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!

If there’s one thing Smallville consistently delivered during its impressive ten-season run, it was its ability to transform comic book superpowers into metaphors for teenage angst. Episode 51, “Magnetic,” aired on November 12, 2003, perfectly exemplifies this formula with a story about literal attraction that doubles as a commentary on teenage relationships. Let’s deep dive into this Season 3 gem that gave us jealous Clark, rebellious Lana, and a villain who could manipulate more than just metal.

The Episode in a Snow Globe (With Kryptonite Inside)

“Magnetic” follows a classic Smallville “freak of the week” structure. Seth Nelson, Lana’s lab partner with an unrequited crush, gets a faceful of kryptonite when a snow globe breaks over his head at the county fair. An MRI machine later malfunctions during his treatment, and voilà – we have another meteor-powered menace who can control metal and emotions.

The episode cleverly plays with the idea of “magnetic attraction” in the most literal sense. Seth doesn’t just gain the ability to move metal objects; he can also manipulate the chemicals in Lana’s brain, making her suddenly attracted to him. It’s essentially “love potion” meets “Magneto Lite” – peak Smallville pseudo-science wrapped in a teen drama bow.

What follows is a remarkable display of uncharacteristic behavior from the usually level-headed Lana Lang. Under Seth’s influence, she transforms from the sensible coffee shop manager into a rebel without a pause, stealing money from the Talon and attempting to flee town with a guy she previously had zero interest in. Clark, meanwhile, does his best impression of a jealous ex who can’t accept that his crush might like someone else.

Character Carousel: Everyone’s Taking a Spin

Clark Kent shows his all-too-human side in this episode, proving that even future Supermen aren’t immune to the green-eyed monster (not to be confused with the green-rock weakness). His jealousy drives him to follow Lana and Seth to the fair, where he commits the cardinal sin of teenage romance: interrupting a date. Tom Welling perfectly captures Clark’s struggle between wanting to protect Lana and respecting her choices – even if those choices are being magnetically manipulated.

Lana Lang gets to break out of her coffee-pouring, horse-riding routine to experience life as a bad girl. Kristin Kreuk clearly enjoys the chance to play against type, delivering lines like “who I date is none of your business” with refreshing assertiveness before graduating to grand theft auto and jailbreak. It’s a reminder that beneath the perpetually troubled damsel facade lies a character with actual depth – when the writers choose to explore it.

Meanwhile, Chloe Sullivan continues her double life as both Clark’s friend and Lionel Luthor’s spy, adding another layer to the complex web of deceit and protection that defines Smallville relationships. Allison Mack marks her 50th appearance as Chloe in this episode, firmly establishing herself as the show’s secret weapon – a non-comics character who became essential to the Superman mythos.

Lex Luthor gets to play detective, investigating both Officer Mason’s suspicious death and Chloe’s interest in his father. Michael Rosenbaum’s performance as always walks that fine line between concerned friend and calculating chess master. His scene with Lana after her arrest shows genuine compassion while reminding viewers that he has a dark past of his own: “I did much worse things at your age.”

The “Magnetic” Place in Season 3’s Arc

Season 3 represented Smallville hitting its stride after finding its footing in Season 2. With storylines becoming increasingly complex, “Magnetic” serves as a palate-cleansing standalone episode amid the larger seasonal arcs involving:

• Clark’s ongoing struggle with his alien heritage
• Lex’s investigation into his father’s past
• Chloe’s dangerous deal with Lionel Luthor
• Lana’s search for independence and identity

“Magnetic” might appear to be a “monster of the week” episodic adventure, but it smartly advances several key storylines. Chloe’s subplot reveals her investigation into Lionel and drops the bombshell about Lionel’s childhood friendship with Morgan Edge – information that would become crucial later in the season. Meanwhile, Lana’s final conversation with Clark in the barn sets up her ongoing search for honest relationships, foreshadowing her upcoming romance with Adam Knight.

The episode sits between “Relic” (which explored Clark’s biological father Jor-El’s visit to Smallville) and “Shattered” (which begins Lex’s psychological breakdown arc). In this position, “Magnetic” serves as a transitional episode that gives viewers a breather while still moving character development forward.

