While most Superman fans probably consider themselves a fan of Big Blue himself, I consider myself a fan of Clark Kent. I really liked the show Lois and Clark, at the beginning, because it focused more on Clark than on Superman. As the show continued, the focus began to change and my interest began to fade.

The television show Smallville has always focused on Clark. The show has always been about the choices and experiences that lead Clark to become Superman. The producers have stayed true to the "no flights, no tights" rule that was established when the show began. While I really want to see Clark fly, I realize that as soon as he does it will mean that his transition is complete. That would turn Smallville into a show about Superman and it would ruin it for me.

Tom Welling plays the character of Clark Kent. Welling has done an excellent job of portraying this character. Some of his best acting has been in episodes that have allowed him to play an altered version of Clark. In the fifth season episode "Splinter", for example, Clark has become paranoid and irrational. His fears that someone is going to find out his secret and harm him are becoming very real for him. He is driven to the verge of insanity and nearly kills Lex and Lana in the process. Welling did an amazing job in this episode.

With the exception of the season three finale, Smallville has always done an amazing job with the first and last episodes of each season. Each season ends with a cliffhanger that definitely makes me come back for more the following year. The best of all the season ending cliffhangers so far has to be the season five finale, "Vessel". In this episode, Clark finds himself trapped in The Phantom Zone. When I saw Clark trapped in that glass square I couldn't wait to see how the Smallville writers were going to get him out of that mess.

One really great episode, which was not a season finale or season premiere, was "Justice". This episode was the twelfth of season six and introduced a Justice League type group that brought together four of the future superheroes that Clark has met so far. One of my favorite moments in this episode is when Smallville's version of the Justice League walks away from an exploding building. It was a great shot and you just can't help but look at it with a smile on your face and "That was cool" coming out of your mouth.

While some people may argue against the creators' choice to bring in Lois Lane, I find that she was a great addition to the series. There have been many hilarious scenes between her and Clark that have added some welcome comic relief.

One problem that I do have with this show is that the writers and/or producers do have a tendency to drag out certain stories. The whole Clark and Lana relationship roller coaster is a good example of a story that has gone on too long. I am so tired of it that I actually wanted her to really be dead when her car exploded at the end of season six.

While I love this show, and have bought all of the seasons on DVD, I am ready for it to end. It is starting to feel like they are trying to squeeze juice from the spent carcass of an orange. There is only so far that this origin story can go. Eventually Clark has to stop defying Jor-El (his birth father) and do his training so that he can finally accept his destiny and become Superman.

*Note: At the time this was written, Smallville was half way through season seven and was reportedly returning for an eighth season.

Learn more about this author, Veronica Beaudry.
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