Superman on Television
The
Essential SMALLVILLE
By
Douglas Meacham (with contributions from Trentus Magnus)
Welcome to the Essential SMALLVILLE! This list is a compilation of what I believe are the must-see episodes of a Superman show that is near and dear to my heart and was a large part of my young adult life. I originally submitted this list to the Superman Homepage for the 15th anniversary of the show's airing, and felt it proper to resubmit it for the show's 20th. The list reduces the show to a little more than half the total episodes, and it's my hope that it will serve as a good guided tour of the series for new watchers and a refresher for seasoned ones. As mentioned above, Trentus Magnus was very helpful in contributing his feedback and opinion on which episodes should be included. He covers the first six seasons in depth during every eighth episode of his podcast "Trentus Magnus Punches Reality". I highly recommend giving these episodes and the show in general a listen. In the meantime, up, up, and away!
Legend
P – Season Premiere
F – Season Finale
A – Ability Episode/1st Appearance
– DC Character 1st Appearance/Episode
– Superman/DC Franchise Alumni 1st
Appearance
– Kryptonite 1st
Appearance/Episode
– Superman Mythology Episode
– Smallville Mythology Episode
p – Plot Episode
Season 1
P
– 1. Pilot
•
Why it’s essential: Clark Kent comes to Earth in a meteor
shower, meets Lex Luthor twelve years later, and learns about his alien
heritage. Annette O’Toole (Lana Lang in Superman
III) plays Martha Kent.
– 2. Metamorphosis
•
Why it’s essential: Clark discovers his weakness to meteor
rocks (kryptonite). Lex meeting Lana Lang begins a dynamic relationship that
will culminate in season 6. Lex shows how manipulative he can be when trying to
fix Clark up with Lana.
A – 4. X-Ray
•
Why it’s essential: Clark develops his X-ray vision. Lex is
blackmailed by a journalist named Nixon, who will become important throughout
this season and in the premiere of season 2.
p – 8. Jitters
•
Why it’s essential: This episode serves as a good
reintroduction to Lionel Luthor and highlights the contrast between the Kents’
and the Luthors’ family dynamics. A seed is dropped hinting at a past history
between Jonathan and Lionel that’s revealed next season.
p – 9. Rogue
•
Why it’s essential: Clark’s first trip to Metropolis results
in his secret being exposed for the first time and exploited by a dirty cop
from Lex’s past.
p – 12. Leech
•
Why it’s essential: Clark loses his abilities for the first
time and experiences being normal. Nixon provides Lex with evidence that gets
him closer to learning Clark’s secret.
p – 14. Zero
•
Why it’s essential: A ghost from Lex’s past returns to expose
a dark secret.
p – 16. Stray
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets his first non-meteor infected
person with an ability and experiences what it
would’ve been like to have a brother. Chloe’s feelings for Clark are revealed,
culminating in the season finale and serving as a plot thread for season 2. Lex
reveals to Clark the tragedy of his brother Julian, which will become important
in seasons 3 and 7. Lionel invites Lex back to Metropolis, his answer resulting
in serious consequences in the season finale.
p – 20. Obscura
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Lex unearthing a piece of Clark’s ship.
F – 21. Tempest
•
Why it’s essential: Tensions between Lex and his father reach
their peak when Lionel tries to force Lex to leave Smallville. Nixon’s
investigation into Clark leads him to Clark’s ship. Clark’s ship changes Martha
in a way that’s revealed later next season.
Season 2
P – 1. Vortex
•
Why it’s essential: After the Kents catch Nixon activating
Clark’s ship, Jonathan and he get trapped during a tornado. Lex saves Lionel
after the tornado hits the mansion, which handicaps Lionel and results in him
becoming a major character this season.
A – 2. Heat
•
Why it’s essential: Clark develops his heat vision. Lex gets
married for the first time.
p – 3. Duplicity
•
Why it’s essential: When Pete discovers Clark’s ship out in a
field, Clark decides to tell his best friend the truth about himself.
– 4. Red
•
Why it’s essential: Clark’s first encounter with red
kryptonite. After meeting Clark, Lionel’s suspicions of him begin
which intensify in season 3, culminating in an uneasy father/son relationship
in seasons 5-7.
– 7. Lineage
•
Why it’s essential: The connection between the Kents and the
Luthors is explored. Lionel’s illegitimate son Lucas shows up later this
season.
