Smallville’s 10 Saddest Moments

Clark Kent’s journey to being Superman wasn’t an easy one

Smallville‘s 10 year run chronicled Clark Kent’s trials and tribulations into becoming the Man of Steel. But in order to become a character like Superman, there had to be some heartbreak. So, here we have our top 10 picks for Clark’s saddest moments on his journey. Let’s see if you agree.

10. Pete leaves (3×21 “Forsaken”)

Clark had his best friend, Pete Ross, at his side for the first three seasons of the show. Although it was in the second season that he became aware of Clark’s secret. With Clark finally having a friend to confide in, it was a chance for the show explore this. However, it also came with it’s negatives. Pete clearly struggled with holding Clark’s secret, which became apparent over that two year period.

So when it came to third season’s penultimate episode, it was Pete’s time to go. The character decided to head out of town with his mom, abruptly dropping the bombshell on Clark before swiftly exiting. It hurt more knowing that Clark’s secret was his main reason.

Pete’s bittersweet moment as he hugs Clark, holding back tears, was emotional for sure. He then leaves his friend dumbfounded. Even worse, it made Clark even more afraid of trusting a friend with his secret.

9. Chloe forgets Clark’s secret (8×09 “Abyss”)

Clark found a really good ally in Chloe Sullivan through the majority of the show. Especially when she discovered his secret in the fourth season, revealing this to him at the top of the fifth.

But then came Chloe’s Brainiac infection that was a plot line for the first half of season eight. With Chloe being taken over and losing her memories, there was a choice for Clark to make.

Having Jor-El cure her also had the opportunity for Clark to boldly request that he take Chloe’s memories of his true heritage and abilities. Watching Clark make such a decision for his best friend is very Superman-esque, but the prospect of him being alone in the world once again was tough to grapple with.

Nonetheless, she had her memories back a few episodes later. ‘Kind of takes away the emotion of this moment in the end, but it’s still emotional watching Clark make the sacrifice.

8. Lana in a catatonic state (7×15 “Veritas”)

Brainiac’s return in season seven saw him wreaking havoc has he had his next evil plan in motion. This plan for revenge on Kal-El included taking a hit at great love, Lana Lang.

The villain put Lana in a catatonic state to force Clark and Kara’s hands in allowing the latter to come somewhere with him as a pawn in his plot. Although Kara did leave, Lana wasn’t cured, forcing Clark to put her in a mental hospital.

You haven’t got a heart if that scene of Clark visiting her and closing her eyes doesn’t still cripple you even now. And that “you’re too late, Kal-El”. Stop the pain.

7. Jimmy’s death (8×22 “Doomsday”)

Jimmy Olsen was a bit comic relief from his first appearance in season six, but it was in season eight that he got to really play with the big boys. His love triangle arc with Chloe and Davis Bloome/Doomsday (Star Wars‘ David Witwer) had him going down some dark paths, and it ultimately lead him to his death.

Just as it seemed Jimmy and Chloe were finally going to patch things up, especially after him finding out Clark’s secret, things came crashing down. A jealous Davis stabbed the photographer, but it didn’t stop him taking Davis out at the last minute before he could kill Chloe.

It was tear-worthy watching Jimmy die in Chloe’s arms just as they were about to reunite, and it had lasting effects on Chloe for the remainder of the show. It’s just a shame about the whole “Henry James Olsen” thing. Way to mess with the character, writers.

6. Alicia’s death (4×12 “Pariah”)

Alicia Baker first entered Smallville in the third season as a usual freak of the week. The only difference here was that her short stint saw her as Clark’s love interest, who actually knew his secret and accepted him.

She may have acted as a villain in the end of her debut episode, but she did give a glimpse of Clark being happy with someone who knew the real him. This led to a two-part arc for the character in season four, which grappled with whether or not she was on the side of good or bad.

It was in the third act of the episode “Pariah” that it became clear that Alicia truly had changed and was innocent of the recent crimes she was being accused of. This led to a truly harrowing moment of Clark discovering Alicia had been hanged.

