Today marks the day that many of us Smallville fans around the world were waiting for, for the last 10 years: the day Clark Kent learned how to fly and officially became Superman. Throughout the entire series finale, despite previously learning that we would in fact see Tom Welling bust open his work shirt to reveal the Superman outfit beneath, I didn’t know how much, if any, of the whole Superman we would get to see. Fortunately, Smallville truly delivered by bringing us an epic end to so many TV viewers’ favorite show.

Tom Welling holding the Superman suit in Smallville on Paul Gale Network
Tom Welling as Clark Kent holding the Superman suit in his Fortress of Solitude, just after Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) handed it to him.

For me, I needed to see Tom in the most iconic and recognized superhero suit in the world, in some capacity, to really “seal the deal” on the series. I’ve been watching the show since episode one…way back in 2001 shortly after I turned 18 and was beginning my Freshman year at California State University of Northridge. Now at 27, a decade of my life has gone by and I can proudly say that Smallville was there for many great moments of it (and was even to thank for some of those great moments). Growing up throughout my entire adult life as Clark grew into Superman was my own connection to the series. I know that there are plenty of others out there that have similar stories of how Smallville was there for them for a big part of their life and that’s what makes the show so special.

How many other TV series nowadays last a decade and have its original main star still be as influential now as he or she was when the show began? Not many and who knows if there ever will be a show quite like Smallville in those regards.

Getting back to the episode itself for a little bit, everything built up quite nicely with Lex Luthor coming back (how cool it was to see Michael Rosenbaum again), the reflecting clips that included Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and the rest of the gang that were are a part of our hero’s journey to greatness, and the whole Darkseid inhabiting Lionell Luthor (John Glover)/Apokolips crashing into Earth scenes. The wedding, the Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and son parts, and of course the new Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance) scenes were all very cool as well. The episode truly was a “coming home” celebration. From the original cast including Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole) to the more recent additions such as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman)…everyone had their “great final moment”.

Tom Welling becoming Superman in Smallville on Paul Gale Network
Tom Welling as Clark Kent, becoming Superman.

The best was Tom Welling as Superman though. Seeing Clark grab the costume, take flight (just after doing so for the first time in the barn) in the fortress, and getting a couple quick glimpses of him flying before the commercial and then seeing him outside the airplane, colliding with Apokolips, and floating in space…it just did it for me. A perfect amount of screen time to have Superman be a final part of the show, to have Tom officially become the character, and truly please what the fans have wanted for so long. And that brings us to the end, almost exactly how I pictured it, Clark running on the roof after taking off his glasses, pulling apart his shirt to reveal the Superman costume beneath as the Superman music takes off. Yes, I jumped, yelled, and waved around for joy…then rewound and rewatched several times over, even shedding a tear out of pure happiness. Smallville, DC Comics, Mr. Tom Welling, and everyone on board, thank you so much for delivering 218 episodes of fun over the years and for doing something so incredible for the finale. Thank you, Smallville.
– Paul Gale

Tom Welling in Superman suit in Series Finale of Smallville on Paul Gale Network
Tom Welling as Superman in Smallville’s Series Finale.

2 thoughts on “Congratulations on an epic series finale, Smallville.”

Leave a Reply