Smallville (2001)

Smallville is a character-driven, long-running TV series (premiering in 2001) that reimagines the early life of Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. Set in the small town of Smallville, Kansas, the show mixes coming-of-age teen drama and romance with superhero action and mystery: Clark (Tom Welling), adopted by Martha and Jonathan Kent, struggles to understand and control his emerging alien powers while navigating friendships, first loves, and the moral choices that will shape him. Watching Smallville, you’ll experience a steady blend of grounded, small-town warmth and escalating supernatural threats. Episodes alternate between personal, emotional stories—Clark’s complicated feelings for Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), his tight bonds with friends Pete Ross and Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack), and the guidance of his parents—and larger, serialized plots involving secret origins, clandestine corporate intrigue around Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), and increasingly dangerous meteor-driven anomalies. The tone evolves from intimate teen drama to a broader, more mythic superhero saga as Clark’s abilities and responsibilities grow. Expect episodic rescues and action sequences, character-focused dilemmas about identity and responsibility, romantic tension, and slow-revealed mysteries about Clark’s past and destiny. Fans of superhero origins, character-led drama, and serialized TV with ongoing mysteries will find the show rewarding; it’s as much about watching a young man become a hero as it is about the messy, human relationships that shape him.

Actors: Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance

7.5 /10 7.5 /10