Smallville's Big Jimmy Olsen Twist Was Even Stranger Than the Snyderverse's

Smallville was one of the longest-running superhero/comic book TV shows of all time, with the series being one of the last shows on The WB and the first on The CW. Showcasing the younger years of DC Comics’ Clark Kent, it introduced versions of his closest allies and enemies from when he becomes Superman. It also had several head-scratching plot directions and changes from the source material, one of which may have been even more controversial than a particularly contentious live-action DC adaptation.

Also known as the “Snyderverse,” the DC Extended Universe was envisioned by director Zack Snyder with very different takes in mind for classic DC heroes such as Superman. This extended to his supporting cast, with Superman’s pal Jimmy Olsen getting the short end of the stick. As heavily criticized as his portrayal was, the treatment of the character on Smallville was perhaps even more perplexing.

The Snyderverse Had the Most Controversial Jimmy Olsen

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Jimmy Olsen briefly appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, though most viewers didn’t even realize this. He was seen near the beginning of the movie with Lois Lane, who was interviewing a supposed terrorist in a wartorn African country. Jimmy was there as a photojournalist, though this was actually nothing more than a ruse. In fact, Jimmy was really a CIA agent trying to gather information on the terrorist Amajagh, and his efforts saw him shot in the head. It was a rather ignominious end, especially for such a vital character. Likewise, unless viewers watched the R-rated “Ultimate Edition” of Batman v Superman, there was no concrete evidence that this was even Jimmy.

Killing off an integral Superman ally so quickly was met with widespread scorn from many fans. It particularly exacerbated the criticism that the DC Extended Universe was too dark for characters such as Superman, the likes of whom were still defined by previous adaptations such as the more optimistic Richard Donner Superman movies. The move meant that there would never be scenes of Superman interacting with Jimmy in the DCEU, with the Last Son of Krypton never even sharing a scene with a character that, in the comics, is one of his best friends. Even for fans of the shared universe, this development has been seen as a reprehensible move that serves as one of the lowest points for the DC Extended Universe. Ironically, it was preceded by an even more questionable version of the same act in a Superman-based TV series.

Smallville Actually Had Two Jimmy Olsens

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Introduced in the sixth season of the series, Henry James Olsen quickly became a recurring cast member of Smallville. A former flame of Chloe Sullivan (a childhood friend of Clark Kent’s who was created for the series), this take on Jimmy was a bit different from the comics. He was more of a contemporary in age to Lois and Clark, whereas he’s usually portrayed as being several years younger than them. One element that remained the same, however, was his passion for photography. Dedicated to his craft, this drive made him a lot different from the erratic, laidback youth of the comics. He was also ironically jealous of Clark due to how protective Chloe was of him.

Even though this seemed to be the Smallville version of Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen met his end before Clark ever put on the cape and costume. In Season 8, he was killed off by Davis Bloome, the human version of the show’s take on Doomsday. This ended his relationship with Chloe tragically, as the two had gotten married by that point. She went on to marry Green Arrow, with Henry James Olsen quickly becoming something of a forgotten memory. It was one of many strange choices and changes made in Smallville, and it wasn’t without its critics. To make matters even weirder, however, there was still going to be another take on Jimmy, who played his usual role on the staff of the Daily Planet.

The series finale of Smallville had Jimmy Olsen as one of the many familiar faces in the metropolitan newspaper, which likely confused some fans. This character was actually James Bartholemew Olsen, the younger brother of Henry James Olsen. Strangely enough, he was also played by Aaron Ashmore (twin brother of Shawn Ashmore, who portrayed Iceman in the Fox X-Men movies), making the siblings look identical at that point in their lives. This allowed the show to have its cake and eat it, too: Jimmy Olsen was killed off for shock value/drama, but he was also still there to be the Daily Planet’s photographer once the classic Superman status quo was established. This all highlighted one of the biggest problems with Smallville, which was ironically the opposite of the issues with the DC Extended Universe.

Smallville and the DCEU Had Opposite Issues Concerning Superman

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Despite starting off the shared DC Extended Universe, many fans felt that Superman wasn’t featured enough. He had only one solo movie, whereas Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam (DC’s version of Captain Marvel) and even the Suicide Squad each had two individual movies to themselves. This meant that classic Superman stories, villains and supporting cast characters never had a chance to be developed on the big screen, especially since there was already so much of the comic book source material that went unadapted in the Donner movies.

The sentiment that Superman was needed more than the amount of time he was featured in the DCEU was further solidified by the treatment of actor Henry Cavill. Despite the grievances with the shared universe, many fans felt that Cavill would have been a great Superman had he been given the chance to portray a more traditional take on him. Ironically, a lack of screen time was the exact opposite of the problem seen in the preceding live-action incarnation of the character. A prevailing thought concerning Smallville was that the series simply went on for far too long, with the series outliving its premise to a substantial degree.

Once Clark Kent left to go to Metropolis, the series logically should have ended or been rebooted into a true Superman series. This way, the “no flights, no tights” edict could have been ditched, especially since Clark’s cousin Kara Zor-El flew long before him. Since changes weren’t made, however, it meant that Clark encountered essentially all of his biggest foes before he even put on his red and blue costume. These included villains such as Metallo, Parasite, Brainiac, Zod and even Doomsday, the latter of which made absolutely no sense and was very much a “jump the shark” moment for fans of the comic books.

The many changes to certain characters only exascerbated this issue, with the “death” of Jimmy Olsen being perhaps the most egregious example. The fact that his younger brother conveniently became the “true” Jimmy in the series finale only showcased the haphazard manner in which Smallville tried to get to the classic status quo. It arguably pulled this off better than the Snyderverse, even if Superman at least wore the costume in the latter.

Smallville

Growing up in the small town of Smallville, Kansas, Clark Kent harbors a secret. Sent to Earth from the planet Krypton as a baby, he possesses superhuman abilities that he must keep hidden. Under the guidance of his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, Clark learns to control his powers and use them for good. As he navigates the challenges of high school, friendships, and first love, he also faces threats from meteor-infected individuals and otherworldly villains. Along the way, Clark encounters familiar characters from the Superman mythos, like Lex Luthor and Lana Lang, while grappling with his true identity and destiny to become the iconic superhero, Superman.

Release Date

October 16, 2001

Cast

Tom Welling , Kristin Kreuk , Michael Rosenbaum , Allison Mack , Erica Durance , Sam Jones III , John Glover

Seasons

10

Studio

Warner Bros. Television

Creator

Alfred Gough & Miles Millar

Main Characters

Clark Kent / Superman: The main protagonist of the series, a young man who is secretly an alien from the planet Krypton.Lana Lang: Clark’s childhood friend and love interest.Lex Luthor: Clark’s best friend turned enemy, who eventually becomes Superman’s arch-nemesis.Chloe Sullivan: Clark’s close friend and confidante, who later discovers his secret identity.Pete Ross: Clark’s best friend in the early seasons.Lionel Luthor: Lex’s father, a powerful and ruthless businessman.Martha Kent: Clark’s adoptive mother, a kind and compassionate woman.Jonathan Kent: Clark’s adoptive father, a wise and supportive man

Writers

Alfred Gough , Miles Millar , Jeph Loeb

Number of Episodes

217

Network

The WB