Teenage Metaphors and Superman Mythology

Smallville‘s greatest strength was its ability to transform superpowers into metaphors for universal teenage experiences. “Magnetic” is perhaps one of the most on-the-nose examples: Seth literally controls Lana’s attraction, a power many awkward teens would kill for. The story explores the ethics of manipulation in relationships – if you could make someone love you, should you?

The episode also cleverly incorporates elements of Superman mythology. Seth’s ability to manipulate magnetic fields echoes powers held by DC Comics characters like Cosmic Boy from the Legion of Super-Heroes and, more famously, Marvel’s Magneto. When Seth taunts Clark, saying Lana “isn’t made of steel,” it’s a winking reference to Superman’s “Man of Steel” moniker.

The visual of Lana in a prison cell with Superman’s signature colors (red and yellow walls with blue bars) serves as both foreshadowing and ironic commentary. Lana is trapped not just physically but emotionally – bound by feelings she doesn’t understand and didn’t choose, much like Clark often feels trapped by his destiny.

From Smallville to Arrowverse: How It Holds Up

Watching “Magnetic” in 2025 highlights both how far superhero television has come and what modern shows might have lost. Compared to today’s CGI-heavy Arrowverse shows, Smallville‘s effects are charmingly quaint. Seth’s demonstration of power – moving a few metal objects and causing sparks when touching Lana – would be a minor display in shows like The Flash or Supergirl, where world-ending events occur bi-weekly.

However, “Magnetic” reminds us that Smallville prioritized character development over spectacle. The hour spent more time on Clark’s jealousy and Lana’s internal struggle than on Seth’s powers or action sequences. The final confrontation – Clark electrifying a carnival ride to neutralize Seth – takes up mere minutes of screen time.

Modern superhero shows could learn from Smallville‘s patient character building. The CW’s later DC shows inherited Smallville‘s relationship drama but often sacrificed the thoughtful pacing that made episodes like “Magnetic” work. Today’s shows rarely have the confidence to spend an entire episode exploring a character’s jealousy without adding multiple subplots, crossovers, and universe-threatening crises.

The Music of Attraction

Smallville was known for its soundtrack choices, and “Magnetic” continues this tradition with songs that perfectly capture early 2000s teen drama energy. Josh Kelley’s “Amazing” and Michelle Featherstone’s “Over You” create the emotional backdrop for Lana’s magnetically-induced rebellion. Meanwhile, Bonnie McKee’s “Trouble” and Pink’s song of the same name serve as on-the-nose commentary about the episode’s themes.

These musical choices now work as a time capsule, instantly transporting viewers back to 2003 – a time when The WB Network knew exactly how to marry indie music with teen angst to create television magic.

The Legacy of “Magnetic”

While not often cited among Smallville‘s greatest hits, “Magnetic” deserves recognition for several reasons:

1. It delivered a perfect encapsulation of the show’s “meteor freak” formula
2. It allowed Lana to temporarily break free from her perpetually troubled persona
3. It advanced Chloe’s complex double-agent storyline
4. It explored Superman’s most human trait: jealousy

The episode also gave us memorable quotes, including the third instance of “You have no idea what I’m capable of” – a line previously delivered by both Lex to Lionel and Clark to Lex in the episode “Red.” This verbal through-line connects our three main characters, suggesting that despite their different paths, they share certain fundamental traits.

Final Thoughts: The Attraction Still Works

“Magnetic” might not be the most groundbreaking hour of Smallville, but it represents the show at its most comfortable. The writers knew their characters well enough by this point to push them into slightly different territories while maintaining their core identities. The actors, particularly Kristin Kreuk, clearly enjoyed the chance to play against type.

As Clark tells Lana in their final barn scene: “I don’t expect you to wait forever for me.” This line perfectly encapsulates both the episode and Smallville itself – a show about waiting for Clark Kent to become Superman while enjoying the journey along the way.

Whether you’re revisiting this episode for nostalgic reasons or discovering Smallville for the first time through streaming services, “Magnetic” offers an entertaining hour of television that reminds us why this show ran for an impressive ten seasons and laid the groundwork for the superhero television renaissance we’re still experiencing today.

In the end, Smallville‘s power was its ability to make us care about these characters between superpowered confrontations. Like Seth Nelson’s magnetic abilities, the show pulled us in – not through manipulation, but through genuine emotional connection. And unlike Seth’s powers, that attraction hasn’t faded even decades later.

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What’s your favorite “freak of the week” episode from Smallville? Let me know in the comments below!