The producers of Smallville have claimed that season three was perhaps the darkest. After viewing all the episodes, I would have to agree. To some extent this season shifts the focus from Clark to Lex, where we watch him struggle with his own demons both internal (madness) and external (his father Lionel). While the relationship between Clark and his biological father Jor-El is inspired from Christian scripture, the relationship between Lex and his father, Lionel, resembles more of a Greek tragedy. Although the third season was ambitious in going a darker route, much of the success of the show was due to its light-hearted humor and over all good nature.

The show kicks off three months later with Clark in Metropolis, living the high life by abusing his powers (induced by red kryptonite of course). Clark parties, picks up women and steals. Having great concern for his son, Jonathan Kent makes a deal with Jor-El to bring Clark back home. A battle between father and son ensues and Clark is brought home (and back to his usual mild-mannered self). Once back in Smallville, Clark has to mend his relationship with Lana, deal with all the pressures of high school and of course save people.

The biggest flaw in Smallville is the same one that plagues many high school dramas– from 90210 to Dawson’s Creek–the teenagers don’t sound or act like teenagers but sound and act like the twenty-something actors who play them. Furthermore, the script writers virtually ignore this detail. Our teenage heroes are given adult responsibilities like paying rent, going to court, managing restaurants and writing op/ed columns at major newspapers. In the first two seasons, the characters often cross the age line by investigating crimes and weird phenomenon. This is forgivable because this has been explored before. Teenage characters like the Hardy Boys as well as Harry Potter and his friends were always curious by nature. But by the third season of Smallville, it feels as if the script writers struggle with the fact that their characters are stuck in the confines of adolescence.

The choice of focusing on Lex Luthor, his psychosis and his relationship with his father is the heart of this season. Lex and Lionel deceive each other like a modern day version of Zeus and Cronos. With the episode entitled Memoria, we learn more about Lex’s lonlieness and the tragedy in his family.

Now judging an entire season of a television show requires a little bit of a different strategy than reviewing a movie. For me, I feel comfortable with giving each season a ratio. Good ratio to bad ratio. The first season had a 2:1 ratio while the second season had a 3:1. This season is about 1:1.