I’ve never really been a movie or TV girl. I know, I know—it sounds kind of pick me, but it’s just the truth. I’ve always preferred books.

Movies usually put me to sleep.

Embarrassingly enough, I have fallen asleep on a first date. (Good thing I knew the guy.) And usually, I am the first friend to pass out on movie night.

But in May… something changed.

Three weeks ago, I stumbled across Smallville, a 20-year-old superhero drama from CW—and I haven’t been the same since.

I clicked play out of curiosity, and now I’m knee-deep in Kansas cornfields, meteor freaks, the DC universe, and a young Tom Welling’s eyes. I’m talking full-blown obsession. Clark Kent has me in a chokehold.

Now, something you should know about me— when I get into a fandom. I. Get. Into. The. Fandom.

I have now purchased:

-2 Superman comics (a blog post on that later…)

-4 Smallville season 11 comics ( they continued the show in comic form.. IT EATS)

-1 Superman phone case

…And have watched all the Christopher Reeve Superman films.

… I may have also called in to the Talkville podcast hosted by TOM WELLING and MICHEL ROSENBAUM (I love re-watch podcasts!)

And to make my obsession that much worse… The brand-new Superman movie comes out on July 11th!

My whole for you page is just edits of a young Tom Welling and David Corenswet. (I’m not mad about it.)

But I digress, Smallville started this OBSESSION.

And I only feel like it’s fair to give you my analysis of this show and why I’m so hooked.

ANALYSIS

I had no idea how big this show was when it first aired. I wasn’t born then. (lol) But apparently, it was the show in the early 2000s—people say it gives off One Tree Hill or Dawson’s Creek vibes. I’ve never seen either of those, but if you have and liked them, I think Smallville might be your next rabbit hole.

At its core, Smallville is a coming-of-age superhero story. You follow a teenage Clark Kent (played by Tom Welling) as he tries to understand his powers, carry the weight of secrets, and tries—tries—to live a normal life. And he really messes up.

(But that’s kind of what I love about the character of Clark Kent—he’s not perfect, but he keeps showing up. He forgives easily. He stays soft. He believes in the people he loves. And I think that’s a rare kind of strength.)

As the seasons go on, you don’t just get Clark’s origin story—you get glimpses of other iconic DC heroes too. Green Arrow, The Flash, Aquaman—they all make appearances, and their arcs are surprisingly well-developed. You see how the Justice League slowly starts to form long before the capes and costumes.

And don’t worry—there’s plenty of romance. Like, so much romantic drama. Love triangles, old flames, best friends-turned-more (or less). It’s messy in the best early-2000s way.

WHY I LOVE IT

I touched on this earlier, but what really pulls me into Smallville is the character of Clark Kent.

Growing up, I always saw Superman as kind of self-righteous—a bit of a square, if I’m honest. But this show gives Clark depth. He’s not some perfect hero swooping in with a moral lecture. He’s just a kid trying to figure out who he is.

What makes Smallville so compelling is how reluctant Clark is to step into the Superman role.

He doesn’t want to be a symbol or save the world—he just wants to play football, help on the farm, and hang out with his friends. But even while he pushes back against this idea of “destiny,” he still can’t help but do the right thing. His moral compass is almost involuntary.

He will save people. He won’t kill. Watching him wrestle with that—knowing who he is but not wanting it yet—is fascinating.

Another thing I love?

The relationship between Clark and his parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent (played by John Schneider and Annette O’Toole) .

It’s genuinely comforting. We don’t get to see a lot of healthy, grounded parent–teen relationships in media anymore, especially not ones this emotionally layered.

The Kents aren’t perfect, but they lead with love, accountability, and trust. They give Clark room to make his own choices while quietly shaping his values. You really believe they’re his parents. It makes all the difference in the show’s tone.

Also—fun fact—Annette O’Toole, who plays Martha, actually was Lana Lang in the old Christopher Reeve Superman movies.

There’s also something incredibly nostalgic about the show’s structure.

It’s from that era of TV where there were 22 episodes a season, and yeah, some of them are kind of dumb filler episodes—but that’s part of the charm. It’s not one of those 10-episode, ultra-intense, every-scene-must-matter shows. It breathes. It meanders. And that actually makes it relaxing to watch. It lets the characters grow slowly and messily, which feels more real.

So yeah, Smallville surprised me.

If you’re someone who usually skips over TV shows or has trouble sitting still long enough to get through one... maybe give Smallville a shot. It might sneak up on you, too.

Thanks for reading. And if you’ve felt the same way—or just want to nerd out about Chloe, Clark, or how peak 2000s the soundtrack is—shoot me an email at alivia@aliviahadfield.com. Let’s be pen pals.

Until next time,