Smallville Season 5

Smallville Season 5 has built a real following on and among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 4,515 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Tom Welling sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Smallville Season 5 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Smallville Season 5 through its more ambitious moments. Clark Kent now carries a full load of classes at Central Kansas University, but that's not all he carries. He carries the full weight of his — perhaps the world's — destiny. In season five, Clark finally begins to accept his destiny and takes giant leaps towards becoming the Man of Steel. Tom Welling and Erica Durance lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2005. The rules of Smallville Season 5's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Smallville Season 5 fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Watch for Tom Welling in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.