User:Bignole/Smallville characters

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thumb|right|The original cast: (from left) Annette O'Toole, John Schneider, Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Eric Johnson, Allison Mack, and Sam Jones III

Characters of Smallville <-- proposed new page to include "everyone".

see Characters of Final Fantasy VII and Characters of Kingdom Hearts for examples.

Smallville is an American television series developed by writer/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and was initially broadcast by The WB. After its fifth season, the WB and UPN merged to form The CW, which is the current broadcaster for the show in the United States.^[1] The plot follows a young Clark Kent, in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, as he journeys toward becoming Superman; it also follows Lex Luthor's path to the dark side, and the two's friendship turned hatred for one another. The following is a list of main and recurring characters in the series. Smallville began with eight main characters in its first season. Since then, six characters from that first season have left the show, with seven new main characters having been both written in and out of the series.

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[edit] Main characters

Unlike most shows, which generally get about four weeks of casting, Gough and Millar had five months.^[2] In October 2000, the two producers began their search for the three lead roles, and had casting directors in ten different cities.^[3] The following is a list of all the characters that are, or at one time were, a main character in the show. During its first season, Smallville had eight regular characters. As of season eight, six characters from the original cast have left the show, with seven new characters coming in over the course of seven seasons.

[edit] Clark Kent

Further information: Clark Kent (Smallville)

Portrayed by Tom Welling, Clark Kent is a teen with superhuman abilities, which he uses to help others in danger, who was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent when he crash landed to Earth as a child. Twelve years later, he is trying to find his place in life after being told he is an alien by his adoptive father.^[4] Clark's problem in season one is not being able to share his secret with anyone; he is afraid to open up to Lana for fear that she will not accept him if she knows the truth. Clark just wants to be normal.^[5] For most of the series, Clark spends his time running from his Kryptonian heritage, going as far as leaving Smallville,^[6] abandoning a quest his biological father Jor-El sends him on in search of three Kryptonian stones of knowledge,^[7] continuing his training at the Fortress of Solitude,^[8] and unwittingly unleashing a Kryptonian criminal from the Phantom Zone when he refuses to kill Lex.^[9]

Throughout the series, Clark gains and adjusts to new abilities. These new abilities include: X-ray vision,^[10] heat vision,^[11] super hearing,^[12] and super breath.^[13] Clark unofficially flew in the season four premiere, when he was reprogrammed as “Kal-El” by his biological father; upon regaining his memory he forgot how to use the ability.^[7] Clark also learns of new vulnerabilities as the series progresses. In the first season it is the “green meteor rocks” (kryptonite) that weaken and can potentially kill him.^[14] Various other forms of kryptonite appear on the show, including: red kryptonite,^[15] black kryptonite,^[7] silver kryptonite,^[16] and blue.^[17] It is also revealed that Clark is vulnerable to alien weapons,^[18] and magic.^[19]

After months of scouting, Tom Welling was cast as Clark Kent.^[5] Welling’s manager was fearful that the show would hurt his film career, but the pilot’s director, David Nutter, convinced Welling to read over the script. After reading the script, Welling agreed to go in for an audition.^[20] Welling believes his lack of knowledge of the Superman mythology helps his performance because Gough and Millar have set up the series so that the previous mythology is not important.^[5]

[edit] Lex Luthor

Further information: Lex Luthor (Smallville)

Michael Rosenbaum portrays Lex Luthor, the son of billionaire Lionel Luthor, who is sent to Smallville to run the local fertilizer plant. After Clark saves his life, the two become quick friends.^[14] Over the course of seven seasons—beginning on the day Clark rescued him from drowning—Lex has been trying to uncover the secrets that Clark keeps. In season one, Lex hires Roger Nixon, a reporter for The Inquisitor, to discover how he survived the automobile accident where Clark saved him from drowning.^[10] Lex also enlists the help of Dr. Hamilton around the same time he hires Nixon; Hamilton is commissioned to study the effects of the meteor rocks. Dr. Hamilton finds an octagonal disc, with unknown symbols imprinted on the disc’s surface.^[21] When Clark discovers the Kawatche Caves, in season two, under a LuthorCorp construction site, Lex opts to preserve the caves after he notices symbols on the cave walls that match the symbols on the disc, as well as an octagonal shape in the wall of the cave that would fit the disc perfectly.^[22] His interest grows more and more when he finds Clark constantly in the caves, and later with a piece of paper that appears to indicate that Clark has deciphered the language on the cave walls – although, Clark denies being able to read the language.^[23] Lex’s curiosity leads to a blowout between him and Clark.^[24]

Lex’s attention turns toward finding three ancient stones, which contain the same symbols as those in the cave and on the disc.^[7] His curiosity into the symbols, which he believes to be alien in nature, results in him being possessed by the spirit of the Kryptonian criminal Zod for a short period.^[9] Eventually, Lex discovers that father was a part of a secret society known as Veritas, who knew that an alien, known as "The Traveler", would land on Earth during the first meteor shower.^[25] Lex’s quest for the truth of Veritas, and the Traveler, leads him to Clark’s secret and the Fortress of Solitude.^[26]

The role of Lex Luthor was hard for the team to cast, as they could not all agree on which actor they had seen was best for the part. Gough and Millar wanted a comedian, as they believed that comedians always want to "please and be loved at the same time".^[2] Michael Rosenbaum, who had already auditioned once, decided to take his second audition more seriously so he outlined a two-and-a-half-page scene, indicating all the places to be funny, charismatic, or menacing.^[27] His audition went so well that everyone agreed he was "the guy".^[2] After seven seasons with the show, Rosenbaum announced that he would not be returning for the eighth season.^[28]

[edit] Lana Lang

Further information: Lana Lang (Smallville)

