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!

Nothing says “welcome back to high school” quite like nearly drowning in the pool while being attacked by a guy with gills. At least, that’s how Smallville‘s third season decided to greet viewers in its third episode, “Extinction,” which first aired on October 15, 2003. This episode tackles some heavy themes through the lens of a meteor rock vigilante storyline, while introducing concepts that would echo throughout superhero narratives for years to come.

The Plot: Bullets, Bigotry, and Bulletproof Aliens

For those who need a refresher (or who abandoned ship somewhere during Smallville‘s impressive 10-season run), “Extinction” centers around Van McNulty, a student who has decided to take justice into his own hands by hunting down and killing people affected by Smallville’s infamous kryptonite meteor rocks. His first victim is Jake Pollen, a classmate who developed the ability to breathe underwater after exposure to the green space rocks. Jake attacks Lana Lang in the school swimming pool (because apparently every meteor-infected person in Smallville eventually tries to murder Lana), only to be shot dead by Van, who leaves behind a meteor rock with the word “freak” etched into it.

Clark Kent, our favorite alien-in-disguise, is troubled by this vigilante justice and begins investigating alongside his recently renewed position at the school newspaper, The Torch. This brings him back into professional proximity with Chloe Sullivan, who reveals she’s been keeping a database of suspected meteor-infected individuals – including both Jake and, interestingly, Lex Luthor.

The episode’s stakes escalate when Clark discovers that Van’s father was killed by a meteor freak the previous year (Lt. McNulty, murdered by shape-shifter Tina Greer), giving Van a personal vendetta. When Clark and Pete find Van’s hit list, they realize Lex is the next target. Clark speeds to Metropolis just in time to catch a bullet meant for Lex’s head, but in doing so, exposes his abilities to Van.

In a twist that would shape significant portions of Superman lore moving forward, Van creates bullets made from kryptonite meteor rocks and successfully shoots Clark, nearly killing him. Clark is only saved by his parents’ quick intervention to remove the bullet. Meanwhile, Van kidnaps Lana and sets a trap for Clark at the school. Our hero shows up wearing a lead plate under his shirt (Superman’s first improvised lead shield!), neutralizing the kryptonite bullets and allowing Lana to take Van down with a spin kick worthy of any superhero’s sidekick.

Themes That Still Resonate: Fear of the “Other”

“Extinction” delivers more than just action and teen drama – it grapples with serious societal themes that remain relevant two decades later. The central conflict examines humanity’s fear of those who are different, with meteor-infected people serving as a thinly-veiled allegory for any marginalized group.

The episode presents multiple perspectives on this issue. Van represents extreme bigotry, literally hunting down those he considers “freaks” in a misguided quest for justice. Lana and Chloe sit somewhere in the middle – they’ve both been repeatedly attacked by meteor-infected individuals, leaving them understandably wary. As Lana coldly states, “Chloe’s been attacked by more of these people than me,” before rattling off a list of meteor freaks who’ve tried to kill them.

Clark, meanwhile, advocates for compassion and understanding. “No one asked to be exposed to the meteor rocks,” he argues, representing the voice of reason while clearly experiencing internal conflict as someone who is both different himself and responsible for bringing the meteors to Earth in the first place.

The episode doesn’t offer easy answers, instead forcing viewers to consider the complexity of prejudice, especially when born from legitimate trauma. When Clark lectures Lana about tolerance, he later admits to his father that he may be hypocritical – after all, most of his encounters with meteor-infected people have ended with them imprisoned or dead. “I talked to Lana about tolerance,” he reflects, “but I always assume the worst too.”

Character Development: Seeds of Future Identities

“Extinction” plants important seeds for several characters’ development, particularly Lex Luthor, whose journey toward villainy gains momentum here.

Lex begins the episode reporting for his new job at LuthorCorp, where his father Lionel has taken out a $50 million life insurance policy on him – not exactly a vote of confidence in workplace safety. After Clark saves him from Van’s assassination attempt, Lex begins to question why he was on the hit list, eventually musing, “How many times have I come face to face with death and walked away without a scratch? I’ve practically lost count.” The episode ends with him watching footage of the car crash from the pilot episode, wondering if he truly is “special” in some way.

These moments foreshadow Lex’s growing obsession with his own mortality and powers, a cornerstone of his eventual transformation into Superman’s greatest enemy. His statement to Clark – “The only abilities I have are playing the market and falling for the wrong women” – carries dramatic irony for viewers who know where his character ultimately heads.

