I continue my Smallville journey into Season Nine. I’m almost at the end. I admit, marathoning it as I have, I’m beginning to get a little tired and that’s partly influencing my feelings about the series. However, I believe each show has the capacity to dazzle us regarless of how we watch, and Smallville Season Nine has made me realize the high peaks of the show are rare and that the majority of it is spent in the valleys.

1. Who Is Tess Mercer?



She’s been around for two seasons and I don’t understand her any better than when she first appeared. What does she want? Is she good, or bad? She learns Clark’s true identity, but she doesn’t try to expose it. She gathers together a group of seemingly bad guys to achieve some arguably good goals (using ethically problematic methods). She seems to have feelings for Oliver, but she doesn’t allow herself to revisit them.

It’s one of the more interesting character problems I’ve encountered, because the actress playing Tess (Cassidy Freeman) capably performs whatever is needed. She can be vulnerable, defiant, strong, mysterious; we believe it all. But what’s underneath it all? Couldn’t tell you. My best guess is, “whatever the writers need.”

2. Clois



I started to get impatient this season with waiting for Lois and Clark to get together. They agreed to take things slow, so you have to wait awhile for smooches.

I guess I should just be happy that the five season-long slow burn is finally starting to ignite.

3. JSA



With a few exceptions there aren’t a lot of costumes on the show. That’s smart. The further from humanity Smallville gets, the worse it works.

However, in this season Clark and friends discover the existence of an older super hero group called the Justice Society of America. I had to look this up since I’m not a big DC guy. Basically it started as a comic in the 40’s and had DC favourites like Hawkman and Dr. Fate. The group has changed over the years and across publications, but retains the name. And the episode features some surviving members of the JLA in full-on costume (including capes).

Clark is in awe when discovering the JLA, which that surrounds the entire episode; like a kind of respect. And that approach makes the capes and powers work, which creates a unique episode unlike any other in the series.

4. My Sweet Martha

Martha Kent returns this season and I missed her SO MUCH. She brings back with her some of Clark’s humanity and some memories of Jonathan we were starting to lose. The series has gotten far away from Clark living in the loft, doing chores and getting lectures from his parents. I understand that the parents have to be gone from the show for us to believe Clark is becoming a man, but they were great actors and their being there helped create more human moments that made the show better.

5. Kandorians



I guess I have to say something about the Kandorians. And Zod. In this season a bunch of clones of Kryptonians (I think?) are on Earth. They are initially powerless, which allows the show to play with how they integrate into society. Who do they trust and follow? Zod? Or Kal-El? And so on.

Mostly the Kandorians stand around and offer support for Clark or offer support for Zod. That is their prime function. They might as well be robots or statues.

Zod’s OK. The actor playing him, Callum Blue, plays Zod like he’s royalty. I bet he was a theatre actor, let me check. Hmm. No he wasn’t, but he is British. I get some points for that.

Zod matches the tone of the season. Inoffensive, unremarkable.

6. The Valleys of Smallville

Going into Season Nine I’m finally starting to realize something about Smallville: A lot it is just waiting for a really good episode to appear. Wandering from episode to episode, kinda interested, but not super invested. Then BAM! Huge moment that has heart and meaning and makes you feel so good you want to hug yourself. And then more wandering.

It’s not that episodes along the way are all “bad,” they’re OK, just not amazing.