, and Apokalips. At the start of the episode, the planet of Apokalips his heading towards Earth and it is revealed that it is with great purpose. Darkseid's plan was for when the people of the world see Apokalips heading towards Earth, threatening to crash into Earth and destroy it, people would be so overcome with fear and anger, that they would all be corrupted and be bent to Darkseid's will, feeding him with their fear, anger, and misery. As a loooooooong time comic book fan, I was very please with how Apokalips was portrayed. It looked exactly as it does in the comics, with the fire pits shooting up into the atmosphere and the lethal appearance. Also, very pleasing for me, was the appearance of Darkseid. A couple of times through this season, we have seen brief glimpses of Darkseid, and each time he looked a little bit better. Not to spoil anything for those of you who haven't watched the episode yet, but we DO NOT SEE Darkseid in a full on solid form exactly. He looks more solid than we've ever seen him before, but most importantly, WE DO HEAR him speak. The overbearing and lethal presence of Darkseid was expertly written and I think that the plan they constructed for him is worthy of the Darkseid we all know and love to hate.
Over the years, Smallville has had a long list of directors slip in and out of the director's chair. Tom Welling and Glen Winter are some of my favorites, but near the top of that list has always been Kevin Fair and Greg Beeman. The producers could not have put this series finale into better hands. Beenman and Fair's perspective and camera-work choices are always spectacular to watch and gorgeous to look at, but the two of them have proven time and again throughout the series that they know how to direct episodes of this magnitude. Granted, this was the biggest, but when I heard that Beeman and Fair would be directing this 2 part finale, I knew that we would be given a gorgous episode with phenomenal visuals and appropriate camera work that would invoke sentimentality in each and every scene. Perhaps my two favorite scenes in the Greg Beeman directed Second Part are when Clark dons the Superman suit and saves Air Force One and the final scene when he opens his shirt and flies off to save the day. For someone who has been waiting 10 years to see that, IT WAS PERFECT!! It was exactly what I and the millions of other fans wanted. It was well worth the 10 years of waiting to see it. The change in angles from the inside of the plane to the outside of the plane create a level of urgency and danger, but when Superman/Clark shows up to save them, the camera angles they chose make the moment all the more perfect when Lois sees Clark in the suit.
Probably the best executed scene of Kevin Fair's Part One is the scene at Clark and Lois's apartment. It's a very touching scene with the dialogue, but the camera work is what sells the scene so well. The changes between each side of the door that they're talking between are very well executed. It also brings even more power and emphasis to the words that Lois and Clark are speaking to each other.
It's hard and daunting to take on a role like Clark Kent. It's even harder to do it for 10 years. Tom Welling has evolved so much, not only with his character of Clark Kent, but in real life as an actor, director, and producer. Tom has said since day one, "Smallville is not about Superman. It's about Clark Kent," and that's why I think the series did so well. Tom never tried to play Clark Kent at the Daily Planet, or Clark Kent as Superman, or Clark Kent as Kal-El. He played the real, true person that is Clark Kent, who was raised by the Kents and wants to be a hero, but struggles with the decisions and responsibilities that come with it. Tom does an outstanding performance in this episode. He also really makes his transition into Superman and wearing the suit seem very HUGE but also very natural. He doesn't disappoint and truly makes this finale worth the 10 years it took to get here.
Some of the biggest news to hit for this episode was the return of Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor. Having departed the series in the season 7 finale, Michael came back and it was as if he never left. He conveyed the same sinester ego and charming evil that he portrayed in the first 7 years of the series. No matter which alien despot or mechanical monstrosity that has come is way, Lex has been and always will be Clark/Superman's greatest enemy. I think it was very important not only for the fans, but for the story that Lex return for the final episode. With out Lex, Clark wouldn't be the hero that he is, and without Clark, Lex would not be the villain that he is. The fact is, Smallville has always been about two journeys: Clark Kent's and Lex Luthor's and it was very important to finish both those journies in Smallville so that they can each transcend into the Superman mythos. Michael did a phenomenal job with the role and did arguably his best performance as Lex Luthor.
Perhaps my second favorite relationship on the series was and will always be Clark's relationship with Jonathon Kent. Their father-son dynamic shows where Clark gets his soul and morality from. Seeing them interact has always helped me to understand and believe that a person as good as Superman can exist, so long as he is raised by a good man like Jonathon Kent. Seeing John Schneider come back was truly a great gift for this episode, and made it all the more powerful and emotional. The scene in the chapel nearly brought a tear to my eye. I also feel compelled to mention that, in my mind, NO OTHER PERSON could have handed Clark the suit to wear. It was the perfect moment. John Schneider is a phenomenal actor and really owns the role in this episode.
The relationship that I have really loved since season 4 is the relationship between Clark Kent and Lois Lane. While these two are total opposites, they work so well for each other. Lois' understanding of Clark's responsibilities as earth's greatest hero are so heartwarming and Clark's appreciation of that understanding shows why these two are meant to be together. They way that they are written in this episode is the best that they have ever been written. While Clark is about to soar to new heights, it is Lois that will keep him grounded and remind him of his human side. I really will miss seeing their relationship, as it is the truest to the comics that I have ever seen in a live medium. They address ALL the possible issues and hardships between the couple, such as Lois's fear that she is holding Clark back from being the hero that he could be. In the scene where Chloe explains to Lois that Clark isn't God and that he doesn't hear and see EVERYTHING and that he is a man who needs to stop sometimes and needs to love and be loved. Erica Durance has done the best portrayal of Lois Lane that I have ever seen and she proves once again that Lois Lane is destined to be with Clark Kent.
This episode also wraps up the other relationships in Clark's life, such as his mother, Oliver Queen, Chloe Sullivan, and Jor-El. It is truly amazing to see how much of an impact these people have had on Clark's life and on his journey to becoming Superman, but also how much of an impact Clark has had on them. No stone is left unturned in this episode and every character is given a proper send off and a perfect setup for the future. I do not want to go into too much detail as I've already divulged quite a bit of information and spoilers for those who may not have seen the episode yet, but to reveal more about the closure of these relationships WILL give away too much, hahahaha.
Since the 70's, everyone has associated Superman with John William's score on the first movie. Smallville is no different. The writers and producers and editors did a great job of utilizing different parts of their own scores written by Louis Fabre and Mark Snow, but did an even better job incorporating pieces of John Williams' scores into the episode. When you hear them, such as when Clark flies and puts on the suit, you are literally given chills up your spine and tears in your eyes.
All things considered, the finale was phenomenal. It was everything that I could have ever wanted or expected. It truly does justice to the series and gives a decade old series a final send off that will bring tears to your eyes. It has been a long and treacherous road for Clark Kent, but it was through all those conflicts and trials that he was able to become Earth's ultimate protector. I will truly miss this series, but every good thing must eventually come to an end. We should all be thankful for what we were given over the past decade. We should all remember what Smallville did for us and for the character of Superman/Clark Kent. It has been a great 10 years that will stay with me forever and I will continue to rewatch these episodes, as will I also continue to watch the careers of all these actors. It is a sad day that Smallville has ended, but it is a truly glorious day that Superman was born! I hope that you all enjoyed this episode and the series as much as I did. Thank you, Smallville!!