What The Hell Is Continuity Is Smallville Following!? [Archive]

jaguarshark

01-27-2006, 09:23 PM

Like earlier posters have stated, I believe Smallville is following it's own, alternate continuity (just like the movies, but with more drastic differences), and that there's nothing wrong with that. The main thing I would point to as proof of that is the Lex/Clark relationship. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If Lex is such good friends with an 'unmasked' (or should that be unglassed?) Clark Kent, how the hell does he not recognise him when Superman shows up in Metropolis? If you look at the old Superboy comics, Clark Kent was using his mild-mannered disguise even when he was a teen, and post-Byrne, Clark and Lex had no pre-Metropolis relationship. I have not read Birthright (I know, shame on me) but I am led to believe that Clark and Lex's relationship, while similar to Smallville, is a little different. So since the first episode, I've figured the Smallville Universe, or Earth-Smallville, was a seperate entity to the comics and movies.

Calculator

01-27-2006, 10:32 PM

Wow, I've never heard that one before.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm really interested in hearing why you chose those words to denote your lack of interest in the program.

Now, I do enjoy Smallville, but I'm not here to defend my opinion against you. I truly and honestly found that to be a very unique statement in regards to the show.

So, in what ways does the show appear ashamed of it's source material?

I have to admit I never watched the show until whatever season they are on now. I originally didn't watch because they had stated out right no flying, and that there would be no suit, which to me like any superhero is an integral part of their mythos.

While I understand that they wanted to gradually get to that point, probably ending the show with him deciding to be Superman, I feel that that is simply an excuse to not have to deal with the "childish" notion of costumes or villains.

Where I get the notion that they are ashamed is things like the handling of Braniac. We know he's an alien. We know he's related to the Krypton stuff. Is it that much to give us nerds a thrill by simply having his "true" form be a green man with those awesome lights on his head? No, instead we're just going to have Spike from Buffy with brown hair.

Another aspect of the show that really bothers me, but might have a logical explanation, is the lack of use of his powers to do anything exciting. The episode where the meteors fall on Smallville and everyone in the town is in danger, I actually expected Clark to oh I don't know...risk his secret Identity to punch some fucking meteors back into space. You know, something truly heroic and risky.

I think the lack of action in the show, which plagues many TV shows, is because of budget issues. But you know what? If you don't have a budget, don't bother doing a show on Superman.

So basically, lack of suit, lack of heroics or truly awesome Superman moments, and lack of action.

On a side note, I do like the guy playing Clark. He has that farm boy mentality, you know the kindness and genuineness that Clark needs to have without coming off as naive. I also like the people playing Martha and Jonathan.

And Lex is good, but they wasted their opportunity with him as he's barely now becoming villainess? What is this, the fifth or sixth season. It seems all stretched out. Or here's a better analogy, it feels like a Bendis six parter. Too decompressed.

My thoughts on the show.

P.S. Had I been writing it, the show would've been renamed Metropolis by the fourth season, and he would've been graduated and trying to become a reporter, and starting to be Superman. But, once again, I bet the budget to do something truly cool isn't realistic for television shows.

Sean Whitmore

01-27-2006, 11:09 PM

I always figured it was following Challenge of the Super Friends continuity. :confused: Ah, well, what do I know.

SEAN

Gernot

01-27-2006, 11:33 PM

You shouldn't try to pigeon-hole Smallville like you're trying to do. Why don't you sit back, and watch this version of Superman grow up and mature?

The EASIEST way to enjoy the show is like an earlier poster said. Imagine each and every live-action Superman that ever was, is on a different Earth.

Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, David Wilson, and Dean Cain all hail from different Kryptons and reside on different Earths. None of them followed the exact continuity, so why should Tom Welling's Superman?

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/gernot0/PAGES/Actors.html

If you just go with the flow, and don't think too hard about it, you'll resent it MUCH less, and enjoy it MUCH more. :)

Gernot...

