The Top 10 "Smallville" Episodes...EVER

Sorry for the delay in this blog, Blogspot has been down for maintenance for the past three days. 

WARNING!! If you haven't watched "Smallville" in a while there are some major SPOILERS.

In honor of the "Smallville" SERIES FINALE on May 13th, that's right, "Smallville" is actually still on the air, I'm making a list of my top 10 favorite episodes. Over 10 seasons, the series has had some incredible highs and some nauseating lows (cough...the whole Lana marrying Lex arc..cough). Even in lackluster seasons, there was always an episode or two that captured the magic of when it was the WB's star attraction.

Here's my Top 10 episodes: 

Clark Kent and Ryan James

Honorable Mentions: Stray (1x16)  and Ryan (2x08) - I won't go into much detail about "Stray" and "Ryan," but they both involve the character of Ryan James, a young metahuman who is telepathic and is actually the first person outside the Kent family to find out about Clark's secret. They were two genuinely good episodes and I wish Ryan could've been in more episodes! 

10. Run (4x05) - Meet Smallville's version of the Flash!

This episode introduced Bart Allen, Wally West, and Barry Allen to the Smallville universe. Okay, not really. Wally and Barry are just fake ids, along with Jay Garrick, that Bart uses. While in the comics, Barry Allen is really the first Flash that Superman meets, that honor goes to Bart, Barry's grandson. This episode was great because it's the first time that we really see Clark humbled by the fact that there is someone out there who can move faster than he can. Also, the race at the end between Clark and Bart was a great reference the races in the comics between Superman and Flash. Rascal Flatt's "Feels Like Today" played over the last sequence and upped the bromance factor. It was perfectly cheesy.

The Fortress of Solitude

9. Arrival (5x01) - The Fortress of Solitude!

The season 5 premiere gave the show a new opening sequence, brought one of the most epic moments inSmallville history: the creation of the Fortress of Solitude and Smallville's version of Brainiac. Clark finally learns that Chloe knows his secret and The special effects are what make this episode, along with the music, and the set design of the Fortress awesome!

8. Shattered (3x08) - Michael Rosenbaum is a freaking beast!

In a nutshell, "Shattered" involves Lex Luthor going insane. It's a mystery the way the story is constructed though. First, it seems like he's being set up by his father, but then as the episode goes on, you begin to think that he actually is going crazy. He's had spectacular performances in "Memoria" (3x19), "Onyx" (4x17), "Lexmas" (5x09) and "Zod" (6x01), just to name a few...I can't get over how PHENOMENAL Michael Rosenbaum's performance is. The ending scene, with "Hurt" by Johnny Cash playing has no lines, but the pure emotion makes it one of the best scenes and episodes of Smallville.

7. Reckoning (5x12) - The 100th episode

"Reckoning" wasn't only special because it was the 100th episode. In my opinion, was, and still is, the most emotional episode in the entire series. After four seasons of heart trouble, Jonathan Kent's heart finally stopped beating. Fans watched in horror as Clark couldn't do anything to help his adoptive father. The funeral scene was one of the most beautiful scenes ever shot in Smallville, Peter Gabriel's "I Grieve" played as the snow fell and residents of Smallville paid their respects to the all-American dad. I felt a little empty when the credits rolled a the end and I'm man enough to admit it, I shed a tear or two for Pa Kent.

6. Tie: Justice (6x11), Legion (8x11), Absolute Justice (9x11-9x12) and you know what? I'm gonna addBooster (10x18) in there too! - The Justice League of America, Legion of Super-Heroes and the Justice Society...I couldn't pick just one! "Booster" is just an added bonus because it's my favorite guest hero episode since "Run" and it's also the first episode where "Nerdy Clark" transforms in a phone booth into costume.

Impulse, Green Arrow, Clark, Aquaman and Cyborg in "Justice"

When it comes down to it, Smallville is about Super...well, Super Clark. It's the story of a young superhero and his journey to becoming the greatest superhero in history. That being said, every superhero teams up with other heroes one time or another. "Justice" brought back Impluse, Cyborg, Aquaman, and of course, Green Arrow. "Legion" gave us Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad from the Legion and "Absolute Justice" brought back Martian Manhunter, introduced us to Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Stargirl and the ruthless head of Checkmate, Amanda Waller.

