Smallville brought a unique perspective to Superman and his world, adding to and twisting the broader DC mythos to fit his story. As a result, many of its characters are originals, as opposed to adaptations. While franchise mainstays like Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen feature prominently, new characters often receive equal screen time. In truth, some of the Smallville’s The most popular heroes and villains originated from the series.
Over the course of 10 seasons, it introduced many, many characters, ranging from small roles to major supporting roles. While some, like Clark’s girlfriend Alicia or resurrected teenager Adam Knight, leave an impact on viewers, others appear in one episode. Still, there are a few that stand out as especially memorable. Here are 10 Smallville’s best original characters:
10
Dax-Ur is parallel to Clark
Portrayed by Marc McClure
Appearing in season 7, Dax-Ur, played by Superman alumnus Marc McClure, is an original character who borrows his profession from the DC Comics character Jax-Ur. Their names and careers as Kryptonian scientists are where the similarities stop. Jax-Ur is a villain, while Dax-Ur is well-intentioned. In Smallvillehe created the technology that led to the invention of the Brain InterActive Construct, or Brainiac. After realizing Brainiac’s destructive capabilities, Dax-Ur exiled himself to Earth out of guilt. Once there, he attempted to study the effect of sunlight on kryptonite, but discovered that it gave him abilities.
Although he could have used his powers for good, Dax-Ur decided to use blue kryptonite to dampen them. He married a human and had a son named Max. His story is a mirror of the life Clark could have had if he decided not to become a hero. This decision comes back to bother him, as Dax-Ur is unable to protect himself when Brainiac discovers him. Despite his limited screen time, Dax-Ur is an interesting presence in the Smallvilleand he relates well to Clark’s internal conflict throughout the series.
9
Jason Teague is a threat to Clark and Kal-El
Portrayed by Jensen Ackles
Jason Teague is an unusual character for a series like Smallville. He shares characteristics with Lex, as well as the series’ previous secondary antagonist, Whitney Fordman. Jason is Clark’s main romantic rival for Lana Lang’s affections, but he also poses a significant threat to the teenage hero because of his quest for the Power Stones. These Kryptonian artifacts come together to create the Crystal of Knowledge, which contains all of Jor-El’s information about the galaxy and the ability to build the Fortress of Solitude.
He inherited this mission from his mother, Genevieve. His relationship with Lana is completely manipulative, as her ancestor is tied to her family’s search for the Stones. Although he develops feelings for her, Jason cares more about his goals. His character is somewhat difficult to like. He and Lana are only two years apart and they met in Paris. However, when he returns to Smallville to pick her up, he works as an assistant football coach at her school. Combining this with the fact that he uses it puts his character in a disgusting light.
Jason’s saving grace is that he’s played by Jensen Ackles. Supernatural hadn’t started yet, but his star power was already evident in the way he made an otherwise unlikable character more fun to watch. Jason was created as a result of the network asking the writers to create another boyfriend for Lana, and he was eliminated because Ackles needed to be free for Supernaturalmeaning his arc wasn’t resolved as the writers intended. All things considered, the minds behind Smallville did a good job creating Jason as a foil to Clark.
8
Genevieve Teague is a force to be reckoned with
Portrayed by Jane Seymour
Genevieve Teague is Jason’s mother and the main antagonist of Smallville season 4. As mentioned, she is in search of the Stones of Power, as her ancestors did before her. However, she has much deeper ties to the conspiracies surrounding Clark’s arrival on Earth. Genevieve is a member of the Veritas Society, who believes that an alien known as the Traveler will arrive and save humanity. She is the real puppet in Jason’s manipulations, orchestrating his meeting with Lana.
The Luthors are the standard by which all other antagonists in the series are measured. By this metric, Genevieve is successful; she is a well-acted and believable threat who fulfills her purpose in an entertaining way.
Genevieve is played by the legendary Jane Seymour, and her performance is a big part of why the character is an effective villain. Smallville’s The iteration of Lex and his father, Lionel Luthor, are extremely compelling characters. As a result, the Luthors are the standard by which all of the show’s other antagonists are measured. By this metric, Genevieve is successful; she is a well-acted and believable threat who fulfills her purpose in an entertaining way.
7
Steven Hamilton assists with Lex’s Kryptonian research
Portrayed by Joe Morton
Introduced in Season 1, Steven Hamilton is played by the future Justice League star Joe Morton. He is a scientist obsessed with the meteor rocks (kryptonite) that arrived during the same meteor shower that brought Clark to Earth. Before the series, he sold fake meteors to tourists, but resumes his scientific studies with funding from Lex after discovering evidence that the rocks alter the cellular composition of humans. Steven’s actions lead Lex directly to establishing Cadmus labs to keep his experiments secret. He also discovers the Key, which Clark later uses to transport to the Fortress of Solitude.
Steven is named after Dr. Emil Hamilton, a supporting character to Superman in the comics, but he is a distinct character, as Emil appears in later seasons of the series. His time on the show is short, but Morton plays the role well and his impact is felt for the rest of the episode. Smallville.
6
Whitney Fordman rivals Clark for Lana’s love
Portrayed by Eric Johnson
When comparing Lana’s love interests besides Clark, Season 1’s Whitney Fordman may not be as interesting as Lex or Jason, but he was never meant to be. Whitney, played by Eric Johnson, was the Smallville Crows quarterback who dated Lana. He was a bully towards Clark, mainly because he knew of his interest in his girlfriend. Whitney wasn’t a deep or complex character at first, but it worked because the first season was intended to show Clark dealing with normal teenage problems.not just alien threats. Smallville however, it made Whitney more complex over time.
