Smallville: A Tribute
May 25th, 2011
Two weeks ago, the TV show Smallville aired its last episode after a ten-year run. The show, which featured a young Clark Kent’s journey into realizing his destiny as Superman, was a bold move by writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar when the show was first released, but it soon morphed into a cult-classic that may not have generated the most TV buzz, but attracted a loyal following that was eager to see how the Man of Steel came into existence, from his teenage days after landing in the small town of Smallville, Kansas, to getting his job at the Daily Planet, (and of course hooking up with Lois Lane). At its peak, the show earned numerous Emmy and Teen Choice Award nominations, and had a bi-monthly comic book series, soundtrack, and other bits of merchandise.
While Superman was always a much revered superhero, one must give applause to Gough and Millar for turning Superman into a three-dimensional character, complete with back story and genuine human features that made Clark Kent all the more relatable, while still being true to his character. A common complaint I have always heard from my comic-loving friends is that whenever a big Hollywood production company wants to do something with a superhero, it usually ends up with more of a Hollywood imprint than the comic author’s. For Smallville, this was not the case, as the writers were able to devote ten years to developing Superman into more than just a cape, tights, and muscle. We got to see Clark Kent, get into his mind and his struggle to realize his destiny as Superman, and we walked away with a greater appreciation of his character and the struggles he faced.
It’s a show that any comic fan would appreciate, and many did. It showed that beyond the pages and the talking bubbles of the comic book world, there was a backstory that hadn’t been delved into until now, and it was a great story, told brilliantly. It’s a shame not all television programs are like that.