Chloe’s arc takes a darker turn as well, as Lionel forces her to continue spying on Clark by threatening her father’s job. When she attempts to delete her meteor freak database, she discovers that Lionel now owns the computers and their contents. His interest in metahumans, coupled with his power over Chloe, sets up conflicts that will resonate throughout the season.

Lana gets a rare moment of physical empowerment, taking down Van with a well-placed kick after he calls Clark a freak. Her conflicted feelings about meteor-infected people – and her assurance to Clark that “if the meteor rocks infected you, it would be okay” – adds layers to her character beyond the typical damsel in distress role she often occupied in early seasons.

Superman Mythology: Kryptonite Bullets and Lead Shields

For Superman fans, “Extinction” introduces two significant elements of the mythology: kryptonite bullets and lead shielding. While neither concept was new to the comics, their introduction in Smallville helped cement them in the modern Superman canon.

The moment Van realizes that meteor rocks weaken Clark and subsequently crafts bullets from them represents a pivotal vulnerability for our future Man of Steel. It’s a threat that would return in later episodes and has become a standard plot device in Superman stories across media.

Clark’s solution – wearing a lead plate under his shirt – demonstrates his growing resourcefulness and introduces the concept that lead can block kryptonite radiation, another staple of Superman lore. The scene also offers a rare moment of Clark using his mind rather than his powers to overcome a threat.

The Good, The Bad, and The Campy

“Extinction” showcases both Smallville‘s strengths and weaknesses as a series. On the positive side, the episode tackles complex ethical questions through its superhero lens, offering no easy answers about how to respond to those who are different or dangerous. Tom Welling delivers a strong performance as Clark grapples with his own role in creating meteor freaks and his sometimes hypocritical stance toward them.

The introduction of kryptonite bullets represents one of the show’s more clever plot developments, creating a meaningful threat to Clark that goes beyond the standard “meteor rock weakens him” formula we’d seen many times before.

However, the episode suffers from some of Smallville‘s persistent issues. The “meteor freak of the week” formula was already feeling tired by the third season, and Jake Pollen’s aquatic abilities and quick dispatch make him one of the less memorable threats. The show’s insistence that nearly every meteor-infected person turns homicidal strains credibility, undermining its own message about prejudice.

And then there’s the curious scorecard mentioned in the episode, where Lana and Chloe compare notes on how many meteor freaks have tried to kill them – a conversation so absurd it unintentionally highlights how formulaic the show had become. When your characters can casually discuss multiple attempted murders as though comparing concert attendance, perhaps it’s time to rethink your storytelling approach.

Legacy: The Metahuman Question

Despite its flaws, “Extinction” deserves credit for tackling themes that would become central to superhero narratives in the decades that followed. The episode’s exploration of human fear toward powered individuals predates similar conflicts in the X-Men films, Captain America: Civil War, Batman v Superman, and countless other superhero stories.

Van McNulty’s crusade against meteor freaks echoes the anti-mutant sentiment of the X-Men universe and foreshadows the metahuman debates that would feature prominently in later DC properties. His misguided vigilantism raises questions about who has the right to serve as judge, jury, and executioner – questions that remain at the heart of superhero stories today.

The episode also stands as an early example of superhero media grappling with the collateral damage caused by heroes. Clark’s realization that he bears responsibility for the meteor shower and its effects on Smallville residents represents a level of moral complexity that superhero stories would increasingly embrace in years to come.

Conclusion: More Than Just Teen Superman

“Extinction” may not rank among Smallville‘s most memorable episodes, but it demonstrates why the series endured for a decade and influenced the superhero television that followed. By using its high-concept premise to explore genuine ethical dilemmas, the show transcended its “teen Superman” origins to ask questions about difference, justice, and responsibility that remain relevant.

As we watch Clark struggle with the consequences of his arrival on Earth and Lex begin to question his own remarkable survival abilities, we see the foundations being laid for one of fiction’s greatest hero/villain dynamics. And when Van crafts those kryptonite bullets, we witness a turning point in Clark’s journey – the realization that his greatest strength (his alienness) is inextricably tied to his greatest vulnerability.

In many ways, “Extinction” encapsulates what Smallville did best: using the Superman mythology as a lens to examine very human concerns, all while a young Clark Kent takes incremental steps toward becoming the hero we know he’s destined to be.

And yes, he manages to do it all without a single pair of glasses or red underwear in sight. Some transformations take time – about seven more seasons, to be exact.