Her father suffers from a heart problem and ends up dying, turning Whitney’s world upside down. As a result, he struggles to keep his football scholarship and gives up on his dream of playing football professionally. He and Clark slowly became friendlier towards each other as well. After he graduates, Whitney joins the Marines and is tragically killed in action.
His character may not have the most dramatic or flashy backstory, but his arc from bully to friend to hero worked well during his high school years on Smallville. Many teenagers go through the same struggles as him. Additionally, Whitney was later included in the Man of Steelplayed by Robert Gerdisch.
5
Tess Mercer does what Lex never could
Portrayed by Cassidy Freeman
Tess Mercer is a unique case study in adaptation. She is an original character and three different Superman villains at the same time. Her name is derived from Eve Tessmacher and Mercy Graves, Lex’s two most common henchmen.. This makes sense as she is introduced in season 8 to replace him, acting as his emissary and later becoming an antagonist in her own right. However, the last season revealed that Tess is actually Lex’s sister, and her birth name is Lutessa Lena Luthor, which means she is the Smallville equivalent to Lena Luthor. Consequently, she’s more like an entirely new character.
Tess is a wonderful addition to the cast and helps fill the void left after Lex’s departure from the series. Her journey is fun as she follows the opposite trajectory of her brother, going from villain to ally. Tess’s story is an interesting inversion of Lex’s, that reinforces Smallville’s themes of legacy, identity and what makes someone a hero.
4
Ryan James is the brother Clark always wanted
Portrayed by Ryan Kelley
Ryan James is the most tragic character in Smallville. He is introduced in Season 1 Episode 16, “Stray”, as a boy with telepathy, who is forced to help his abusive stepfather commit crimes. After Ryan crosses paths with Martha Kent, he stays with the family for a few days and discovers Clark’s secret. He is later sent to live with his aunt, but in the second season, Clark discovers that he has been sent to the Summerholt Research Center. The doctor is experimenting on him, so Clark helps him escape, and Lex helps the Kents gain temporary custody of Ryan.
Consequently, his powers are revealed to be the result of an inoperable tumor in his brain. Clark does everything in his power to save Ryan, who he sees as his little brother, but not even Superman has the power to cure cancer. Ryan spends several days at home with the Kent family and then passes away. Your story is moving, but is important in Clark’s journey, as Ryan is the first person he simply can’t rescue.
3
Virgil Swann reveals Superman’s heritage
Portrayed by Christopher Reeve
Dr. Virgil Swann is a wonderful addition to smallville, both within the narrative and in a meta sense. Swann is played by Superman actor Christopher Reeve as a tribute to the time he spent wearing the cape. He is a founding member of the Veritas Society, which actually uncovered the truth about Clark’s heritage. However, he kept his knowledge a secret until Clark revealed himself. Swann saw himself as a protector of the Traveler and sought to equip him with the knowledge necessary to save humanity.
Reeve was tragically injured in a horse-riding incident that left him quadriplegic in 1995, after which he became a philanthropist and disability activist. His return to the Superman media with Smallville played triumphantly as a result. Reeve gave an emotionally resonant performance that passed the torch of his Superman to Welling. He only appeared twice in the series, although he was planned for a larger presence in season 4 due to Reeve’s passing.
Swann is an excellent character who brought a lot of intrigue to Smallvilleand it’s a shame that the writers’ original plans came to fruition. Christopher Reeve is a legend, So more screen time with him would have been awesome, but his appearances were iconic and helped cement Smallville’s legacy.
2
Chloe Sullivan became Clark’s closest ally
Portrayed by Allison Mack
Very few original characters reach the same level of popularity that Chloe Sullivan achieved in Smallville. Chloe initially served as the series’ resident journalist with their investigations driving the story forward and providing a more organic source of exposition. She was quirky and often made jokes, providing a lighthearted feel to the show. Previous seasons featured Chloe’s crush on Clark, which was the main source of conflict as he questioned whether he liked her. Once the series abandoned this idea, the two became closer friends. Chloe was his ally, secret keeper, and eventual person in the chair.
Chloe was also the only main character besides Clark to appear regularly in all 10 seasons of Smallville. However, actress Allison Mack did not reprise her role in every episode. As the series’ second most prominent protagonist, Chloe is a fan favorite and has even made the leap from screen to page. Smallville may have originally created her as a Lois-type character for Clark to bounce back from – she and Lois they are cousins ​​after all – but Chloe more than deserves the title of Clark’s best friend throughout her 10 seasons.
1
Lionel Luthor Redefined Lex’s Origin Story
Portrayed by John Glover
Although Lex Luthor’s parents appeared sporadically in DC comics before Smallvillethe series was the first project to really delve into Lex’s father as a separate character. Lionel Luthor, played by the talented John Glover, is a cruel and self-made businessman who teaches his son The Art of War through manipulation and abuse. He’s an interesting antagonist and the kind of guy you’d cross the street to avoid. The dynamic between Lex and Lionel is a perversion of that between Clark and Jonathan Kent. The latter is a more loving relationship, but both instill morals in the children.
Smallville invests a lot of screen time in how Lionel turns Lex into a villain, and it works spectacularly. In previous seasons, Lionel pushes Lex to the dark side. Later, as Lex becomes more evil, Lionel becomes an ally of Clark. Their arcs are counterpoints to one another, with Lex finally embracing his evil side by murdering Lionel. Smallville it simply wouldn’t be as successful without Lionel, and that shows how integrated the character has been into the mainstream DC universe.
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