Astonishing X-Fan

01-28-2006, 12:42 AM

Calculator, what you need to understand is that Smallville is NOT...I repeat...IS NOT...a Superman show. It's a Clark Kent show. If you're expecting tights and knockout battles with supervillains, you're watching the wrong show.

What Smallville is about is a kid growing into a young man. A kid who happens to have powers and is forced to hide them from the people he loves most. A kid who's really having to deal with his massive responsibility and destiny. And it's about another young man who struggles to do good from the darkness, living in the shadow of his father and his upbringing, desperately trying not to succumb to the darkest reaches of his mind.

Smallville is drama, not action. It's driven by emotion. Love, hate, morality, trust, betrayal, guilt, loyalty, and paranoia. And it's the emotion that it does so WELL. Sometimes the action is lacking, but the stellar cast brings the emotion to life.

You can't watch this show and expect Superman, because that's not what it is. JLU sounds like it's more for you...so tune into CN next month for some good, fun, superhero romps. Just don't expect that from Smallville, just like you shouldn't expect real drama from Family Guy.

Jake V

01-28-2006, 01:34 AM

While I understand that they wanted to gradually get to that point, probably ending the show with him deciding to be Superman, I feel that that is simply an excuse to not have to deal with the "childish" notion of costumes or villains.
I don't seem to recall comic book Superman (post crisis, at least) putting any costume prior finishing college, moving to Metropolis, and getting a job at the Daily Planet.

There are plenty of villains so far. Even followers of Zod in full Kryptonian outfits. I don't see any proof that they view costumes or villains as childish.

Calculator

01-28-2006, 02:39 AM

You shouldn't try to pigeon-hole Smallville like you're trying to do. Why don't you sit back, and watch this version of Superman grow up and mature?

Because I'm not interested in that.

The EASIEST way to enjoy the show is like an earlier poster said. Imagine each and every live-action Superman that ever was, is on a different Earth.

Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, David Wilson, and Dean Cain all hail from different Kryptons and reside on different Earths. None of them followed the exact continuity, so why should Tom Welling's Superman?

http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/gernot0/PAGES/Actors.html

If you just go with the flow, and don't think too hard about it, you'll resent it MUCH less, and enjoy it MUCH more. :)

Gernot...

It isn't for me. Even if I wasn't invested in the Superman mythos I still wouldn't like it since most of the dramas on tv disinterest me. I'm not a movie/tv snob, but most of them focus on young (irrational, annoying) love.

PS- they dropped the ball with Lois...big time.

Calculator, what you need to understand is that Smallville is NOT...I repeat...IS NOT...a Superman show. It's a Clark Kent show. If you're expecting tights and knockout battles with supervillains, you're watching the wrong show.

I knew that before even attempting to watch the show, but my cousin forced to me to sit down and watch the first couple of season 5 stuff. I know I'm not the target audience, as it is a WB drama, which typically goes for younger teens (evidenced by the shirtless Clark and Aquaman LoL) especially girls. Not a bad demographic to expose the Superman Mythos to mind you...

You can't watch this show and expect Superman, because that's not what it is. JLU sounds like it's more for you...so tune into CN next month for some good, fun, superhero romps. Just don't expect that from Smallville, just like you shouldn't expect real drama from Family Guy.

Actually, JLU is my favorite show right now :D Sad to hear rumors of this being it's final season.

PrimalScream

01-28-2006, 05:05 AM

how did pa kent die ?

Mike Smith

01-28-2006, 06:24 AM

I really don't understand why people get upset if Smallville deviates from continuity? It is an independent show interpreting the Superman mythos like so many comic writers have done in the past. Two Superman stories are not necessarily the same, which is great, or it would get boring quickly. Every creative outlet puts in their own interpretations, sometimes new ideas into the mythos. That's how it evolves over time. If continuity didn't change we'd still have a Superman drawn in black and white, struggling to lift a car, and leaping about Metropolis at best.

