Smallville: The Complete Fifth Season

Obviously aware that this series needed a shot in the arm going into its fifth year, the producers of Smallville rolled the dice and made big changes…and their gamble paid off. Among the 22 episodes of the 2005-06 season are some of the show's very best. The original premise was all but upended, but having already strayed so far from the “official” history of Superman, Smallville continued to engage in revisionism with favorable results. Among this year's major events: Clark (Tom Welling) temporarily loses his powers, Lana (Kristin Kreuk) prepares for college while Chloe (Allison Mack) interns at the Daily Planet in nearby Metropolis, Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) continues to make mischief, and Professor Milton Fine (James Marsters), a.k.a. Brainiac, emerges as the chief villain. The fifth season also includes the welcome arrival of one major character—Lois Lane (Erica Durance)—and the surprising departure of another. “Arrival,” the season opener, gets the year off to a suspenseful start when Clark, transported to the Fortress of Solitude, faces a choice between saving Chloe from freezing to death or rescuing the entire planet. My vote for best episode here goes to “Reckoning,” in which Clark finally reveals his secret to Lana—a decision followed by wrenching life changes. DVD extras include commentaries on two episodes, unaired scenes, excerpts from the new Superman documentary Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman, a featurette on the 100th episode, and “Vengeance Chronicles” promo webisodes. Recommended. (E. Hulse)