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!

It’s been more than 20 years since Smallville first graced our television screens, forever changing how we view superhero origin stories. The WB show that would eventually help birth the Arrowverse took us on a decade-long journey with Clark Kent before he donned the iconic cape and tights. Today, I’m diving into one of the show’s most pivotal episodes, Season 3’s “Whisper,” where our future Man of Steel develops yet another iconic power in his arsenal.

Season 3 Context: Clark’s Troubled Junior Year

Before we jump into “Whisper” itself, let’s talk about where this episode fits into the larger Smallville narrative. Season 3 aired from October 2003 to May 2004 and was all about consequences – specifically, the fallout from Clark running from his destiny and the price others pay for his choices.

By this point in the series, Clark (Tom Welling) has just returned from his self-imposed exile in Metropolis, where he spent a summer living as “Kal” under the influence of red kryptonite. His relationship with Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) remains as complicated as ever, and let’s not forget that his father Jonathan (John Schneider) made a literal deal with Jor-El to bring Clark back to Smallville – a deal that would have lasting health consequences.

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is struggling with the psychological trauma of being stranded on a deserted island, and his relationship with his manipulative father Lionel (John Glover) is reaching a breaking point. The season is also characterized by Chloe Sullivan’s (Allison Mack) complicated arrangement with Lionel Luthor after he caught her in a moment of weakness following the events of the Season 2 finale.

“Whisper” arrives as the 10th episode of Season 3 (and 54th overall), right in the middle of this turbulent junior year at Smallville High, when Clark is about 17 years old.

The Plot: Blindness Leads to Enhanced Hearing

The episode begins innocently enough, with Clark shopping for his mother’s birthday at Smallville Jewelers when he spots Lana, now walking without her cane after recovering from injuries sustained in the mid-season finale. Their awkward interaction is interrupted when criminals Walt Masterson and Nathan Dean (played by Micah Alberti) attempt to rob the jewelry store.

In typical Smallville fashion, Nathan isn’t just any criminal – he’s a metahuman with the ability to emit destructive sonic screams capable of shattering glass. As Clark tries to stop the robbery using his heat vision, the blast reflects off a piece of kryptonite jewelry and hits him directly in the eyes, temporarily blinding him.

What follows is a powerful exploration of vulnerability for our usually invincible hero. Clark’s attempts to adjust to blindness lead to the unexpected development of superhuman hearing – magnifying sounds to an almost painful degree until he learns to control this new ability.

The episode’s central conflict emerges when Nathan kidnaps Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) to force Pete’s mother, Judge Ross (played by Felecia Bell-Schafer in her only appearance), to dismiss charges against his criminal partner. Clark must master his new ability quickly to save his friend.

Meanwhile, a separate storyline unfolds as Clark accidentally overhears a conversation between Chloe and Lionel that reveals her betrayal, adding emotional complexity to Clark’s already challenging situation.

Tom Welling’s Performance: Playing Blind Superman

One of the most impressive aspects of “Whisper” is Tom Welling’s committed performance as a blind Clark Kent. Welling, who was only in his mid-20s at the time, manages to convey Clark’s frustration, vulnerability, and determination without relying on his character’s usual physical capabilities.

In a 2021 podcast discussion about the series, Welling revealed that he prepared for his role in this episode by studying John Glover’s acting techniques. Glover had previously portrayed a blind Lionel Luthor throughout much of the second season, which gave Welling some inspiration for how to approach Clark’s temporary disability. This behind-the-scenes insight helps explain the nuanced performance Welling delivers – capturing the disorientation of sudden blindness while still maintaining Clark’s inherent strength.

The Introduction of Super Hearing in Smallville

“Whisper” marks a significant milestone in Clark’s journey toward becoming Superman by introducing his super hearing ability – one of the core powers in the Superman mythos. The episode takes its time to show how overwhelming this ability can be before Clark learns to control it, which adds a layer of realism to the fantastical concept.

What makes this portrayal interesting is how the show frames super hearing as both a blessing and a curse. Unlike other powers that are purely advantageous, Clark’s enhanced hearing forces him to confront uncomfortable truths (like Chloe’s betrayal) and threatens to overwhelm him with sensory overload. It’s only through focus and concentration – with help from his parents – that he learns to tune into specific sounds and filter out the rest.

The scene where Jonathan helps Clark focus his hearing by whispering among the loud farm equipment has become one of the most memorable from the episode. It shows not just Clark gaining control of a new ability but also the essential role his adoptive parents play in helping him master his Kryptonian powers.

Superman’s Super Hearing Across Media

Smallville‘s take on super hearing isn’t the first or last interpretation we’ve seen in Superman media. The power has been portrayed differently across various iterations of the character:

In the comics, Superman’s super hearing has evolved significantly over time. Initially introduced in 1940 during the Golden Age, it was first presented as the ability to hear radio communications. By the Silver Age, it had expanded dramatically – allowing Superman to hear individual voices anywhere on Earth and even in space (which defies physics, but hey, it’s comics).

The 1978 Christopher Reeve Superman film and its sequels feature super hearing as one of his abilities, though it’s not emphasized as prominently as his strength or flight. In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, the second season episode “The Eyes Have It” actually deals with Clark losing his vision (though from a different cause than in Smallville).

Modern Superman comics have grappled with the implications of super hearing on Clark’s daily life, with some stories suggesting it’s actually one of his more burdensome powers. In a 2023 comic storyline, Superman temporarily lost his super hearing and realized how much it affects his ability to enjoy simple pleasures like music performances without having to filter out all the background noise.

