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!

In the vast landscape of superhero television, few shows have managed to capture the complexity of family dynamics quite like Smallville. The series’ 36th episode, “Prodigal,” which aired in February 2003, serves as a masterclass in weaving together biblical allegory, family drama, and the show’s signature superhero elements. Twenty years later, it stands as one of the most compelling episodes of the series’ early seasons, particularly in its exploration of the labyrinthine Luthor family dynamics.

The Luthor Family Values (or Lack Thereof)

Picture this: you’re Lex Luthor, and you’ve just discovered you have a long-lost brother. Most people might celebrate with a family dinner or perhaps an awkward game of Monopoly. But if you’re a Luthor, naturally, you use this discovery to stage a corporate coup against your father. Just another Tuesday in Metropolis, right?

Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor continues to be the show’s secret weapon, delivering a performance that perfectly balances vulnerability and calculation. When he shows up at the Kent farm, pride swallowed and asking for shelter, Rosenbaum manages to make us sympathize with a character we know will eventually become Superman’s greatest nemesis. It’s a testament to both the writing and his performance that we can watch Lex mucking out stalls and believe it, even while knowing he’ll eventually trade the pitchfork for power suits.

Paul Wasilewski (now better known as Paul Wesley of The Vampire Diaries fame) brings an interesting edge to Lucas Luthor. His performance captures the raw anger of abandonment while maintaining the calculated manipulation that seems to run in the Luthor DNA. The scenes between the three Luthor men crackle with tension, particularly when Lucas forces the showdown in Lionel’s office. It’s like watching a chess match where all the pieces are made of nitroglycerin.

Biblical Proportions

The episode’s title, “Prodigal,” isn’t just a clever reference – it’s a framework for understanding the entire story. But in true Smallville fashion, the show doesn’t just adapt the biblical parable; it twists it into a pretzel and dips it in family trauma. Instead of one wayward son returning home, we get a prodigal son who’s been weaponized against his brother, and a father whose “blindness” is as metaphorical as it is (supposedly) physical.

John Glover’s Lionel Luthor deserves special mention here. His performance as the “blind” patriarch is deliciously duplicitous, and the reveal of his deception adds another layer to the biblical allegory. After all, what’s more Luthor-like than faking a disability to test your children’s loyalty? It’s practically a family tradition at this point.

The Kent Factor

The contrast between the Kent and Luthor families has always been one of Smallville‘s strongest elements, and “Prodigal” plays this dynamic like a fine violin. When Lex seeks refuge at the Kent farm, we get some of the episode’s most powerful moments. Jonathan Kent’s grudging admission that Lex “would have made one hell of a farmer” is both touching and tragic – it’s a glimpse of the life Lex could have had with different nurturing.

Tom Welling’s Clark Kent serves as our moral compass through all this familial chaos. His basketball game with Lucas is particularly well executed, showing how even a friendly game can become a microcosm of larger power dynamics. Clark’s struggle to maintain his secret while helping his friend navigate family drama continues to be one of the show’s more compelling balancing acts.

Early 2000s Television Context

Watching “Prodigal” in 2024, it’s worth noting how groundbreaking Smallville was for its time. In 2003, we weren’t yet living in the age of prestige television or superhero saturation. The show’s ability to blend teen drama with complex family dynamics and superhero mythology was relatively unique. The episode’s exploration of nature versus nurture, family loyalty, and the cost of power feels particularly prescient given where superhero storytelling would go in the following decades.

Legacy and Impact

“Prodigal” serves as a pivotal episode in Smallville‘s run, particularly in its development of the Luthor mythology. The introduction of Lucas adds another layer to the already complex relationship between Lex and Lionel, while also foreshadowing Lex’s eventual turn toward darkness. The episode’s themes would echo throughout the series, particularly in later seasons’ exploration of nature versus nurture and the influence of family on destiny.

The Small Details

Some of the episode’s best moments come from its smaller touches. Lex’s “Luke, I’m your brother” line is a delightfully self-aware nod to Star Wars, while the various chess metaphors throughout the episode serve as perfect shorthand for the Luthor family’s constant power plays. Even the Talon subplot, with Clark’s hilariously brief career as a barista, provides necessary lightness amidst all the family drama.

Conclusion

Twenty years later, “Prodigal” stands as a testament to what made Smallville special. It’s an episode that manages to be both a compelling family drama and a crucial piece of Superman mythology. The show’s ability to ground larger-than-life comic book concepts in relatable human dynamics remains impressive, even in our current superhero-saturated media landscape.

When Lex tells Clark, “Just remember, my father may try and rule the world, but yours will inherit the earth,” it’s both a clever biblical reference and a perfect encapsulation of the episode’s themes. It’s the kind of writing that elevated Smallville above typical teen drama fare and helped pave the way for the sophisticated superhero storytelling we enjoy today.

In the end, “Prodigal” is about more than just a long-lost brother or a corporate power play – it’s about the choices that shape us and the families we choose versus the ones we’re born into. In that sense, maybe we’re all prodigal sons and daughters, trying to find our way home while hoping we don’t get caught in a Luthor-style family reunion along the way.