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The Best Episodes of Smallville

Every episode of Smallville ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Smallville!

Binge this in 6d 8h•Peaking at 9.3/10

The origins of the world’s greatest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Smallville Season 5 Episode 12 - Reckoning
    9.3/10(18 votes)

    #1 - Reckoning

    S5:E12

    Clark reveals his secret to Lana, Jonathan and Lex learn the results of the senatorial election, and there is a tragic car accident on the highway that takes the life of someone Clark loves, forcing Clark to appeal to Jor-El for help.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders

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  2. Smallville Season 9 Episode 21 - Salvation
    9.3/10(12 votes)

    #2 - Salvation

    S9:E21

    When Zod and the Kandorians launch their brutal attack on Earth, Chloe calls in some old friends to join the fight against the aliens. Clark and Zod face off in an epic battle for the control of Earth.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Alfredo Septién, Turi Meyer

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  3. Smallville Season 10 Episode 4 - Homecoming
    9.3/10(13 votes)

    #3 - Homecoming

    S10:E4

    In an attempt to cheer up Clark, Lois convinces him to attend their five-year high school reunion. A visit back to the home of the Crows has Clark remembering old times with Lana and Chloe, while Lois is furious that no one remembers her five days as a student. Brainiac 5.0 uses his Legion ring to visit from the future and takes Clark through his past, present and future. He shows Clark what really happened the night Jonathan died, Oliver’s current pain and Clark’s future at the Daily Planet with Lois and his role as Earth’s favorite red and blue superhero.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders

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  4. Smallville Season 4 Episode 22 - Commencement
    9.2/10(16 votes)

    #4 - Commencement

    S4:E22

    After a nightmare, Clark goes to the cave to confront his father Jor-El. Jor-El warns that the crystals have fallen into human hands and have triggered a new meteor shower which will annihilate the Earth unless he reunites the three crystals. Meanwhile, Lex helps Lana, who has apparently commited murder, but then turns against her to get possession of her Kryptonian stone. As disaster looms, Chloe and Lois try to find Lana while Clark attempts to reassemble the stones, and Jason returns to make things unpleasant for the Kents.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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  5. Smallville Season 6 Episode 11 - Justice
    9.2/10(16 votes)

    #5 - Justice

    S6:E11

    When Lex's Level 33.1 project comes to fruition, Oliver Queen must bring together several of Clark's "heroic" super-powered allies together: Arthur Curry, Bart Allen, and Victor Stone.

    Director:Steven S. DeKnight
    Writer:Steven S. DeKnight

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  6. Smallville Season 10 Episode 21 - Finale
    9.2/10(16 votes)

    #6 - Finale

    S10:E21

    The story of Clark Kent culminates in this epic two-hour series finale as Clark takes the last step to becoming the Man of Steel.

    Directors:Greg Beeman, Kevin Fair
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Alfredo Septién, Kelly Souders, Turi Meyer

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Smallville

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  7. Smallville Season 3 Episode 19 - Memoria
    9.1/10(14 votes)

    #7 - Memoria

    S3:E19

    Believing that key information about his father's past was lost when his memory was erased, Lex decides to join an experimental program with Dr. Garner to regain the information so he can turn his father over to the FBI. Knowing that Lex will discover his secret if he regains his memory, Clark tries to stop him but is caught by Lionel and the doctor and exposed to the same radical treatment so that Lionel can solve the mystery of Clark's past.

    Director:Miles Millar
    Writers:Miles Millar, Alfred Gough

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  8. Smallville Season 6 Episode 1 - Zod
    9.1/10(14 votes)

    #8 - Zod

    S6:E1

    A powerless Clark is trapped in the "Phantom Zone" surrounded by the criminals his father imprisoned there. However, an unexpected ally comes to his aid. Meanwhile, Zod in Lex's body advances his plan to transform Earth into a new Krypton, while using Lana to produce an heir.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writer:Steven S. DeKnight

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  9. Smallville Season 6 Episode 4 - Arrow
    9.0/10(14 votes)

    #9 - Arrow

    S6:E4

    The mysterious Green Arrow steals a necklace from Martha, and both Lois and Clark resolve to find out who the vigilante is. While Clark determines Green Arrow's true identity, Lex continues his investigation of the mysterious black box while Lionel warns Lana against him.

    Director:Mike Rohl
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders

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  10. Smallville Season 8 Episode 11 - Legion
    9.0/10(13 votes)

    #10 - Legion

    S8:E11

    The Persuader attacks Clark; Chloe, as Brainiac, tells Davis he is Doomsday and that he was created to destroy the "other Kryptonian" and the world.

    Director:Glen Winter
    Writer:Geoff Johns

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  11. Smallville Season 9 Episode 9 - Pandora
    9.0/10(12 votes)

    #11 - Pandora

    S9:E9

    Tess kidnaps Lois to find out where Lois went after she disappeared for weeks. Lois's memory of the future depicts a Metropolis under Zod's rule and Clark powerless under the red sun, while Chloe forms a resistance group with Oliver. After learning of these future events, Clark makes an important decision about Zod.

    Director:Morgan Beggs
    Writers:Drew Landis, Julia Swift

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  12. Smallville Season 9 Episode 11 - Absolute Justice
    9.0/10(15 votes)

    #12 - Absolute Justice

    S9:E11

    A man named Sylvester Pemberton tracks down Chloe and tells her he knows about her team of superheroes and needs their help. However, before he can explain who he is, he is attacked and killed by Icicle. Clark and Chloe's investigation leads Clark to the former headquarters of the Justice Society of America where he meets up with Nelson AKA Dr. Fate, Carter Hall AKA Hawkman and Courtney AKA Star Girl. Courtney pleads with Hawkman and Dr. Fate to help her catch the killer that is targeting their group but they are reluctant to resume their duties as superheroes. Clark, John Jones, Green Arrow and Chloe team up to help the JSA stop Icicle before he murders another member of the group. Meanwhile, Lois receives a package from a mysterious agency called Checkmate, run by Amanda Waller.