The character "Chloe" I do believe is actually going to be adopted into the Superman mythos. This is a good thing as the dynamic and possibilities another childhood friend can bring to future stories. Also, how many stories in the past have dwelled on Supes upbringing at length like this? Not many that I recall, so we're getting a potential peek into the Man of Steels young life now for five years, and people are complaining because something that has never really being done before doesn't fit a neat little event timeline? Why is Lex so evil? The show is offereing another possiblity. Loosen up and enjoy it. Some of this stuff WILL be adopted by the people in control, aka DC comics. Some won't. If it bothers you that much, enjoy the show as an Elseworlds, but don't let minor grievances and minutia ruin an awesome comic experience for you. This could be the last teenage Superman show you see on TV in your lifetime, don't waste your time finding reasons not to enjoy it.

jwd

01-28-2006, 07:06 AM

how did pa kent die ?

Heart attack

PrimalScream

01-28-2006, 08:49 AM

caused by?

Mike Smith

01-28-2006, 09:48 AM

caused by?

In prior seasons Pa Kent made a deal with Jor-el. IIRC, John had to hold Kryptonian powers to get Clark (under influence of red kryptonite ring) out of Metropolis. The deal was he would be weakened by holding the powers, as no human could do so without harm. He made the deal and as a result his heart was weakened. Ever since he's struggled with heart problems.

In the last episode he got into a fight with Lionel and beat the snot out of him. (Lionel was making threats to "reveal" a secret, presumably about Clark, if John wouldn't be a puppet senator for him. After John beat Lionel to a pulp, he told him to get the hell off of his property, but then started staggering and clutching at his chest. Lionel crawled away, grabbing whatever document/picture blackmail he brought at the beginning, and Pa Kent staggered outside, just in time to be seen by Clark and Martha as they pulled up from his victory party. John died in Clarks arms.

It should also be noted Lois was to die twice (saved once by Lana, then by Clark) and Lana should have died twice too (but time travel saved her once, Clark caught the bus the second time). After interference, it would seem fate moved on to take Pa Kent. This was made obvious during the slow motion scene after Clark stopped the bus and when Pa Kent drove by where Lana should have died, they locked eyes in slow motino...like exchage of fate was taking place.

Yoda

01-28-2006, 10:06 AM

How did Clark travel back in time?

Sean Whitmore

01-28-2006, 10:38 AM

How did Clark travel back in time?

Kryptonian McGuffin Crystal (tm) provided by Jor-El

SEAN

Yoda

01-28-2006, 10:52 AM

Kryptonian McGuffin Crystal (tm) provided by Jor-El

SEAN

That I can live with... the turn the world backwards ala Superman The Movie, I would have been a little dissappointed with.

Sean Whitmore

01-28-2006, 11:03 AM

That I can live with... the turn the world backwards ala Superman The Movie, I would have been a little dissappointed with.

Well, it did come up as a possibility. :)

SEAN

Bicycle-Repairman

01-28-2006, 12:00 PM

I don't mind Smallville deviating from "continuity", because there have been several different continuities in the history of Superman. The Golden Age comics, the Silver Age comics, the post-Man of Steel comics, the post-Birthright comics, the feature films, the Superboy TV series, the Lois & Clark TV series, and the Superman animated series all followed different continuities. What Smallville does is borrow elements from previous incarnations of Superman while putting a new twist on them. I don't think the show's writers are "ashamed" of the source material, otherwise they wouldn't put in so many references to the comic books. Some aspects from the old comics just wouldn't work in a contemporary live action TV series though. Who wants to see Lana Lang become Insect Queen?