– 10. Skinwalker
•
Why it’s essential: Clark discovers the Kawatche caves, which
have a strong connection to his heritage and will serve as a precursor to the
Fortress of Solitude until season 5.
– 12. Insurgence
• Why it’s essential: Clark
meets Maggie Sawyer (future captain of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit and Superman’s
friend) while trying to rescue his mother from a heist at LuthorCorp. The Daily
Planet makes its first appearance, from whose rooftop Clark takes his first of
many leaps to come.
p – 15. Prodigal
• Why it’s essential: Lex
finds his half-brother Lucas in an effort to oust his father from LuthorCorp.
Lionel reveals the true status of his handicap.
p – 16. Fever
• Why it’s essential: It is revealed
what Clark’s ship did to Martha during the Season 1 finale. Lex’s girlfriend,
Dr. Helen Bryce, takes a blood sample from Clark after he gets sick from
kryptonite spores, which will factor into the end of this season and season 3.
– 17. Rosetta
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Dr. Virgil Swann (played by
Christopher Reeve) who reveals to him his Kryptonian origins, beginning a
subplot that will culminate in the latter half of Season 7.
p –
22. Calling
• Why it’s essential: In part
one of the season finale, Dr. Walden wakes up from his coma claiming that Clark
Kent is an alien who will rule the world. Clark and Lana finally start dating.
F
– 23. Exodus
• Why it’s essential: Clark
meets the voice of his father Jor-El (played by Terence Stamp; General Zod in
the first two Superman films), beginning an uneasy relationship that will last
the rest of the series. Lex gets married for the second time. Chloe accepts
Lionel’s offer to investigate Clark, resulting in
profound consequences for her next season.
Season 3
P – 1. Exile
•
Why it’s essential: Clark is living wild in Metropolis while
on red kryptonite and meets Morgan Edge (crime boss for Intergang in the
comics). Lex’s exile on an island will result in psychotraumatic issues for him
this season. Jonathan seeking Jor-El’s help to bring Clark home will lead to
grave consequences in season 5.
p – 2. Phoenix
• Why it’s essential: In part
two of the season premiere, Clark and Lex return to Smallville to deal with the
fallout from recent events.
– 5. Perry
• Why it’s essential: Clark meets
Perry White (future Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet) when he comes to
Smallville in search of an alien tabloid story. Clark discovers his powers come
from the sun when they fluctuate during a solar flare storm.
– 6. Relic
• Why it’s essential: Clark
learns about Jor-El’s time in Smallville and his connection to the Kent family.
Lex learns about the mysterious death of his grandparents, a discovery that
will culminate in the season finale.
p – 8. Shattered
• Why it’s essential: In
this first part of a two-episode arc, Morgan Edge returns to help Lionel prevent
Lex from exposing their murder of Lionel’s parents. Lex learns Clark’s secret.
p – 9. Asylum
• Why it’s essential: Lionel
attempts to remove Lex’s recent memories.
A – 10. Whisper
• Why it’s essential: When
Clark is temporarily blinded by kryptonite, he develops his super hearing.
Lionel threatens Chloe after her refusal to further investigate Clark, which
will culminate in the season finale.
p – 17. Legacy
•
Why it’s essential: Lionel makes a deal with Dr. Swann over
the mystery of the Kawatche caves. Clark learns from Dr. Swann about a message
Jonathan received from Jor-El.
– 19. Memoria
•
Why it’s essential: Lex undergoes a procedure that brings
back repressed memories from his childhood. Clark forcibly goes through the
same experience while trying to save Lex.
p – 21. Forsaken
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Lionel being arrested after Chloe helps Lex obtain the evidence he
needs. After being tortured about Clark’s secret, Pete leaves Smallville for
good.
F – 22. Covenant
•
Why it’s essential: A woman claiming to be Kara from Krypton
entices Clark to fulfill his destiny. After being incarcerated, Lionel takes
revenge on Lex and Chloe. Frustrated by Lex’s obsession with him, Clark ends
their friendship.
Season 4
PA – 1. Crusade
•
Why it’s essential: A reborn Clark
meets Lois Lane. Clark flies for the first time while embarking on the quest Jor-El
intended for him back in season 2. An assistant to Dr. Swann named Bridget
Crosby (played by Margot Kidder; Lois Lane in the Superman films) gives Martha black kryptonite to bring Clark back.
– 2. Gone
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Lois’s father General Sam
Lane (played by Michael Ironside; the voice of Darkseid in Superman: The Animated Series). Lionel’s trial delivers a guilty
verdict.
