Napping at Red Lights

For seven  years now, I have enjoyed Smallville’s tales of a young Clark Kent coming into his own as he’s trying to balance his alien abilities and the responsibility that comes with that power with his human life.  But isn’t it about time that Clark grew up already and became Superman?

I’ve always enjoyed Superman stories – the movies with Christopher Reeve and now Brandon Routh, the TV series Lois & Clark with Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher, and even the cartoons when I was a kid.  I know the basic mythology, but not all the comic book details.

But when the pilot for Smallville promised us a look at Superman before he became the great hero, when he was just an awkward teenager, I was hooked.

Over the years, we’ve seen Clark (Tom Welling) grow up, he’s graduated from high school and even did a stint at college, but for the last couple of years he’s kind of stalled. 

Sure we’ve seen him learn about his heritage, struggle with his identity, and battle evil, but is he any closer to donning his cape and tights than he was in, say, the fifth season.

Others in Smallville have moved on to fulfill their destinies. 

Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) has transformed from a spoiled rich kid with daddy issues to a full-fledge bad guy scheming to rule the world, going from Clark’s friend to nemesis in the process.

No longer the sweet girl next door, Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) has developed a dark side of her own.  She’s taken self-defense classes and now has enough money to run her own business that includes side projects of spying on Lex.  Does she still really need Clark to protect her?  More importantly, is everyone else as tired of her on-again, off-again relationship with Clark as I am?  Isn’t about time he pursue other interest?

Speaking of these interests, the inquisitive Lois Lane (Erica Durance) is now on scene and well on her way to fulfilling her legacy.  She’s got a job at the Daily Planet and her nose for news will surely move her up the food chain despite Lex’s ownership of the paper and, of course, get her into trouble along the way.

Even Clark’s best friend Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) has grown out of her crush on him and gotten her own boyfriend, Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore).  In fact, she’s also got her own job and a meteor power which she’s already learned to embrace.

Heck, even Clark’s mom, Martha Kent (Annette O’Toole) has moved on.  A widow now, Martha moved to Washington, DC at the end of the last season to take a seat in Congress.

Isn’t it about time that Clark embraced his destiny too?  I’m very interested in seeing how he transforms from mild manner Clark Kent to Superman, especially when so many people in Smallville already know his secret (Chloe, Lana, Oliver Queen) and others suspect (Lex).

As I watched last night’s episode “Siren” I couldn’t wait to discover another hero – Black Canary (Alaina Huffman).  But even more I was thrilled about the return of Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley).  Why?

Well besides the obvious detail that he’s cute, there’s the fact that he has accepted his destiny.  He has adopted his Green Arrow persona, was key in forming the Justice League and is not only fighting evil, but pursuing it.

For me, Clark Kent’s development has stalled while Oliver and the rest of the Justice League have new lives as crime fighters that are in full swing.  It has added dimension to their characters. 

How do they handle their double life?  How is their love lives affected?  We got a glimpse of that last night when Lois gave Ollie the boot.  How do they work with each other?  How do they find evil?  I loved that Chloe has a part-time gig as Queen’s sidekick.

I miss seeing these things in Clark.  Therefore, I think it’s time for Clark to suit up, to become the hero we all know he can and to leave Lana in the dust.

What do you think?  Are you ready for Clark to become Superman?