{
  "id": 14975923,
  "title": "25 Years Later, DC's Most Innovative Sci-Fi Show Changed Superheroes Forever",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/25-years-later-dcs-most-innovative-sci-fi-show-changed-superheroes",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-16T14:01:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Polygon",
    "slug": "polygon",
    "url": "https://www.polygon.com/smallville-25th-anniversary-superman/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2001, the television series Smallville premiered on The WB, altering the landscape of sci-fi superhero shows for years to come. Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the show took an innovative approach by introducing Superman (Tom Welling) without the ability to fly. Instead of rushing into the cape and tights, the creators focused on Clark Kent, a teenager grappling with ordinary challenges such as homework, friendships, and a secret identity. Though budget constraints limited special effects, the show cleverly compensated through impressive visuals and a willingness to embrace the premise.\n\nThe series' opening credits, complete with the memorable chant \"Somebody saaaaavveee me!\", remain iconic to this day. After 10 seasons, all episodes are now available for streaming on Hulu. While the series eventually lost some of its appeal, its core concept—Clark Kent being a hero before becoming Superman—still holds strong. By making Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and Clark Kent friends before they became rivals, Smallville created an emotional backbone that resonated with audiences.\n\nRosenbaum's Lex is portrayed as a complex character, vulnerable and desperate to escape his father Lionel's (John Glover) influence. Clark Kent, on the other hand, is shaped by his parents, Jonathan (John Schneider) and Martha Kent (Annette O'Toole), who emphasize the importance of using one's abilities for good. This contrast between the Kents' and Luthor's households lays the foundation for the two young men's divergent paths.\n\nSeason 3's \"Memoria\" delves into Lex's traumatic childhood, highlighting that his future isn't set in stone. Clark Kent also has his flaws, as he often lies to Lex, deepening the bond between the two. The show's success isn't solely attributed to its supernatural villains or the recurring cast of guest stars, such as Amy Adams, Lizzy Caplan, Paul Wesley, Jensen Ackles, and Alan Ritchson, who all appeared before their breakout roles in other series. The show's dedication to Superman's history is evident in its casting choices, including Christopher Reeve as Dr. Virgil Swann, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Terence Stamp as Jor-El, Helen Slater as Clark's Kryptonian mother, Lara, and even Annette O'Toole reprising her role as Lana Lang.\n\nDespite some uneven episodes and a slow pace in revealing Clark Kent's destiny, Smallville's ambition grew with each season. The introduction of other DC heroes like Green Arrow and Aquaman expanded the show's mythology and demonstrated that audiences were willing to follow a superhero's development over time. Although Smallville ended in 2011, its legacy as a model for sustained superhero storytelling on television remains evident in the success of later series like Arrow and the Arrowverse. Ultimately, Smallville's lasting impact lies in its understanding that Superman's greatest strength lies in the humanity he cultivated through his experiences, relationships, and choices—lessons that still resonate today.",
  "summary": "Smallville turns 25. Its focus on Clark Kent, friendship with Lex Luthor, and “no tights, no flights” rule helped change superhero TV.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}