– 5. Run
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Bart Allen aka Impulse and
future Flash. Clark gives Lex another chance at friendship.
p – 6. Transference
•
Why it’s essential: Lionel uses one of the Kryptonian stones
to switch bodies with Clark, and is radically changed when they switch back.
– 8. Spell
•
Why it’s essential: Lana becomes possessed with the spirit of
Countess Theroux and begins her quest to find the stones. Clark discovers his
vulnerability to magic.
p – 11. Unsafe
•
Why it’s essential: In this first part of a two-episode arc, a
cured Alicia Baker (from Season 3) is released from Belle Reve and tricks Clark
into wearing red kryptonite.
p – 12. Pariah
•
Why it’s essential: Alicia reveals Clark’s secret to one of
his close friends.
– 15. Sacred
•
Why it’s essential: Clark is encouraged by the late Dr. Swann
and Jor-El to complete his quest to find the remaining Kryptonian stones.
– 17. Onyx
•
Why it’s essential: Lex reveals his future self when he accidentally
exposes himself to black kryptonite and is split into a good and evil version.
Lionel reverts back to his darker persona.
p – 21. Forever
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Clark’s last day of high school. Lex and Lionel
are tortured by Jason and his mother into giving up one of the stones.
F – 22. Commencement
•
Why it’s essential: Clark graduates from high school before a
second meteor shower hits Smallville. Lionel goes through a major change once
the stone he possesses is activated, impacting his relationship with Clark
through season 7. Clark completes his quest to find the stones.
Season 5
P – 1. Arrival
•
Why it’s essential: The Fortress of Solitude rises in the
Arctic. The Disciples of Zod come to Earth, threatening to send Clark to the
Phantom Zone and bringing with them a mysterious entity. Clark tells Chloe the
whole truth about himself.
p – 2. Mortal
•
Why it’s essential: Clark must use only his wits after losing
his powers to help Lana and his parents against three fugitive meteor freaks.
Clark and Lex officially end their friendship for the rest of the series.
p – 3. Hidden
•
Why it’s essential: When Clark is mortally wounded, a possessed
Lionel takes action. At the fortress, Jor-El gives Clark an ominous warning
that will culminate mid-season.
– 4. Aqua
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Arthur Curry aka Aquaman and
Milton Fine (Brainiac). Lois falls for her first hero type.
– 7. Splinter
•
Why it’s essential: Clark’s first encounter with silver
kryptonite. Fine reveals to Clark that he is Kryptonian.
– 8. Solitude
•
Why it’s essential: When Clark seeks Fine’s help after Martha
becomes ill with a Kryptonian virus, Fine reveals details about Zod and shows
his true nature.
– 12. Reckoning
•
Why it’s essential: In the 100th episode of the
series, Jor-El’s ominous warning culminates in the death of someone close to
Clark. This event becomes a major pivot point for Clark’s character arc,
impacting him all the way to the series finale.
– 15. Cyborg
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Victor Stone aka Cyborg. It
is revealed that Lionel finally knows Clark’s secret.
p – 17. Void
•
Why it’s essential: After being injected with a serum, Clark
and Lex travel to the afterlife and receive warnings from their dead parents.
Clark learns that Lionel knows his secret.
p – 21. Oracle
•
Why it’s essential: In part one of the season finale, Fine
returns to Smallville and injects Lex with a suspicious vaccine. Clark learns
about Lionel’s involvement with Jonathan’s death and is almost tricked into
killing him.
F – 22. Vessel
•
Why it’s essential: Brainiac prepares Lex to be the vessel of
Zod. Clark meets Zod after his phantom takes over Lex’s body. Zod sends Clark
to the Phantom Zone.
Season 6
P – 1. Zod
•
Why it’s essential: Clark’s first visit to the Phantom Zone
results in him meeting Raya, Jor-El’s assistant. The
Superman shield makes its first appearance. After her plane crashes in the
Arctic, Martha meets Jor-El in the fortress. Clark and Zod face off for the
first time. Clark meets Jimmy Olsen.
A – 2. Sneeze
•
Why it’s essential: After getting a cold from being in the
Phantom Zone, Clark develops his super breath. Lois begins her investigative
reporting career. Oliver Queen arrives in Metropolis.
– 4. Arrow
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Oliver Queen and learns he’s the
Green Arrow.
p – 6. Fallout
•
Why it’s essential: Clark reunites with Raya after she
escapes the Phantom Zone to help Clark take down a phantom.
