When you think of Superman, you typically think of the big blue boy scout who stands for truth, justice, and a better tomorrow. He’s a symbol of hope whom everyone looks up to. The origin story of Superman is iconic and well-known to many people worldwide. Although this has been seen in movies and shows countless times, Clark Kent’s journey from learning he has powers to becoming a superhero has been skipped over or rushed through. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar‘s Smallville was created to explore Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) life as a teenager up to him embracing his superhero role as Superman.
It was fun to see a young Superman balance his teenage life, his biological and adoptive family, and his path to being a hero. Due to its episodic nature, Smallville didn’t waste any time rushing through Clark’s road to being the Man of Steel, or the trials and tribulations to even consider being a very public superhero. The first four seasons alone were just following Clark’s time in high school before moving to Metropolis. In those early seasons, the series also took the time to establish the different ways Clark discovers his superpowers, like super strength and super speed. But the way Smallville introduced heat vision was very strange, and unlike anything you’d imagine from the big blue boy scout.
Superman’s Heat Vision Manifested Because of a Sexual Attraction
In Smallville Season 2, Episode 2, “Heat”, the town is experiencing a massive heat wave. While Clark is in class watching a sex education film, he keeps looking back at his new, young, and attractive biology teacher, Desiree Atkins (Krista Allen). The camera zooms in on her inappropriately to show where Clark is specifically looking, which is very uncomfortable, especially considering he’s a high school student. Without realizing it, his eyes light up and begin to emit heat and burn the projector screen. Although it’s not blatantly stated, it’s heavily implied what Clark’s heat vision is a representation of.
Clark’s powers manifesting while he’s going through puberty is a smart choice, but having his heat vision be caused by sexual attraction was a little too much. In Smallville, Jonathan (Jonn Schneider) and Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole) mention that they realized Clark had super strength when he threw tantrums as a child and would break things. Clark’s super hearing was activated when he was temporarily blinded, while his super breath came about when he had a cold. These methods of showcasing the first instance of Clark’s abilities are a lot better than how he got heat vision. Even though he’s learned how to control it, the sexual aspect will linger in some viewers’ minds when seeing Clark use heat vision.
‘Smallville’ Season 2, Episode 2 Has a Problematic Storyline
When Clark accidentally burns the projector in his biology class during “Heat”, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) comes by quickly to check in. Clark thinks it’s for him because he and Lex are close friends, but Lex is actually concerned for his fiancée, who happens to be Desiree. Since this is her first appearance, the audience and Clark are shocked to learn that Lex is engaged, and even more startled when Lex says he’s getting married the next day. If this seems out of character, it is because it’s revealed that Desiree has the power to control people using pheromones when she’s close to them. She marries Lex for his money, but the only way for her to keep it for herself is to kill him.
This is where Smallville Season 2, Episode 2 becomes even more concerning. Desiree visits Clark at home and tries to seduce him so he can kill Lex for her. While we’ve seen students be attracted to their teachers many times in movies and shows, it becomes concerning when that attraction is reciprocated by the adult in the situation. While it seems that Clark is ready to give in, he pulls back at the last moment, but the fact that the teenage student was the one to stop it is very problematic. Although Smallville was a show from two decades ago, it’s frustrating that a storyline like this made it onto a network television show directed at a teen audience.
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‘Smallville’ Still Soars High for Superman Stories
As problematic as some episodes of Smallville are, it doesn’t hold the series back from being one of the best entries in the Superman mythos. Each season sees Clark take a step closer to being Superman, so watching Clark Kent grow up into the man and hero fans know and love after 10 seasons is satisfyingly heartwarming. Although audiences never got to actually see Clark’s adventures officially as Superman, an animated series sequel was being worked on by Welling and Rosenbaum. There is a comic series titled Smallville Season 11 that takes place six months after the series finale and sees Superman interact with notable DC heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman.
Even though Smallville Season 2, Episode 2 doesn’t age well, there are still so many episodes that overshadow this misstep. This series changed the landscape of live-action superhero shows. If it wasn’t for the success of Smallville, the entire Arrowverse wouldn’t exist. How fitting that Superman led the charge for the rest of the DC adaptations on TV. Soon enough, James Gunn‘s Superman will carry that torch as the first official DCU film under DC Studios. The Man of Steel really is bringing that hope for a better tomorrow.
Episodes of Smallville are available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
Smallville
- Release Date
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2001 – 2011
- Network
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The WB, The CW
- Directors
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Mike Rohl, Jeannot Szwarc, Glen Winter, Terrence O’Hara, Whitney Ransick, Mairzee Almas, Paul Shapiro, Rick Rosenthal, David Carson, James L. Conway, Chris Long, Michael Katleman, Morgan Beggs, Allison Mack, David Barrett, Marita Grabiak, Michael W. Watkins, Philip Sgriccia, Rick Wallace, Thomas J. Wright, Todd Slavkin, Brad Turner, Charles Beeson, Craig Zisk
