Smallville: Season 9 - The right way to do Superhero TV

Smallville: Season 9

CW

Fridays at 8 pm

Smallville has been on for nine seasons, as a modern reinterpretation of the Superman mythology. It has gone through it's ups and downs, from the first few seasons
“Krypto-freak of the Week” format to where it stands now. The show stands to break the record for the longest running science fiction in the US series as it begins its 10th (and final) season this fall.

The chemistry between Clark Kent (Tom Welling) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance) is electric, and shows in every scene they share. At first, I did not like Erica's take on Lois Lane, but she has made the role her own, and it doesn't show any more than in this season.

Every season has characters and mythology from the Superman and DC Comics universe. This season is no exception, with the inclusion of Metallo (Brian Austin Green) the Wonder Twins (David Gallagher and Allison Scagliotti), Hawkman (Michael Shanks), Doctor Fate (Brent Stait), Stargirl (Britt Irvine) and Amanda Waller of Checkmate (Pam Grier), Zod (Callum Blue) and the return of fan favorite heroes Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Cyborg.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the two hour episode, Absolute Justice, which felt more like a Smallville movie than an episode.  It related the history of the Justice Society of America and introduced them to Clark and his band of heroes.  The episode was well done, and kept the introductions grounded in realiy more than one would suspect for a bunch of heroes with such complicated histories and outlandish costumes.  Just enough of the introduced heroes origins was explained, but not too much to overshadow the action of the story.  The plot stood on it's own, while also introducting the viewer to the reoccuring government agency Checkmate, which will be used for the rest of the season, and probably well into Season 10.

Clark and Oliver (Green Arrow) come closer than ever this season to forming the Justice League, thanks in no small part to the bond shared by the members of the Justice Scoiety in the Absolute Justice episode.  By the end of the season you can see the pieces falling into place for the Justice League in Season 10. There has always been an unspoken rule for Clark Kent on Smallville, to keep the show grounded - “no tights, no flights”, and we see in the finale of season 9, that rule may now be off the table as the show heads to its conclusion.

The Clark Kent from Smallville is much different than the Clark Kent from the comics, perhaps more jaded, but still heroic, but if you do not compare Smallville to the comics, the show shines as an example of how to do superhero television show right, while still using costumes and superpowers and keeping the show heavily grounded in reality.

Ever since Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) left the show (after season 7), the show has gone through a modest decrease in enjoyability. This season seems to have returned to its former glory, being the most enjoyable season of the show since season 7. I still look forward to Lex's return in some form or another in Season 10, as he is certainly one of the most important characters in the Superman mythology.

Smallville: Season 9

4 ½ stars out of 5