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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 10h•Peaking at 9.4/10

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
    9.4/10(2749 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 10 Episode 4 - Homecoming
    9.4/10(2219 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Smallville Season 6 Episode 11 - Justice
    9.2/10(2449 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Smallville Season 9 Episode 21 - Salvation
    9.2/10(1554 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. Smallville Season 10 Episode 21 - Finale
    9.2/10(2976 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Smallville Season 2 Episode 17 - Rosetta
    9.1/10(2242 votes)

    #6 - 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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Smallville

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  7. Smallville Season 4 Episode 22 - Commencement
    9.1/10(1888 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. Smallville Season 6 Episode 22 - Phantom
    9.1/10(1757 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. Smallville Season 7 Episode 16 - Descent
    9.0/10(1555 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. Smallville Season 8 Episode 10 - Bride
    9.0/10(1656 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. Smallville Season 1 Episode 21 - Tempest
    8.9/10(2178 votes)

    #11 - Tempest

    S1:E21

    Lex is hit with a surprise by his father. Clark prepares for his date with Chloe, but Mother Nature has other plans.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Smallville Season 2 Episode 23 - Exodus
    8.9/10(1895 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. Smallville Season 3 Episode 19 - Memoria
    8.9/10(1839 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Smallville Season 3 Episode 22 - Covenant (2)
    8.9/10(1803 votes)

    #14 - Covenant (2)

    S3:E22

    Kara, a beautiful superpowered girl from Krypton, entices Clark to join with his father and embrace his destiny. Clark is left without support after Pete's departure when Jonathan reveals the deal he made with Jor-El. At the same time, Clark's relationships with Lex and Lana take unexpected turns, leaving him with no one but Kara to turn to.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Smallville Season 4 Episode 1 - Crusade
    8.9/10(1958 votes)

    #15 - Crusade

    S4:E1

    Clark returns to Smallville as Kal-El - intent on fulfilling his destiny, he goes after a powerful kryptonian crystal that Lex has obtained in Egypt. Meanwhile, newcomer Lois Lane arrives in Smallville to look into the death of her cousin Chloe, and Lana returns from Paris with a new boyfriend. Jonathan lies in a coma after the events of last year's season finale and Lionel must deal with his new life in prison.

    Director:Greg Beeman
    Writers:Miles Millar, Alfred Gough

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  16. Smallville Season 4 Episode 6 - Transference
    8.9/10(1800 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. Smallville Season 5 Episode 1 - Arrival
    8.9/10(1763 votes)

    #17 - Arrival

    S5:E1

    Having been transported to the Fortress of Solitude, Clark is confronted by Jor-El, who tells him he cannot return to Smallville, instead he must stay and prepare to save the planet. Also, transported to the Fortress, Chloe is unable to handle the sub-zero temperature and collapses, begging Clark to use his powers to save her. Jor-El forbids him to leave, but finally acquiesces, telling Clark he must return before sunset or there will be dire consequences. Meanwhile, Lana is horrified when she sees two Kryptonian aliens emerge from a spaceship discovered in the remnants of the meteor shower. The two aliens destroy what's left of the town searching for Kal-El.

    Director:James Marshall
    Writers:Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer

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  18. Smallville Season 5 Episode 22 - Vessel
    8.9/10(1589 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. Smallville Season 9 Episode 11 - Absolute Justice
    8.9/10(1947 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. Smallville Season 4 Episode 12 - Pariah
    8.8/10(1856 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. Smallville Season 6 Episode 16 - Promise
    8.8/10(1671 votes)

    #21 - Promise

    S6:E16

    Clark has second thoughts about Lana marrying Lex, and Lana has the same concerns. Meanwhile, the doctor involved in the secret behind Lana's pregnancy threatens Lex with his knowledge.

    Director:Rick Rosenthal
    Writers:Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders

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  22. Smallville Season 9 Episode 9 - Pandora
    8.8/10(1326 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. Smallville Season 2 Episode 4 - Red
    8.7/10(2127 votes)

    #23 - Red

    S2:E4

    Clark has his first run-in with red kryptonite in this exploration of classic Superman mythology, turning immoral when he gets his high-school ring holding a piece of rock. Meanwhile, Lex and his father have some issues to resolve when Lionel starts taking over the manor.

    Director:Jeff Woolnough
    Writer:Jeph Loeb

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  24. Smallville Season 3 Episode 1 - Exile
    8.7/10(1928 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 6 Episode 1 - Zod
    8.7/10(1591 votes)

    #25 - 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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Best Episodes Summary

"Reckoning" is the best rated episode of "Smallville". It scored 9.4/10 based on 2749 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, "Homecoming".