This is it, folks. The CW’s Smallville comes to a close tonight as we see Clark (Tom Welling) complete his journey from small town boy to the hero that he is destined to become. Showrunners Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders talked about this final episode, Clark’s path to becoming Superman, the return of Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and Jonathan Kent (John Schneider), Chloe (Allison Mack) and Oliver (Justin Hartley), and ultimately, what to take away from the closing of this chapter of Superman’s mythos. Check out their interviews and behind-the-scenes clips below:
On Clark’s journey:
Souders: I think looking at his last step for us it was about the fact that sometimes your mentors and the people that you look to for help can also sometimes be holding you back or it can be your imagination that they’re holding you back. He’s still trying to figure out all those last relationships as he finally takes his step into complete manhood. It’s still a complication in his life that he has to make peace with.
Peterson: [The most challenging part of the show has always been] finding problems and character flaws for Superman because he’s perfect… Some of the problems he’s facing are about him trying too hard to decide who he is and be a hero and not kind of let it happen at the pace it should.
Smallville: Sneak Peek at Series Finale
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_owwcavD8[/youtube]
The Return of Lex Luthor:
Peterson: We really wanted to keep this Clark’s (Tom Welling) finale. But Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) plays a very interesting role, and there a couple of big twists with Lex.
Souders: They’re going to go on to be huge enemies, so [we’ll answer] “What’s pivotal in this moment that’s our Lex Luthor and our Clark Kent?” And how do we wrap up the relationship that’s been so complicated and so mixed with emotions for 10 years?
Smallville: Tom Welling on Lex Luthor’s Return
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LJXD5v3q5U[/youtube]
The Return of Jonathan Kent:
Peterson: We purposely platformed Jonathan’s role in the finale with what we did in ‘Lazarus,’ the premiere of this season. The whole point was to bookend the season, and he’s introduced in that same type of way.
Souders: It will become really clear what role Jonathan plays and why he shows up the way he does in this episode. Every time I see certain moments with Jonathan, I get a tear in my eye.
On Chloe and Oliver:
Peterson: [Oliver] has a big heroic moment, he has a big arc, he has some complications. Hopefully people feel satisfied with the little conclusion in the finale.
Souders: You really see what an impact that these heroes coming together has made on him and having Clark as a friend. It’s very clear in this episode…it defines that relationship and what it means to both of them. And there’s a really great moment and you really see their friendship and that bond, and that’s what’s going to get them through a lot of hard times in the future.
Peterson: I think there are a lot of different ways people want Chloe (Allison Mack) to end, and so we, I think, serviced her character in a way that is right for who she was and who she’s becoming. And she has one big moment with Clark where we get to see her shine.
Souders: And I will say that Chloe fans should definitely stay tuned through the entire show. There’s a jewel.
Peterson: Yes, there’s a certain thing that we did for [Chloe] that nobody [else] got.
Smallville: Behind the Scenes of the Series Finale
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipcMOWSAO9c[/youtube]
What to Take Away from the Smallville Series Finale
Peterson: We didn’t just want to do an ending; we wanted to do a beginning a little bit. And so I think what we were aiming for was giving people the emotion of knowing what’s to come because the end of this show lines up with every movie, a lot of comic books, a lot of other things. Unlike a lot shows, we know where this story goes. And so it’s kind of a handoff to those other pieces of canon and those other pieces of mythology, rather than just an ending.
I honestly think it’s the theme that emerged this year, which is believe in heroes. I think that has become incredibly important to us that we were able to work on a show that had such a positive message. I think the fact that we have such hardcore fans that have followed the show, I think that’s why they watch. It’s not because we’re going to have the biggest visual effects they’ll ever see on a screen and it’s not really anything other than they want to believe in heroes. I think Superman was born out of a very tumultuous time in our history and I think we’re facing a lot of other challenges right now and we will in the future. To me, it’s inspiration.”
Watch the two-hour series finale of The CW’s Smallville tonight at 8/7C.