Spoilers
As for the death of Jonathan Kent on Smallville, in the pre-Crisis comics both of Clark's adoptive parents died before he became Superman. In the post-Crisis comics, Jonathan and Martha Kent never died. In Superman: The Movie, Jonathan dies of a heart attack while Clark is a teenager, but Martha is still alive when he gets a job at the Daily Planet (it is mentioned that he sends some of his paycheck to his mother). In Superman III, it is mentioned that Clark had not visited Smallville since his mother died so she must have passed away sometime between the first and third films. In the upcoming Superman Returns, Jonathan is dead but Martha is still alive.
End of Spoilers

Devil_LeonX

01-28-2006, 01:31 PM

Ok I understand that smallville is in the lines of tv drama and that somethings must be changed, but there some things they are just plan butchering of the mythos(such as that stupid episode Relic, or when one of the biggest and most horrible changes such him and Lana having sex a violation with almost every story ever told abouts supes cause everyone knows he was supposed to wait for Lois) and everyone seems to forget that this show is about Clark becoming the man of steel eventully, the greatest super hero of all time.

Astonishing X-Fan

01-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Since when is there some sort of rule about Clark's freakin virginity? Who he sleeps with first has no meaning whatsoever to any Superman mythos. I fail to see how Clark sleeping with THE WOMAN HE LOVES AT THAT TIME is worthy of being complained about. "huge violation"? Please.

Now if Clark was banging every hottie left and right, that would be violating the story.

Calculator

01-28-2006, 03:13 PM

Now if Clark was banging every hottie left and right, that would be violating the story.

He would indeed be a Superman then... :P

Devil_LeonX

01-28-2006, 05:22 PM

ok I didnt think I would need to explain myself but it seems I do well if you havent notice supermans morality is for the most part is infallible he follows a strict code that like it or not is quite similar Christianity.That being said a man with mid-western values who embodies the spirit of America would not be Christian, and not think that sex before marriage isnt wrong is quite low. Especially considering all his other beliefs.

Rik Levins

01-28-2006, 05:55 PM

Pre-Crisis Superman got to knock boots with Lois back in 1976, long before they were married. ;)

http://superman.ws/Maggin/lois2.php

Citizen V

01-28-2006, 06:01 PM

Though i have heard about the show from overseas,i know that it doesnt follow comic continuity.Im suprised its still on,from what i hear its not that good.

blink

01-31-2006, 03:52 PM

ok I didnt think I would need to explain myself but it seems I do well if you havent notice supermans morality is for the most part is infallible he follows a strict code that like it or not is quite similar Christianity.That being said a man with mid-western values who embodies the spirit of America would not be Christian

Last time I checked, Kansas was part of the Bible Belt.

KHShapiro

01-31-2006, 04:20 PM

Pre-Crisis Superman got to knock boots with Lois back in 1976, long before they were married. ;)

http://superman.ws/Maggin/lois2.php

WoW,you need a job at the FBI... if thats legit, nice find.

Lurker

01-31-2006, 09:45 PM

Though i have heard about the show from overseas,i know that it doesnt follow comic continuity.Im suprised its still on,from what i hear its not that good.

Well, that depends on who you're hearing it from. Its good enough to survive the purge of programming that happens when two networks combine into one.

Calculator

01-31-2006, 11:46 PM

Well, that depends on who you're hearing it from. Its good enough to survive the purge of programming that happens when two networks combine into one.

Good or bad depends on personal taste. In TV Land, Good or Bad do not dictate survival. Ratings do.

Just thought I'd clarify that.

Lurker

02-01-2006, 12:05 AM

Good or bad depends on personal taste. In TV Land, Good or Bad do not dictate survival. Ratings do.

Just thought I'd clarify that.

And ratings reflect the prevailing majority opinion of people's personal taste in what is good or bad.

malephoenix

02-01-2006, 12:27 AM

I don't know about Clark adhering to a code similar to Christianity, but I can kinda see where you're coming from.

That said, I always felt a respect for Supes because he did seem to be the one superhero who waited until he was married to have sex. Everyone else just doesn't care - I really admired the writers for giving him that nobility and respect for women.

