Years before the obsession with superhero-based TV shows and movies had reached its peak, there was Smallville. The show might not have satisfied everyone, but it was clearly lightyears ahead of its time. The success of this superhero origin story laid the foundation for later shows such as Arrow, Supergirl, and many others.
How accurate was Smallville in the end? The show was mostly spot-on, although it did take some "creative liberties" here and there. What about the titular character? Let's grade Smallville's portrayal of the Man of Steel - Superman.
10 Got It Wrong: Superman's Father
Like a lot of plot devices in Smallville, Jor-El became a little repetitive over the course of the series. He was constantly reminding Clark that he wasn't good enough, that he wasn't ready yet, or that he still had much to learn. The epitome of a nagging parent.
In addition, Jor-El had some pretty incredible powers in the Smallville universe. When you look at everything this guy was capable of (including the manipulation of time itself), it seems like he was way too powerful, even for a Kryptonian.
9 Got It Wrong: Clark Kent Became Superman Much Sooner In The Comics
Another sticking point for Smallville was the fact that Clark Kent seemed to be trapped in a perpetual state of adolescence. The whole series is leading up to that moment when he finally puts on the Superman outfit, and it doesn't happen until the last episode.
In some Superman comics, Clark actually becomes Superman before he even leaves Smallville. In the series, Clark Kent doesn't even don the famous red and blue outfit when he first moves to Metropolis.
8 Got It Wrong: Clark Kent's Adoptive Parents
This one is pretty obvious: Jonathan and Martha Kent are actually much older in the comics. They're middle-aged when they find Kal-El inside a meteor crater, so by the time he reaches high school they should be in their twilight years.
In the series, they're extremely young in comparison. While this doesn't really take away from the story in any meaningful way, it's definitely inaccurate if you're comparing the comic and the series side by side.
7 Got It Wrong: Too Much Krypton
In Smallville, it seemed like kryptonite was all over the place. And not just any kryptonite, either - there was red kryptonite, blue kryptonite, silver kryptonite... You name it. The Earth was constantly being pelted with the stuff, and it always seemed to land near Smallville, usually giving someone powers in the process.
Kryptonite is supposed to be extremely rare. In the comics, it's very difficult to get your hands on. In addition, there was never that many kryptonite-containing asteroids hitting the Earth in the comics.
6 Got It Wrong: Red Kryptonite Clark
In the comics, Superman really does go through various personality changes, and red kryptonite is often to blame. In the comics, red kryptonite sometimes causes bizarre behavior and transformations. In Smallville, Clark Kent becomes something of a "bad boy" when he's exposed to the red mineral.
The personality shift is perfectly justifiable in the established canon. The acting, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. Tom Welling is a fine actor, but he's obviously not cut out to play this type of character. This is why Smallville didn't quite get it right with this one.
5 Got It Right: His Relationship With Lex Luthor
Clark Kent's relationship with Lex Luthor was one of the best parts of the entire series. It had tons of drama and plenty of ups and downs to keep us guessing all the way through. Much of that had to do with the wonderful acting of Michael Rosenbaum, with perhaps the best portrayal of Lex Luthor ever.
Clark and Lex's relationship in the comics is a little vague, and there have been some retcons over the years. That being said, Smallville perfectly captures the rivalry and the complex dynamic behind these two diametrically-opposed characters.
4 Got It Right: Learning To Accept His Powers
The premise of Smallville was actually quite clever. It subtly compared Clark Kent's journey to the process of growing up that we all must go through. Clark Kent's struggle to accept his powers is a reflection of what everyone goes through during adolescence.
Some of the best moments in the series happened early on, when Clark was coming to terms with his powers and the responsibilities that came with them. This is probably why the first few seasons were so gripping, especially compared to the midway point of the series.
3 Got It Right: Clark's Family Making Him Into A Good Man
Everyone knows that many Kryptonians aren't exactly good people. Some are downright evil, and even people like Jor-El show their dark sides now and again.
What Smallville did right was show that the reason Superman eventually became a good person was because of his human parents. They were the ones who taught him how to do the right thing, and they're responsible for making him a hero rather than a villain.
2 Got It Right: Tom Welling Looked The Part
Casting definitely got it right when they chose Tom Welling. He probably looks more like Superman than most actors who have taken the role, and he had the right mannerisms as well.
Whenever a superhero movie or TV show is launched, there's almost inevitably a loud group of fans telling everyone the studio got the casting all wrong. Well, everyone was silent when Tom Welling booked the role because it was clear he looked the part.
1 Got It Right: Clark's Relationship With Lois Lane
While Clark's relationship with Lana might have been lacking, his connection with Lois Lane felt much more satisfying. And of course, that makes sense given the fact that Lois Lane is Clark's main romance in the comics.
This relationship probably felt so "right" because of the incredible performance by Erica Durance. She totally nailed the character, and she might have provided one of the best on-screen portrayals of Lois Lane ever.