– 11. Justice
•
Why it’s essential: Clark joins Oliver’s prototype Justice
League (consisting of Green Arrow, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Impulse) to take down
one of Lex’s Project 33.1 labs.
– 12. Labyrinth
• Why it’s essential: Clark
meets the Martian Manhunter when he saves him from being possessed by a
phantom.
– 16. Promise
•
Why it’s essential: The wedding of Lex Luthor and Lana Lang.
Lana discovers Clark’s secret.
– 18. Progeny
• Why it’s essential: Chloe’s
mother, Moira Sullivan (played by Lynda Carter; Wonder Woman/Diana Prince in
the Wonder Woman TV series) is being
used by Lex to control meteor freaks.
p – 21. Prototype
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Lex’s 33.1 experiments coming to fruition when an ex-Marine
becomes a super soldier with meteor abilities.
F – 22. Phantom
• Why it’s essential: Clark
faces the final phantom escapee who steals his DNA to become Bizarro. Clark
tells Lana the whole truth about himself. Lana is apparently killed after
leaving Lex. Chloe’s latent meteor power emerges when Lois is injured.
Season 7
P – 1. Bizarro
•
Why it’s essential: Clark defeats Bizarro with the Martian
Manhunter’s help. Lex is rescued by a mysterious woman.
– 2. Kara
• Why it’s essential: Clark
meets his cousin Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl after Lois stumbles across her
spaceship. Lois begins her career at the Daily Planet.
– 4. Cure
•
Why it’s essential: Clark faces off against Dr. Curtis Knox
(played by Dean Cain; Superman/Clark Kent in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), an immortal who’s dissecting meteor freaks after curing them.
– 6. Lara
•
Why it’s essential: While trying to rescue Kara in a
government lab, Clark flashes back to when she, his mother Lara (played by
Helen Slater; Supergirl/Linda Lee in the Supergirl
film), and Zor-El were on Earth. Krypton and the city of Kandor are revealed
for the first time in one of Kara’s memories.
– 8. Blue
•
Why it’s essential: Clark first encounters blue kryptonite
after being tricked into releasing carbon copies of Lara and Zor-El.
– 10. Persona
•
Why it’s essential: Brainiac returns and joins Bizarro to
take down Clark. Clark seeks help from a Kryptonian named Dax-Ur (played by
Marc McClure; Jimmy Olsen in the Superman
and Supergirl films).
– 11. Siren
• Why it’s essential: When
Oliver Queen returns to Metropolis, he and Clark meet Dinah Lance aka Black
Canary. Lois learns Oliver is Green Arrow.
– 14. Traveler
•
Why it’s essential: In this first part of a three-episode arc,
Dr. Swann’s daughter, Patricia Swann, comes to Metropolis to reveal to Lionel,
Lex, and Clark her knowledge of the Veritas group: a secret society run by Dr.
Swann consisting of the Luthors, Teagues, and Queens whose mission was to greet
an intergalactic traveler once he came to Earth. This subplot is the
culmination of plot threads from Seasons 2 and 4 and sheds more light on Lionel’s
obsession with Clark during Season 3.
– 15. Veritas
•
Why it’s essential: Lex’s childhood memories reveal events
involving the Veritas group leading up to the arrival of the Traveler. Lois and
Jimmy team up for the first time on a story. Kara meets Brainiac, who forces
her to do his bidding by controlling Lana.
– 16. Descent
•
Why it’s essential: Relentlessly seeking answers to the
mysteries that have plagued him for the past seven years, Lex murders his
father Lionel and completes his descent into darkness.
p – 18. Apocalypse
•
Why it’s essential: Clark is given a vision by Jor-El of the
Earth’s ultimate destruction without his presence. Clark returns to Krypton to
stop Brainiac from killing him as a baby.
p – 19. Quest
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Lex discovering the device that can control the Traveler.
F – 20. Arctic
•
Why it’s essential: Lex discovers the identity of the
Traveler. Lana leaves Smallville. Clark and Lex face off in the Fortress of
Solitude.
Season 8
P – 1. Odyssey
•
Why it’s essential: Tess Mercer assumes control of LuthorCorp
while searching for Lex. Oliver leads the Justice League in search of Clark. After
losing his powers in the Arctic, Clark’s life is saved by the Martian
Manhunter, who then is rendered powerless. Clark is hired to work at the Daily
Planet.