Now, THAT said, my favorite way of looking at it was from Lois and Clark. Dean Cain and Desperate Housewife were having a conversation and she revealed that she'd been sexually active and Clark reveals that he's a Supervirgin. She kinda scoffs [wow, Lois, way to respect a man for fighting his flesh and actually saying "I'll wait" ] and he says something like "What did you expect? I'm an ALIEN. There's no telling what sex might do to a woman from Earth." A good take on the fabled Superhero sex so many of us have joked about.

Calculator

02-01-2006, 09:16 AM

And ratings reflect the prevailing majority opinion of people's personal taste in what is good or bad.

In that case it still isn't doing that great. 4-5 million viewers isn't anything near American Idol or Survivor numbers. And even then when you count how many people watch TV and have access to those channels...the majority choose not to watch.

And I'm not hating on the show, just being a stickler for detail.

Lurker

02-01-2006, 11:24 AM

In that case it still isn't doing that great. 4-5 million viewers isn't anything near American Idol or Survivor numbers. And even then when you count how many people watch TV and have access to those channels...the majority choose not to watch.

Your terms of "success" are almost impossible for any show to meet.

People like the show, get over it.

And I'm not hating on the show, just being a stickler for detail.

Sure you're not. A quick perusal of the 1st two pages certainly proves that.
:rolleyes:

itsyaboy

02-01-2006, 11:41 AM

I have to admit I never watched the show until whatever season they are on now. I originally didn't watch because they had stated out right no flying, and that there would be no suit, which to me like any superhero is an integral part of their mythos.

While I understand that they wanted to gradually get to that point, probably ending the show with him deciding to be Superman, I feel that that is simply an excuse to not have to deal with the "childish" notion of costumes or villains.

Where I get the notion that they are ashamed is things like the handling of Braniac. We know he's an alien. We know he's related to the Krypton stuff. Is it that much to give us nerds a thrill by simply having his "true" form be a green man with those awesome lights on his head? No, instead we're just going to have Spike from Buffy with brown hair.

Another aspect of the show that really bothers me, but might have a logical explanation, is the lack of use of his powers to do anything exciting. The episode where the meteors fall on Smallville and everyone in the town is in danger, I actually expected Clark to oh I don't know...risk his secret Identity to punch some fucking meteors back into space. You know, something truly heroic and risky.

I think the lack of action in the show, which plagues many TV shows, is because of budget issues. But you know what? If you don't have a budget, don't bother doing a show on Superman.

So basically, lack of suit, lack of heroics or truly awesome Superman moments, and lack of action.

On a side note, I do like the guy playing Clark. He has that farm boy mentality, you know the kindness and genuineness that Clark needs to have without coming off as naive. I also like the people playing Martha and Jonathan.

And Lex is good, but they wasted their opportunity with him as he's barely now becoming villainess? What is this, the fifth or sixth season. It seems all stretched out. Or here's a better analogy, it feels like a Bendis six parter. Too decompressed.

My thoughts on the show.

P.S. Had I been writing it, the show would've been renamed Metropolis by the fourth season, and he would've been graduated and trying to become a reporter, and starting to be Superman. But, once again, I bet the budget to do something truly cool isn't realistic for television shows.

I used to watch the show and I have to agree with mostly everything you said about it. I stopped watching the show because there wasn't enough comic/superhero stuff to keep me interested and it just seemed like I was watching a teen drama.

The real travesty to me is that they've actually incorporated some Smallville continuity with comic book continuity in Waid's Birthright series.

Lurker

02-01-2006, 12:12 PM

The real travesty to me is that they've actually incorporated some Smallville continuity with comic book continuity in Waid's Birthright series.

