TV review by Megan Zickuhr

Trail Staff Writer

As we get ready for finals and for our time off to spend with family, I contribute to our last issue of the semester by writing about America’s favorite superhero—Superman.
Well, more accurately Smallville, on which Tom Welling plays the handsome hero.
Smallville, the show that takes the audience through Clark Kent’s (Welling) teen and early adult years, airs on the CW at 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
It is loved by fans everywhere, mainly because Superman is considered the all-American superhero and people are very interested in how he grew up and the dynamics that made his life what it is in the comics and movies.
Clark’s life is woven with dynamic characters. The infamous, friend turned supervillain, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and his father Lionel (John Glover), the girl that got away, Lana Lang (Kristen Kreuk), the best friend, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and her boyfriend, photographer Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore), Clark’s mother Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole), newly introduced billionaire and superhero ally Oliver McQueen/The Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and finally Superman’s immortal love, Lois Lane (Erica Durance).
Every character has his or her own unique history, making the show what it is. Lex and Clark were best friends before they let Lana come between them. Although all three still care for each other, Lex and Lana are now together and having a baby.
Clark is too good of a guy to let that go to his head though, as he doesn’t even know about the pregnancy. Chloe and Jimmy are together as are Lois and Oliver, and Lionel and Martha, leaving Clark flying solo without any romance in his life currently.
He does, however, have a lot of responsibility on his plate. He isn’t currently trying to save the world, just his little town, but Oliver has instilled ideas in him that will continue to play out and help him become the man we all know and love.
It had never really occurred to Clark that he could do more than just continue to protect Smallville until Oliver encouraged him, saying that if he had his abilities he would do all he could to prevent crime.
Oliver has all man-made powers, including a high-tech bow and arrow set and tracking devices that make him the modern day Robin Hood he is.
This season has brought more from Clark than any season before. His father Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) is now dead, having passed away in the previous season.
He not only has to take on the responsibilities of the man of the house but he has to continue to look after his friends, family and the innocent people of Smallville, Kan.
This season promises more intrigue and twists than any before and may come down to the first of many battles between Lex and Clark, casting the die for both their destinies.