Portrayed by Kristin Kreuk, Lana Lang is the girl next door. In the first season, Lana and Clark’s friendship is just beginning, as she is dating the school’s star quarterback (Whitney), and Clark cannot get near her without getting sick from the kryptonite necklace she wears.^[14] When her parents are killed in the first meteor shower, Lana is adopted by her Aunt Nell, portrayed by Sarah-Jane Redmond. In season two, Nell moves to Metropolis with her fiancé, allowing Lana to move in with Chloe so that she may finish high school.^[29] After Whitney leaves for the Marines,^[30] Lana and Clark slowly try and start a romantic relationship, but hesitate for fear of backlash from Chloe because of her personal feelings for Clark.^[31] Just as the two give into their feelings fully, Clark unexpectedly runs away from Smallville.^[6] Clark’s actions in Metropolis force the two to rethink their relationship,^[32] and Lana eventually begins a new relationship with Adam Knight, a guy she met while in physical therapy after being trampled by a horse.^[33][34] The relationship turns out to be a ploy to get closer to Lana, so that Adam can investigate Clark.^[35]

Lana eventually goes away to Paris to study abroad;^[36] here she begins a romantic relationship with Jason Teague. She returns to Smallville after receiving a mysterious tattoo on her lower back, which resembles a symbol on the Kawatche cave walls, when she touchs the tomb of Countess Margaret Isobel Theroux.^[7] The tattoo acts as a doorway for the spirit of Isobel to inhabit Lana’s body.^[19][37] While possessed by Isobel, Lana kills Jason’s mother, Genevieve; the resulting death of Genevieve, who is revealed to have been the cause for Isobel’s death centuries prior,^[38] releases Isobel’s control over Lana.^[39] When her relationship with Clark hits a breaking point,^[40] Lana begins to grow closer to Lex.^[41] The relationship with Lex eventually leads to marriage, but not before Lana discovers Clark’s secret and realizes why he has been lying to her all these years.^[42] When she learns that Lex set up a fake pregnancy in order to get her to marry him, Lana effectively ends the marriage.^[43] With Clark’s secret no longer an issue, the two begin a real relationship.^[44] Eventually, Lana realizes that, even though she loves him, the only way for Clark to help the world to the best of his ability would be if she left Clark, and Smallville for good.^[26]

Although Gough and Millar were initially trying to find someone for the role of Clark Kent, an audition tape of Kristin Kreuk convinced the pair to hire Kreuk as Lana Lang before they had cast any of the other roles.^[20][2] Kristin Kreuk will not be returning as a regular cast member in season eight.^[45]

[edit] Chloe Sullivan

Further information: Chloe Sullivan

Allison Mack portrays one of Clark’s best friends, Chloe Sullivan. In the early seasons, she hides the fact that she is in love with Clark, although the feeling is not reciprocated.^[46] Editor of the school newspaper, her journalistic curiosity—always wanting to "expose falsehoods" and "know the truth"^[47]—causes tension with her friends, especially when she is digging in Clark's past.^[48]

Her feelings for Clark get in the way of her better judgment, as she betrays his trust, after witnessing him and Lana sharing a kiss in his barn, and agrees to dig up information on Clark for Lionel.^[6] She and Clark patch their relationship after Clark discovers what she has been doing,^[12] and she assists Lex in having Lionel arrested for crimes that he has committed.^[36] In season four she discovers Clark’s secret.^[49] In season six she learns that she has powers, created from exposure to kryptonite, that allow her to heal any wounds, even death.^[43] Since season six, Chloe has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with Jimmy Olsen. The character is arrested, just as Jimmy is proposing marriage, by the Department of Domestic Security for hacking into the government database.^[26]

Allison Mack thought about auditioning for the role of Lana Lang, but instead auditioned twice for the role of Chloe Sullivan.^[47] Chloe was created just for the series, and part of the reason Mack was cast was because Gough and Millar felt she had a "rare ability to deliver large chunks of expositionary ^[sic] dialogue conversationally".^[2] When Rosenbaum left the show, Mack used this as leverage, saying she would leave unless she earned a higher salary for season eight. The gambit paid off, and she signed a new contract to continue appearing in every episode.^[50]

[edit] Pete Ross

Sam Jones III plays Pete Ross, another of Clark's best friends. He hates the Luthors for what he sees as their thievery of his family's creamed corn business,^[51] and is the first person Clark voluntarily informs of his secret.^[52] He is in love with Chloe,^[53] which he keeps to himself because of the Clark-Lana-Chloe love triangle already taking place.^[54] At one point, Pete, feeling alienated by Clark, begins hanging around a group of street racers. Pete joins the ranks and becomes successful, but when he refuses to throw a race his life it put in jeopardy. Clark is forced to abuse his powers in order to help Pete win a race, which leads to a falling out between the two friends.^[55] The character was written out of the series at the end of season three, citing the trouble keeping Clark's secret was causing him.^[36] Pete returns to Smallville in season seven, after gaining superhuman abilities from kryptonite-enhanced chewing gum, which allow him to stretch his body to extreme lengths. His openness with his powers puts him in Lex’s sights, as Lex blackmails Pete into working for him. When Pete fails, Lex sets out to kill him, but Clark saves Pete’s life. Before Pete leaves Smallville again, the two friends settle the issues that were left unresolved between them.^[56]

Sam Jones III was the last of the series regulars to be cast. Gough and Millar cast Jones four days before they began filming for the pilot. Jones, who is African American, was also cast against the Superman mythology where Pete Ross is Caucasian.^[54] Jones has stated that he would have understood if the producers had simply created a black character for him to portray, but the fact that they chose to go with him, even though the character has always been white, gave him more honor to be a part of the show. Jones initially believed that his character should get more screen time, but he admits that he later realized that the show was about Clark’s journey and that the other characters are there to help his story move along.^[54]

