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 that now dominates our screens, it’s sometimes worth looking back at the pioneers that paved the way. Before the Arrowverse, before the MCU shows, there was Smallville – a series that reimagined Superman’s origin story for a new generation. Today, we’re diving deep into episode 55, the eleventh installment of season 3, titled “Delete.” This episode not only delivers an engaging story about mind control and cyber threats but also plants seeds that would influence the Superman mythology for years to come.

The Plot Unwrapped

When we first tune into “Delete,” we find our intrepid young journalist Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) cleaning out her desk at the Daily Planet after being blacklisted by Lionel Luthor. Before leaving, she hands over some of her stories to her editor Max Taylor, suggesting he publish them under her cousin’s name – one “Lois Lane.” Yes, THAT Lois Lane.

What follows is a twisted tale of cyber-induced mind control. Molly Griggs (Missy Peregrym), a former MIT prodigy turned psychotic patient of the dubious Summerholt Institute, is using a mind control program embedded in emails to force people to kill Chloe. First Clark (Tom Welling) attempts to run her down with his truck, then Lana (Kristin Kreuk) goes after her with an ax in a scene reminiscent of The Shining. Even Martha and Jonathan Kent fall victim to the email’s hypnotic suggestion later in the episode.

Meanwhile, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) is investigating the theft of hard drives from the confiscated Torch computers, and Adam Knight (Ian Somerhalder) is establishing himself in Smallville by renting the apartment above the Talon from Lana.

The episode culminates with a showdown at Molly’s apartment, where she reveals her loyalty to Dr. Garner (Martin Cummins) and her attempt to eliminate Chloe for investigating Summerholt. Clark manages to thwart her plans, and by the episode’s end, Lex is blackmailing Dr. Garner into helping him recover his seven missing weeks of memories in exchange for burying Chloe’s exposé.

More Than Meets the Eye: Character Development

“Delete” represents a pivotal moment for several character arcs, particularly for Clark and Chloe. After the events of the past season – Chloe’s betrayal of Clark by investigating him for Lionel, and Clark’s red kryptonite-fueled summer in Metropolis – their friendship was on treacherously thin ice.

The episode’s final scene delivers one of the most honest conversations between the two friends up to this point. Chloe confesses that part of her feels she deserved the attacks as “penance” for betraying Clark. In response, Clark acknowledges his role in pushing her away:

“No, Chloe, he caught you at a weak moment, and we all have them. You found me at mine in Metropolis. You didn’t turn your back on me, you gave me a second chance, and I at least owe you the same.”

This marks a significant turning point in their relationship, with both characters accepting responsibility for past mistakes and agreeing to move forward. Clark acknowledges that while he will always have secrets, Chloe accepts him for who he is. This maturity in handling their complicated friendship showcases substantial growth for both characters.

The episode also sets up Adam Knight’s character as both mysterious and potentially sinister. His skills in martial arts, computers, and knowledge of the human brain all hint at a darker backstory that would unfold in later episodes.

For Lex, we see his continued descent into darkness. His blackmailing of Dr. Garner and casual mention of keeping Molly “somewhere safe” (the first reference to what would later become Level 33.1) demonstrates how easily he resorts to morally questionable tactics to achieve his goals.

Superman Mythology: Seeds Planted

“Delete” makes one of the most significant contributions to the Superman lore in the entire series with the first-ever mention of Lois Lane. Though the character wouldn’t physically appear until Season 4, this name-drop sent fans into a frenzy of speculation about when and how Lois would enter the series.

The decision to make Lois Chloe’s cousin was a brilliant stroke of creative adaptation. Since Chloe Sullivan was an original character created for Smallville with no comic book counterpart, connecting her to the iconic Lois Lane gave her character additional significance in the Superman mythology. It also provided a natural way to eventually bring Lois to Smallville without forcing the issue.

Additionally, the episode continues the development of the Summerholt Institute storyline, which ties back to Ryan James (a psychic child Clark befriended in Season 2) and foreshadows future plotlines involving Dr. Garner’s unethical research. The introduction of this ethically dubious research facility creates a more grounded adversary than the typical “meteor freak of the week” and allows the show to explore themes of scientific ethics and human experimentation that have long been part of Superman comics.

Season 3 Context: The Darkest Hour

Season 3 represented Smallville at its darkest and most complex. Following Clark’s red kryptonite summer in Metropolis and his reluctant return, the season consistently explored themes of betrayal, redemption, and the corrupting nature of power.

