Smallville Best episodes

Grading Clarification: Everything with a 9.5- so is basically tied, really hard to choose between those episodes. (slots 2-8). Just a clarification on season rankings- I enjoy all of them.

Season rankings:

1. Season 3( Classic high school season, but gone is the awkwardness of season one, peak Villian Lionel, great character development for Lex).

As of the first five seasons, I think this is the best of the series so far, it's the darkest season. It has one of the best premiere episodes, this season has a clear overarching plot with Lionel as the antagonist. This is peak asshole Lionel and it's great. You get the fun of Clark in high school, the complications of his relationship with Lana, it builds off season 2 so well. It's a finale. is also great. And what it does with Lex and Lionel this season with the stuff with Lex in the mental assulym and relationship with his dad. Every season of Smallville has great episodes. But to me, this is the most consistent, and its overarching narratives are felt throughout the season. And those last 5 minutes of the last episode of season 3- wow!


2. Season 2( caves are introduced, builds offseason one perfectly, and gives Lionel a bigger role)

Though season 2 still has some of the villains of the week episodes like season one. You get the fun highschool aspect of season one, the best use of Pete who is a key player in this season, some great individual episodes, but the best thing this season does is it expands the mythology of superman by adding new kryptonite and the caves, which were just an awesome idea. Also, the Season 2 finale is one of the best and was set up great during this season.


3. Season 4: ( last high school season, but the magic stones plot is inconsistent)

I think this season actually has the clearest overarching plot of the first five seasons. With the stones being the main focus. There are some great individual episodes in this season. However, the stone plot point and magic stuff with Lana becomes a little much. But, the biggest problem with this season is the villains. Jason turns from a good character to a cartoon. And Marogtt Kidder was supposed to be the main villain of this season, but due to outside circumstances- her character was killed off-screen. These decisions hampered this season. The introduction of Lois Lane is the highlight of this season. Also, love the Alica Baker plotline

Note: I flip flop between 5 and 4. I think 4 might have the best batch of episodes of any season, but the overall plot is what hampers it. While 5 I think has less great episodes than 4, and its second half is not great, it works better as a season slightly for me.

4. Season 5: (best start of any season, back half drags it down)

Season 5 starts off as the best season of Smallville. The first half of this season is amazing with a bunch of flawless episodes and a clear villain/ threat. However, after Jonathan's death, this season slows down to a halt. And has a bunch of unimportant or mediocre episodes. Plus the Lana lex relationship well build-up comes so quickly after Clark. I know many consider this the best season, but to me even though I think thus far every season is really good, this one falters in the second half. Looking back at all the relationships of Lana and Clark- season one he chases her, season 2 same thing then gets her it's so satisfying, season 3 can't have her will they won't they, season 4 Jason all season and then they throw in Alica for him. Season 6 love triangle was so annoying, season 7 he finally has her again all to himself no secrets, but by then the writers had ruined Lana. And season 8 she comes back but the original magic is gone and it's nice to see them back with each other, but then they write her off so he can be with Lois. I love Clana, and season 5 in the back half and they break up a million times. But there's something about those first few episodes where Lana and Clark are together with no secrets, no love triangle, no baggage from lex, it's just them that's so satisfying. After episode 13, those final 9 episodes feel like the worst parts of season one.


(not completed): Season 9:


As of now, I have season 9 Between 5, the last true classic season, and one, the first classic season. Starting with Season 8, Smallville changed for better or worse. Gone was the farm, and Lana, and lex, lionel, and other supporting characters. New setting, tone, theme, effects, channel, feel direction. Season 8 helped usher in that change with good, but flawed results. Season 9 doubles down in that direction and it's truly a different show. Feels more like an Arrowverse show, parts like old and new of those shows, as well as some old Smallville themes. So, it's more geeky, comic book, but still dark, but also fun. Zod is a great villain with, an excellent motivation. After the first seven episodes, that sets up great concepts or builds off them goes in an awkward direction. The first episode is great, the second episode Metallo feels rushed. But then after, some fun building the relationship episodes for Clark Lois. We get more Oliver and less chole, then some together. This extra time with side characters pays off and works for the season. Finally, Lois gets more shine and uses it as a character. Unlike in past seasons where she was misused or pushed to the side for Lana, narrative reasons. Chole Wisley gets less screen time and a smaller role. By episode seven this season with Kandor, which is a great episode and to see Jor-el, feels like a game of thrones. And they do a great job using the budget that episode, with the classic look from donor film for the flashbacks with jor el and Zod. On top of that, we get a fun wonder twin episode and the excellent flash to future, set up well in season 8, pandora episode. This dark episode was the best of the season thus far and amazing. Then we had disciples, which caps the strength and issue of this season. Smallville introduces their version of speedy in this season, to be used well and then built off very well in the disciple episode.
Which hinted at a big role and key character in Oliver's arc, is never seen again after this episode. Then we had the epic 2 hours even absolute justice, which succeeds in expanding the universe, introduces the great pam Grier as Amanda walker, and has some great characters like Hawkman or dr fate. However, like Justice another important team-up episode in the show. These epic episodes are fun, epic, have cool geeky easter egg moments, and are set up well. However, today some of it does not age as well. Which comes to my biggest problem with this season and those types of episodes. The budget constraints, early Smallville used more practical effects, different set, bigger budget, and some seasons like 4 had a huge budget great effects. Some of the costumes in absolute justice were downright awful, cheesy, and campy. Today with the rise in tv budgets/ quality it looks a little silly. Even though some old Smallville CGI has not aged well that season 4 looks better than 9 tells you something. Still, that episode was very good. This season feels different from Smallville for better or worse. But, it does a great job of feeling epic, having satisfying overarching arcs, staying consistent thus far, having a bigger scope, and paying off big concepts. It feels like a superhero sci-fi epic with good romance and drama mixed in.


