Smallville: The Complete Second Season [2002] [DVD]

For many fans, the Superman revisionist series Smallville truly hit its stride in its second series, when it shifted focus from traditional comic book conflicts to one of self-discovery for its hero, a teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling). Fans and first-timers can judge for themselves with this six-disc set, which collects all 23 episodes and a decent selection of supplemental features. Whereas series 1 focused on Clark using his powers to combat a host of menaces as in the WB's other big fantasy hit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, series 2 delved into Clark's past and the extent of his super powers, most notably in the back-to-back "Heat", in which he discovers his heat vision, and "Red," in which red kryptonite uncorks Clark's less-than-upstanding side. Other plot developments that pull the series in interesting directions include the arrival of Dr Helen Bryce (Emanuelle Vaugier), who becomes involved with Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), but the series' most significant moment comes during episode 17, "Rosetta", in which Clark learns of his Kryptonian origins courtesy of a scientist, who, in an effective bit of casting, is played by Superman star Christopher Reeve.

The complexity of the writing and the issues dealt with in series 2 marked Smallville as a series with depth and drama worthy of its considerable fan following as well as a second boxed set; fittingly, the supplements in this set are more expansive than on the first one. Producers Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Greg Beeman and cast members Welling, Rosenbaum and Kristen Kreuk weigh in on commentary tracks for two episodes ("Red" and "Rosetta"), while a trio of short featurettes explore Christopher Reeves' appearance in "Rosetta", the show's visual effects and the amusing "Wall of Weird" web page maintained by Chloe (Allison Mack). The extras are rounded out by a handful of deleted scenes and a gag reel. --Paul Gaita