It’s Smallville Week here at iFanboy! We are celebrating the end of one of the most important comic book-inspired shows in the history of television by counting down some of our favorite aspects of Smallville. So check back every day for a new list! And then come back on Friday night to join us in a special live chat during the east coast airing of the two hour series finale!
5. Looking at Metropolis from a Windmill (Season 1, Episode 15 – "Nicodemus")
This one is a bit nitpicky, I'll admit. This episode ends with Clark and Lana sharing a moment atop a windmill in Smallville:
It's a touching, quiet moment as they've survived the threat of the week, and Clark wants to share with Lana the hope for the future:
And Clark reveals to Lana why they're on top of this Windmill, and reveals to her the view of Metropolis from Smalliville:
Now, I'm no geography major, but if you ask me, Metropolis is awfully close to Smallville. Hell, there are places in Brooklyn where Manhattan looks further away than this shot. Now I understand to make the show work, they had to be able to come and go between Smallville and Metropolis alot, but seriously? That can't be more than 20 miles away! Is Smallville a suburb of Metropolis? I though it was supposed to be, literally "Smallville" as in the rural sticks of Kansas. Now it's a suburb of Metropolis? And does this mean that Metropolis is in Kansas? *head explodes*
This makes our top moments list because I was so worked up by this in 2002, that after a lengthy discussion with Conor (and him encouraging me) I actually e-mailed one of the series writer/producers demanding an explanation. He never responded.
4. Lois Lane Emerges (Season 5, Episode 4 – "Aqua")
Like most of the characters in Smallville, we knew that when they introduced Lois Lane, she wouldn't be what we expected or exactly like the Lois Lane we knew from the comics. Nothing exlemplified that more than her introduction in this episode, emerging from swimming in the lake in a red bikini. Now, this moment isn't so much about what was happening in the episode, but rather for the next 5 years, seeing this shot in the opening credits, over and over and over again, reminding us that this isn't your mam's Lois Lane. She wears a bikini! Oh, and I think Aquaman was in this episode…I forget…bikini.
3. Lex Luthor's Future Glimpse (Season 4, Episode 10 – "Scare")
In the early seasons of Smallville, they seemed to make a concerted effort not to tie Smallville back to the comics in anyway, aside from the obvious characters and setting. But in season 4, we got a rare occasion of one of the moments of the episode directly reflecting what was happening in the comic. Under the influence of a serum, Lex has a vision of his future where he is the President of the United States, and he's wearing a white suit along with a black glove. This was at the time where not only was Lex actually President in the comics, but it was a call back to the damage to Lex's hand from wearing a kryptonite ring for years, which was also in the comics. This was the first time I realized how much of a guilty pleasure it could be to have Smallville make little nods back to the comics.
2. Lionel Luthor Arrives and Fires Everyone (Season 1, Episode 21 – "Tempest")
One of my personal favorite actors in Smallville was John Glover. His portrayal of Lionel Luthor was so unique, so dynamic, and so damn entertaining, that I got excited for every little moment of Lionel's insanity that I could get. This was all summed up best by the opening of the season 1 finale, "Tempest", in while Lionel lands in a helicopter and then fires everyone at the LuthorCorp Smallville plant, and then gets back on the helicopter, waving to Lex as he leaves. It was a blur if insanity and the typical Luthor scheming, and from this moment on, I knew that Lionel was my favorite.
1. REMY ZERO! (Season 1, Episode 21 – "Tempest")
In the 10 years of Smallville being on TV, I don't think there has been a single line repeated by me more than "REMY ZERO!" Also in the season finale of season 1, it was bad enough to have the band who does the show's theme song "play" their prom (and be shamelessly lip syncing), but then to have Clark and Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) acknowledge it, in a moment of bad product placement was groan inducing as it is. But then they take it one step further as Pete tries to muster some enthusiasm for the corporate synergy and yells, "REMY ZERO!" It was possibly the most absurd moment of the entire run of the show, and I loved it. If you go to a comic con and see me and Conor, there's a good chance at some point, one of us will yell, "REMY ZERO!"
Previous Lists:
Smallville: The Best Episodes
Smallville: The Best Characters
Smallville: The Best DCU Guest Stars
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Bikini indeed. What was this article about again?
Bikini indeed INDEED. Doesn’t look like Ron made it past that season/episode. 🙂
This dubbed him the nickname “Product Placement Pete” among some circles.
He also pitched the Talon Mix on the show (which was a cd that you could buy.)
Even when he came back as a guest star in season 7 he was promoting Stride gum and the band “One Republic”.
Bikini? I’m thinking about the star-spangled stripper number. And the bikini.
Poor Sam Jones. Remember the 42 minute stride commercial when he returned to the show? Will only be remembered for his corporate shilling and nothing else.
REMY ZERO!
I’m sure Remy Zero fans everywhere are upset that you’ve belittled their fav-oh who am I kidding . . .
Great list Ron,
my favorite moment was Lois and Clark at the dunking tank, episode 2 season 4 i believe, and when lois dunks clark you can sense the chemistry between them and a hint at what you know is going to come. one of the things i liked about this series, those moments that briefly highlighted what you knew was going to happen.
@WeaklyRoll – also one of my favorites! Its from Season 4 episode Facade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlm4sEAu0Rc
absolutely LOVE IT!
Lionel was such a magnificent bastard! One of my favorite characters on television for quite a bit of time. Him and Schnieder were the best parts of that show.
The Kryptonian S shield burned into Clark’s chest in the phone booth was pretty classic!
http://youtu.be/C1ABwyiqots
REMY ZERO!
