Smallville Season 10 Review

• 9th Nov 2011

If someone had told me back in 2001 as I watched a television series take on the Superman legacy, putting him back in high school and exploring how he becomes a man, would last for ten years I really would not have been convinced. It was all soft focus, cliché comments and honestly the only word to describe it was a bit drippy. I’m actually still not sure how this show has lasted for such a long time. It’s been rather hit and miss, and often repetitive over its run but still I, along with so many others, keep coming back to it.

So we reach the final season, the big ending, Clark Kent becomes Superman at long bloody last. As predictable with a final season it is all about throwing everything in along with the kitchen sink. This for me was the downfall of this season and what ultimately felt like a great big overload that really wasn’t needed. A sign of a show that runs out of ideas is one that has to bring back everyone who has ever been in it and this has been the case with Smallville for a few seasons. Someone died? Sure we can create a reason for them to come back, be it as a kind of spirit guide or clones or alternative universe versions of the character. Lionel, Kara, Brainiac, General Zod, Jonathan Kent and of course Lex in whatever way possible. 

Another downside for me for season ten has been the development of Lois. I was always a big fan of the introduction of Lois into Smallville. Lana was so soppy and doe eyed I was more than happy when she left. Lois however had balls, she was the Lois we know and love. Season ten is primarily focused on Clark and Lois and what I suppose is their “grown up” relationship. She knows he is the blur, they get engaged, move in together and of course you can only guess what they finally try and do in the finale (no they already have done that!). Somehow Lois has lost her independence. There are too many episodes which revolve around her getting insecure, trying to fulfill some ideal girlfriend/wife stereotype and sacrifice herself for Clark. Because Lois knows Clark is the blur she begins the “I am not worthy of your greatness” story arch. I suddenly get the waft of the anti-feminist Twilight stench (although Superman is and always will be better than some hyper ego vampire).

At this point you probably think I hated this season. Not true. Like any season of Smallville it has its good and bad points. I do feel the villains in previous seasons have been much better; Brainiac and Davis Bloome being two of my preferred. Darkseid in this season felt a bit of a feeble idea of the “big bad”, seen and done before (I instantly recall season 7 of Buffy here). However there are good episodes, “Collateral” and “Isis” for example. And there is the welcome return of Zatanna in “Fortune”, a quite simply delicious character whose episodes involve that whimsical novelty mayhem. Unfortunately there are episodes which are plain ridiculous and not in a good way. I ask anyone to watch the 300 rip off fest that is “Dominion”. But I recommend holding out to the end for the brief appearance of Michael Rosenbaum. I’m not going to count that as a spoiler, you knew he’d be back. But to have the actual real Lex back makes you realize just how much Rosenbaum brought to the role. He played Lex with such impressive subtly and conflict it is a reminder that Smallville did lose some of its quality when he departed.

This is not the best season of Smallville by a long shot. It had some moments but overall felt too crowded and the constant nods to the fan base must have given the writers neck ache. However this is Smallville, you know what you’re getting and I don’t think there is any way you can watch those last 10 minutes without getting goosebumps.

Smallville Season 10 is out on DVD and Blu-ray alongside the Complete Season 1-10 Box Set on 31st October 2011

Lauren Cracknell