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!

There are moments in television that transcend the typical episodic format to become something truly special. Smallville‘s “Rosetta” is one of those moments – an episode that manages to be both a crucial piece of Clark Kent’s origin story and a touching tribute to Superman’s legacy, all while delivering one of the most meaningful torch-passing moments in superhero television history.

The episode, which aired on February 25, 2003, marks the 38th episode of Smallville‘s run, but more importantly, it serves as the first time Clark Kent (Tom Welling) begins to truly understand his alien origins. And who better to help guide him on this journey than Christopher Reeve, the man who made us believe a man could fly in 1978’s Superman: The Movie?

Dreams of Flight and Ancient Languages

The episode opens with a sequence that perfectly encapsulates Smallville‘s approach to the Superman mythology – Clark dreaming of flight, only to wake up in his pajamas in the middle of the road. It’s a great metaphor for where Clark is in his journey: caught between his growing powers and his very human confusion about who he really is. The show has always excelled at finding these moments that ground the supernatural in very relatable teenage experiences.

What follows is a mystery that pulls together various threads that have been dangling throughout the series. The Kawatche caves (Smallville‘s equivalent of the Fortress of Solitude during these early years), Clark’s mysterious ship, and the octagonal key all converge as Clark suddenly finds himself able to read Kryptonian symbols. It’s like accidentally downloading Rosetta Stone: Alien Edition directly into your brain – though I imagine their version comes with fewer ancient symbols that cause you to burn things into barns.

The Meeting of Two Supermen

But the real heart of this episode, the moment that elevates it from merely important to truly memorable, is the introduction of Dr. Virgil Swann, played by Christopher Reeve. It’s impossible to overstate the significance of this casting. Reeve, who defined Superman for a generation in the 1978 film and its sequels, appears here not as a reminder of what Clark will become, but as a guide to help him understand where he came from.

The scenes between Reeve and Welling are masterfully handled. There’s a wonderful tension in watching the man who once played Superman help guide this young Clark Kent toward his destiny. Reeve brings a gravitas to Dr. Swann that makes every word feel weighted with significance, while Welling perfectly captures Clark’s mix of desperation for answers and fear of what those answers might be.

The Truth About Krypton

It’s in these scenes that “Rosetta” delivers its biggest revelations. For the first time, Clark learns the name of his home planet – Krypton – and his birth name, Kal-El. The message from his parents, translated by Swann, is heartbreaking in its simplicity: “This is Kal-El of Krypton, our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil.”

But it’s the revelation that Krypton no longer exists that hits hardest. The way this information is delivered – not as some grand dramatic moment, but as a quiet, almost casual observation from Swann – makes it all the more devastating. Clark isn’t just adopted; he’s quite possibly the last of his entire species.

Fathers and Sons

The episode doesn’t stop there, though. In true Smallville fashion, it complicates things further with a second message, this one from Clark’s biological father, Jor-El: “On this third planet from this star Sol, you’ll be a god among men. They are a flawed race. Rule them with strength, my son. That is where your greatness lies.”

This sets up one of Smallville‘s most enduring conflicts – the tension between Clark’s Kryptonian heritage and his human upbringing. Jonathan Kent’s immediate response to comfort his son and remind him that he writes his own destiny perfectly encapsulates why Clark becomes the hero we know he will be, rather than the ruler his biological father seemingly intended.

Legacy and Looking Forward

What makes “Rosetta” particularly special is how it functions both as a pivotal episode for the series and as a meta-commentary on the Superman legacy itself. Having Christopher Reeve, confined to a wheelchair following his tragic accident, guide Tom Welling’s Clark toward his destiny creates a powerful through-line in Superman’s screen history. It’s a passing of the torch that acknowledges both the weight of the mythology and the need for it to evolve and grow.

The episode’s handling of Superman lore is particularly clever. Rather than simply dumping exposition about Krypton and Clark’s origins, it weaves these revelations into a very personal story about identity and destiny. It’s not just about Clark learning he’s from Krypton; it’s about him grappling with what that means for who he is and who he might become.

The Road Ahead

“Rosetta” marks a turning point for Smallville. After this episode, there’s no going back to the simple “freak of the week” format that dominated much of the early seasons. Clark knows too much now – about his origins, about his potential destiny, about the weight of expectations placed upon him by both his biological and adoptive fathers.

This episode also sets up numerous plot threads that would run throughout the series: the conflict between Clark’s Kryptonian and human natures, the question of whether his destiny is to rule or protect, and the ongoing mystery of the Kawatche caves. It’s a masterclass in how to advance both character and plot while honoring the broader mythology the show exists within.

More Than Just Another Episode

What makes “Rosetta” stand out, even years later, is how it manages to be both a crucial piece of Superman mythology and a deeply personal story about a young man trying to understand his place in the world. It’s an episode that understands that even when you’re telling a story about an alien who will one day fly and shoot heat from his eyes, the most important superpowers are the connections we make and the choices we make about who we want to be.

The episode ends with Clark uncertain about his future, but with a clearer understanding of his past. It’s not a neat resolution – and that’s exactly as it should be. After all, discovering who you are isn’t about finding all the answers; it’s about learning to ask the right questions. And sometimes, it’s about having the right guides along the way – even if they’re brilliant, reclusive scientists who once wore a very familiar red cape.

In the end, “Rosetta” stands as one of Smallville‘s finest hours, not just for what it reveals about Clark’s origins, but for what it says about legacy, destiny, and the choices that make us who we are. It’s an episode that reminds us why Superman endures – not because of his powers or his alien origins, but because at his heart, he’s someone trying to figure out his place in the world, just like the rest of us.

“We all have our windmills, Clark. The trick is to find the right ones to fight.” – Dr. Virgil Swann