Smallville

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
Smallville Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Superman's origin story gets sexier, more violent over time.

Freeform, CW Drama 2001
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 29 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 77 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this superhero origin story series is frequently bloody and violent. While the program deals with a wide range of topics and good eventually overcomes evil, gory fight scenes and evil villains are commonplace. The show also contains some iffy vocab ("hell," "bastard"). As the characters have aged, sex and drama have been introduced to spice up story lines.

Community Reviews

selebra
selebra Adult
January 5, 2021
age 16+

Not For Kids

Good show - one of the best Superman series ever made, second only to Lois and Clark; however, it is can also be really violent and gory, especially in later seasons. I even have a hard time watching it as an adult. If you don't think it can affect young kids - consider this - I still remember a horrible preview (overseas movie theaters didn't have censoring on their previews) before a movie from when I was 8 years old and it makes me cringe to this day, more than 30 years later.

This title has:

Too much violence
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
October 2, 2020
age 15+

Sexual

I know the show based on DC Heroes but inappropriate Lex and Lana in Clark's nightmare and the one episode when Clark get caught doing it with Lana,only the age of 20's should watch it and not for under age of 15 or under.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 29 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's been 18 years since a meteor shower rained down on Smallville, Kansas, dropping off little Clark Kent (Tom Welling) in a spaceship and altering the small town forever. SMALLVILLE tracks Clark Kent and friends -- including pretty Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) -- through high school and into college. During these young-adult years, Clark discovers details about his own history, as well as the fate of his home planet and his biological parents. Better yet, he furthers his journey toward fully realizing his super powers. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), once Clark's best friend, gives into the dark side. Kent's later move to the big city of Metropolis leads to a budding relationship with Lois Lane (Erica Durance), interactions with the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley), and the introduction of new foes, including Lex Luthor's half-sister, Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman).

Is It Any Good?

The series revives the superhero genre in an intelligent, if often mature, action series. One of the best aspects of the series, and the most fun for young viewers, is watching the young Clark slowly come into his powers; he's super fast, can see through walls, and has acquired super hearing. Older fans will also appreciate the evolving storylines about the relationships that develop throughout the years.

Early episodes of Smallville emphasize the values of family and friendship, but later ones introduce more mature plots that some may find a little strong for early primetime. And unlike the Superman movies and previous television series, its tone is serious rather than playful. But fans who enjoy well-developed actions series will definitely find it entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about teen sex on TV using as an example Lana and Clark's decision to have sex. What do kids think of their actions? How did the show handle the topic -- responsibly, realistically? Does the drama of relationships gets in the way of the superhero themes?

  • Families can talk about how television shows evolve over time. Do TV shows have to add racier material to keep it interesting for viewers? How else can shows remain interesting over time?

TV Details

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