That's actually not "Smallville" continuity. Its a tweeking of old Superboy continuity.

samuraizero

02-01-2006, 12:21 PM

jesus we need jesus

teen jesus coming soon

Lurker

02-01-2006, 12:41 PM

Smallville Episode #100 Ratings Press Release
The WB has issued a press release about the ratings for the Jan. 26 episode of Smallville, titled "Reckoning." Here it is:

MAN OF STEEL STILL GOING STRONG AT 100

Burbank, CA January 27, 2006

MILESTONE “SMALLVILLE” 100TH EPISODE SETS TIME PERIOD RECORDS FOR THE WB IN ADULTS 18-34, PERSONS 12-34, MEN 18-34 AND MEN 12-34

“SMALLVILLE,” WHICH ATTRACTS 6.3 MILLION VIEWERS, RANKS #1 IN ITS TIME PERIOD IN SEVEN KEY DEMOS, INCLUDING ADULTS 18-34 AND PERSONS 12-34

“BEAUTY AND THE GEEK” AND “SMALLVILLE” ACHIEVE TRIPLE-DIGIT GAINS OVER THE PARALLEL WEEK LAST SEASON

The WB's SMALLVILLE celebrated its 100th episode in winning fashion as THE HIT SERIES SET NEW ALL-TIME NETWORK TIME PERIOD RECORDS in ADULTS 18-34 (3.3/10), PERSONS 12-34 (3.2/10), men 18-34 (3.7/13) and men 12-34 (3.6/12). Its ratings in adults 18-49 (2.8/8) and men 18-49 (3.2/9) as well as in total viewers (6.3 million) were the second-highest in time period history.

The super series also placed #1 in its time period among adults 18-34 (3.3/10), persons 12-34 (3.2/10), men 18-34 (3.7/13), men 12-34 (3.6/12), men 18-49 (3.2/9), teens (2.8/9) and male teens (3.3/11).

Compared to the parallel week last season, SMALLVILLE achieved triple-digit gains over the parallel Thursday last season in every key demo, including +313% in adults 18-34 (3.3/10), +300% in persons 12-34 (3.2/10), +211% in adults 18-49 (2.8/8), +250% in teens (2.8/9) and +127% in total viewers (6.3 million).

BEAUTY AND THE GEEK improved over last week's second airing in several key demos including adults 18-34 (2.4/6), women 18-34 (2.7/7), adults 18-49 (2.1/5), women 18-49 (2.3/5), women 12-34 (2.6/7) and total viewers (4.4 million, an increase of 257,000 viewers). Like its lead-in, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK, achieved triple-digit gains over the parallel Thursday last season in all 18-34, 12-34 and 18-49 demos, including +243% in adults 18-34 (2.4/6), +200% in persons 12-34 (2.4/7) and +163% in adults 18-49 (2.1/5).

Ed Cunard

02-01-2006, 01:19 PM

And ratings reflect the prevailing majority opinion of people's personal taste in what is good or bad.

That's not an indication of quality, though--it means people like it. I like tons of crap, too. I like Smallville a whole lot, but when I think of "good," I'm not thinking of Smallville. That said, I am enjoying it quite a bit. I'm glad it's not tied down to movie, television or comics continuity--it's its own thing, and it's not being written for superhero comic book fans, necessarily. It's a good fit for the WB--I hope it remains a good fit when it merges with UPN to become the CW.

As far as ratings go, Smallville is no blockbuster. However, not every show has to be a blockbuster to be successful. Shows that perform steadily tend to get renewed because they're safe. A certain acceptable number of people can almost be guaranteed to tune in--it's why shows like Still Standing get renewed every year (in fact, Still Standing was the show Television Week or Broadcast & Cable--I forget which trade magazine I read it in--used as their main example of "stealth shows," I believe they called them).

For the WB, that 4-5 million is an excellent number. They don't pull in the same kind of ratings the big four networks pull in. And they don't have the same penetration that ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX have--outside of the big markets, some markets have either a WB or a UPN (and, in some cases, they don't have either).

Calculator

02-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Your terms of "success" are almost impossible for any show to meet.

People like the show, get over it.

