Amen to that.
I'm not going to sit here and say Smallville has the best actors, or the most drama, or is the most addictive show on TV. It doesn't rank up there with Lost or BSG or the like, but let's not be too harsh on it. Smallville has helped to keep the wheels of the Superman brand turning and as superhero fans, that's something we should be thankful for.
In it's earlier seasons, the show was admittedly very 'teen' and angsty - and guess why? Clark Kent was a teenager, he was in High School, and that's what the show explored.
In the last few years the show has moved on to bigger and better places, and this season in particular has been fantastic. It's now mostly set in Metropolis, and the writings and storylines are much more adult. They've introduced some great new characters along the way, and also some existing ones. The upcoming Absolute Justice 2-part episode (featuring Hawkman and Dr Fate to name but a few) is just another example of how the network is successfully using Smallville to help publicise not just Superman, but a lot of other DC Superheroes who have never successfully made it to TV or movies.
Also, they're putting their own spin on the Superman mythology. Rather than just have this guy suddenly go from a confused teen to this perfect man in a cape and red/blue suit, we're learning what drives Clark Kent. He makes mistakes. He's confused at times. He doesn't know where he's going in life. But over the last few seasons, he's starting to realise what he's capable of and what his place in the world should be. He's creating a symbol for himself, and in doing so, has come up with the current black suit, the colour of which owes a lot to his mood and feelings at the end of last season when he blamed himself for a death. In time this will change - as part of Clark's path towards his future - and the traditional red/blue suit will make an appearance soon. And in terms of phsyicality, Tom Welling fits the bill perfectly - he has the height, build, look, and more importantly, the kindness and humbleness which Superman exhibits.
Even Smallville fans like myself don't think it's the best show on TV, but it's fun, and it's entertaining - and I think it gets a lot of flak at times that is undeserved. The show is still full of promise, and not many shows can say that after 9 seasons.
