Truth, identity, and responsibility are the cornerstones of
Smallville's exceptional third season. When viewers left Clark
(Tom Welling) at the end of
season 2, he was feeling his oats in Metropolis with the help of
a red Kryptonite ring, but by the opening of season 3, he must
return to Smallville to not only help his parents save their farm,
but seek some resolution in his relationships with Lana (Kristin
Kreuk) and Lex (Michael Rosenbaum), who's returned from his
abandonment at the conclusion of the previous season. Lex himself
must deal with some shocking revelations regarding his relationship
with his sinister father Lionel (John Glover, magnetic as always),
and Lana becomes involved with a new figure in town, the mysterious
Adam Knight (Lost's Ian Somerholder), who may or may not be a
certain caped crusader. And speaking of heroes in disguise, the
season's finale introduces Kara, a young woman with powers similar
to Clark's--could she in fact be his sister, known best to comic
book fans as Supergirl? Season 3 is chock full of such intriguing
moments, including an appearance by future Daily Planet
editor Perry White (Michael McKean, the real-life husband of series
star Annette O'Toole) in "Perry," helmed by Supergirl film
director Jeannot Szwarc; the return of villains Jonathan Taylor
Thomas, Shawn Ashmore, and Jesse Metcalfe from seasons 1 and 2 (in
"Asylum"); the departure of series regular Samuel L. Jones; and a
intrigue-fraught final turn by Christopher Reeve as Dr. Swann
("Legacy").
The boxed set matches the high quality of the season with some
terrific extras, including commentary on three episodes by series
creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, along with Rosenbaum,
Allison Mack (Chloe), and Glover. Gough and Millar also contribute
commentary to a battery of deleted scenes, and Mack's "Chloe
Chronicles" returns for another go-round. The supplemental features
are rounded out by a behind-the-scenes featurette, an amusing gag
reel, and an Easter egg with Rosenbaum conducting some offbeat
interviews. --Paul Gaita