Sure you're not. A quick perusal of the 1st two pages certainly proves that.
:rolleyes:

Success is relative.

If you actually read what I posted you would have been able to tell that I found things to like and dislike about the show, ultimately choosing it wasn't for me. Furthermore, you would have seen my explanation of the ratings equalling quality argument being a false one.

So as for "getting over" people liking a show about Superman...Why would I need to? I already made mention that regardless of the show, it's exposure of the mythos to a part of the population not already familiar with it is a good thing.

Oh wait, let me settle this argument now, because I doubt you're reading what I said anyhow.

I love the show and completely agree with your point of view. You should PM me sometime so we can further agree about everything else in life.

Lurker

02-01-2006, 07:04 PM

(whole lotta flame war bait)

Sorry, buddy. Go fishing somewhere else.

Astonishing X-Fan

02-02-2006, 01:16 AM

Smallville gets good ratings: FACT. The WB has been very vocal about how happy they are with it's performance.

And saying something isn't getting good ratings because they aren't matching things like American Idol is asinine. There's always going to be a few massive megahits like it or Survivor or Desperate Housewives dwarfing everyone else.

botch

02-03-2006, 01:04 AM

Or pretend the show doesn't exist.

I refuse to give ratings to something that is ashamed of the source material.

But the source material is something to be ashamed of. Superman comics are really bad, most of the best stories are elseworlds tales. So if Smallville is taking the best elements from the comics and leaving the majority of the crap out then I will give it ratings. Smallville is the first time I don't find Superman cheesy and make me want to watch spiderman or read daredevil instead.

botch

02-03-2006, 03:00 AM

If they followed the exact continuity of even post crisis the show would be really boring and cheesy.

Small things people complain about are totally needless unrealistic things. Clark and Lana having sex isn't a big deal, he loves her, she loves him, its been that way for a while. In post crisis since he didn't really love lana, maybe then it would have been a big deal. But she's everything to him, it's not like he went on a rape spree while shooting heroin. And seriously to the guy who wants brainiac with green skin and diodes in his head, works in a cartoon and comics, not in a more grounded tv show.

Lex is incredibly well written, some guy says he should be evil by season 3, well this is clark kents story, clark isn't superman yet and lex isn't evil yet. I like how in every season there has been a major progression for Lex turning evil and its much more realistic than Byrne's version which he even says isn't realistic, that hes just evil for evils sake. Or the pre crisis version where he's evil cos he's bald due to superboys fault. In season 1 his dad pushes him over the edge by being injust with workers which almost compelled him to let his father die. Season 2 the whole marriage thing and his wife betraying him screwed him more. Season 3, his dad making him insane and then his obsession with putting him in jail drove him further. And season 4 his obession with the kryptonian crystals. Then the most crucial moment in Season 5 when he had that dream and everything was taken away from him and he now believes money and power equals security, which many people in the world believe.

I also like the fact that in a sense he isn't entirely evil and has some sort of honour to him. He is in love with Lana but won't go and try and break clark and lana up(as he would in the comics), rather he is trying to be a good person so lana can fall in love with him.

And as a fanboy I love the fact Tom Welling looks like Superman, he has the same damn facial structure, and now that he looks older because the makeup is not hiding his beard as much he looks better. In the credits where he has that small beard he looks like the Jim Lee superman(albeit a bit younger). I also like the fact he has those big superman forearms which most of the superman actors were lacking especially brandon routh with his bitch like forearms. That recent Wizard superman special where all the supermen were on two pages with quotes by writers and their favourite superman. Chris Reeve, Tom Welling and Brandon Routh all look like they are related. Pretty similar looking guys. I also remember some scenes in the superman movies where Chris Reeve looks like Tom Welling.

There are some changes to clark's character in the show that I love, for one he doesn't come off as just a country bumpkin, he isn't as naive as the superman of the comics, he's more intimidating without being a tough guy, he doesn't take as much crap as the superman from the comics.