The Big Picture
- Smallville set the stage for the surge in popularity of live-action superhero TV shows, but it remains fairly unique and unlikely to be replicated anytime soon.
- The show's traditional broadcast TV format, with 20+ episode seasons and standalone "freak of the week" episodes, is a departure from the highly serialized approach of modern superhero adaptations.
- Smallville's depiction of Clark Kent's flawed journey towards heroism and its handling of certain character dynamics have aged poorly, but the show still offers valuable inspiration for future superhero media.