5. Season 1: (the OG)

( this season had many great individual episodes, however, is bogged down by many freaks of the week storylines and no overarching plot). However, season one has it merits a great setup for these characters, I actually enjoy Whitney- I know people are split on him. Also, even though Pete is used much better in season 2, it's always fun to see him. And there is an endearing aspect of Clark being in high school, and it's just classic Smallville. What I also love about this season is young lex trying to do good. By each season, he slips further and further into darkness, but at the start, his friendship with Clark is at its purest form and you feel for him. All he want's is to be trusted and not compared to his father.


6. Season 8: (start of Metropolis)

After two mediocre weird seasons in 6 and 7, Smallville bounces back. Season 6 and 7 had a lot of problems. However, it' biggest problem was the show did not know where to go. This was felt especially in season 7, where time was split between Metropolis and Smallville a lot. It just felt weird to have Clark on the farm alone and he's all grown up. Luckily, season 8 provided a reboot of the show and know it's basically Metropolis. The show feels so much different from the earlier seasons and more comic-book/ Arrowverse. As of the first 10 episodes- I really like Davis Bloome's character, though his romance with Chole feels forced. This is easily the best use of Lois since season 4, who feels misused or put to the sides most season. Her budding romance and chemistry with Clark is off the charts. Oliver is back in a larger role, I think so far he was used better in season 6, but I am happy he's back. I am impartial on Tess, as the Lex replacement, I do not hate or love her. Her relationship with Oliver I am also mixed on. I think this season, gave a good goodbye to Kara with Bloodline, has a clear overarching arc/ mystery with Davis. To think after Lana, Lex, and Lionel all left you would think Smallville would go downhill, but this fresh start and new characters are exactly what Smallville needed. So far as of the first 9 episodes, I think this season is better than 6 and 7. I do not like it more than one yet, and that could change. One has it's problems with the villain of the weeks and it does not have an overarching plot. But, there's something so earnest and sweet about that first season. I think Bride and Legion are back to back strong episodes. And then you have bulletproof, which is a really good episode that's not important but has important themes. There is a 5 episode Lana arc that start's in the middle of this season. I like how they wrapped up Kara's arc and I have mixed feelings of Lana. Clana I ship in the early seasons, by 5 it starts to fall apart when it gets back on track in 7 it's very mishandled. I like that they wrap up Lana's arc. But, that Lex tries to kidnap her and that's why she leaves. And the way she is written off the show by absorbing all the kryptonite. After building, up Clois so well this season throwing Lana in and Lex throw a wrench in this season. These plotlines either should have been done to finish up seven or in the start of 8. I do not hate all of these ideas it just distracts from what 8 was already doing like Lois just disappears from these episodes. Lana leaving is sad, and I feel bad for Clark, Tom Welling's acting is good here. But, that's how she leaves? It basically makes it seem like that Clanna is supposed to happen, and Clark just settled for Lois because he can not be with Lana. Know Like I have said before I love the Lana romance originally- probably should have killed her off in season 6. The show, in the end, ruins it for me and a lot of fans. I still love Clana, but the OG version. Anyway, I liked that they wrapped up her plot and some of these episodes are good. But, it will know cheapen the Lois romance and make her a rebound. So, I have mixed feelings on that storyline. Know on to Lex- I hate it! I hate it! Oh god, what is this? I love Lex he is one of my favorites characters on the show and yes by 6 and 7, his writing was a little all over the place. In the season 7 finale, which Lex says to Clark I love u- after all the problems with this season and weird ending due to the writer's strike, I love that moment. It redeems Lex you get that what he thinks he is doing is the right thing. The way they use him in this season with a different actor, and a breathing mask like dark Vader, it's clearly a different actor, and the way they use him is awful. The way he breaks up Clark and Lana with the powers after all the growth he goes through of character. The way he uses toy man to kill innocent people- out of character. The way Tess just know hates him is rushed. I could go on and on about the problems and incosnsiites with the way they use him and motivations this season. I do like though what there doing with Oliver and how he thinks he killed Lex, who is clearly not dead. The good moment where Clark holds his ashes. Another problem with this season is how jimmy is handled they just whisk him away and make him an addict. And they try to play up the chole Davis relationship. I love Davis as a character, but if they were going to this kill jimmy off in the wedding episode than have her with Davis without her knowing what he did like that would have made more sense and been way better. Like all this to just then kill off jimmy and Davis. The way Lois was pushed to the side know brought back. Also, the Davis fucking Luther backstory makes no sense. Season 7 and 8 go heavy on retcons that do not work. But, I do love the idea of Davis being there when Clark crashes, how he and Clark could have been brothers, those themes and ideas are great. Also, the episode where Clark turns back time is great. They also change the lore of the cave in this season saying that Davis or doomsday was always Clark's greatest evil. This makes sense, however, I wish it was then set up earlier or hinted at better. Cause it was always hinted or said in the early seasons to lex or lionel. This is demonstrated in the episode with Amin and the dagger where they both touch it- so it does not make sense that it was Davis the whole time.

