Airing from 2001-2010, the young adult superhero drama Smallville approached the classic Superman tale from a whole new angle. The coming-of-age story focuses on the teenage years of Clark Kent (Tom Welling), concerning itself more with Clark than his larger-than-life alter ego. It’s a refreshing and innovative take that requires tweaking many of DC’s classic characters to make them fit the show’s tone.

Smallville‘s reimaginings yield some of the most interesting adaptations of the characters in the Superman mythos; unfortunately, sometimes they miss the mark altogether. Not every hero or villain can be successfully scaled to fit the show’s purposes, and as a result, the show is filled with wasted potential. Sometimes, this is because Smallville misses the heart of what makes these characters work, and some characters are doomed from the start.

10

Amanda Waller Could’ve Complicated Clark’s Life

Her Tenure Was Too Short

The architect of the Suicide Squad, Amanda Waller, is one of the most complex anti-heroes in DC Comics. A woman who firmly believes the ends justify the means, Waller is a human bureaucrat who can strike fear into the heart of the most heinous metahuman. Pam Grier portrays the infamous Waller in Season 9 of Smallville. In the show, Amanda runs the metahuman-hunting government agency Checkmate and is set on identifying Clark. She eventually lures him out by kidnapping his friend Chloe (Allison Mack), but her success is short-lived as she’s quickly dispatched by the villainous Zod (Callum Blue).

Waller’s at her most compelling when she is the devil working alongside DC’s heroes, but in Smallville, she only ever gets to be an antagonist. There is loads of potential in pairing the forthright and valiant Clark Kent with the ruthless and calculating Amanda Waller. Had the series kept her around for longer, she could’ve become an unsteady ally for Clark, testing him to live up to his moral code when he was at an age when he was still trying to carve out an identity.

9

Blue Beetle Doesn’t Work While Clark’s Still Young

The Character Is Meant to Represent A Passing of the Torch

Blue Beetle, Jamie Reyes (Jaren Brandt Bartlett), appears in only one episode of Smallville‘s final season. The story sees Reyes first encounter the alien-powered blue scarab and struggles to control his new superpowers. In DC Comics, Reyes has become the face of a new generation of superheroes. He’s a lovable and spirited underdog who often tests the Golden Age heroes to change their way of thinking.

While Reyes is an incredibly intriguing character in the comics, he simply doesn’t fit the world of Smallville. Much of his appeal comes from contrasting him against the older, more established heroes. But the entire point of this series is that Clark isn’t a hero yet. This simply isn’t the right venue for a character like Reyes. Luckily, DC has managed to find a way to make the character sing in the wildly underappreciated Blue Beetle film.

8

Aquaman Starts Strong, But Never Finds a Place

Arthur Could’ve Been One of Clark’s Oldest Allies

When Alan Ritchson made his Smallville debut as Arthur Curry, he was still a largely unknown actor. The series introduces Curry as a rival to Clark, but the two quickly work through their differences to thwart one of Lex Luthor’s (Michael Rosenbaum) evil plans. While Clark and Arthur part ways, Aquaman recurs throughout the series, often associated with the Justice League of America.

Aquaman is frequently a punchline in pop culture because it’s hard to really understand the enormity of his powers outside of Atlantis. Smallville proves to be no exception to that. The series does a fantastic job of establishing the hero, but after that, he is simply a background character when he does appear. Given Ritchson’s talents and the engaging dynamic that is established between Arthur and Clark, the show had the foundation to create one of the all-time best incarnations of the renowned hero, but they let him swim away.

7

Jor-El Is a Confusing Father Figure

The Show Takes Liberties With His Character

One of Smallville‘s largest departures from the comics comes in the form of Clark’s biological father, Jor-El, played by both Terrence Stamp and Julian Sands. In DC Comics, Jor-El is often portrayed as a noble and tragic figure. He’s a scientist who tried in vain to save his world and used his dying moments to save his son’s life. Smallville has a significantly more villainous interpretation of the Kryptonian. Jor-El interacts with his son mainly as an A.I. that is contained in his escape pod. He is often cold and lacks compassion for humanity.

In theory, Jor-El copies his brain into the A.I. to act as a guide and mentor to Clark, but more often than not, Clark finds himself rebelling against the advice he’s given. Smallville uses Jor-El as a point of contrast to Jonathan Kent (John Schneider), who helps Clark foster his empathy. It’s an ignoble use for a character that has such potential.

6

Jimmy Olsen Feels Out of Place

He’s Crammed Into Clark’s Social Circle

Jimmy Olsen is an integral part of Superman’s story. In the world of DC Comics, Jimmy is a photographer at the Daily Planet, working alongside Clark and Lois, who serves as an avatar for the audience. A bit bumbling but charming, Jimmy is a huge fan of Superman and a trusted friend to Clark. In Smallville, Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore) is more closely tied to Chloe, serving as her husband and eventually her ex. Jimmy is perpetually suspicious of Clark and regularly questions his character.

