I just wrapped up watching the entire fourth season of Smallville on DVD, and except for one or two reasons, I cannot figure out why I continue to watch this show. Honestly, most of the episodes are pointless. This past season is an excellent example of how television writers have to struggle to come up with 22 separate interesting stories week in and week out. Many of this season's shows were just weak, and there were many plotlines that the writing staff dangled in front of us and just let disappear.....

Here is the best and worst from season 4:

The Good:

- When Clark flew. That was sweet.

-The episode "Run"- except for the last thirty seconds, which my friend Scott Meeker correctly pinned as....well, watch it for yourself, and see what you think.

- The good Lex/bad Lex episode.

- The season finale- ended with a HUGE cliffhanger that, thanks to season 5 spoilers, I know the result of...but wow, what an ending.

- The two part "Alicia" arc- was very good, and had the most sudden demise of a lead character ever.

The Bad:
- The ENTIRE Lana possessed by an old witch thing.....stupid. Simply stupid.

- Lionel Luthor's turn from the dark side, which lasted a whole 4 episodes before he inexplicably turned evil again after a swordfight with his son. (If you are reading this and have no idea who any of these characters are- don't worry about it. It is basically Dawson's Creek with Superpowers.) I guess the writers though evil Lionel was more fun to write than good Lionel.

- Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman's turn as an evil controlling psycho hose-beast. Stupid.

- Former Lois Lane Margot Kidder's pathetic cameo as Dr. Bridgette Crosby.

- Even worse, her offscreen murder that did NOTHING to advance the plot and is only casually mentioned the rest of the season.


The Ugly:

- The final 30 seconds of "Run." Words cannot describe how.....I can't say. I just can't say on this public forum.

- How stupid are the people in this town, honestly? Every week there are a slew of murders, kidnappings, random explosions, inexplicable myteries....and yet NO ONE seems to notice, and every time something happens, everyone is completely SHOCKED at what occurred. You'd think that the thirtieth time a mutated teenager came into my coffeehouse and turned people into salt pillars (or whatever) I might, you know, PREPARE for it or something...

- The Talon. I wish it would burn to the ground. Please.

- Kristin Kreuk is pretty enough, but her entire acting repetoire consists of frowning and seeming to be perpetually on the verge of tears.

- Clark, seemingly devastated by the senseless murder of Alicia, the one girl who knew of his abilities, has COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT IN THE NEXT EPISODE WHICH TAKES PLACE ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER.

But as bad as season 4 was, it is still Superman, and I'll watch it. I'm a hypocrite.