[edit] Jonathan Kent

John Schneider portrays Jonathan Kent, Martha’s husband and Clark's adopted father. He goes to great lengths to protect his son's secret. At the end of season one, Jonathan chases Roger Nixon out of the Kents’ storm cellar, and into a storm after learning that Nixon has uncovered Clark’s secret and plans to expose him to the world.^[30] When Clark rescues the two from an abandoned tomb, where they were imprisoned after the storm, Nixon uses kryptonite to subdue Clark and drag him back to his car. Jonathan tackles Nixon and the two engage in a struggle, with Nixon gaining the upper hand. Lex shoots Nixon before he can kill Jonathan.^[57] When Clark—using red kryptonite to take his inhibitions away—runs away from Smallville to escape all the pain he believes he has caused everyone, Jonathan goes to Jor-El and makes a deal that will allow him the strength to bring Clark home, but on the condition that when the time comes he will have to allow Jor-El to take him to fulfill his destiny.^[58] As a result of being imbued with all of Clark’s powers, Jonathan’s heart is strained. Later, he suffers a heart attack,^[59] which becomes a focal point of the character for the remaining seasons. When it comes time for Clark to go with Jor-El, Jonathan objects. In order to get Clark to leave, Jor-El threatens Jonathan, strangling him with an energy beam. When Clark leaves, Jonathan is left in a coma.^[24] Jonathan awakes from his coma the moment Clark regains his memory after being reprogrammed by Jor-El three months later.^[7] In season five, Jonathan decides to run for Kansas Senator against Lex. On the evening that his victory is announced he receives a call from Lionel. The two meet at the Kent barn, where Lionel informs Jonathan that he knows about Clark. Jonathan, believing that Lionel is going to try and blackmail him, attacks Lionel. After telling Lionel to leave, Jonathan stumbles out of the barn just as Martha and Clark drive up. He collapses on the ground, dying in Clark’s arms.^[60]

Millar and Gough wanted a recognizable face for Smallville; they loved the idea of casting John Schneider as Jonathan Kent, because Schneider was already known as Bo Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard,^[61] which Gough saw as adding belief that he could have grown up running a farm.^[2] Schneider was initially uninterested in being a part of the show, but after reading the script he saw the opportunity the show had for bringing back "real parenting" to television. Schneider particularly sees his character as a means to replace those "goof" father-figures that had become prevalent on television. He also saw his character as a means to keep the show grounded in reality, specifically by making sure that Jonathan’s life is clearly displayed for the audience to see – performing his daily routine on the farm.^[62]

According to Schneider, Jonathan is "perfectly willing to go to jail, or worse, to protect his son," as "the least important person in Jonathan Kent's life is Jonathan Kent." The character is also fast to lose his temper, which Schneider views as being a development of his protective nature over his family.^[62]

[edit] Martha Kent

"I have the feeling that she didn't have a mother growing up—they've never introduced a mother for her. That's why being a mother is so important to her—and being the 'picture book' kind of mother at that."

— Annette O'Toole on Martha Kent[63]

Martha Kent, Clark's adopted mother, is portrayed by Annette O’Toole. She, along with her husband Jonathan, gives Clark sage advice about how to cope with his growing abilities. According to Annette O'Toole, Martha was originally from Metropolis, but she left because she felt it was "too phony".^[63] Martha carries sympathy for Lex because of all the loss he endured as a child – his mother and his hair. She will always give Lex "the benefit of the doubt", even when he reaches the point that he has crossed to the "dark side".^[63] In season two, after being exposed to kryptonite dust that begins to kill her, Martha’s life is saved by the spaceship which heals her body.^[64] At the same time, Martha’s ability to have children is also healed. She becomes pregnant and carries a child for a short term before losing it when she and Jonathan have an automobile accident.^[6] In season five, after Jonathan dies, she takes over his state senate seat at the request of the Governor.^[65] This leads to a job in Washington, D.C. in season six, and the character's exit from the show.^[66]

Cynthia Ettinger was originally cast as Martha Kent, but during filming everyone realized that she was not right for the role, including Ettinger.^[2] Annette O'Toole was committed to the television series The Huntress when Ettinger was filming the original pilot. Around the time the creators were looking to recast the role of Martha Kent, The Huntress was canceled, which allowed O'Toole to join the cast of Smallville.^[63] O'Toole had previously portrayed Lana Lang in Superman III.^[67] O’Toole thinks that the producers wanted someone older for the role of Martha, and when she came in to talk to the producers everyone appeared to be on the same page with what the character and the show should be about. O’Toole believes that Martha is really intelligent, but that she has to hide it at times "just to keep the peace".^[63]

[edit] Whitney Fordman

Eric Johnson appears as Whitney Fordman, Lana's boyfriend, in season one. He becomes jealous of Clark and Lana's budding friendship, going so far as to haze Clark.^[14] When his father is stricken with a heart disease,^[68] Whitney is forced to run the family business and loses his football scholarship. This results in him ignoring Lana, and hanging around with past high school football stars, who recruit him for their illegal endeavors.^[69] He eventually reconciles with Clark and Lana before joining the Marines.^[30] Whitney was written out of the show in the first season's finale, but he made cameo appearances in the season two episode "Visage", where it is revealed he died in combat overseas, and the season four episode "Façade", during a flashback to Clark's freshman year.

Eric Johnson auditioned for the roles of Lex and Clark, before finally being cast as Whitney Fordman. When the producers called him in for one more audition, after passing on him for the major roles, Johnson informed them that if they wanted him then they would need to bring him in for a screen-test. After the screen-test, Johnson was cast and spent only one day filming his scenes for the pilot.^[70] The producers, along with Johnson, wanted to portray Whitney as more than just the "stereotypical jock" that he could have easily become. Had they done that, everyone believes that it would have just made Lana look stupid for going out with him. Whitney was given multiple storylines in season one in an effort to get audiences to view the character in a more pleasant light.^[70] Kristin Kreuk feels audiences did not get to know the character well enough, because he was only seen through Clark's eyes.^[71]

Johnson realized after reading the script for the pilot episode that his character was not going to be around for the entirety of the series. This became even clearer when his character’s storylines began to develop quickly.^[70] Eric Johnson has expressed his pleasure in the way the writers handled Whitney's departure, by giving the character the exit of a hero.^[72] While filming "Obscura", Johnson was informed that his character would not be returning as a series regular for season two. Initially fearing that he had made some mistake and that they were going to kill his character off, Johnson learned that Whitney would be enlisting into the Marines.^[70]

[edit] Lionel Luthor

Further information: Lionel Luthor

John Glover portrays Lex’s father, Lionel Luthor. Lionel initially sends his son to Smallville to run the local fertilizer plant, as a test.^[14] When Lex succeeds in making a profit for the first time in years, Lionel closes the plant down completely and blames it on Lex’s poor managerial skills.^[30] For half of season two, it is believed that Lionel is blind, thanks to a failed surgery that Lionel underwent after having a beam collapse on him in the season one finale. Lex and his half-brother Lucas devise a plan that brings Lionel’s deception out into the open.^[73] This season, Lionel also becomes aware of the Kawatche caves, and takes over conservatorship from LexCorp in order to unlock the mysteries of the symbols on the cave walls.^[74]