Smallville‘s Jimmy nails many of the character’s key personality traits but fails to understand his narrative purpose. In the comics, Jimmy is meant to keep Clark tether to humanity. The problem is that by Season 4 of the show, Clark already has a sidekick in Chloe. His presence feels redundant, and the show likely realizes this as it kills off Jimmy in brutal fashion. Smallville’s series finale reveals that Jimmy has a twin brother who paradoxically also goes by Jimmy and will one day work with Lois and Clark, throwing into question which brother was meant to be the famous DC character in the first place.

5

Supergirl Is an Unwelcome Addition

Kara Is a Constant Source of Conflict

Clark’s cousin Kara Kent (Laura Vandervoot) comes to Smallville late in the series. When the heroine is introduced in Season 7, she quickly earns the ire of fans. Kara monopolizes screen time and lacks serious chemistry with the other characters. Her presence upsets pre-established dynamics, falling into a dread love triangle with Chloe and Jimmy. Generally, she becomes a burden to Clark more than an asset.

As the Berlantiverse show Supergirl proves, Kara can be an absolutely amazing hero. She’s a beloved comic character who can be as inspiring and iconic as her cousin. However, in order to pull off that task, Kara needs to be at the center of her own narrative. Audiences rarely want to watch a character who appears late into a show’s run push the characters they care about to the side, and that’s just what Kara does.

4

Mr. Mxyzptlk Is a Shadow of His Comic Counterpart

He Was Changed Too Severely to Fit Into Smallville

In DC Comics, Mr. Mxyzptlk is one of Superman’s most bizarre and beloved villains. An impish trickster from another universe, Mxyzptlk uses his nearly endless power to irritate the earnest Man of Steel. Mikhail Mxyzptlk (Trent Ford) Smallville’s version of this character is a significant downgrade. Mikhail amounts to little more than the villain of the week, using his mind control power primarily to rig high school athletics games.

It’s possible that Mr. Mxyzptlk was too strange and big-time an antagonist to ever truly mesh with Smallville‘s ethos. Still, this interpretation of him removes everything fans love about the character. He’s dour and lacks any of his comic book counterpart’s whimsy. He employs his powers in deeply unimaginative ways. And to top it all off, he mind controls Chloe into kissing him, adding a completely unnecessary ick factor to the character.

3

Zod Never Gets to Flex His Full Might

His Schemes Are Convoluted

In DC Comics, Zod is one of Superman’s most formidable foes. A tyrannical Kryptonian general, Zod matches all of Clark’s powers but doesn’t have to abide by the moral code to which Clark holds himself. This creates a scenario where Clark can’t rely on his abilities and must instead use his wits. Smallville interprets the famed comic book villain very differently. Zod enters the series by possessing Lex Luthor, significantly hampering his capabilities. In later seasons, a younger clone of Zod enters the fray, but this version’s powers are significantly watered down.

The primary appeal of Zod as an antagonist is the fact he can match Clark punch for punch. In coming up with ways to avoid that reality, Smallville robs its audience of a potentially stellar storyline. Had a young and inexperienced Clark been confronted with a villain who was quantifiably stronger than him, it would have been a compelling challenge for Kent to conquer.

2

Booster Gold Arrives Late

The Show Barely Scratched His Potential

Booster Gold is one of DC’s most unique heroes. The endlessly charismatic showboat, Michael Jon Carter, travels to the present from the distant future in an effort to attain glory and fortune. His good deeds are initially theatrical and calculated, but somehow, in the process of pretending to be a hero, Carter actually becomes one. Smallville‘s audiences are introduced to the unusual hero in the show’s final season when Eric Martsolf joins the series. Booster tries to force Clark into the spotlight, to disasterous results.

When it comes to Booster Gold, Smallville‘s biggest sin is timing. Flashy, fame-hungry Booster is the perfect foil for contrite and honorable Clark, especially while he’s on the cusp of finally claiming his superhero identity. So it’s a shame that there are only three episodes left in the show when the character is introduced. The odd couple had a ton of potential to make dynamic television.

1

Doomsday Is a Massive Disappointment

The Series Shied Away From What Makes Him Important

Doomsday is a name that looms large in DC Comics. The prehistoric Kryptonian beast is infamous for killing Superman. While it’s not a surprise that Smallville stopped short of offing their lead, their adaptation of the classic villain underwhelms in more ways than one. In the series, Doomsday was the alter ego of Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer), a generally nice guy whose anger transforms him into the Kryptonian beast. Bloome spent most of Season 8 battling his temper, letting Doomsday out in brief fits. When the villain is unleashed in his pure form, Clark readily buries him alive.

Smallville‘s Doomsday story had a frustratingly small amount of Doomsday in it. In fairness, the character isn’t a particularly complex one. His plans normally amount to little more than landing on a planet and destroying everything in his path. But the simplicity in those stories is crucial. Doomsday is a violent and amoral killing machine, but a strong one. His presence should come with a sense of great urgency, and any battle with him needs to be intense. Smallville spends so long teasing his emergence that it’s audience, and then his rampage is resolved too easily. In the end, the show needed far less Davis and far more Doomsday.