Smallville rewatch 2024

My partner and I are rewatching Smallville again. Our last rewatch was in 2021, and that was the first time we watched it in ages. We were kind of surprised at how much stuff we didn't like, since we both remember liking it years ago. This time we had more fun rewatching. Maybe it was easier because we were more prepared. However! Since I didn't blog about it last time, this post is mostly going to be a long list of complaints.

Our main issues

• The actors are way too old to play high school students. It's particularly insane how we're supposed to believe that Tom Welling, who was 25-ish at the time, is actually 15. And as the show progresses it seems like all age related logic goes out the window. How is 16 year old Lana managing to go to school AND run a café for example. It's like they decided to write plots based on the actors' ages rather than the characters. 
• Clark's lame excuses for all his mysterious disappearances and saves. "Uuuh, tok a shortcut."
• How insanely poorly kept Clark's secret is. Basically everyone knows something is up with him. Which makes it even more insane how he constantly accuses people who are curious about him of being terrible people, bad friends... Clark basically gaslights Lex and Lana (in particular)! 
• The Clark/Lana relationship was always doomed. One, it sucks spending that much time and focus on a couple we know isn't going to last. And two, he hurts her again and again. He should have just left her alone, after refusing to tell her a secret that everyone can tell he has.
• How sad it is that Lex just wants to find a substitute familiy, and how that all goes down the drain, and a lot of it is Jonathan and Clark's fault. #justiceforlex
• Clark is a moron. Chloe gives him the most obvious hints about knowing his secret in season 4, and he's like, "Huuuuh, what do you mean, Chloe?" 
• Clark has no personality or obvious interests, and his motivations are poorly developed. He's just there reacting to things. Few interests beyond "Lanaaaa" and "muh secret". His one interest (football) he kinda gets bullied out of by his dad. I'd love to see him be more interested in journalism from the beginning for example. Or travel. Or something.
• Kryptonite everywhere, and Clark not learning anything after barging into it several times. And his inconsistent reactions to it. How much it disables him varies with the plot.
• The show is embarrassed by its own source material, and Clark spends some time making commentary about the lore being lame. "Can't see myself going into battle with that on my chest". When we see him again in "crisis on infinite earths" he's even given up his powers. On brand for this version of Clark, but it's kinda insane to spend 10 seasons on a Clark who doesn't want to be Superman.
• Lois and Clark starting to get together seemed almost like an afterthought. Season 8, really? "Oh yeah, guess we gotta do this bit now".

What holds up

• Love this version of Lois Lane. Great actress, great lines. 
• Also love this version of Lex Luthor.
• Jonathan and Martha are also fantastic. I particularly love Jonathan. Mostly because he's such a fascinating, complex character. He basically creates Lex Luthor the supervillain by being overprotective of his son. Makes complete sense from his perspective though. But it gave Clark some serious trust issues. I always love this line on every rewatch: "You have the most amazing being on earth doing chores on your farm!" 
• Lois and Clark were great together after season 8.
• Tom Welling is actually great as Clark, even if he is too old to play a teenager.

Other random things to note

• Why is Martha constantly baking things in a household that struggles with money. Do you need that pie?
• This show should have never had Doomsday in it.