In season three, Lionel is arrested for the murder of his parents,^[36] When Lionel inadvertently switches bodies with Clark, a terminal liver disease he was hiding is suddenly healed. After switching back, Lionel has a new found guidance in life.^[75] Released from prison by Genevieve Teague, Lionel begins searching for the three stones of knowledge. This quest leads to Lionel falling into a catatonic state after being downloaded with Kryptonian knowledge.^[39]

Lionel is brought out of his catatonic state by Jor-El, who uses him as a vessel to which he can speak with his son.^[76] With Jor-El guiding him, Lionel begins assisting Clark, by helping to make excuses for his behavior and unexplained disappearances.^[77] It is eventually revealed that Lionel, along with three other wealthy families, formed a secret society known as Veritas, in an effort to protect an alien visitor, Clark. The secret of Veritas and the Traveler subsequently cause Lionel’s death at the hands of Lex, who realizes that his father has been covering up the truth about the Traveler.^[78]

Lionel's treatment of Lex is his effort to "toughen [Lex] up". The character is made to "go out his way, to give [Lex] tests, so [Lex] can prove himself". He is a rich and powerful business man, disappointed in his son. The character's motto, in regards to raising Lex, is "no risk, no rewards."^[79]

[edit] Lois Lane

Erica Durance appeared in season four as Chloe’s cousin, Lois Lane. Lois comes to Smallville investigating the supposed death of Chloe, staying with the Kents while she is in town.^[7] After discovering that Chloe is not dead, but in witness protection before Lionel’s murder trial, Lois learns that she failed to achieve all of her high school credits and is forced to attend Smallville High to gain her remaining credits. While attending Smallville High, Chloe convinces Lois to become a reporter for The Torch, in an effort to get her to earn some of her remaining credits.^[80] With Lex’s help, Clark manages to get Lois her remaining credits ahead of schedule so that she can attend Metropolis University.^[81]

In season five, when Jonathan runs for the state senate, Lois is chosen to be his Chief of Staff when she shows initiative in preserving some of his principle values with the public.^[82] When Martha takes Jonathan’s place, Lois continues her duties under Martha.^[9] She also begins a romantic relationship with billionaire Oliver Queen, who, unbeknown to her, masquerades at night as the vigilante Green Arrow.^[18] Queen’s "job" as Green Arrow often gets in the way of their relationship, and when he is forced to leave Metropolis to track down all of Lex’s experimental facilities his relationship with Lois comes to an end.^[83] After some reservation, Lois decides that she is interested in journalism and takes a job at a tabloid newspaper called The Inquisitor.^[13] This eventually lands her a position in the Daily Planet’s basement, alongside her cousin Chloe.^[84] While at the Daily Planet, Lois begins a new relationship with her editor, Grant Gabriel.^[85] Their relationship comes under scrutiny from Chloe and Lex, with Chloe seeing it as reason for co-workers to doubt Lois’s true ability as a journalist, and Lex wanting to keep the secret of Grant’s true identity hidden.^[17] Eventually, the two agree to part ways.^[86]

[edit] Jason Teague

Jensen Ackles appeared in season four as Jason Teague, a love interest for Lana. The pair meet in Paris, while Lana is studying abroad. When she leaves unexpectedly, Jason follows Lana back to Smallville and takes a position as the school's assistant football coach.^[87] He was fired from the school when his relationship with Lana comes to light.^[88] By the end of the season, it is revealed that he has been working with his mother Genevieve, portrayed by Jane Seymour, to locate the three stones of knowledge. The two kidnap Lex and Lionel in an effort to discover the location of one of the stones.^[89] At Lionel’s confession, Genevieve confronts Lana about hiding one of the stones. The two women struggle and Genevieve is killed. Jason, who believes that the secret of the stones lies with Clark, heads to the Kent farm where he holds Jonathan and Martha hostage until they tell him where Clark is hiding the stones. He is killed during the second meteor shower, when a meteor falls through the Kent home and lands on him.^[39] Ackles received top billing for season four and was contracted to remain through season five, but was written out of the show in season four's finale due to his commitments to the WB’s new series Supernatural.^[90]

[edit] Jimmy Olsen

Jimmy Olsen is first mentioned in season four as the person Chloe lost her virginity to while interning at the Daily Planet.^[91] He first appears, portrayed by Aaron Ashmore, in the season six opener.^[92] Working as a photographer for the Daily Planet, Jimmy rekindles his relationship with Chloe.^[18]

Regarding his casting, Ashmore said that "I auditioned for it and I put myself on tape. I hadn't heard anything, and a couple of weeks later, all of the sudden, I got the call saying, "You're going to Vancouver to start shooting Smallville." It's a dream come true, really."^[93]

Ashmore was a recurring character in the sixth season, but became a series regular in the seventh.

• Character summary can be found here

When Kara first meets Jimmy Olsen, she was attracted to him, asking Clark if she could "practice being normal" with him.^[44] The pair continue to see each other, and when Jimmy breaks up with Chloe,^[94] the pair maintain their relationship.

• Some mention should be made of Kara's relationship with Jimmy. This can be found here

• See also Chloe and Jimmy here

[edit] Kara

Laura Vandervoort joined the cast in season seven as Kara, Clark's Kryptonian cousin. She was sent to look after Kal-El (Clark), but was stuck in suspended animation for eighteen years.^[95] Upon being released from suspended animation, Kara saves Lex’s from drowning, which results in Lex’s new obsession with finding the "angel" that saved his life.^[96] Kara eventually finds Clark, who informs her that Krypton was destroyed when the two of them were sent to Earth, and everyone there is dead.^[84] Clark teaches Kara to control some of her abilities, and at the same time blend into society.^[44]