7. Season 6: (love triangle season)

I do not like the Lex, Lana, Clark triangle. The whole Lex Lana relationship I do not like. Oliver carries this season in the start, once he leaves, the phantom of the week episodes seems too much like the freak of the week ones. Season one has these type of episodes, but also the classic Smallville feel- young love, high school, etc. This season was all over the place and thus far is my least favorite. There are also, just a lot of throw away episodes like season one. After an inconsistent, start to the season- episodes 10 through 13 are an uptick in quality. This is an inconsistent season
I was torn on what I liked more overall this or season one. Both seasons have some villain of the week episodes, that feels incoquestinall. However, both seasons I still really enjoy and have some great episodes. Clark also swoons over Lana all season, he should just tell her the truth. After, a rough patch of episodes. This season picks up with Hydro and then has 3 really good episodes in a row. Then promise a few episodes after that strong stretch. Like season 4, I think this season has a lot of great episodes, but what's the overarching narrative. Yes, season one does not really have one, but its formula was clear and the allure of young Clark and those classic characters are hard to miss. What's the main point of this season a love triangle that bogs it down. And Lionel and Martha are both underused to this season. Lois lane just pops in for random episodes, her character also feels mistreated. Like why is she not at Lana's wedding or other important events? And no Jonathan. Also, Lex and Clark do not have as good character development as they do in other seasons. Lex will just lie to Lana and be at times too evil like it's silly, not scary. And Clark does a lot of moping and whining. Overall like all seasons of this show, I enjoyed it. And there are some great moments. It just does not all the work. And the phantom storyline just feels pushed to the side. And this season kind of crams in a lot and feels like three separate things in one- you have the green arrow stuff, the relationships, and then the phantom stuff also. The love triangle is so annoying. A dark inconsistent overstuffed, but a good season.

8. Season 7: (writers strike, incomplete, mess)

This season is a mess- there are good or okay episodes throughout this season. And Descent is one of the best ones. However, due to the writer's strike of 2008 and behind the scenes stuff involving some actors, this season just has so many storylines and feels rushed let's break it down. Lois is mishandled this season like she was in 6 after Oliver left. Clark and Lana are finally together and it kind of sucks..... Which is such a let down cause I used to love Lana and this relationship. But season 6 kind of ruined Lana- and this season packs way too many storylines into it. So first, Lex is trying to redeem himself this was set up well at the end of 6 and the start of the season. This storyline is quickly abandoned and he comes super evil again. Kara also mishandled her character is annoying the concept of her is good. But then they give her amnesia and take her away for a while which is dumb. The way Lana does not trust Clark, then they fix their relationship after the Bizzaro mess, which was another good concept that felt mishandled, and then she just leaves the show. Comes back and then leaves ago. One thing I loved was the character of Alexander, Luther's brother clone- that whole storyline, even his relationship with Lois, and his death is sad. I wish he was in the season more. The way Chole and Jimmy break up a million times. The idea that Kara and Clark's biological mother- have been to earth, that whole idea is dumb and present's so many plotholes. Brainiac just popping in and out of this season. The idea of other people from Krypton living on earth, that topic should have been explored more. Pete coming back wasted. However, the biggest problem of this season was a huge concept that was thrown into is Vertias, a secret society of the swans, tegues, queens, and luthers. This idea is cool and is supposed to tie all the seasons together. However, this was not set up in season one, but half hazardously set up at the end of season 7. This concept I hate there are so many plot holes. Lex has known about Clark and an alien the whole time bullshit. Lex lost his memories as a kid and knew Jason as a kid. Why didn't Jason say anything to Lex. Lionel wears a necklace around his neck the whole time and has this big secret. Go back and look at clips of season 4 and 2. If Lionel has this Knowlege it makes no sense. Lionel never acts as he knows Swann, of Jason's mother. There are just so many plot holes from this concept and that Lionel takes lex to the meteor shower, look at the flashback and episode one did he age 5 years on that helicopter ride? This concept to me they try to make it epic and for dedicated fans, it's just frustrating, overcomplicated, not everything needs to be connected. They already did a good job of connecting stuff in earlier seasons with caves. The last episode is underwhelming and what they do with Lana, she wakes up- and they couldn't even get the actress to say goodbye. Like I know she comes back in season 8 for some episodes. But, for this know is how they write her off and this is how after seven fucking seasons their relationship ends, awful.