“Delete” fits perfectly into this thematic framework. Coming midway through the season, it addresses the lingering tension between Clark and Chloe while also advancing Lex’s increasingly concerning behavior. The episode’s villain, Molly Griggs, represents the season’s recurring idea that even brilliant minds can be corrupted when they lose their moral compass – a clear parallel to Lex’s own journey.

The episode also continues Season 3’s exploration of technological threats. While earlier seasons focused primarily on meteor-rock mutations, Season 3 expanded the types of dangers Clark faced to include technological threats, psychological manipulation, and corporate malfeasance – all represented in Molly’s email-based mind control program and the corrupt research at Summerholt.

Behind the Scenes: Production Insights

“Delete” was directed by Pat Williams and written by the team of Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, who would later become showrunners for Smallville in its later seasons. Their knack for balancing character development with mythology-building is evident throughout the episode.

The actress who played Molly Griggs, Missy Peregrym, would go on to have a successful career, starring in series like Rookie Blue and FBI. Interestingly, she would later marry and divorce Zachary Levi, who would play Shazam in the DC Extended Universe – a curious Superman-adjacent connection.

Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor, mentioned on his podcast “Talk Ville” in 2023 that he found it ridiculous how Lana and Chloe never faced any disciplinary action or legal consequences following their violent confrontation in the school showers. This speaks to one of Smallville’s ongoing quirks – the tendency for extraordinary events to be quickly forgotten by authorities in a town supposedly accustomed to strange occurrences.

The episode also contains several Easter eggs for Superman fans. A sharp-eyed viewer might catch a glimpse of the Smallville High mascot wearing a Superman-like costume visible briefly on the Torch’s computers. Additionally, Martha’s email address shown in the episode (CNH320@instamail.org) is an homage to John Schneider’s previous role – “CNH320” was the license plate number of the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.

Future Implications: The Road Ahead

“Delete” planted several seeds that would bloom in later seasons:

1. Level 33.1 – Lex mentions that Molly is “in the care of people who will help her,” the first veiled reference to what would later be revealed as Level 33.1, Lex’s secret lab for studying people with extraordinary abilities. This facility would become a major plot point in Season 6.
2. Dr. Garner and Memory Manipulation – The deal struck between Lex and Dr. Garner at the episode’s end leads directly to the Season 3 episode “Memoria,” where Garner’s treatment helps Lex recover repressed childhood memories.
3. Lois Lane – As mentioned, this first reference to Lois Lane set the stage for Erica Durance’s appearance in Season 4’s premiere “Crusade.” Durance would go on to become a fan-favorite portrayal of the character.
4. The Talon Apartment – This episode introduces the apartment above the Talon, which would become a recurring setting throughout the series, housing various characters including Lana, Lois, and Chloe at different points.

Critical Analysis: How Does “Delete” Hold Up?

Viewed through a modern lens, “Delete” feels remarkably prescient in its depiction of technology-based threats. In an era of increasing concern about cyber security, social engineering, and online manipulation, Molly’s email-based mind control doesn’t seem quite as far-fetched as it might have in 2004.

The episode maintains the perfect balance between “freak of the week” storytelling and advancing the season’s larger arcs. While Molly Griggs serves as the episodic villain, the real meat of the story lies in the evolving relationships between Clark and Chloe, Lana and Adam, and Lex and his own demons.

If there’s a weakness, it’s in the somewhat contrived nature of the mind control device – the idea that an email could transmit a hypnotic suggestion strong enough to override free will requires a significant suspension of disbelief. But Smallville has always asked viewers to accept the fantastic alongside the mundane, and the strong character work makes this easier to swallow.

Conclusion: Why “Delete” Matters

“Delete” may not be the flashiest or most action-packed episode of Smallville, but it represents the series at its thoughtful best – balancing superhero conventions with genuine character development and mythology-building. The episode demonstrates why Smallville endured for ten seasons and continues to influence Superman adaptations today.

By introducing Lois Lane, advancing the complicated friendship between Clark and Chloe, foreshadowing Lex’s darker experiments, and exploring themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption, “Delete” encapsulates everything that made Smallville more than just another superhero show. It showed that even without capes and flights, stories about extraordinary people facing ordinary human challenges could be just as compelling as any spectacle.

In a television landscape now dominated by superhero shows with massive budgets and spectacular visual effects, the relatively grounded “Delete” reminds us that at the heart of every great superhero story are characters we care about facing challenges that reflect our own – even if those challenges don’t involve mind-controlling emails from psychotic tech prodigies.

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What are your memories of “Delete” or Smallville’s third season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!