Exclusive! Smallville Writers Reveal Shocking Details of the Season's Final Episodes -- Part One
What's Next for Clark, Lana and Lex? Will the Green Arrow Return? What is Chloe's Power? Where the Heck is Jimmy Olsen? Smallville Writers and Co-Executive Producers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer Have the Answers!
Smallville has been white hot in season six, introducing new characters (Martian Manhunter, Oliver Queen and his alter-ego, the Green Arrow), a new super-team (the Justice League) and new romances that have been sexy (Lois and Oliver) and sweet (Chloe and Jimmy). Popular superheroes from the past (Aquaman, Cyborg, the Flash) have returned, the Earth has been invaded by fearsome creatures from the Phantom Zone, Chloe has been revealed to be a meteor freak, Clark has begun to deal with the responsibilities that come with having great power and Lex has ramped up his sinister secret experiments, many involving super-beings.
But the most dramatic of Smallville's many sizzling storylines the past few months has been the twisted tale of Lex and Lana, now husband and wife. The grievously insecure and tortured Lex, now a genuine madman, tricked Lana into believing she was pregnant with his child -- by substituting hormones for her pre-natal vitamins and faking her ultrasound test -- to ensure that she would marry him. His fears weren't entirely groundless: Even though she thought she was pregnant, Lana wanted to call off the wedding after realizing she loved Clark, but Lionel forced her to marry his son. Lana later learned that her pregnancy wasn't real and that Lex had played her. She has since become a dark, angry young woman with revenge on her mind.
There are only four shows left this season, including this week's emotionally charged episode Nemesis, in which former friends turned bitter enemies Lex and Clark are forced to deal with their relationship while Lana deals with her husband's unforgivable deceit. Veteran Smallville writers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer spoke with me about the surprises that have rocked season six and the shocks in store in the episodes to come. Swimmer says it's all building up to Clark confronting "the greatest foe he's ever had to fight" in the season finale.
An edited transcript of my interview with them begins below -- and there will be much more tomorrow!
Me: Smallville has changed so much this season. The mythology has expanded in many different directions. What was your overall strategy going into it?
Darren Swimmer: The fact that the characters are now adults and they're not tied to being high school kids with high school problems gave us a whole new universe to work with. They've matured a little bit and they can now have adult problems.
Todd Slavkin: In the past Superman folklore we never got to see Clark Kent evolve as he entered adulthood. He just went to the Fortress of Solitude after Smallville. This is uncharted territory. It gives the writers a tremendous number of possibilities to work with.
Me: People are still talking about this show and engaging in heated debates about it online. That's a real accomplishment for a serialized show in its sixth year.
DS: My own personal idea of why this season has worked so well is that Lex Luthor really had an arc. Lex has been transformed more in this season than any other.
Me: In what way would you say that Lex has changed?
TS: In his relationship with Lana Lang. Lana also had a really great season. Nemesis is one of the best shows ever for her character.
DS: I think another reason for our success this season was the addition of the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen. It gave the show an interesting humanistic approach because Clark can now compare himself to a human being [Oliver] that is also a superhero [the Arrow]. The addition of the Green Arrow really helped humanize Clark.
Me: I agree. Oliver and the Arrow really opened up the story. But then the Arrow left. Where does that leave Clark at this point? He's become more aware of himself and his place in the world and what he should be doing but he's not quite there yet.
TS: He can't be there. Once he's there the series turns into Superman, not Smallville. Once he fully dons the Superman mantle, so to speak, it's no longer our show.
Me: So what's next for him?
DS: At the end of the season he's going to fight the greatest foe he's ever had to fight. That will really propel us into season seven. So we're kind of gearing up.
Me: Is the "greatest foe" a character we've seen before or is it someone new?
DS: It's something exciting and thrilling that the fans will love. I don't want to give too much away.
TS: Let's just say that while parts of the season finale are going to be fun, it's actually a very heavy, serious, action-y episode.
Me: Have we seen the last of the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen?
DS: I hope not, Ed. Unfortunately, or fortunately because he's such a good actor, Justin Hartley is doing a pilot, and good for him because he's such a good actor. If his show goes to series, unfortunately we lose out. If it doesn't, I think [Smallville creators] Al [Gough] and Miles [Millar] will definitely be up for bringing him back because he's always going to play a part [in the story]. You can see even when he's not on the show his name comes up a lot. He's almost a guidance counselor for Clark.
TS: But don't worry, because Al and Miles already have some ideas for next season that we can't get into, but it's really great stuff.
DS: Yeah, new characters next year.
Me: New characters that will keep Clark on the path that Oliver put him on?
DS: Yes, like the Green Arrow this year, but other people and surprises.
Me: What happened to Jimmy Olsen? He seems to have disappeared. Was that the writers' decision?
DS: No, not at all. Aaron Ashmore [the actor who plays Jimmy] is doing a movie.
TS: Aaron's been great. We love working with him as an actor and as a character.
DS: He's hysterically funny. He has a great sense of comedy with Allison Mack [Chloe].
Me: Will we see Jimmy again?
DS: Absolutely. He's going to be in [the May 3 episode].
TS: It's kind of a Jimmy episode.
DS: We're very excited about that. It's titled Noir.
TS: It's shot in black and white. Not all of it, just in parts.
Me: There are only three episodes left after Nemesis, so I guess things are going to accelerate really fast.
DS: Nemesis is great in setting up what is to follow. With Wes Keenan you'll really see a window into the future.
Who is Wes Keenan, you ask? You'll have to watch Nemesis on Thursday for the answer. And you'll have to return to this space tomorrow to read what Todd and Darren have to say about the new, "depraved" Lex Luthor; the return of the Green Arrow; the controversy raging online about the relationship between Clark and Lana, and the fate of Chloe Sullivan, meteor-freak!