After being captured by the Department of Domestic Security and tortured, Kara relives one of her early memories of visiting Earth with Clark’s mother, Lara. She realizes that her perceptions of her father were wrong and that he was as evil as everyone said.^[97] Kara and Clark have to work together to fight her father, Zor-El, who was unwittingly released by Clark was wanted to see his biological mother face-to-face. When Zor-El is destroyed at the end of the battle, Kara disappears from the Fortress of Solitude. She awakens in Detroit with amnesia and none of her abilities.^[17] Kara is discovered and brought home,^[98] where Lex attempts to exploit her amnesia to his benefit with the intent of discovering the truth about Clark.^{[citation needed]} Chloe convinces Jor-El to return Kara’s memories,^[99] but when Lana is placed in a catatonic state by Brainiac, Kara agrees to cooperate with the Kryptonian artificial intelligence in the hope that he will not kill Lana.^[25] Kara is taken through time to Krypton, just before it explodes, so that Brainiac can kill the infant Kal-El. With Jor-El’s help, Clark manages to arrive on Krypton and stop Brainiac.^[100] Unknown to Clark, Brainiac is not killed in their fight on Krypton, and he manages to place Kara in the Phantom Zone, while he assumes her identity back on Earth.^[26]

Vandervoort will not return as a regular for the eighth season.^[101]

[edit] Oliver Queen

Justin Hartley portrays Oliver Queen is a billionaire who left Star City to live in Metropolis. Queen kidnaps Lex after watching footage of Lex breaking into the Pentagon, while possessed by Zod, and repel bullets fired at him. After learning that Lex no longer has his abilities, Queen is informed by his assistant that another individual, Clark, has been exhibiting the same abilities.^[13] Queen begins masquerading as a costumed vigilante, who steals from the rich—only stealing objects he knows were already stolen by those wealthy individuals—and gives to the poor. Queen uses high-tech gadgets, such as experimental arrow tips for his compound bow and sound synthesizers to hide his true voice, to fight crime.^[102]

Lois and Oliver begin a romantic relationship, which is strained by his constant disappearing acts.^[103] Eventually, Oliver and Clark—along with Bart Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone—band together to take out one of Lex’s secret 33.1 facilities, where Lex experiments on meteor infected individuals against their will. After destroying the facility, Oliver invites Clark to join his team, but Clark.^[83] Lex, fed up with Oliver and his, sends a vigilante of his own to kill "Green Arrow" – informing her that Green Arrow is a terrorist. The vigilante, who is dubbed the "Black Canary" by Chloe and Clark, learns the truth and refuses to help Lex any further. Black Canary leaves Metropolis to join Oliver and the rest of his team.^[104]

Hartley was a recurring guest in the sixth and seventh seasons, but becomes a series regular in season eight.^[105]

[edit] Recurring characters

The following is a list of all the characters that are, or at one time were, a recurring guest on the series, in the order that they first appeared on the show. Thirteen characters have had minor story arcs that have spanned multiple seasons, while the others were restricted to arcs that occurred during a single season of the show. Two of the recurring guests have strong connections to the Superman mythology. The first is Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the first major motion picture featuring the titular comic book character. The second is Terence Stamp, who portrayed Superman’s nemesis, General Zod, in Superman II, and who had a brief appearance as the same character in the first film.

[edit] Sheriff Ethan

Sheriff Ethan is portrayed by Mitchell Kosterman in seventeen episodes spanning season one and two. Kosterman’s first scene as Ethan came in "Jitters", which was original scheduled to be the third episode of season one but was pushed back to the eighth position. Ethan’s first few appearances only involved a few lines of dialogue. Season one’s "Rogue" introduced the idea that Sheriff Ethan had a history with Jonathan, and it was that moment that Kosterman felt like he was more than a background image for the show.^[106] That history was used against Jonathan, when Ethan framed him for the attempted murder of Lionel Luthor. Ethan's subterfuge was discovered by Clark and Pete, who set up a scheme of their own to bring Ethan's action to light. Once revealed, Ethan immediately surrenders to the authorities.^[107] Kosterman, who has played law enforcement officials on other television programs, initially turned down the role. After his agent informed him it would be a recurring role, and that the producers were willing to pay him more than he made on any previous show, Kosterman decided to take the job. ^[106] The show’s producers were all in favor of making Mitchell’s character the villain in season two’s "Suspect". To Mark Verheiden and Greg Beeman, this was the ultimate red herring for audiences. Initially, Sheriff Ethan was going to take a nurse hostage at the end of the episode, but it was rewritten to leave Ethan as more of a sympathetic character. Mitchell prefers the filmed ending, as he could not see any reason why his character would suddenly become evil. Mitchell believes that his character fell into the established theme that "good people being pushed to do the wrong thing by bad people like Lionel Luthor".^[108]

[edit] Roger Nixon

Roger Nixon, portrayed by Tom O'Brien, is a reporter for a tabloid newspaper called Inquisitor. The character appears in four episodes of season one, as well as the season two premiere. He attempts to blackmail Lex, but is eventually hired by Lex to look into the car accident that occurred in the pilot. His research points him directly to Clark.^[10] When Lex refuses to believe Nixon’s theories, Nixon decides to get the proof he needs. Discovering Clark's secret, he sets out to expose Clark to the world so that he can reap the rewards. A tempest hits Smallville, and when Jonathan and Martha head to their storm cellar they find Nixon videotaping Clark’s spaceship. Jonathan chases Nixon out into the storm in an effort to prevent him from releasing his tape.^[30] While out in the storm, Nixon and Jonathan are trapped in an abandoned church tomb. As they try and dig themselves out, Nixon criticizes Jonathan for holding Clark back when he could be using his abilities to become rich. Clark discovers their location and frees them, but is weakened by some nearby kryptonite. Nixon takes this opportunity to kidnap Clark, slipping a meteor rock in Clark’s pocket, dragging him into the woods. Jonathan and Nixon fight over Clark; Nixon gets the upper hand, preparing to kill Jonathan, but Lex arrives and shoots and kills Nixon.^[57]

[edit] Steven Hamilton

Joe Morton portrays Dr. Steven Hamilton in four episodes across the first two seasons. Hamilton is a scientist studying the effects of kryptonite. Lex, who is also curious about the effects of the kryptonite, funds Hamilton’s private research.^[109] While performing some excavations to find more kryptonite, Hamilton discovers a metallic octagonal disc, which Clark realizes is from his spaceship.^[21] Hamilton, who is now suffering from violent seizures caused by over exposure to the kryptonite, learns that Clark’s spaceship, which flew out of the Kents’ storm cellar during the storm that hit, is in Pete Ross’s shed. After stealing the ship, Hamilton kidnaps Pete in an effort to learn how to open the ship. During a struggle with Clark, who came to rescue Pete, liquid kryptonite is spilled on Hamilton’s head sending him into a violent seizure that results in his death.^[110]

