Smallville: 5 Best Couples (& 5 Worst)

Although it seems we are met with news of a new superhero TV show almost daily, this was not the case when Smallville aired back in 2001. The Superman prequel may have been divisive at times, but it’s likely the superhero television landscape wouldn’t be what it is today without it. Starring Tom Welling as Clark Kent, the series lasted for ten seasons, focusing primarily on the Man of Steel’s teen years – at least to begin with. The original premise included a strict “no tights, no flights” policy that the writers stuck with, whether fans wanted them to or not.

Smallville was a superhero show, but it was also kind of a teen drama, so the romances were a major focal point. After all, imagine navigating the tricky waters of teenage hormones, all while trying to hide the fact that you’re a super-powered alien. Having decades of source material to draw upon, Smallville always managed to put its own spin on those more traditional Superman stories. Some of the romances featured in the show were truly iconic, while others were gag-inducing. Let’s take a look at both.

10 Best – Clark & Lana

This might be controversial as fans tended to hate Clark and Lana in the later seasons. While it is true that Smallville kept the romance between them going for far too long, Clana was an integral aspect of those early years. The chemistry between Kristin Kreuk and Tom Welling was palpable and their “will they or won’t they” dynamic kept viewers coming back week after week.

One of the biggest romantic missteps Smallville ever made was keeping Clark and Lana involved for so long. By the time Lois arrived in season 4, it was difficult to get invested in a new love interest for Clark, even if it was Lois Lane. Even still, Clark and Lana were an undeniably vital part of the series, and for a time, fans really rooted for them.

9 Worst – Arthur & Lois

This union was blissfully short-lived, but viewers still had to suffer through the brief and boring romance between a newly arrived Lois Lane and Arthur “A.C.” Curry, aka Aquaman. There were zero sparks between these two and everyone knew that Lois and Clark were the endgame, even if he was still hung up on Lana at this point.

No one really needed to see Lois make out with Aquaman. It was just further proof that the writers brought her into the series too soon. It may have been a forgivable offense if these two made a halfway decent couple. They really didn’t.

8 Best – Jonathan & Martha

Jonathan and Martha Kent were at the heart of Smallville until the day the former died. Even though Martha and Perry White were a great couple too, there was just no recreating the magic that was Clark’s adoptive parents. Annette O’Toole (who played Lana Lang in the much-maligned Superman III) and John Schneider were simply wonderful.

They filled every scene with warmth and strength, always there for Clark and each other. Not all kids get to grow up in such a loving household, but Jonathan and Martha made raising a super-powered alien look almost easy. Many fans still haven’t gotten over Jonathan’s tragic death and Smallville was never quite the same without these two holding everything together.

7 Worst – Lex & Lana

This travesty was the absolute worst couple ever to be featured on Smallville. Sure, it sounds good on paper, driving the love of Clark’s life into the arms of the man who would one day be his greatest foe. However, the results were undeniably soap-operatic. Honestly, the craziest thing about Lex Luthor and Lana Lang was what happened when they finally got together.

It was easy to root for Lex when he was quietly pining for Lana. However, once their twisted union began, all that changed. Both characters were irrevocably altered and most fans could barely stomach them together. Lex was always Smallville’s most fascinating character and this relationship completely ruined him. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it was over.

6 Best – Oliver & Chloe

This is another controversial opinion because not everyone was happy when Chloe Sullivan got together with Oliver Queen. However, these two had real chemistry and after losing Jimmy so tragically, Chloe needed a win. Plus, Ollie deserved to find happiness and though it was soul-crushing, the writers never saw fit for him to find it with Black Canary, this was almost as good.

Chloe and Oliver worked really well together, balancing each other out and supporting one another. Most importantly, this relationship didn’t include all of the back and forth melodrama that became so prominent in the show’s other major relationships.

5 Worst – Jason & Lana

Of course, this has nothing to do with the delightful Jensen Ackles. That being said, his character, Jason Teague, was kind of the worst. There are no two ways about it. Season 4 was rough and it was the year that many fans almost quit Smallville all together. Sure, Lois showed up, but between the Teagues, witches, and Chloe’s “death,” things took a turn for the ridiculous, even for a series centering on an alien from the planet Krypton.

The creepy student/teacher relationship between Lana and Jason really hasn’t aged well. On top of that, no one needed an entire season focused on the mysterious Teague family. Thankfully, the writers never saw fit to bring them back somehow.

4 Best – Chloe & Jimmy

Referred to as Chimmy by devoted Smallville watchers, Chloe Sullivan and Jimmy Olsen quickly became a fan favorite pair. There is no argument here. This was one of the show’s best (and least irritating) couples. Fans knew they were meant to be for years before Jimmy finally showed up and though their romance was never what you might call easy, it was always adorable.

Viewers were rooting for this couple to live happily ever after, but this was not to be. Jimmy died on their wedding day, leaving a trail of broken hearts across the globe. Adding insult to injury was the implication that he was never “Superman’s Pal” from the comics and that it would instead someday be his younger brother.

3 Worst – Oliver & Lois

The relationship between Lois Lane and Oliver Queen wasn’t bad, really, but it was impossible for fans to ever get truly invested in it. Of course, there would be some time before Lois and Clark finally got together and it wouldn’t really happen in Smallville. However, did she actually need to get involved with yet another member of the Justice League in the meantime?

Though it is true that this romance was much more serious than the fling between Lois and Arthur, it still never really resonated with viewers. How can anyone hope they wind up together when Lois and Clark are one of the most iconic couples in comic history?

2 Best – Clark & Lois

Much like Clark Kent himself, it took quite a while for this romance to get off the ground. For one thing, Clark certainly took his time moving on from Lana. However, once things finally began to heat up between Lois Lane and Clark Kent, there was more than just the source material tying them together. Erica Durance and Tom Welling had excellent on-screen chemistry, even as friends, so it’s really no surprise that they fit together so easily.

There may have been plenty of roadblocks along the way, but this romance never got tiring like Clark and Lana’s eventually did. It was also a far more mature relationship that was believably built up over time.

1 Worst – Chloe & Clark

Man, this romance was painful to witness. It was just so awkward. Everyone (including Chloe) knew that Clark was madly in love with Lana. Sadly, Chloe was too wrapped up in her feelings for him to care. These two were always better as friends and watching them trying to be anything else early on was just weird.

Chloe and Clark built up a lovely friendship for the remainder of the series, proving that’s what they always should have been. Perhaps they just needed to test those waters in order to realize that. At least fans didn’t have to suffer this one for too long.

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