The dread and emotion from Clark was spine tingling, and it set him on a path to revenge where he almost crossed a line. A really heartbreaking moment for Clark Kent, and an exceptional performance from Tom Welling. Don’t worry, we’ll be getting to more of them.

5. Martha’s miscarriage (2×23 “Exodus”)

The show’s second season had Clark’s Kryptonian ship somehow helping Jonathan and Martha to get pregnant, and it was joyous that a little Kent was on the way. But then Clark, in his teenage stupidity, went to extreme lengths to get rid of said ship as the consciousness of his birth father, Jor-El, was trying to force him away from his loved ones.

Clark’s decision caused danger for his adoptive parents and then we had to watch as Jonathan found out Martha had lost the baby.

The way he looks and speaks to Jonathan speaks a thousand words. He’s truly disappointed and disgusted in his son for the first time ever. It echoes how a lot of parents deal with their teenagers making stupid decisions from time to time, just on a super-powered level. It was heartbreaking watch the situation play out, and it hit even harder as Clark had to watch an emotional Martha sob into Jonathan’s arms upon finding out the news herself.

4. Lana leaves Clark (7×20 “Arctic”)

Good news! Lana did get out of her catatonic state that Brainiac had her under once the Kryptonian computer was killed. However, it came at a price.

Lana left Smallville before Clark had a chance to reach her, leaving him with only a Dear John video letter. Watching Lana’s video play out as she tells Clark she is holding back and that the world needs him more than she does is so sad.

What’s worse is Tom Welling’s subtle performance as he tries to fight back tears. What’s even worse than THAT is seeing, up until the moment at least, the rare moment of Clark and Lois being serious together as she embraces him and he gets to let it all out.

3. Jonathan’s death (5×12 “Reckoning”)

A moment that echoes the true mythology of the Superman story.

Season five of the show carried a lot of dread in it’s first half. Jor-El saved Clark’s life within the first few episodes, but he warned that it came with the price of someone he loved, who would need to die in his place to counter balance the laws of nature that had been defied.

In the show’s 100th episode, we were led to believe it was Lana Lang who was biting the dust. Just for a minute. But then as Clark reverse time to save her, only having one shot at it, it passed the fate over to none other than Jonathan Kent.

Not only did Jonathan die protecting his family one last time, but he then died in the arms of his son and wife. Watching the three members of the Kent family together for one last time, in such heartbreaking circumstances, was a real gut punch. The show lost a prime character and it sent Clark and Martha on very specific paths moving forward.

2. Clark and Lana part ways (8×14 “Requiem”)

We knew it had to come at some point, but that didn’t make it any easier.

The episode “Requiem” saw the return of Lex Luthor for one final bout of revenge. With his return he brought an end to the small arc of Clark and Lana’s reunion as it seemed they could finally stay together. Alas, he made it so that they could never be near each other.

This gave us an emotional farewell between the two. It was a real dagger in our hearts as Clark succumbed himself to Lana’s kryptonite skin for one final kiss. And that quiet “I love you” as she left. The final meeting of Clark and Lana was one for the history books.

Ah well. It made way for Clark to properly make his move on Lois Lane. FINALLY!

1. Clark grieves for Jonathan (5×13 “Vengeance”)

It’s in our top spot and deservedly so.

The aftermath of Jonathan Kent’s death took quite a toll on Clark. He pushed down all of his emotions about losing the man who raised him. He even almost crossed a line in the anger it brought him.

But, this is Smallville. Of course Clark was going to come to his senses by the end of the episode. It was then also the end of the episode that had Clark walking in on Martha watching an old home video of Jonathan and a young Clark.

It was here that things got teary for Clark and he finally broke down to his mother. This was, in my opinion, the first time we truly cried with Clark. Tom Welling’s acting in his scene is unbelievable. From the tears softly running down his face as he smiles at the image of his father, to when he begins to sob to Martha. It’s got to be the moment from the show that makes our hearts ache most.

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What do you think? Were your most emotional moments not mentioned? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section!

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