Erica Durance

The series that redefines the origins of the world's greatest hero reaches its powerful conclusion with more revelations, more fascinating characters from DC Comics lore and a mind-blowing, spirit-lifting finale that is everything fans could want. In this 22-Episode Season 10, super heroes emerge from the shadows, only to be driven underground by a public that labels them vigilantes. At the same time, otherworld forces of darkness gather, presenting Clark Kent with the greatest challenge of his young life.

Smallville continued its post-Millar/Gough resurgence with an excellent ninth season in which Clark (Tom Welling) dons a new black costume but remains too fast for the public eye, now dubbed "the Blur" (instead of "the Red-Blue Blur"). His new nemesis is fellow Kryptonian Major Zod (Callum Blue), and the persistent theme of the season is the vision of a nightmarish post-apocalyptic world ruled by Zod and his army of soldiers.

Who would have predicted that the departure of series creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough would have given Smallville a surge of super-strength in its eighth season? Give a good part of the credit to saying out with the old--series veterans Michael Rosenbaum (Lex) and Kristin Kreuk (Lana), whose dreary romantic coupling dragged down previous seasons--and in with the new.

Super-sexy and super-flirty, Clark's super-cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoot) made the splashiest addition to the cast in Smallville's season 7. Unfortunately for Clark (Tom Welling), she's more advanced in her powers than he is (she can fly), and she's not the kind to shy away from drawing attention to herself, whether it's in a skimpy bikini or garnering notice from Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) and Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore, joining the opening credits).

Season Six revolves around Clark's discovery of who he is through two major storylines: 1) the tormented relationship between he and Lana Lang, as well as Lana's potentially strong affections for Lex, and 2) Lex Luthor's rapid loss of morality and Clark's realization that he alone can stop him. There is a third major storyline as well, dealing with a number of alien ghosts which escape from the Phantom Zone in the season premiere; Clark must round them up before they wreak too much havoc. There are a number of subplots too.

Consistently solid with some major developments, the fifth season of Smallville kicks the characters off to college, but not before finishing the cataclysmic disaster that ended the fourth season. With Chloe transported to the Arctic Circle and Kryptonian supervillains in town, Clark (Tom Welling) is in the Fortress of Solitude meeting Jor-El (voiced by Terence Stamp). He gives up his powers, but to get them back will cost him the life of someone he loves.

Clark Kent will have plenty of reasons to remember his senior year! The thrilling reinterpretation of the Superman legend evolves in Season 4, whose 22 episodes include the questifor 3 Kryptonian crystals and Clarkís bold attempt to keep those mysterious stones from destroying Earth. Clark also becomesia highly recruited football star. Lana embarks on a new romance and Lois Lane - smart, opinionated and entirely annoying to Clark - comes to Smallville, Chloe learns the scoop of the century.