Starting at a time where audiences wouldn’t have a new Marvel or DC show every night of the week, theTom Welling-led seriesSmallvilleultimately lasted for 218 episodes, all of which are now available for streaming.
With so many episodes to choose from, it’s difficult to narrow down to just ten being the “best;” episodes like “X-Ray,” “Crush,” “Heat,” “Red,” “Lineage,” “Exile,” “Memoria,” “Covenant,” “Run,” “Commencement,” “Arrival,” and “Bride” were all at the very least considered and are definitely worth watching. If you want the cream of the crop, though, these 10 are a great place to start. (be aware that there may be some spoilers if you are new to the series).
10) “Booster” (Season 10, Episode 18)
Written by one of DC Comics' most talented assets,Geoff Johns,and directed by starTom Wellinghimself, this episode brings “the greatest hero you’ve never heard of” to television screens, asEric Martsolfplays a hero from the future known as Booster Gold. Clark starts to adopt his bumbling persona with the glasses and even does the “phone booth change” Superman is well known for. What makes this episode special is that Booster knows about the man that Clark is going to become; the series finale would air only 4 episodes later, and nothing could possibly be as good as what fans could have imagined it would be.
9) “Justice” (Season 6, Episode 11)
Years before CW heroes would assemble for annual crossovers every November,Smallvillegot together a team first, pairing Clark withJustin Hartley’s Green Arrow,Kyle Gallner’s Impulse,Lee Thompson Young’s Cyborg, andAlan Ritchson’s Aquaman for a superhero team-up written and directed by futureDaredevilandSpartacusshowrunnerSteven S. DeKnight. The episode logged the highest ratings in CW history at the time and could very well have led to a spin-off. Sadly, it didn’t happen, but this episode - which also featured some terrific one-liners fromMichael Rosenbaum’s Lex - might have been one of the most “comic book” style episodes that the show had aired up until that point.
8) “Reckoning” (Season 5, Episode 12)
In this episode, the series' 100th, Clark finally reveals the truth to Lana and brings her to the Fortress of Solitude. As if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, he also proposes. Life is good for Clark Kent… until Lana is killed in a horrible crash. Clark makes a deal with his Kryptonian father Jor-El (don’t ask) so that he can re-live the day, not knowing that this second chance also means losing his father.
7) “Transference” (Season 4, Episode 6)
In this episode,Smallvilledoes “Freaky Friday” with Clark Kent and Lionel Luthor. “Transference” may be Tom Welling’s finest hour, showing a range and what seems to be a pleasure in playing Lex’s devious father. Welling always seemed to enjoy the show more when Clark got to explore his bad side, and this - complete with some highly amusing reactions from his character - is one of he best examples.
6) “Homecoming” (Season 10, Episode 4)
The 200th episode ofSmallvillewas a celebration of many things that made the show wonderful, as Clark and Lois attend Clark’s high school reunion right as Brainiac 5 (Buffy’sJames Marsters) comes from the future to show Clark where things will end up for him in five years. The Clark of the future is described by his younger self as “uptight and nerdy,” and gives the younger Clark perspective on his current place in life, just as revisiting elements of his past also help guide the young hero to realizing his destiny.
5) “Insurgence” (Season 2, Episode 12)
Future Marvel Head of TelevisionJeph Loebco-wrote this episode withKenneth Biller,and just withJohn Glover’s Lionel,Annette O’Toole’s Martha, and Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex as major players, it would have been a good episode out of the gate. But that’s not what the episode is most memorable for: In addition to being our first good look at the Daily Planet building in Metropolis, we also see Clark’s first attempt at “leaping tall buildings in a single bound” - a plan that might not work out as well as he may have liked.
4) “Tempest” (Season 1, Episode 21)
In 2016, we’re used to our superheroes fighting larger-than-life threats that often could result in the end of the universe. But withSmallville’s first season finale, Clark Kent’s biggest challenges included a Spring Formal, a reporter who is getting too close to the truth, and an incoming tornado. Human stories like this one made earlySmallvillerelatable for its young audience, and the first season leaves on a cliffhanger that will blow viewers away.
3) “Rosetta” (Season 2, Episode 17)
Other actors may have followedChristopher Reeveas playing the Man of Steel, but Tom Welling is the only one that the legendary Superman actor passed the baton to. In “Rosetta,” Reeve played Dr. Virgil Swann, a scientist who also happens to be the first person to tell Clark of his Kryptonian origins.Smallvilleslowly and thoughtfully built to this moment, and with a score using John Williams' classicSupermanmovie themes, it made for a very special hour of television, and certainly one of the best of the series.
2) “Crusade” (Season 4, Episode 1)
We see Clark flying and TV audiences are introduced to Lois Lane – and it’s only Season 4! Of course, there’s a reason Clark can fly here even though he doesn’t in later episodes (the reasons for that are revealed when you watch it).Erica Durance’s Lois arrives in Smallville to investigate the “death” of her cousin, Chloe, and what was originally a four-episode stint for Lois ended up going on for seven seasons. The flying sequence alone makes this one ofSmallville’s best; the introduction of Lois makes it even better.
1) “Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Directed by the “Pilot Whisperer"David Nutterfrom a story by creatorsAlfred Gough & Miles Millar, the series starts in epic fashion, telling the tale of Clark’s arrival in 1989 and the devastation that came with it. Well-loved characters like Lana (Kristin Kreuk), Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), Chloe (Allison Mack), and Pete (Sam Jones III) are introduced and the parental figures are played by such great actors asJohn Schneider,Annette O’Toole, and John Glover.
Less memorable about the pilot is what was referred to at the time as the “freak of the week” plot: Jeremy Creek, the “14 year old who hasn’t aged” who looked 30 even then, played byAdrian McMorran, probably didn’t resonate as well as the other things that were set up in the story, from Clark’s first save of Lex Luthor’s life to the introduction of the “Wall of Weird.” But watching the episode with 15 years gone by, and knowing where the show went and what it would become, makes the “Pilot” all the more special. Sometimes the “best” is your first exposure to something - and here, the “Pilot” set a standard for all 217 episodes to follow, landing it at the top spot on this list.
Smallvillearrives on Hulu with all 218 episodes on October 1st.