[edit] Victoria Hardwick

Kelly Brook appeared in a four episode arc as Victoria Hardwick, the daughter of a rich businessman, and an ex-love of Lex Luthor. The two banned together in season one in an effort to overthrow each other's father's company. Victoria tried to double cross Lex, unaware that Lex had already fed her faulty information so LuthorCorp could take over her father's company.^[111]

[edit] Henry Small

Patrick Cassidy appeared as Henry Small, a lawyer and a descendant of town founder Ezra Small, for five episodes of season two. During a family history assignment, Lana uncovers a photo of her mother with Henry. After some investigation, it turns out Lana's mother was dating Henry during a period when Lana’s parents were separated. After a blood test, it is revealed that Henry is Lana’s biological father.^[112] Henry is petitioned by Lana to represent Jonathan in the attempted murder of Lionel Luthor,^[107] as well as Joseph Willowbrook when he is suspected of murdering a LuthorCorp employee at a construction site located on what Joseph believes to be sacred Indian property.^[22]

[edit] Dr. Garner

First appearing in season two, and later returning for two episodes in season three, Martin Cummins portrays scientist Dr. Garner. Garner is the head doctor at the Summerholt Institute, a facility that does research on the human brain. Summerholt gains legal guardianship of Ryan James, a telepathic teenager who once stayed with the Kents, with Dr. Garner using a kryptonite serum to experiment on Ryan’s brain in an effort to unlock his telepathic ability. With Lex's help, Clark manages to free Ryan from Garner's control.^[29] Later, Lex seeks out Dr. Garner for assistance in retrieving the memories he lost when Lionel had electrical shock therapy performed on him to cover up the truth about the death of Lionel's parents. Concerned for Lex’s well being, as well as for the secret Lex found out during the time of his breakdown, Clark goes to Summerholt to stop Lex from continuing his treatments. Unknown to Clark, Lionel set a trap to capture Clark so that Garner could use his technology to unlock Clark’s secrets. Garner is left in a coma following Clark’s unexpected reaction to the kryptonite solution being used to assist Garner’s technology in discovering Clark’s secret. ^[113]

[edit] Dr. Frederick Walden

For three episodes in season two, Rob LaBelle portrayed archaeologist Frederick Walden. Dr. Walden is hired by Lex Luthor to investigate the unknown symbols found in the Kawatche caves.^[114] When Dr. Walden finds the octagonal disc he inserts it into a slot in the cave wall; Walden is downloaded with the Kryptonian knowledge that was hidden in the caves, but his brain cannot handle all the information and he falls into a coma.^[23] When Walden wakes from his coma he begins proclaiming “The day is coming!”, and sets out to kill Clark, whom he believes was sent to conquer the world. During his fight with Clark, Walden, who has developed an energy beam that he shoots from the palm of his hand, destroys a propane gas tank and kills himself.^[31]

[edit] Dr. Virgil Swann

Christopher Reeve appeared twice as Virgil Swann, a scientist who was able to translate the Kryptonian language. In 1989, the day of the meteor shower that brought Clark to Earth, Virgil Swann's team of scientists received a message from space. Swann deciphered the message, which stated that a child was sent to Earth and that whoever should find him should protect him from evil. When Swann saw a burned Kryptonian symbol on the Kent barn he immediately contacted Clark, in hopes that he was the child the message spoke of. Clark visits Swann at his conservatory, where Swann gives him the message he received along with a second message that came Clark that his name was "Kal-El", and that his biological parents would be with him all the days of his life.^[23] When Lionel begins piecing together the alien language on the Kawatche cave walls, and Clark's constant presence at the caves, he seeks out Swann for the answers. Swann, though he denies knowing how to read the symbols in the caves, agrees to help Lionel when it correctly guesses that Lionel is dying; how Swann helps Lionel is not made clear.^[115] Some time later, Swann dies. Clark receives a package from Swann, just before learning of his death, which contains the octagonal disk that had been missing for some time.^[37]

Gough and Millar always had intentions of bringing Christopher Reeve onto the show, and when they found out that he enjoyed watching the show himself Gough and Millar decided that they were going to bring him on for season two. They had already crafted a character, Dr. Virgil Swann, they knew would reveal the truth about Krypton to Clark, and they decided that Reeve would be perfect for the part.^[116] According to Gough and Millar, it was "natural" for Reeve to be the one to educate Clark about his past, and help him see his future.^[117] As Gough describes it, the scene between Clark and Dr. Swan is a "passing of the torch" moment for the series. The creative team decided to fly to New York to film Reeve's scenes since he is confined to a wheelchair and requires much assistance when he travels. Although James Marshall directed the episode, for Reeve's scenes in New York the Smallville crew sent Greg Beeman as a stand-in director. Gough, Welling and Mat Beck travelling alongside Beeman to New York,^[116] and John Wells, who had previously lent his White House office on The West Wing to the Smallville crew for season one's "Hourglass",^[118] allowed the team to use the production offices from the Third Watch for Reeve's scenes.^[117]

"I thought it would be fun; it’s a very welcome relief from politics and medical research. Butting heads with politicians and the whole establishment in terms of advancing medical research is a very difficult job, and time-consuming and energy-consuming, and this is a very welcome change of pace."

