The Essentials

In rural Kansas, teenage Clark Kent saves the life of Lex Luthor after a car accident.

Clark battles intense headaches as he tries to adjust to his emerging power of X-ray vision, an ability that he cannot control. Also, Lex is framed for an armed robbery by a teenage girl who can take on the appearance of anyone she chooses. Elsewhere, Lana finds her mother's journal and accuses her aunt of lying to her.

Clark's superpowers are transferred to a fellow student after a bolt of lightning strikes the future Man of Steel while trying to rescue the awkward teen during a class trip. Meanwhile, Lana learns that her aunt is selling the family movie theater, which is of sentimental value to her.

The Kents take in a mysterious youngster who can read minds, after he is accidentally struck by their pickup truck while fleeing from a murderous thief. Meanwhile, Lionel Luther offers Lex a job in Metropolis, but Lex is skeptical of his father's generosity.

A head injury gives Lana the ability to see through the eyes of a kidnapper who abducts Chloe and keeps her bound and blindfolded in a dark room filled with giant teddy bears. Meanwhile, an ambitious newspaper reporter provides Lex with new information about the meteor shower.

Lionel Luthor announces plans to close the LutherCorp plant in Smallville, but Lex won't let his father shut it down without a fight. Meanwhile, Chloe tells Clark that she and her father may have to move back to Metropolis so her dad can find a new job; and Whitney surprises Lana by enlisting in the Marines.

Clark rescues Lana from a destructive twister that tears through town, but his good fortune is short-lived as he discovers that his dad is missing. Meanwhile, Lex's hesitation in a moment of crisis leads to serious injuries to his own father.

Clark tells Pete about his extraterrestrial powers after Pete finds Clark's spaceship and insists on hiding it in a shed in his own yard, but the craft is soon stolen by a scientist. Meanwhile, Lionel Luthor claims he wants to spend more time with Lex; and Lana is suspicious of her aunt's new boyfriend.

Clark's behavior radically changes after getting his school ring, which has a red kryptonite stone in the setting. His reckless conduct threatens the safety of his family and friends. Meanwhile, a new student at Smallville High is hunted by a psychotic U.S. marshal.

A woman arrives in Smallville and tells Clark that she's his biological mother and informs Lex that Lionel is the father. Plus, she wants Clark to take a DNA test to confirm her story. Meanwhile, Lana decides to meet the man who could be her biological father.

Clark meets a Native American girl in a cave and discovers drawings on the walls from the girl's ancestors that tell a tale mirroring Clark's arrival in Smallville during a meteor shower. Meanwhile, Lana learns the results of a DNA test that could prove her kinship to Henry Small.

After seeing a newspaper photo of a Kryptonian symbol burned into the side of the Kents' farmhouse, a reclusive physicist takes an interest in Clark and offers the teen information on his alien origins. Meanwhile, Chloe catches Lana looking through private files on her computer.

Part 1 of two. Clark kisses Lana, then he hears a cryptic message from an unknown source that matches the ranting of a crazed linguist who was injured by a Kryptonian energy beam while inspecting the cave. Elsewhere, someone breaks into Helen's office and steals a sample of Clark's blood.

The conclusion of a two-part episode in which Clark learns the mysterious voice calling to him belongs to his Kryptonian father, who tells him to leave Smallville to prepare for his role as Earth's ruler. Meanwhile, Lex's wedding is jeopardized when he makes a confession to Helen that causes her to question their entire relationship.

Part 1 of two. Clark, who was last seen donning a red-kryptonite ring and fleeing to Metropolis on a motorcycle, faces pressure to return home. Also: Lex's fate is revealed.

In the conclusion, crime boss Morgan Edge tracks down Clark to get the package he took from LuthorCorp. Elsewhere, Lex confronts Helen about what really happened the night his plane crashed.

Lex tells Clark that assassins tried to kill him and that he recently met with the presumed-dead Morgan Edge, but Clark is skeptical of his claims since Lex has been having trouble separating reality from paranoid delusions.

Clark tries to prove Lex's sanity and prevent Lionel from forcing electroshock therapy on his son. Also, Lana meets a mysterious guy in the hospital while recovering from her injuries; and Clark runs into former enemies who plan to steal his strength.

Lex undergoes a series of experimental procedures with Dr. Garner to try and retrieve the memories he lost while he was delusional. Elsewhere, Lana is accepted to art school in Paris, but she has to find a way to pay for it.

Clark decides to reveal his secret to Lana, hoping his show of trust will persuade her not to leave Smallville, but before he can tell her, she is kidnapped by a childhood friend who has developed the ability to pass through objects. Meanwhile, Lionel learns that Lex is working with the FBI.

A mysterious stranger with powers similar to Clark's arrives at the Kent farm and tells the Teen of Steel that she's from Krypton and was sent to bring him home. Elsewhere, Lana says her goodbyes before her trip to Paris; and Lionel, who's locked in a prison cell, prepares for his day in court.

