19. Nemesis
A great episode that examines Clark and Lex’s complex relationship and how they have gone from friends to enemies. Meanwhile, Lana is in full on Luthor mode as she plays both Lex and Lionel. 8.5/10
20. Noir
Jimmy Olsen dreams himself into a Humphrey Bogart movie in a brilliantly inventive film noir take-off. Highlights include lounge singer Lois, Christopher Reeve-like Clark and femme fatale Lana. 8.5/10
21. Prototype
Otherwise known as Smallville: The Winter Soldier, as Lex unleashes his super soldier assassin. A welcome focus on Lois for a change but the Clark/Ares fight was underwhelming. 8/10
22. Phantom
Chloe’s meteor-freak power revealed! Lex arrested for Lana’s murder! The entire cast in mortal peril! And Clark’s evil twin Bizarro is on the loose! Smallville pulls another terrific finale out the bag. 9.5/10
Verdict: After season five featured Brainiac, Smallville‘s sixth season ramps up the DC connections – introducing General Zod, the Phantom Zone, Jimmy Olsen, Martian Manhunter and the friggin’ Justice League. While that was very satisfying for long-running fans, the quality of the individual episodes was not up to the standard of the previous season. For one, there was an annoying tendency to fall back on the old freak-of-the-week episodes when there was the more interesting ‘phantoms on the loose’ arc to deal with. That said, there were some superlative episodes. And you have to love Lex’s continual descent into villainy, exacerbated by his strained relationship with Lana, Speaking of which, Clark’s long-term love interest probably was more interesting than ever here – but she still needs to be written out. It’s high-time Lois was put centre stage. All in all, this didn’t quite match the heights of season five, even if it was occasionally amazing. Roll on season seven!
Fandom Factory 