— Reeve's experience filming[116]

There was initial concern about Reeve's stamina for shooting the scenes, as his particular scene with Welling was six pages long, which translates to approximately twelve hours of work day. Beeman tried to design the scene so that it was as simple as possible, but Reeve quickly readjusted the scene. Beeman originally had Welling walk into frame and stand in front of Reeve, and then make a single move behind Reeve. Beeman was told, by Reeve, that the scene needed more dynamic between the characters, and if Welling only made a single move then the dynamic would be lost. According to Reeve, "Tom moving around me will hide the fact that I'm unable to move." Beeman's fear of overstretching Reeve’s stamina, because of the added shots to the scene, were put to rest when Reeve himself stated that it did not matter how long it took to finish the scene, as long as it turned out great.^[116]

[edit] Sheriff Nancy Adams

Camille Mitchell appeared as Sheriff Nancy Adams in 22 episodes of Smallville, spanning the course of four seasons. Sheriff Adams makes her first appearance in Smallville, when she arrests Clark for getting into a fight with another patron of the Talon.^[119] During an investigation into a triggered alarm at the Luthor Mansion, Adams is killed by two rogue police officers looking for the black ship that landed during the second meteor shower.^[8] Mitchell makes a special appearance as Nancy Adams in season seven. In this episode, Clark is taken to an alternate reality, where he meets Adams, who is a Department of Domestic Security agent providing Lois, who is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, with inside information on President Lex Luthor’s operations.^[100]

[edit] Jor-El

Terrence Stamp has voiced the disembodied spirit of Jor-El, Clark’s biological father, in 16 episodes from season two to season seven. Jor-El first appearances to Clark as a voice emanating from the spaceship that brought Clark to Earth, informing him that it is time to leave Smallville and fulfill his destiny – a destiny that Clark believes is to conquer the world. Clark does not want to leave Smallville, so he destroys his spaceship.^[6] Three months after Clark fled Smallville, Jor-El and Jonathan make a deal that Jor-El will give Jonathan the power to bring Clark home if Jonathan agrees to give Clark to him when the time.^[120] In season three’s "Legacy", it is revealed that Jor-El came to Smallville as a "rite of passage" by his own father. It is deduced by Clark that Jor-El chose the Kent family to be Clark’s adoptive family after having a positive experience with Jonathan’s father.^[115] In the season three finale, Jor-El makes good on his deal, and takes Clark from Smallville.^[24] Jor-El returns Clark three months later, reprogrammed as "Kal-El" to seek out the three stones of knowledge so that he can fulfill his destiny;^[7] Clark fails to retrieve all three stones immediately, which results in a "great evil" arriving on Earth.^[39] With the three stones united, Clark uses them to form the Fortress of Solitude, where Jor-El informs him that he needs to begin his training in order to fulfill his destiny. That training in interrupted by two Kryptonian disciples of Zod—a criminal from Krypton, who is stuck in the Phantom Zone—who proceed to destroy Smallville looking for Clark. As a consequence when Clark does not return, Jor-El strips him of his powers.^[8] When Clark is killed in his mortal body, Jor-El resurrects Clark, with his powers, but informs his son that someone he loves will have to take his place in death;^[76] that person turns out to be Jonathan.^[60] In season seven, Jor-El warns Clark about the existence of his cousin Kara, the daughter of Jor-El’s brother Zor-El. It is revealed that Zor-El attempted to assassinate Jor-El.^[84] Clark’s consistent disobedience forces Jor-El to imprison his son in a block of ice.^[17] After learning that a clone of Clark has returned to Smallville, Jor-El frees his son so that he can take care of the creature.^[121]

[edit] Dr. Helen Bryce

Dr. Helen Bryce, portrayed by Emmanuelle Vaugier in nine episodes between season two and three, is a Smallville medical doctor who first appears in an anger management class that Lex is sentenced to attend.^[122] She and Lex begin a romantic relationship, which becomes a concern of Jonathan’s when Helen—after taking a sample of blood from Clark during a period when he was infected by kryptonite—discovers that Clark is not human.^[64] Helen promises Jonathan that she will keep Clark’s secret, but at the same time she does not destroy the vial of blood she took for him. As a result, the blood is stolen from her office, though it did not have Clark’s name on it.^[31] Her relationship with Lex becomes serious when he proposes marriage to her.^[123]

The day before her wedding, Helen leaves Lex, after discovering that he was the one that stole the vial of blood. She returns, forgiving him, and goes through with the wedding. While on the LuthorCorp jet, destined for their honeymoon, Lex passes out and wakes to an empty plane that crash lands in the ocean.^[6] After three months, the search for Lex is called off and he is declared dead. Helen appears at Lex’s funeral, grieving the loss of her husband, to Lionel’s disgust.^[58] When Lex returns he discovers that Helen was responsible for the plane’s crash. Lex orchestrates his own plan for revenge, which results in Helen disappearing while the two go on their second honeymoon.^[32]

[edit] Adam Knight

Adam Knight appeared in six episodes of season three; he was portrayed by Ian Somerhalder. He is first seen as a fellow patient of Lana’s at the Smallville Medical Center; he helps Lana push through her physical therapy after she was trampled by a horse.^[33] The two develop a friendship, which blossoms when Lana offers to rent Adam the apartment above the Talon coffee shop.^[124] Adam’s actions—specifically his injection of an unidentified drug developed by LuthorCorp, which is revealed to be the only way he can keep his body alive, after having died of a rare liver disease—begin to arouse suspicion in Lana and her friends.^[59] Lana discovers that Adam has been keeping a journal of all her actions, as well as all of Clark’s, so she tries, and fails, to evict him.^[59]

Lana enlists Lex’s help to get rid of Adam, but Adam disappears before Lex can do anything. Lex tracks Adam’s whereabouts to a LuthorCorp lab run by Dr. Tang, where Dr. Tang is injecting Adam with an experimental drug—this was against Lionel’s order, who cut-off Adam’s supply when he failed to deliver any new information on Clark—to keep him alive.^[125] Adam eventually breaks out of his confinement, killing Dr. Tang and the rest of the lab technicians. He kidnaps Lana and attempts to kill her, but Clark stops him. Without his serum, Adam’s body begins to rapidly degenerate until he finally dies.^[35] Internet speculation had the character of Adam Knight actually being that of Bruce Wayne, but the crew contest that it was never their intention to make reveal Adam Knight to be a young version of Bruce Wayne.^[126] The actual intention was for Adam to be Lana’s new boyfriend—a legitimate relationship—but the chemistry between Ian Somerhalder and Kristin Kreuk was not working. The creative team decided to bring the character’s storyline out of the romantic path and into a “thriller Pacific Heights direction”. According to Gough, the character’s storyline degenerated into a science fiction story, and when that occurred, they decided they had to wrap it up quickly.^[127]