– 2. Plastique
•
Why it’s essential: Clark’s first day at the Daily Planet
results in him meeting Tess and Bette Sana Souci aka Plastique. Clark meets Davis
Bloome, who carries a dark secret that will intertwine with his origins this
season.
– 3. Toxic
•
Why it’s essential: The secret origin of Green Arrow and
“When Ollie Met Tess”. Oliver learns that Lionel Luthor killed his parents.
– 4. Instinct
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Maxima of Almerac when Tess
inadvertently lures her to Earth with the fortress crystal.
– 8. Bloodline
• Why it’s essential: Clark
is reunited with Kara when he and Lois are sent to the Phantom Zone via the fortress
crystal. After Faora’s (Zod’s wife) phantom escapes the zone and inhabits Lois,
she reveals to Davis his true origins.
– 10. Bride
•
Why it’s essential: Clark faces off against Doomsday for the
first time at Chloe’s wedding. Lana returns, beginning a subplot involving
Lex’s takedown. Lois and Clark’s feelings for each other briefly surface for
the first time.
– 11. Legion
•
Why it’s essential: Clark teams up with the Legion of Super-Heroes
to defeat Brainiac for good after Chloe is reclaimed as a host.
p – 13. Power
•
Why it’s essential: In this first part of a two-episode arc, the
mystery surrounding Lana’s departure from Smallville last season is revealed.
Clark’s dream comes true when Lana becomes his equal after donning Lex’s power
suit.
– 14. Requiem
•
Why it’s essential: Winslow Schott aka the Toyman is hired by
Lex to kill Oliver after he buys a controlling interest in LuthorCorp. Lex gets
his final revenge against Lana and Clark before meeting his end by Oliver’s
hand.
– 17. Hex
•
Why it’s essential: Clark and Oliver meet the magician
Zatanna after Chloe’s wish turns her into Lois. Chloe officially joins the
Justice League when Watchtower goes online.
– 18. Eternal
•
Why it’s essential: The secret origin of Davis Bloome is
revealed. Clark and Davis become aware of each other’s destinies. Tess reveals
to Clark that she knows his secret.
– 21. Injustice
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Tess sending her Injustice League (consisting of Parasite, Neutron,
Plastique, Mirror, and Livewire) to hunt down Davis for Clark.
F – 22. Doomsday
•
Why it’s essential: Clark faces off against Doomsday in
Metropolis with the Justice League’s help. Clark’s decision to split Davis from
the monster results in grave consequences. The orb housing the civilization of
Kandor releases a man bearing the crest of Zod.
Season 9
P – 1. Savior
•
Why it’s essential: Clark finally begins his training with
Jor-El in the fortress. Tess meets Major Zod and the Kandorians. Lois meets new
Daily Planet recruit John Corben. A Kryptonian from the future gives Clark an
ominous warning, setting the stage for the rest of the season.
– 2. Metallo
• Why it’s essential: Clark
faces off against Metallo when John Corben is mysteriously transformed after an
accident.
– 5. Roulette
•
Why it’s essential: Oliver meets Victoria Sinclair aka
Roulette after she is hired to put him through an elaborate game. Green Arrow
returns.
– 7. Kandor
•
Why it’s essential: Events on Krypton are explored including
the destruction of Kandor and the rivalry between Jor-El and Zod. Clark reveals
his powers to Tess. Clark meets the clone of Jor-El.
p – 9. Pandora
•
Why it’s essential: Lois’s trip to the future is revealed.
Lois and Clark officially begin dating. Clark reveals himself to Zod and the
Kandorians.
– 11. Absolute Justice
• Why it’s essential: In
this double episode, Suicide Squad recruit Icicle is dispatched by the head of
Checkmate, Amanda Waller, to target members of the retired Justice Society of America.
The Justice League and Watchtower team up with Society members Hawkman, Doctor
Fate, and Stargirl to save the rest of the team. Doctor Fate restores the
Martian Manhunter’s powers.
– 15. Escape
• Why it’s essential: Clark
faces off against the spirit of Siohban McDougal aka the Silver Banshee. Tess
learns of Zod’s newly acquired powers.
p – 16. Checkmate
•
Why it’s essential: Tess learns that Oliver is Green Arrow, then goes AWOL after leaving Checkmate. A mysterious
character named the Red Queen is introduced.