Smallville‘s portrayal stands out for showing the learning curve and the psychological impact of suddenly gaining such an overwhelming ability. Unlike many other iterations, we get to see Clark’s initial struggle with the power before he masters it.

Critical Reception: A Mixed Bag

“Whisper” received a mixed reception from critics and fans upon its initial airing. While most praised Tom Welling’s performance and the introduction of super hearing as a significant milestone in Clark’s development, some criticized the “meteor freak of the week” formula that was beginning to wear thin by the third season.

As TV critic Billie Doux noted in her review, “The meteor freak was outright ridiculous, but the superhearing/Chloe/Lionel/Pete stuff made up for it.” This sentiment was echoed by many viewers who found Nathan Dean’s character underdeveloped compared to the emotional stakes of Clark’s blindness and his discovery of Chloe’s betrayal.

The episode currently holds a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb, indicating that despite some flaws, it remains a solid entry in the Smallville catalog. Its legacy has grown over time, particularly as fans appreciate its role in Clark’s power development arc.

Missed Opportunities and Easter Eggs

One fascinating point raised by fans over the years is that “Whisper” represents one of the show’s biggest missed opportunities. This episode marks the first time Clark wears glasses, creating a perfect narrative opportunity to establish them as part of his identity before he eventually adopts them as his disguise. As one viewer noted in online forums, “They had a (semi-)plausible reason as to why Clark needed glasses, then they took them away.”

The episode does contain several noteworthy Easter eggs for Superman fans. The scene where Clark puts on glasses and finds his vision becomes blurry is a clever inversion of the classic Superman disguise, where Clark Kent wears glasses but removes them as Superman. It also directly references a similar scene from the first Spider-Man film with Tobey Maguire.

Comic book aficionados might recognize parallels to a storyline from Superboy (Volume 2) #24 from December 1981, where Superboy is temporarily blinded after a Red Kryptonite bomb explodes in his face. In that story, he can only see when wearing glasses made of Kryptonian material – a different but thematically similar approach to the same concept.

The Cast: Before They Were Stars

Smallville assembled an impressive cast that has gone on to varied careers. Tom Welling, who carried much of the emotional weight in “Whisper,” famously worked extremely long hours on the show. According to Michael Rosenbaum, the cast once wrote a joint letter to the network demanding that Welling receive a driver because they feared he would crash while commuting after exhausting workdays.

Sam Jones III, who plays Pete Ross and has a significant role in this episode, was making his 50th appearance on the show. Sadly, Pete would eventually leave Smallville when his parents divorced, removing one of Clark’s closest confidants from the series.

Guest star Micah Alberti, who played Nathan Dean, went on to appear in shows like All My Children and films such as Forget Me Not (2009) and Beer for My Horses (2008). His portrayal of the sonically-powered villain provided a physical threat that worked well against Clark’s temporarily limited abilities.

Production Challenges

Filming “Whisper” came with its own set of challenges. By Season 3, the Smallville production team had become adept at creating meteor-freak powers on a television budget, but Nathan’s sonic scream required both visual and audio effects to be convincing.

The Vancouver-based production often used local locations as stand-ins for Smallville and Metropolis businesses. For Season 3, budget constraints meant that sets were frequently recycled – the hospital corridor might become Lex’s cell in one episode and a laboratory in the next. This resourcefulness allowed the show to maintain its visual quality despite financial limitations.

Legacy: What “Whisper” Means for Smallville’s Journey

Beyond introducing super hearing, “Whisper” serves several important functions in the broader Smallville narrative. It’s the episode where Clark discovers Chloe’s arrangement with Lionel, setting up conflict between these friends. It’s also where Lana tells Clark she’s met someone new (Adam Knight), pushing their romantic storyline in a new direction.

The theme of isolation runs throughout the episode – Clark feeling cut off by his blindness, Pete being kidnapped, Chloe keeping secrets, and Lana creating distance. This dovetails perfectly with the season’s exploration of consequences and Clark’s struggle with his destiny.

As the 54th episode of a show that would ultimately run for 217 episodes, “Whisper” represents Smallville at a mature point in its development – confident enough to explore its protagonist’s vulnerabilities while continuing to build toward his eventual transformation into Superman.

Final Thoughts: Why “Whisper” Still Resonates

Looking back at “Whisper” today, what stands out most is how it balances superhero elements with human drama. Yes, it’s about Clark gaining another superpower, but it’s equally about trust, friendship, and overcoming limitations.

The episode’s title – “Whisper” – works on multiple levels. It references Clark’s new ability to hear whispers, Jonathan’s whispered guidance that helps Clark focus his power, and the whispered secrets (particularly Chloe’s) that threaten relationships throughout the story.

In an era where superhero content dominates our screens, Smallville episodes like “Whisper” remind us that the most compelling superhero stories aren’t just about gaining powers – they’re about the human challenges that come with those abilities. It’s not just that Clark can hear everything; it’s how he chooses what to listen to and what actions to take based on what he learns.

For a show that promised “no flights, no tights,” Smallville found countless creative ways to explore Superman’s journey, with “Whisper” standing as a particularly thoughtful chapter in that larger story. Two decades later, it remains a testament to how superhero television can be both entertaining and emotionally resonant when done right.

What do you think of “Whisper”? Was it one of your favorite Smallville episodes, or do you think the show handled other power developments better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!