[edit] Alicia Baker

Alicia Baker is portrayed by Sarah Carter; she appears in three episodes, the first being in season three and then two back-to-back episodes in season four. She first appears alongside Clark and some schoolmates as they tour the LuthorCorp facility. When Clark is forced to use his powers in front of her to save them both, she returns the favor by teleporting the two of them away from the arriving security guards. Soon, Alicia becomes obsessed with Clark, believing their relationship to be stronger than it really is. When she learns that Clark is not over Lana, Alicia sets out to kill her. Clark stops Alicia by covering her in lead paint – lead being the only thing that can keep her from teleporting away.^[125]

A year later, Alicia is released from Belle Reve with a clean bill of health. Believing her to be cured, Clark starts up a real relationship with Alicia. Alicia betrays Clark when she gives him a necklace containing red kryptonite, which remove Clark's inhibitions. The two speed off to Vegas to get married, but when Alicia removes the necklace Clark returns to normal. In an act of repentance, Alicia takes a bullet for Clark in order to protect his secret.^[91] Clark and Alicia get back together, but when a mysterious assailant attacks Lana and Jason, and the evidence points to Alicia, Clark begins to grow suspicious. In order to make Clark understand what it feels like to be, Alicia sets up an elaborate scheme to get Clark to reveal his powers to Chloe – Alicia's intentions are for Chloe to learn the truth and then expose Clark; Chloe does not write the story upon learning the truth. The real attacker is revealed to be another kryptonite infected person, who murders Alicia and sets it up to look like a suicide.^[49]

[edit] Milton Fine

James Marsters appears in eight episodes of season five, as well as four episodes of season seven, as Milton Fine. Brought to Earth by the two disciples of Zod,^[8] Fine poses as a professor at Central Kansas A&M, where he befriends Clark.^[16] Fine's ultimate plan is revealed when he attempts to use Clark’s Fortress to release Zod from the Phantom Zone. Clark prevents Zod from being released, and assumingly destroys Fine.^[128] A few months later, Fine reappears and teams up with Lex to develop a super-vaccine, one that would be able to cure all of the world's most deadly diseases.^[40] Fine is revealed to actually be an artificial intelligence, known as the Brain-Interactive-Construct.^[41] Fine explains to Clark that he was supposed to become the vessel for Zod’s spirit, but Lex became Clark’s replacement. In the season five finale, Fine unleashes a computer virus that cripples the world’s cyber infrastructure. Clark is then tricked into using a Kryptonian dagger, given to him by Jor-El to destroy Zod’s vessel (Lex), to kill Fine, who uses the dagger to provide himself with a link to the Fortress of Solitude and release Zod’s spirit into Lex.^[9]

In season seven, it is revealed that a small fragment of the black ship had been recovered by Lex, whose scientists were using meteor rocks to keep it subdued. The containment unit holding the fragment is broken and the fragment infects itself into a lab technician.^[85] Draining the lab tech of her natural metal content, along with several other victims in Metropolis, the fragment soon re-forms into Milton Fine. Fine learns that his creator, Dax-Ur, is on Earth and he pits Clark and Clark's clone against each other so that they will lead him to Dax-Ur. Once found, Fine kills Dax-Ur by downloading Dax-Ur’s knowledge from his brain, knowledge that allows Fine to repair himself.^[121] Fine’s new plan is to go back in time and kill Clark before his biological parents can send him to Earth.^[100] When that plan fails, Fine assumes Kara’s identity, leaving her in the Phantom Zone, and returns to Earth to find the device Veritas was hiding that could control Clark. Clark discovers the truth and destroys Fine.^[26]

[edit] John Jones

Phil Morris was selected to portray Martian Manhunter for season six.^[129] Morris has appeared in four episodes as the character, with an unknown actor portraying his first cameo on the show. In his first appearance, the character is not identified by name, nor shown for more than just a brief glimpse. He saves Clark during a fight with an escaped Phantom Zone criminal, and then flies off into the night. The only identifying features are the dropped oreos, a favorite of his comic book counterpart, and a red trail that is left in his wake as he flies away.^[130] Although he never introduces himself in the show, in the episode "Crimson", Chloe uses the name "Martian Manhunter" when she describes him,^[131] and the official description for "Bizarro" lists his name as John Jones, spelled J'onn J'onzz in the comics.^[132]

Morris stepped in for the characters first official appearance, guiding Clark out of a fictitious reality that was created by a Phantom Zone criminal attempting to take over Clark’s body.^[133] It is revealed in the season six finale that he has been working with Lionel, and was once an emissary of Jor-El’s. He has been watching over Clark since his arrival on Earth, instructed, by Jor-El, only to interfere if Clark’s life was in true danger – Clark’s recent battle with the escaped Phantom Zone criminals qualified for interference.^[43] When the last of the Phantom Zone criminals clones Clark's DNA, turning himself in Clark’s doppelganger, Martian Manhunter lends his assistance in defeating the clone.^[96] Upon learning of Clark's cousin Kara's existence on Earth, he echoes Jor-El's warning of Kara.^[94]

[edit] Grant Gabriel

Michael Cassidy appears in seven episodes of season seven as the Daily Planet's newest editor, Grant Gabriel, and the love interest for Lois this season.^[134] Shortly after hiring Lois, in part to inspire better stories out of Chloe, Grant begins a romantic relationship with Lois.^[84] The couple's secret is discovered by Chloe and Lex, who both insists that Lois and Grant break up in order to save face if someone questions how Lois actually got her job.^[17] The two stay together, working harder to keep their relationship a secret. After Lex buys the Dailey Planet, it is revealed that Grant is actually a clone of Lex's baby brother, Julian, who died as an infant.^[86] When Grant discovers this information he attempts to connect with Lionel, and keep Lex from controlling his life, which has been nothing but a lie manufactured by Lex to begin with. When Lex cannot control Grant he has him murdered.^[121]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Season 1 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 2 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 3 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 4 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 5 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 6 characters at Smallville Wiki
• Season 7 characters at Smallville Wiki

v • d • e Smallville Episodes Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7 Main characters Clark Kent • Lana Lang • Lex Luthor • Chloe Sullivan • Jonathan and Martha Kent • Pete Ross Whitney Fordman • Lionel Luthor • Jason Teague • Lois Lane • Jimmy Olsen • Kara Kent Guest characters Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7 Related information Chloe Chronicles