An astonishing season of destiny! Clark Kent now carries a full load of classes at Central Kansas U., but that's not all he carries. He carries the full weight of his - perhaps the world's - destiny. "We call this season Superman in Training," series co-creator Alfred Gough says. "Clark is going to accept his destiny." During this exciting pivotal season: The Fortress of Solitude rises. A spaceship mystery unfolds. A dark tragedy - one even Clark's powers can't prevent - strikes. These and more key elements of Superman lore fall into place.
Consistently solid with some major developments, the fifth season of Smallville kicks the characters off to college, but not before finishing the cataclysmic disaster that ended the fourth season. With Chloe transported to the Arctic Circle and Kryptonian supervillains in town, Clark (Tom Welling) is in the Fortress of Solitude meeting Jor-El (voiced by Terence Stamp). He gives up his powers, but to get them back will cost him the life of someone he loves.

The even bigger development is that Clark and Lana (Kristin Kreuk) finally give up their dalliances with others and become an official couple. That means the other girls in Clark's life become fifth and sixth wheels, so Chloe (Allison Mack) reveals the secret she's been keeping from Clark and becomes a best pal. Super-gorgeous Lois's (Erica Durance, now part of the opening credits) banter with Clark loses its bite without any sexual tension so instead she meets Arthur "AC" Curry, a fantastic swimmer who has an eye for Lois and an accusing one toward Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) and LutherCorp. He's not the only one; Clark's Central Kansas A&M professor, Milton Fine (James Marsters) hires Clark to help him on his project, an expose of LutherCorp. Lex is the pivotal character of the season. His relationship with his best friend, Clark, now history, Lex has a Christmas Carol-type dream in which he sees himself in a law-abiding--and happy--life. (That episode, "Lexmas," also has some amusing interplay involving Clark and Chloe.) Undeterred, he decides on a life of power and dives into a state senate race against Jonathan Kent with gusto, though a fanatical Lex supporter turns the race into a literal one for life and death. Lionel Luthor (John Glover) also makes a strong comeback in this season, pulling unseen levers and making everyone wonder exactly what he knows.

There's some fun. "Thirst" is a tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and another DC Comics character, Cyborg (Teen Titans), appears. Carrie Fisher plays Chloe's editor at The Daily Planet, and "Exposed" reunites Schneider with former Dukes of Hazzard costar Tom Wopat, and the two go peeling out in a vehicle. But things come to a head in the series 100th episode, when Jor-El's prediction comes to pass and splintered relationships end up leading in unexpected directions. Then in the season finale's cliffhanger, Clark has to face three of his enemies. DVD features include commentary on two episodes and a half-hour examination of the 100th episode, from writing through production. --David Horiuchi

Customer Rating:
Summary: SUPERB
Comment: I have only just started on the 5th season... but there have been some mind blowing events and many unexpected things have happened, I cant wait to find out what happens next, If you like superman movies or comics or are in the any least bit interested in superman you should buy this series!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Clark's "saved" count, season 5
Comment: This season is better after the 4th one with all its witches and countesses. Too bad Jensen Ackles got pancaked by a meteor, but that just freed him up for Supernatural, another great show. This season, Clark loses his dad, which is sad, but in the plus column, he does get to see Lois do a striptease. Although she failed to actually remove any clothes. That's the point of a strip club.. so I'm told.. And, Clark displays his mind-blowing lack of intelligence by NOT telling Lana his secret even though we know she will be totally ok with it. (see season 6)
And, to prove I have no life, I watched the season with a checklist in front of me, and here's what I counted as far as who Clark saved this season, and how many times.

Lana=6
Lex=1
Jonathan=2
Martha=4
Chloe=3
Pete=0
Lionel=2
Lois=3
Random Hot Chick=1
Random Guy=4
Someone who was just trying to kill Clark=1
Other (group of people, entire world, etc.) 2
Total individual saves, not counting "other"=27

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Customer Rating:
Summary: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, A++++++++
Comment: LIKE ALL THE OTHER SEASONS THIS ONE JUST GET'S BETTER AND BETTER.
I HAVE WATCHED ALL SEASONS INCLUDING THE SIX AND WAITING FOR THE SEVENTH. THIS IS ONE SHOW THAT WILL LIVE ON FOR A LONG TIME.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SEASON.
AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND VIEWING ALL THE OTHER SEASONS.
THEY GROW ON YOU !!!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Started well, ended well, but everything in between ...
Comment: Started with three solid episodes. Ended with two solid episodes. Of the remainder, there are only a very few worth your time.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Back On Track
Comment: In the previous season, Smallville lacked the emotional dramatic punch that had created such enjoyable characters. Also, with the characters graduating at the end of the season, it was clear that the show was in for a major change of pace. While this fifth season did not always hit the jackpot in that area, it by and large was extremely successful in moving the show in a new direction.

As the season progressed, the focus perceptively shifted from the Clark/Lana/Chloe relationship triangle to the "comic book geek" aspect of the Superman mythology. Let's first look at what failed during this season, then examine the many things that went right:

The most noticeable failure of Season Five was the episode "Thirst" (where Lana joins a college sorority and becomes a vampire), widely regarded as the worst episode in the show's history. Also, a conscious effort to raise the gratuitous sex appeal in the show is seen, what with Lois Lane's "patriotic" striptease in "Exposed" and the episode entitled "Hypnotic", which focuses on Clark's sexual relationship with a meteor freak. Though I understand that "sex sells" (especially to Smallville's teenage audience), those types of relationships also serve to undermine the engaging relationships of Smallville's past.

Besides the single clinker and amped-up sex appeal, this season had a wide variety of bright spots:

-Clark and Lana are finally able to have a normal relationship at the beginning of the season (sadly, it would be the last time that relationship carried with it any emotional punch).
-Two more characters (one "mechanical" and one "amphibious") are introduced who are vital to Clark's future.
-Lex is shown what his life could be like if he chooses to soften his heart.
-The Senate race between Jonathan Kent and Lex Luthor heats up, culminating in the show's 100th episode, "Reckoning", which will bring a tear to even the most cynical of viewers.
-The introduction of a Lex/Lana relationship, which contains many intriguing facets.
-Finally, the introduction of Professor Fine, a heralded villain from the Superman cannon who unleashes the most terrible evil in Kryptonian history.

Overall, Smallville's fifth season was an action-packed ride from beginning to end. Though sacrificing many of the show's core characters/relationships in favor of sex appeal, the show was able to successful morph itself from teen-drama to science fiction (for better or worse, depending on who you are). The final scene will have you screaming at your TV for resolution!

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