The first season of Smallville worked because of its unique concept: Clark Kent in high school. Sure, it got a little bogged down in meteor freak-of-the-week episodes, but that was the nature of the beast in early-2000s network TV shows. This second season, however, couldn't just get by with the "high school Superman" novelty. To their credit, show-runners Al Gough & Miles Millar certainly grow the plots into the larger Superman mythology. But there are as many "misses" as "hits" along the way.
In terms of the season hallmarks, you have things like...
-Pete (Sam Jones III) finding out Clark's (Tom Welling) secret and the burden that places on him.
-Clark developing his heat vision (a great episode/concept) and later being introduced to red kryptonite (actually better in its second appearance of the season), which makes him wildy aggressive and allows Welling to play against type.
-The spectacular casting "get" of Christopher Reeve--a truly jaw-dropping moment/homage.
-More information on Clark's Kryptonian heritage, including the late-season introduction of biological father Jor-El (voice of Terrance Stamp).
-Lionel Luthor (John Glover) taking on a more prominent--and of course villainous--role.
Yet, there are just as many plot/character threads that fall flat...
-The drama between Lana (Kristin Kreuk) and Chloe (Allison Mack) goes from sappy to downright pathetic. It is tough to invest in either character when they are written as so unlikeable in their quest for Clark's affection.
-Lex's (Michael Rosenbaum) new relationship with Dr. Helen Bryce (Emmanuelle Vaugier). A wonderful arc for Lex--but both rushed and underserved.
-Lex and Clark continuing to simply circle around each other in the pattern of "Clark questions his integrity--Lex shows some humanity--but ultimately Lex is still hiding something". The two actors have wonderful chemistry, but at a certain point this needs to end, or otherwise why would these two even still be friends?
-Martha Kent (Annette O'Toole) is given more material than ever in S2--but none of it leads anywhere. Her working for Lionel is intriguing--until it is dropped unceremoniously. Her pregnancy arc? Only used to set up the finale's endgame.
-There are also 5-6 "standard" (more subject-of-the-week, less mythos) episodes I ranked 4/10 stars or lower. Also, the Kawatchi Caves episodes are better in theory than in practice. A lot of "destiny" talk but little sense made of how/why it is there in the first place (perhaps more comes of this in later campaigns).
Basically, my overall assessment of Smallville Season Two is this: it takes some big swings in trying to ascend from a simple "Superman's Creek" trope. Some of those hacks pay off in a big way--others whiff badly. As such, I ultimately give S2 the same 7/10 rating I did S1.
In terms of the season hallmarks, you have things like...
-Pete (Sam Jones III) finding out Clark's (Tom Welling) secret and the burden that places on him.
-Clark developing his heat vision (a great episode/concept) and later being introduced to red kryptonite (actually better in its second appearance of the season), which makes him wildy aggressive and allows Welling to play against type.
-The spectacular casting "get" of Christopher Reeve--a truly jaw-dropping moment/homage.
-More information on Clark's Kryptonian heritage, including the late-season introduction of biological father Jor-El (voice of Terrance Stamp).
-Lionel Luthor (John Glover) taking on a more prominent--and of course villainous--role.
Yet, there are just as many plot/character threads that fall flat...
-The drama between Lana (Kristin Kreuk) and Chloe (Allison Mack) goes from sappy to downright pathetic. It is tough to invest in either character when they are written as so unlikeable in their quest for Clark's affection.
-Lex's (Michael Rosenbaum) new relationship with Dr. Helen Bryce (Emmanuelle Vaugier). A wonderful arc for Lex--but both rushed and underserved.
-Lex and Clark continuing to simply circle around each other in the pattern of "Clark questions his integrity--Lex shows some humanity--but ultimately Lex is still hiding something". The two actors have wonderful chemistry, but at a certain point this needs to end, or otherwise why would these two even still be friends?
-Martha Kent (Annette O'Toole) is given more material than ever in S2--but none of it leads anywhere. Her working for Lionel is intriguing--until it is dropped unceremoniously. Her pregnancy arc? Only used to set up the finale's endgame.
-There are also 5-6 "standard" (more subject-of-the-week, less mythos) episodes I ranked 4/10 stars or lower. Also, the Kawatchi Caves episodes are better in theory than in practice. A lot of "destiny" talk but little sense made of how/why it is there in the first place (perhaps more comes of this in later campaigns).
Basically, my overall assessment of Smallville Season Two is this: it takes some big swings in trying to ascend from a simple "Superman's Creek" trope. Some of those hacks pay off in a big way--others whiff badly. As such, I ultimately give S2 the same 7/10 rating I did S1.