A – 17. Upgrade
•
Why it’s essential: Metallo returns after saving Lois at one
of Tess’s labs. Clark displays his Arctic Breath for the first time. While on
red kryptonite, Clark confides in Zod and takes him to the fortress. Zod gives
the Kandorians powers through his blood.
p – 20. Hostage
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the season finale, this
episode shows Martha returning to Smallville with her boyfriend Perry White.
Perry and Lois team up on a story involving the Book of Rao. The identity of
the Red Queen is revealed.
F – 21. Salvation
•
Why it’s essential: Clark dreams of his future self before
receiving a certain “outfit” from Martha. Lois learns the identity of the Blur.
Clark makes a grave sacrifice in order to finally deal with Zod and the
Kandorians.
Season 10
P – 1. Lazarus
•
Why it’s essential: Clark is warned by Jor-El and the spirit
of Jonathan that a darkness is coming, setting the
stage for the rest of the season. Darkseid makes his first appearance. The
Superman outfit is revealed for the first time.
– 3. Supergirl
• Why it’s essential: Kara
returns to take on the darkness after Jor-El forsakes Clark. While possessed by
the darkness, Gordan Godfrey (Smallville’s
version of Glorious Godfrey of Apokolips) runs an anti-hero campaign. Oliver reveals
to the world that he’s Green Arrow.
– 4. Homecoming
•
Why it’s essential: In the 200th episode of the
series, Brainiac returns as Brainiac 5 from the future to inspire Clark to let
go of his past and to not fear his future. Clark meets his future self and gets
a glimpse at the man he will become.
– 5. Isis
•
Why it’s essential: Lois is possessed by
the spirit of Isis (wife of Black Adam in the comics). Tess is
inaugurated into Watchtower. Clark tells Lois he’s the Blur.
– 8. Abandoned
• Why it’s essential: Clark
and Tess track down Granny Goodness (of Apokolips). Clark faces off against Granny’s
Female Furies. Through a series of tapes, Lois is reunited with her deceased
mother (played by Teri Hatcher; Lois Lane in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman). Tess learns
about her true lineage.
– 10. Luthor
• Why it’s essential: Clark
inadvertently activates a Kryptonian mirror box which causes
him to switch places with Clark Luthor, aka Ultraman, who’s from an alternate
Earth. Lionel Luthor’s doppelganger makes his way to Earth-1.
p – 13. Beacon
•
Why it’s essential: Lionel reclaims Luthorcorp and his “son”
Alexander. Martha returns to help defeat the Vigilante Registration Act. Chloe
returns to Watchtower.
A – 14.
Masquerade
•
Why it’s essential: Clark faces off against Desaad (of
Apokolips) after he tries to corrupt Chloe with the darkness. Clark displays
his microscopic vision for the first time. Clark adopts his secret identity
disguise. Oliver is branded by the darkness.
– 16. Scion
• Why it’s essential: It is
revealed that Alexander, renamed Conner Kent aka Superboy, is the genetic
offspring of Clark and Lex. Tess proves Lionel is a fraud and retakes control
of Luthorcorp.
p – 17. Kent
•
Why it’s essential: Clark Luthor returns to Earth-1. Clark
meets and helps Jonathan Kent of Earth-2. Clark sends Clark Luthor back to
Earth-2 on the path of redemption.
– 18. Booster
•
Why it’s essential: Clark meets Booster Gold from the 25th
century. Clark and Booster Gold face off against a boy who bonds with an alien
weapon known as the Scarab aka Blue Beetle. Clark perfects his secret identity
persona.
– 19. Dominion
•
Why it’s essential: Clark is tricked by Zod (Major Zod now
joined with General Zod’s phantom) to return to the Phantom Zone with Oliver.
p – 20. Prophecy
•
Why it’s essential: Leading into the series finale, this
episode show’s Jor-El giving Lois Clark’s powers for a day in response to him
formally requesting a life bond with her. Black Manta, Solomon Grundy, and
Captain Cold make cameo appearances. Gold kryptonite makes its first
appearance. Kara leaves Clark’s destiny in his hands as she travels to the
future.
FA – 21. & 22. Finale
•
Why it’s essential: In the double episode series finale, ten
years of trials and tribulations culminate in Clark Kent embracing his destiny.
Lois and Clark get married (almost). Lex is resurrected from the dead by the
machinations of Lionel and Darkseid. Clark faces off against Darkseid and
finally taps into the power of flight. Jor-El and the spirit of Jonathan anoint
Clark as Superman. Superman saves the world from the planet Apokolips.