    Directors:Tom Welling, Glen Winter
    Writer:Geoff Johns

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  13. Smallville Season 2 Episode 17 - Rosetta
    8.9/10(18 votes)

    #13 - Rosetta

    S2:E17

    Clark travels to New York to meet Dr. Swann, a brilliant scientist who holds a message for Clark from his home planet. Meanwhile Lana decides to move out of Chloe's house after they get into an argument about Clark.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writers:Miles Millar, Alfred Gough

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  14. Smallville Season 2 Episode 23 - Exodus
    8.9/10(19 votes)

    #14 - Exodus

    S2:E23

    A sense of foreboding surrounds Smallville as Clark must choose between staying with Lana and his family or fulfilling his destiny to rule the Earth. Lex and Helen prepare for their marriage, and Chloe considers Lionel's offer to investigate Clark.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Miles Millar, Alfred Gough

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  15. Smallville Season 4 Episode 6 - Transference
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    #15 - Transference

    S4:E6

    Clark is drawn to the state penitentery by one of the kryptonian crystals, which Lionel is using to switch bodies with Lex. Clark intervenes and Lionel enters his body instead. While Lionel uses his newfound super-powers to regain his lost fortune and alienate Clark's friend, Clark must convince his parents that he is the "real" Clark and reverse the processs, while avoiding murderous convicts.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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  16. Smallville Season 4 Episode 12 - Pariah
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    #16 - Pariah

    S4:E12

    When a mysterious killer strikes at both Lana and Jason, Alicia is the leading suspect and even Clark comes to doubt her innocence. Feeling betrayed, she secretly tricks Clark into revealing his powers in front of one of his friends. And Genevieve returns to town with an offer for Lex, who in turn has an offer for Jason.

    Director:Paul Shapiro
    Writer:Holly Harold

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  17. Smallville Season 4 Episode 17 - Onyx
    8.9/10(15 votes)

    #17 - Onyx

    S4:E17

    A black kryptonite explosion splits Lex in two and his evil side - Alexander - is released. Alexander imprisons Lex in the mansion then gives full vent to his evil side - he threatens to evict Lana from the Talon unless she becomes his mate, jousts with Lionel, and tries to kill Clark and Chloe when they figure out his secret.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Steven S. DeKnight

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  18. Smallville Season 5 Episode 8 - Solitude
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    #18 - Solitude

    S5:E8

    When Martha comes down with a strange disease, Professor Fine convinces Clark that Jor-El is responsible and that the Fortress must be trying to eliminate the father of Kal-El. But Professor Fine has an ulterior motive which comes to fruition when they arrive.

    Director:Paul Shapiro
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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  19. Smallville Season 5 Episode 22 - Vessel
    8.9/10(16 votes)

    #19 - Vessel

    S5:E22

    Professor Fine has unleashed a virus that will kill millions. Clark must put a stop to him, while Lex wonders what happens when he will tell Lana his newest secret.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders

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  20. Smallville Season 6 Episode 22 - Phantom
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    #20 - Phantom

    S6:E22

    Clark discovers the reason Lana married Lex then and sets out to kill Lionel. Lex tries to use DNA from the last phantom to power his super-soldiers. Lois goes to a dam to search for Lex's lab but is caught by a security guard and fatally injured. Chloe's power is discovered.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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  21. Smallville Season 7 Episode 16 - Descent
    8.9/10(14 votes)

    #21 - Descent

    S7:E16

    No one is safe when Lex seeks the secret of Veritas, and Clark tries to stop him.

    Director:Ken Horton
    Writers:Holly Henderson, Don Whitehead

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  22. Smallville Season 8 Episode 10 - Bride
    8.9/10(12 votes)

    #22 - Bride

    S8:E10

    Unexpected guests crash Chloe and Jimmy's wedding; Oliver thinks he has found Lex and sets out to confront him, but he is shocked to find Lana instead; Lois and Clark grow closer.

    Director:Jeannot Szwarc
    Writers:Alfredo Septién, Turi Meyer

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  23. Smallville Season 8 Episode 14 - Requiem
    8.9/10(13 votes)

    #23 - Requiem

    S8:E14

    An explosion at LutherCorp injures Oliver and kills all the board members.

    Director:Mike Rohl
    Writers:Holly Henderson, Don Whitehead

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  24. Smallville Season 3 Episode 1 - Exile
    8.8/10(20 votes)

    #24 - Exile

    S3:E1

    Under the influence of red kryptonite, Clark is following a life of crime in Metropolis while his friends and parents desperately try to find him. Lex is forced to confront his personal demons on a desert island, while Lionel holds a funeral for his presumed-dead son. And Jonathan Kent must pay a high price for the power necessary to bring his son back home.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Miles Millar, Alfred Gough

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  25. Smallville Season 3 Episode 9 - Asylum
    8.8/10(18 votes)

    #25 - Asylum

    S3:E9

    Three of Clark's former opponents approach Lex to enlist his help in luring Clark to the hospital after they hear that Lionel has requested Lex be given electroshock therapy to erase his memory. However, the plan goes awry when the villains double-cross Lex and use kryptonite to steal Clark's powers. Meanwhile, Lana meets a mysterious stranger in the hospital.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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Best Episodes Summary

"Reckoning" is the best rated episode of "Smallville". It scored 9.3/10 based on 18 votes. Directed by Greg Beeman and written by Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, it aired on 1/26/2006. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Salvation".