The 22-episode third season of Smallville aired during the 2003/2004 TV season. Season three picks up a few months after the events of the season two finale, in which Clark puts on the Red Kryptonite ring and speeds away from Smallville on his dad's motorcycle. We find out that he is living in Metropolis, financing a lavish lifestyle by knocking over ATM machines and the occasional bank. This brings him into conflict with a local gangster named Morgan Edge (played by Rutger Hauer), who has ties to Lionel Luther. Obviously, Clark ends up coming back to Smallville due to a deal between Jonathan and Jor-El (voiced by Terrance Stamp). The rest of the season focuses on Clark trying to protect his secret (mainly from Lionel and Lex) and resisting Jor-El's plans for him. The occasional "freak of the week" episode is mixed in during the season, but not as many as in the first couple of seasons.
The season again hosts a bevy of notable guest stars, including the aforementioned Rutger Hauer, as well as Jesse Metcalf, the returning Shawn Ashmore and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Ian Somerhalder (who has a recurring role, mostly involving Lana), Missy Peregrym, Martin Cummins, Megan Ory, Sarah Carter, and a very young Adrienne Palicki. Christopher Reeve also makes what would be his last appearance as Virgil Swan. And, for those who were relatively young during the show's original run, most will appreciate the early 2000s soundtrack that the series boasts.
Overall, the series is clearly transitioning from the "high school" life of the characters (which ultimately is good given that Tom Welling was about 27 during the filming of the third season, 10 years older than Clark was on the show) to the early adult life of the characters. This season would see the first of the main cast turnover, with Sam Jones leaving at the end of the season. Really, his character is the only one that had very little to do and almost no development during the season. And, since the gig as Clark's sidekick was pretty played out, it was probably the right time for him to move on. The series gets a bit darker this season and closer in tone to today's DC series. The acting and writing are top-notch, and the special effects improved.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. For extras, there are commentary tracks on select episodes, with Michael Rosenbaum and Allison Mack being the standout contributors from the cast, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and volume 2 of The Chole Chronicles, which is part live-action and part comic book stills, going through a side story not seen in the show, and adding a bit to one of the episodes. As good as Mack is it still amazes me how her life spiraled after the show ended because looking at how much she contributed to the show and the extras, and how good she was at all of them, she was, of all the main cast members, the one who could be predicted to have a great post-Smallville career.
While I cannot say that the show will appeal to everyone if you are a fan of the Superman mythos or superhero shows or movies in general, it is definitely worth checking out. The extras are good enough that picking up the physical discs makes it worth it (for those who prefer physical media).
The season again hosts a bevy of notable guest stars, including the aforementioned Rutger Hauer, as well as Jesse Metcalf, the returning Shawn Ashmore and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Ian Somerhalder (who has a recurring role, mostly involving Lana), Missy Peregrym, Martin Cummins, Megan Ory, Sarah Carter, and a very young Adrienne Palicki. Christopher Reeve also makes what would be his last appearance as Virgil Swan. And, for those who were relatively young during the show's original run, most will appreciate the early 2000s soundtrack that the series boasts.
Overall, the series is clearly transitioning from the "high school" life of the characters (which ultimately is good given that Tom Welling was about 27 during the filming of the third season, 10 years older than Clark was on the show) to the early adult life of the characters. This season would see the first of the main cast turnover, with Sam Jones leaving at the end of the season. Really, his character is the only one that had very little to do and almost no development during the season. And, since the gig as Clark's sidekick was pretty played out, it was probably the right time for him to move on. The series gets a bit darker this season and closer in tone to today's DC series. The acting and writing are top-notch, and the special effects improved.
The DVD set is a six-disc set. For extras, there are commentary tracks on select episodes, with Michael Rosenbaum and Allison Mack being the standout contributors from the cast, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and volume 2 of The Chole Chronicles, which is part live-action and part comic book stills, going through a side story not seen in the show, and adding a bit to one of the episodes. As good as Mack is it still amazes me how her life spiraled after the show ended because looking at how much she contributed to the show and the extras, and how good she was at all of them, she was, of all the main cast members, the one who could be predicted to have a great post-Smallville career.
While I cannot say that the show will appeal to everyone if you are a fan of the Superman mythos or superhero shows or movies in general, it is definitely worth checking out. The extras are good enough that picking up the physical discs makes it worth it (for those who prefer physical media).
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