A Decade of "Smallville" | Top 20 Episodes (11-20)

[sanalayla]

11) Identity (10/30/2008): Season 8 was the season where they really seemed to embrace that this was a Superman show. Not in the sense that Clark is going to be Superman one day, but in the sense that Clark Kent is ALREADY Superman without the cape, tights, and flying. Oh, and the moniker. This was a very iconic episode and featured an awesome Lois Lane and –dare I say it? – the Jimmy Olsen I would have loved to see throughout the series. It was nice to see Oliver have to pay back Clark for the favor Clark did for Ollie all those years ago in “Hydro” (also nice to see that Oliver still remembered that Clark kissed Lois and he STILL wasn’t happy about it). I think any fan of Superman would love this episode and – at the time – I was thrilled beyond belief that we seemed to be in for the best season of SV ever. (I would soon be proven wrong, but hey I can’t tell the future.)

12) Hex (3/26/2009): I loved this episode. For many reasons. A huge reason may be that it made Chloe fans cry. But… other than that… I thought this was an important episode because it showcased the conflicted feelings Clark has towards Lois very well. It also served to give a glimpse into the life of Lois Lane that no other episode had done before. It was clear, when the episode ended, that Clark was not ready to move on with Lois (after what had transpired with Lana) but he couldn’t help but be drawn to Lois, anyway. And, honestly, this would make my list just because of that awesome scene on the roof where Chloe tries to beat Clark up and he’s freaking out.

13) Rabid (10/09/2009): Who would have thought that an episode about ZOMBIES would make the list? But it does. Mainly because this episode features two scenes that I adored. The first, of course, is the rain scene. Just beautifully shot and directed. Secondly, the scene where Clark grabs her arm just as Lois is about to punch him. The way he puts her on notice that they’re no longer friends and he IS going to end up in bed with her at some point? In the immortal words of Monica Gellar: Humana humana humana.

14) Crossfire (10/30/2009): Man, what can be said about this episode that hasn’t already been covered to death? Let’s see… epic first (REAL) kiss? Check. Two superheroes vying for Lois Lane’s affection? Check. Clark and Lois doing their classic banter thing? Check. Clark uttering what is perhaps his most sexy line ever, “If I was… would you say ‘yes’?” (I’ve never understood how Lois didn’t just get up and hand him her panties.) Check. Yes, it’s entirely possible I broke into the writers’ room and swapped out the script with my own. I’m just sayin….

15) Idol (11/13/2009): This took “Identity” and just ran with it to a whole other level. This was the point where they basically told you, right up front: We’re in Superman territory now, baby. He may be wearing black. He may be called the Blur. But right now? You’re watching a Superman show. A show where Lois Lane is the love interest and Clark Kent works at the Daily Planet with her. A show where everyone knows that Lois Lane is favored by the biggest superhero in town. A show where Clark Kent realizes how incredibly special Lois Lane is and – also – a show where Lois Lane is the only one who can tell off Superman. Durance’s comedic timing is pitch perfect in this episode. Every single line that ACS wrote was sheer perfection. The final scene, where Lois kicks the newspapers towards Clark and kisses him, is probably one of my all time favorite Clois scenes in the history of Clois (and I include EVERY version of Clois in that).

16) Hostage (05/07/2010): The angst. Oh, the angst. And… Perry White!! Martha Kent!! The whole Tess part was a waste of time, but everything else? Ohh… so good. The way Lois saves Perry and Clark watches her with a proud look on his face? The way Lois basically says that she needs for her life to mean something? The look on Clark’s face when she tells him to let her go? It was amazing. But, mainly, the reason this episode makes my list is the Perry/Lois dynamic. I could watch a whole series that just revolves around those two.

17) Salvation/Lazarus (05/14/2010 & 09/24/2010): I’m cheating, I know. But… c’mon… you have to admit that this was like 2 parts of one episode. You can’t watch one without the other. Can I even cover how epic these two episodes were? I don’t think I can. I think we should just all go and re-watch it, so we can get the full sense of how awesome it was to see Clark beat Zod… to see the “Death of Superman” shot play out on our screens… and to watch Lois’s face when she realizes Clark Kent = the Blur. And the final scene with Jonathan Kent… Oh and the scene where Lois is strung up on the cross with “S” spray painted on her chest? Good Lord. I never thought I’d see this show.

18) Homecoming (10/15/2010): I think it’s obvious why this is on the list. I mean, you’ve got Brianiac 5 who came from the future just to tell Clark that Lois Lane is awesome. Like, literally, the message of the episode was: “Your period of darkness began back in episode 100 when your saved Lana’s life and it ends when you embrace your love for Lois Lane.” Again, I’m kind of thinking that I broke into the writers’ office and may have left them this script as a present. If not me, then it was Jade. After all, she did write this exact story back in January. At the end… Clark floats! As he dances with Lois and tells her he loves her… in an effort to make up for the horrible moment where he left her on the dance floor in “Bride”. Somebody, pinch me.

19) Isis (10/22/2010): OK, this was a cheesy episode. Quite campy. But I didn’t mind it as much as a lot of people did because it seemed to embrace the camp. And that final scene? It’s probably the BEST reveal of ALL time (in all medium… not just this version of Superman). Lois taking a literal flying leap towards Clark in response to his question is probably the most awesome ending scene we have ever seen on SV. I’m not so sure that anything will ever top that. It’s that ending scene that puts this in my 20. Or it wouldn’t be.

20) Harvest (10/29/2010): This was a horrible episode. So many things were wrong with this episode. But what worked and what was right is what makes this number 20 on my list. The 30% that worked was so damn important to Clark’s story that I had to include it.