Smallville

Smallville has built a real following in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Hulu among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. 10 seasons of it means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 4,516 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Tom Welling leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Smallville is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. What makes Smallville work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. The origins of the world’s greatest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel. Tom Welling and Erica Durance lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Across 10 seasons (2001–2011), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. What separates Smallville from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Smallville genuinely rewarding. The tonal similarities to Krypton are real, though Smallville carves out its own identity quickly. 10 seasons is a lot, but the quality holds all the way through. Tom Welling anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.

Smallville wrapped up in 2011, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar — and 10 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.