Season 4 – Onyx
After years of being Clark’s buddy, Lex Luthor gets split into a “Good Lex” and “Bad Lex” after coming in contact with Black Kryptonite. While wearing a glowing Green Kryptonite ring, Lex Luthor finally utters the words we all knew…
“I am the villain of the story.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFOca70UpSA
Excellent picks Ron, Smallville has many great moments. How can one narrow them down? I would need a six pack of Rainier Beer and at least a week… Or five minutes…
Quickly, best moments = 1. ( Pilot ) Lex drives his car into Clark and over bridge, the relationship has started……2. ( Heat ) Jonathan helping Clark with his heat vision, thus a torched scarecrow and some popcorn…… 3. ( Hereafter ) Clark touches the boy who can predict ones death. When he touches Clark, all we see is a long flowing red cape…. 4. ( Promise ) Lana in the wine cellar spying on Clark, and finally getting the conformation of him having superpowers…. 5. ( Kent ) Ron you say Lois in bikini? I raise you one and say Tess in that dress at the Ace Of Clubs! Wow!………..
My opinions are subjective and influenced by Rainier Beer eeeeerrrrrr coffee…
Goodbye Jonathan Kent
from Season 5 – Vengeance
While not one of the best episodes of Smallville ever, it’s final scene is easily the MOST memorable moment of any for me. Even if you haven’t lost anyone close to you yet, especially a husband or a father, this moment is particularly powerful.
After burying Jonathan Kent in the previous episode, Clark became very angry and vengeful. He learned ultimately that vengeance alone was not the answer but hadn’t come to terms with the death of his father. The episode ends when he walks in on his mom watching and old home movie of Jonathan with a young Clark riding a tractor. Martha turns to see Clark is wearing his father’s watch, and they come together and cry, comforting eachother. I’m getting choked up just typing this. Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Ab20BZUCU
@Superyan, Martha and Clark watching the old home movie of Jonathan is excellent!
The Luthor downsizing, and the Truth episode both have moments that pained me!
Lionel blames Lex for the firings, and “the Daily Planet” issue says poor management was SITED (er – try CITED) as the reason. In the Truth episode, the drug is Levitas….not Veritas as it should be – study your mufuggin’ Latin! And yes in this continuity, Metropolis is an oceanside city in Kansas – look at the liscence plates. All things i’ve had to overlook in my extreme enjoyment of this show.
Don’t forget that Lex has connections; hence, all the bands rocking out in Smallville and at the Talon.
Pete Ross yelling REMY ZERO never gets old. It’s a character defining moment for him, and that’s just really sad.
Lex’s vision has shown up multiple times, going back to Season 1, when an old lady who could see the future touched Lex’s hand and died from the shock.
That initial scene blew my mind because the Lex as President storyline was only a year or two in; I really dug it in the comics so having it show up, even in a glimpse was fun.
What about Lana Lang when she turned evil? Or when Clark got x-ray vision? Those were pretty awesome moments.
REMY ZERO!
Love that moments. It’s tops, definitely.
I bet he wakes up at night in a cold sweat, the words REMY ZERO echoing through his mind before he drifts off again.
@RoiVampire I think you’re talking about me.
If I remember correctly that vision of the future ended with Lex in his white suit standing on a field of skulls with the sky raining blood.
@RobotZombie Yep. It was AWESOME.
I’m having flashbacks… That future Luthor moment might have been what got me back ino comics.
@RapidEyeMovement – SMALLVILLE and Batman Begins got me back into comics!
@conor Agreed! This was very awesome!!
http://youtu.be/yYRr67advsY
I’ll say this though about REMY ZERO!
As a theme song- that song has held up well.
In my life, I’ve seen maybe ninety minutes of Smallville, and one of those minutes was REMY ZERO!
In hindsight, that unfortunately probably set the tone for me. Watch out, show runners: every episode is someone’s first!
My fav moments:
5. Lex admitting to Chloe in “Truth” that all he wants is his father to love him.
4. Clark flies for the first time in Season 4 premiere.
3. The prophecy is foretold on the wall of the Kawachi caves.
2. TIE- Lex is split in two by Black Kryptonite. AND Lionel and Martha are saved from a falling elevator by Clark revealing Clark to Lionel.
1. The funeral of Jonathan Kent. So beautifully sad.
Chloe in Truth when she forces Mrs Taylor to tell her what she was doing last night instead of getting some quiz ready. Chloe’s silent shocked reaction is fantastic! It was like watching that skit with Andy Dick as Bush’s speechwriter. The silence goes on forever and ever, or at least it felt like it.
Also, same episode:
Chloe: Did you order Morgan Edge to kill your parents?
Lionel: Of course I did for their life insurance. I needed that money to start my company. Oh… I’m sorry you asked methat question, miss sullivan. That’s very dangerous information for you to have.
Why did you ask me that?
It’s almost like he’s asking her why did you make me have to kill you now.
When Lionel body-jumps Clark–actually, I could probably pick 3 of my top 5 moments of the series from that episode alone–when he’s holding the tractor overhead, marvelling, “Of course! It all makes sense now.” When he talks to Chloe and completely fucks with her head, leans in to kiss her, and says, “Don’t you wish.” And the climax to the episode with the Jimmy Eat World song “Pain” playing during the prison riot when Clark switches back with Lionel…that gives me goosebumps just thinking of it.
But other than those…the final scene in Talisman (S3) when Lex talks to Clark about how he reads the myth and thinks that the hero is Sageeth was a great character moment for both of them.
The season finale of that year…well, is it even fair to call like the entire last 10 minutes or so a “moment?”
I agree with Superyan about “I am the villain of the story.”
But as has been said above, this show had so many amazing moments it would be hard to nail down a few. I love the CW (/WB) for giving us 10 whole years of Smallville.