There is a rumor about Lana leaving in this season and I hope that is not true. She finally knows Clark's secret after 6 years and the writers will kill her? Please, no! What is the point about Chloe's super power? Come on, I'm tired of her! The almost super hero of the show is Clark Kent not Chloe Sullivan.
Posted by: Kamila at April 25, 2007 11:31 AM
"...Lana also had a really great season."
Are you people watching the same show I am? If you really believe that, you deserve what you are going to get: your show cancelled. Here's a tip: the fans HATE what you have done to Lana this year. Not just a little. As in, enough to make us quit watching *permanently*. Hellooo?! Is anybody home? WAKE UP!!! Before it's too late. If this season is your idea of great, then by all means, go ahead and kill her, because your show is done. I hope you have other plans for employment lined up.
Posted by: knotnamed at April 25, 2007 12:17 PM
Nice interview. Looking forward to the second part. Hopefully, they will shed some light and tell us Clana is finally over. I'm sick of those two.
Posted by: Corrine at April 25, 2007 12:52 PM
I hope the writers of Smallville do not kill off Lana now that she finally knows Clark's secret. I hope that Clark and Lana are reunited in season 7. And I also hope that Lana divorces Lex and Clark marries her instead of Lois Lane. Please bring back Clana. Destroy Lex and Lionel maybe have them both imprisoned, especially Lex.
Posted by: India at April 26, 2007 09:33 AM
Please reunite Clark and Lana they belong together. They are soulmates like General Hosptial's Luke and Laura. Also I hope that in season 7 everyone will get to to see Clark Kent in the Superman costume.
Posted by: Samantha at April 26, 2007 09:37 AM
One of the best seasons so far. Fun watching Clark turn into a super"man" from super kid. Lana is finally fun to watch, Lex is an a-hole, which makes his character more fun to watch, too. Can't wait to see the finale. My favorite show of all time without a doubt.
Posted by: joe willie at April 26, 2007 11:46 PM
Oh, my God. You guys don't really want Clana back, now do you? How can you want that back? Now I'm confused.
I saw the season finale. It was kool. Lana dying, well we all know that's a fix! Ha ha! I saw the postal truck drive in front of Lionel just before Lana's vehicle exploded to kingdom come. I say she jumped on the postal truck and will disappear till she's needed again. Come on now, folks, you know Clark needs her --
Posted by: gdfthr at May 18, 2007 12:58 AM
I hope Lana returns in season 7 of Smallville. I hope she didn't die. The show isn't good without her. Who am I kidding? The show is the best! It's my favorite show of all time. I think Lana and Clark should get together now that Lana knows about Clark powers after six years. I think she's still alive and she faked her death. I really hope Lana will return in the next season. I'm praying she will.
I hope Lana and Clark get together. I can't wait until Season 7. I hope to see a lot more of Clana. I don't think I would watch Smallville anymore if it didn't have Lana.
I wish Clark and Lana could be together. I mean, come on, after six years Lana finally knows Clark's secret! Clark loves Lana sooo much, he always has. They are meant to be together. Clark and Lois have no chemistry -- nothing at all. This is Smallville, not the comics. Who said Clark has to end up with Lois? She's not right for him. She never has been. Anyway I can't wait until season 7. I hope to see more of Clark and Lana!
Posted by: Natasha at June 4, 2007 04:38 PM
I would hate to see Lana die!! Without Lana where would this show be?Lana and Clark should be together forever!! Is Lionel really on Clark's side?? I find that hard to believe and I also find it hard to accept that Clark can't kill Lex as yet!!
Posted by: kimberly at June 6, 2007 10:21 AM
In regards to the above comments left by Kimberly and Natasha, Do you guys know anything about Superman? Obviously not, otherwise the statements that you made would not exist. Superman A.K.A. Clark Kent ends up with Lois Lane. End of story. The show is not supposed to be a complete rewrite of a comic hero that has been around since before you were born. Lana doesn't make the show, Clark does! The show is about Superman not Lana. I think that we could actually do with a little more Clark and Lois action with some better explanations of Chloe's power. Kudos to the creators and writers of the best show ever.
Posted by: Superfan at June 8, 2007 02:14 PM
I'm hoping that Lana finds out she is really pregnant with Lex's baby and we have a reunion for those 2. IMO the best shows have been the ones that focused on Lex and Lana's relationship and I hoped that the writers would let them be happily married for a little while. Their chemistry pops off the screen. I quit watching after the promise eppy. It's a shame that TPTB ruined L and L's friendship and for what? To put Lana back with Clark? Which makes no sense in the grand scheme of things.
Posted by: Rose at June 9, 2007 02:38 PM
Overall this season was pretty good. Loved the Justice League, and also the hints of Clark/Lois -- finally! Good God, I'm hoping our resident Man of Steel gets over Miss Thing (oh, sorry, that's LANG) and this story actually starts to become slightly more in the realm of canon. Kristin's beautiful, there's no denying that, but I know there are lots of people who hate her character as Lana. Can't say I blame them. Anyway, hope to see more of the JL and the other superheroes in season 7!
Posted by: Paloma at June 17, 2007 06:32 AM
I've been a fan, along with my kids, since season one. I am really interested in seeing where the show will go and for how long as well. As far as the comments about Lois and feelings for Clark -- IF anyone really ever DID read the comics, they would realize that Clark had already chosen the destiny of SUPERMAN and was well grown before being reintroduced to Lois. Lois herself fell in love with Superman, and it was relatively later when she found out who Superman really was. Clark/Superman fell in love with Lois, but didn't want to reveal his secret quite yet. (Which, by the way, wasn't Kara the Supergirl about ten years younger anyways?)