All four (technically 5) of these episodes are worth watching, especially "Justice" and "Absolute Justice."

5. Rosetta (2x17) - Two words: Christopher Reeve!

Reeve portrayed Superman in four films from 1978-1987

"Rosetta" guest-starred the most popular actor to ever portray Superman, Christopher Reeve. Reeve didn't appear until one of the final scenes and was on screen for a total of maybe six minutes, but he made those minutes count! He played Virgin Swann, a billionaire scientist who told Clark about his Kryptonian heritage. Reeve's appearance alone automatically made this a Top 10 episode, but the thing that makes the episode so great is that it is one of the most character driven episodes of the series. All the characters really help to move the story forward, especially Clark, because he is looking into his origins for really the first time. "Rosetta" basically helped set up the rest of the series. Plus, 5 seconds of John Williams' iconic theme from "Superman: the Movie" is played.

Kal-El flying in "Crusade"

4. Crusade (4x01) - Clark Kent, meet Lois Lane.

The season 4 premiere not only brought Lois Lane to the series, but it also broke the first half of the "No flights, no tights" rule the creators of the series put in place since before the show even aired. Not only did they break the rule, they smashed it with amazing special effects! "Crusade" was also the first step in creating the Superman's Fortress of Solitude.

3. Pilot (1x01) - What Top 10 list would be complete without the episode that started it all?  

Welcome to Smallville, Kansas

If someone asked me, “What was so great about the pilot?” All I could say was, "What wasn't?!" It introduced us to Clark Kent, the farm boy with a heart of gold and body of steel. It brought us Lana Lang, the girl next door who stole Clark's heart, and also the heart of most male viewers (before she became so annoying that we started to hate her around mid-season 3). It also brought the cocky, young and lovable Lex Luthor. Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark's all-American parents, who were cast perfectly!! "Pilot" also brought us DC comics characters normally hidden in the shadows and a completely new character as well, Pete Ross, Chloe Sullivan, and the absolutely magnificent Lionel Luthor. However, what stands above all these great characters to me is the story that became the launching point and even today is still the heart of Smallville. It showed Clark's humanity, something we had never really seen on TV or in the movies. He wanted to play high school football and longed for the girl next door (almost to the point of stalking), but it made the almost godlike character of Superman relatable. He had problems and we loved him for it. "Pilot" didn't have the crazy plot twists and drama that Smallville has had in its later seasons, but it paved the way for everything that has kept the show going for 10 seasons.

2. Homecoming (10x04) - The 200th episode!!

Clark Kent, meet...Clark Kent?

"Homecoming" is an episode that you can watch and understand even if you haven't watched Smallville in years.  

It's Clark Kent's 5th year high school reunion! It wouldn't be Smallville though without some sort of craziness though! During the festivities Braniac 5 takes Clark on a tour of his past, present and future. Every final season needs a compilation sequence or episode, but "Homecoming" doesn't really feel forced. Past experiences are there to remind not only Clark, but the audience as well, how far they've come. Plus, a glimpse into a future shows Clark both how mild-mannered and super he'll become. I only had one problem with this episode, Clark left his Smallville High letterman jacket in the future.

1. Finale, Parts 1 and 2 (10x21-10x22) - Come on! Was there any doubt that the series finale would be the best episode of the series? There is no doubt in my mind that Smallville will join the ranks of Lost and Scrubs (Season 8) and of course M*A*S*H as TV shows with near perfect sendoffs.

Many people speculate and have hopes for the series finale: Will Clark fly? Will he and Lois get married? What's going to happen to Chloe? How's Lex going to come back? Will Clark put on the Superman suit? Will he actually be called Superman?

Ever since I found out Michael Rosenbaum was returning as Lex, I started to avoid websites that might even give a tiny spoiler. I'm going to be as surprised and excited as possible for the finale of my favorite TV show!!

Check out the CW's official finale description and much more at KryptonSite: http://www.kryptonsite.com/finaledescription.htm

The "Smallville" Series Finale is Friday, May 13, 2011 from 8-10 pm on the CW.