Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and theories in the comments below!

Ah, Smallville. The show that gave us a young Clark Kent before he donned the iconic cape and tights, and arguably paved the way for the superhero TV renaissance we’re currently drowning in. Today, we’re diving into the 26th episode of the series, “Nocturne,” which sounds like it should be the title of a cheesy vampire romance novel. Spoiler alert: there are no vampires, but we do get a healthy dose of teenage angst, parental issues, and a dash of Kryptonian-powered voyeurism. Let’s break it down, shall we?

The Plot Thickens… Like Day-Old Oatmeal

Our episode kicks off with Lana Lang, Clark’s eternal crush and master of the concerned look, finding a mysterious love letter at her parents’ grave. Because nothing says romance like cemetery correspondence. Meanwhile, we’re introduced to Byron Moore, a Shakespeare-quoting, cellar-dwelling teenager with a serious case of sunlight aversion. His parents are giving off major “we’ve got a secret in the basement” vibes, complete with tranquilizer guns and threats. You know, typical small-town family stuff.

Back at Smallville High, our core group of teens – Clark, Lana, Chloe, and Pete – are all atwitter about Lana’s secret admirer. Clark, in his infinite wisdom, immediately jumps to “it must be a stalker” conclusion. Smooth, Clark. Real smooth. This leads to a tense moment at the Talon (the local coffee shop slash teen hangout, because every small town needs one of those), where Lana calls Clark out on his secret-keeping. Pot, meet kettle.

The Luthor Chronicles

No episode of Smallville would be complete without some Luthor family drama. This time, we’ve got Lionel Luthor firing assistants like he’s Donald Trump on The Apprentice, and Lex trying to navigate the treacherous waters of pleasing daddy dearest. Enter Martha Kent, Clark’s mom and apparently the only person in Smallville capable of reading a newspaper to a blind man without getting fired. Lionel, impressed by Martha’s business acumen (or maybe just desperate for competent help), offers her a job. Because nothing could possibly go wrong with your best friend’s morally ambiguous father employing your mom, right?

Byron: The Incredible Hulk Meets Lord Byron

The meat of our episode revolves around Byron Moore, our cellar-dwelling poet who turns into a super-strong, black-eyed monster when exposed to sunlight. It’s like the Incredible Hulk, if Bruce Banner were really into sonnets. We learn that Byron was part of a medical trial gone wrong, funded by none other than Lionel Luthor. Shocking, I know. The poor kid’s been locked in a cellar for years, with only classic literature and a pen pal relationship with Lana to keep him company.

Clark, being the hero he is, decides to free Byron from his cellar prison. But in true Smallville fashion, no good deed goes unpunished. Byron Hulks out in the sunlight, tossing Clark and Pete around like rag dolls. Pete ends up with a broken arm, adding to Clark’s ever-growing list of “Friends I’ve Inadvertently Put in Danger.”

Lana Lang: Danger Magnet Extraordinaire

Not content with letting Clark hog all the danger, Lana decides to go looking for Byron on her own. She finds him in the cemetery (because where else would an angsty, poetic teen hang out?), and things quickly go south. Byron throws her against a gravestone, which is definitely not how you treat your pen pal crush. Clark, of course, swoops in to save the day, pushing Byron into a conveniently placed dark well. Problem solved, right?

The Luthor Literacy Hour

In a subplot that feels like it’s from a different show entirely, Martha Kent begins her new job as Lionel Luthor’s personal assistant/reader. It’s a testament to Annette O’Toole’s acting skills that she manages to make reading a newspaper aloud seem dramatic and tense. Jonathan Kent, playing the role of the concerned husband, is predictably unhappy about this arrangement. But fear not, Martha proves her worth by the end of the episode, convincing Lionel to fund research into Byron’s condition. Martha Kent: saving the day with bureaucracy and paperwork.

Vehicular Incidents (or Lack Thereof)

For those keeping score at home, this episode is surprisingly light on vehicular accidents. The closest we get is Byron throwing Pete into a car, which doesn’t quite count. It seems the Smallville Department of Motor Vehicles can breathe easy this week.

The Resolution

In true Smallville fashion, everything is wrapped up neatly by the end of the episode. Byron is in the hospital, being treated with special lights (because apparently that’s a thing). Lana forgives him for the whole “throwing her into a gravestone” incident, because who hasn’t done that to their crush at least once? Clark, meanwhile, is left to brood about his own sun-given powers, foreshadowing future episodes where he’ll undoubtedly angst about his alien heritage.

What We Learned

1. Sunlight is bad for your complexion and your temper.
2. Shakespeare quotes are the key to a girl’s heart, especially if you’re writing anonymous letters.
3. Cellars make great bedrooms for super-powered teens.
4. Martha Kent is a surprisingly good executive assistant.
5. Lionel Luthor will fund medical research if it means avoiding bad PR.

The Bigger Picture

“Nocturne” is a classic Smallville episode in many ways. It’s got the freak-of-the-week formula down pat, with Byron serving as both a sympathetic figure and a super-powered threat. The episode also continues to develop the ongoing storylines of the series, particularly the complicated relationship between Clark and Lana, and the ever-present shadow of Luthor influence over Smallville.

The theme of secrets and their consequences is heavily featured, as it is throughout the series. Byron’s parents kept him hidden away, ostensibly for his own good, mirroring the way the Kents protect Clark’s secret. Lana’s frustration with Clark’s secretive nature highlights the strain it puts on their relationship, a conflict that will continue to drive much of the series’ drama.

The episode also touches on the ethical implications of medical experimentation, a topic that becomes increasingly relevant as the series progresses and we learn more about the origins of the various “meteor freaks” that populate Smallville.

Legacy and Influence

While “Nocturne” might not be the most groundbreaking episode of Smallville, it’s worth noting the show’s overall impact on the superhero TV landscape. At a time when live-action superhero shows were few and far between, Smallville was paving the way for what would become a dominant force in television.

The show’s success in humanizing its superhero protagonist, focusing on character development and relationships as much as super-powered action, set a template that many later shows would follow. The CW’s Arrowverse, which began with Arrow in 2012, owes a significant debt to Smallville‘s approach to superhero storytelling.

Moreover, Smallville‘s exploration of Superman’s origin story, stretching it out over several seasons, demonstrated the potential for long-form superhero narratives on television. This approach has since been adopted by numerous shows, from Gotham to Krypton.

Final Thoughts

“Nocturne” may not be the most memorable episode of Smallville, but it’s a solid entry that encapsulates much of what made the show work. It’s got teen drama, super-powered action, family secrets, and just a touch of the ridiculous (I mean, come on, love letters in a cemetery?). It’s a reminder of a time when superhero TV was finding its feet, before the genre exploded into the omnipresent force it is today.

So here’s to you, “Nocturne.” You may not have given us any spectacular car crashes, but you did give us a super-powered, Shakespeare-quoting teen who turns into a monster in sunlight. And really, isn’t that what good TV is all about?