Lois Lane arrives in town to investigate her cousin Chloe's death and discovers an amnesiac Clark in a cornfield after she veers off the road during a storm. Lois takes him to the hospital and meets Martha, who's busy keeping watch over a severely injured Jonathan. Elsewhere, Lana finds a new beau in Paris; Clark discovers a new superpower; and Lex needs blood treatments to help keep him alive.

Lois and Clark go to the safe house to investigate Chloe's death and end up running from military men. Later, Lois returns to her cousin's grave and discovers her casket is empty, but she has little time to react before she's attacked by an unusual being.

After a boy with superhuman speed saves Jonathan---and steals his wallet---Clark tracks him down and discovers he's a homeless kid who uses his powers to commit petty crimes. Also, Lex acquires an ancient manuscript with Kryptonian symbols, and Clark learns that it contains a mysterious map; Jason discovers Lana's tattoo.

Clark switches bodies with Lionel after Clark interferes with the exchange of a Kryptonian stone that was meant for an unsuspecting Lex. Consequently, Clark takes Lionel's place in prison, while Lionel takes advantage of his newfound freedom---and superhuman abilities.

A teen with teleportation abilities who was obsessed with Clark is released from the Belle Reve asylum and tracks him down. Though apparently reformed, she manipulates Clark's feelings for her using red kryptonite. Meanwhile, Lionel tries to convince Lex that he's a changed man; and Lana confronts Jason about the breakup.

Lana is attacked at her apartment and Alicia is the prime suspect. Clark believes she's innocent, but later has to accept that she may be guilty when the culprit attacks Jason and leaves one of Alicia's scarves behind.

The day after Dr. Swann dies, Clark receives a note from the professor leading him to a message from Jor-El that instructs him to find two sacred stones. Meanwhile, Jason and Lex are in China on a related mission; and Lana learns that the witch Isobel has been trying to find the stones by using her as a vessel.

A kryptonite-based explosion at the Luthorcorp lab creates an evil clone of Lex, and the sinister twin tries to prevent the process from being reversed by taking drastic measures, which include imprisoning Lex in the basement of his own mansion.

The town is evacuated on graduation day in preparation for an impending meteor shower, and Jor-El warns Clark that the entire planet is in danger if the three sacred stones aren't reunited.

Two superpowered Kryptonian villains arrive as the town struggles to recover from the meteor shower. Elsewhere, Clark's Fortress of Solitude is created, and Chloe tells Clark that she knows about his abilities.

Clark is shot and Chloe is kidnapped by a computer wiz who has programmed a missile to annihilate Smallville in hopes of ridding the world of the town's "meteor freaks." Elsewhere, Lex questions Lana about the spaceship she saw.

Arthur Curry, better known as Aquaman, arrives in town to destroy a new sonar weapon designed by LuthorCorp. Meanwhile, Clark meets Prof. Milton Fine, a.k.a. Brainiac.

When Martha is struck by a mysterious flash of light, Clark thinks it may have something to do with Jor-El's prediction that he'll lose someone close to him. He turns to Professor Fine for answers and is told that his mother only has a few hours to live.

The results of the election are revealed, and Clark returns to the Fortress of Solitude to appeal to Jor-El.

Clark befriends Victor, the unwilling victim of a cybernetics experiment at LuthorCorp, but Lex wants him back. Meanwhile, Martha may be the target of blackmail.

Suspicions about Lionel Luthor's intentions are raised when Clark and Martha receive ghostly visits from Jonathan, who tells them that Lionel must die. Meanwhile, Lex's trust in Milton Fine is taxed when Fine demands the vaccine.

Clark's Kryptonian origins sow seeds of sorrow and destruction on Earth as forces affecting Lex, Lionel, Lana and Clark are set in motion, culminating in the moment for which all his trials have prepared him.

Clark is imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, deprived of his powers. Meanwhile, Lex/Zod keeps Lana captive so she can sire him an heir; Lois and Martha crash near the Fortress of Solitude, where Jor-El tells Martha how to kill Zod; and Chloe reunites with Jimmy Olsen.

The Green Arrow draws the attention of Lois after she sees him steal a rare diamond necklace off Martha's neck; Clark discovers Oliver Queen's secret; Lex mends fences with his father to test Lana's loyalty.

Clark and Raya face another escapee from the Phantom Zone, Baern, who knows the secret of the Kryptonian Black Box and will be unstoppable if he accesses its power.

The Green Arrow, Impulse, Aquaman and Cyborg try to destroy LuthorCorp's secret laboratory, but Impulse is captured and tortured by Lex, prompting the others to join forces as a team to rescue him.

In the sixth-season finale, Clark learns how Lionel got Lana to marry his son; Lana tells Lex that it's over; Martian Manhunter helps Clark stop Lex from finding the last Phantom Zone wraith, hoping to keep him from building his army of super soldiers; and Lois gets into serious trouble when she tries to investigate the secret lab.

As the seventh season begins, Clark faces his most deadly enemy---his Bizarro doppelganger---after Lex's secret lab at Reeves dam is destroyed; Lex is saved from drowning by a mysterious female savior, but his past catches up with him.

Clark meets his cousin Kara, but decides that there is nothing for him in Smallville without Lana, so he heads to the Fortress of Solitude to begin training as a superhero. Once there, Jor-El tells him Kara's father is evil and she is dangerous, so Clark must return to Smallville.

Chloe runs afoul of the Black Canary when she procures one of Lex's project files for Oliver. Lex suspects the Green Arrow and retaliates, while Lois discovers Oliver's secret.

Lionel kidnaps Clark and holds him in a kryptonite-lined cell at a Luthorcorp facility; Chloe and Lana confront Lionel, who blames Lex, and they then take Kara to the Fortress and plead with Jor-El to restore her memory so she can save Clark.

The secret of the Veritas society leads Lex into a collision course with Clark; and a death rocks Smallville.

In the seventh-season finale, Brainiac impersonates Kara, whom he has imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, and in her guise he takes Lex to the Fortress for a showdown with Clark. Meanwhile, Chloe is arrested by the Department of Domestic Security; and Lana awakens from her comatose state.

In the eighth-season opener, the Justice League searches for Clark, but is stymied by the new CEO of Luthorcorp, Tess Mercer; and Chloe is held prisoner by a group who have discovered her powers, while Clark has been stripped of his by Jor-El.

Oliver falls ill at a charity event and Clark and Chloe discover their friend has only hours to live. Oliver soon descends into delirium and is overcome by memories of his time on the island and when he first met Tess. Meanwhile, Clark and Chloe's fruitless search for a cure pushes Chloe to try out her new powers, much to Clark's surprise.

Maxima, a queen from planet Almerac, arrives on Earth after being accidentally summoned by Tess. Thinking that her soul mate called her, Maxima sets out to find him, starting with Jimmy, but the men of Metropolis better beware---her kiss is deadly.

Doomsday kidnaps Chloe, and Clark searches for her while battling the Persuader with a little help from three superheroes known as the Legion: Rokk, Imra and Garth.

Oliver takes the lead when Clark exhibits resistance to killing Doomsday, and Chloe finds herself caught in the middle of the situation. Meanwhile, a fight between Lois and Tess takes a surprising turn.

Season 9 opens with Clark ready to begin his training with Jor-El, who instructs him to first end things with Lois. Elsewhere, Lois returns to work with no memory of where she's been and meets a new reporter while on assignment; Clark refuses Chloe's request to turn back time to save Jimmy; Zod visits the Luthor home; and Oliver's dark turn continues.

Jor-El meets Chloe at the Kent farm while searching for Clark. Meanwhile, Zod sets out to track down Jor-El, whom he believes is the Blur, and Clark tries to find his father before Zod does.

Clark and Chloe discover that someone is stalking and killing former criminals. Further research uncovers that the "criminals" are heroes of the last generation, framed by the government for crimes they didn't commit. Now new heroes must band with the old heroes--the Justice Society of America--if they hope to stop the killer.

Martha surprises Clark when she returns to town with her boyfriend, Perry White; Chloe and Clark search for the Book of Rao, which may help them stop Zod; and Lois and Perry run into trouble while researching a story on the Red Queen.

In the Season 9 finale, Zod claims to be the Blur and asks Lois to steal the Book of Rao from Clark; Lois asks Clark for full disclosure, but he refuses; Oliver disappears while he and Chloe attempt to fight the Kandorians by reconnecting Watchtower's satellites; Tess is seriously injured after confronting Zod; and Clark and Zod have a showdown as they battle for Earth.

In the Season 10 opener, Lois saves Clark's life by removing the blue kryptonite incapacitating him. Elsewhere, Chloe hunts for Oliver while Tess finds herself in a LuthorCorp lab. And Jonathan returns to the farm with a message for Clark.

Clark attends his high-school reunion and is visited from the future by Brainiac. He reveals truths about Clark's past, present and future, including the real circumstances surrounding Jonathan's death, Clark's relationship with Lois and his role as a superhero. Meanwhile, Lois is perturbed that no one remembers her short stint as a student.

Lois activates an artifact that turns her into a goddess with superpowers just as she decides to tell Clark she knows his secret. Cat witnesses Lois' new powers and tries to prove that Lois is the Blur. Meanwhile, Clark and Oliver approach Tess for help with Lois.

Clark is transported to a parallel universe by a kryptonian box that once belonged to Lionel Luthor. In this world, he has been adopted by the Luthors instead of the Kents and has grown up to be a killer. Without tipping his hand, Clark looks for a way to get back to his own universe, where he has been replaced by his murderous double.

Lois walks in Clark's shoes for a day when Jor-el bestows Clark's superpowers on her as a wedding gift. But when the Toyman returns to Metropolis it's Lois who must stop him. Meanwhile, Oliver bumps into Kara while searching for the Bow of Orion.

In Part 1 of the two-part series finale, Clark tries to persuade runaway bride Lois to still marry him. Meanwhile, Lionel kidnaps Tess, and darkness envelops Oliver.

In the conclusion of the series finale, Clark Kent's 10-year journey to become the Man of Steel culminates as Lex Luthor pays a visit to Smallville.