It’s been over twenty years since we first saw Clark Kent crash-land in a Kansas cornfield, yet we’re still chasing that high. Smallville wasn't just a superhero show. It was a blueprint. Before the MCU turned every movie into a serialized event and before the Arrowverse took over the CW, there was Tom Welling leaning against a yellow tractor, wondering why he felt like an alien in his own skin. It was "No Tights, No Flights," but it was everything. Honestly, it's hard to find that exact mix of "freak of the week" procedural drama and the slow-burn realization of destiny.
If you're hunting for tv shows similar to smallville, you probably aren't just looking for capes. You're looking for that specific feeling of growing up while carrying a secret that could break the world. You want the angst of a Lex and Clark friendship that you know is going to end in a blood feud. You want the "Will they, won't they?" tension of Lana Lang or Chloe Sullivan. Finding a replacement isn't easy because the landscape of television has changed so much since 2001. We've moved away from 22-episode seasons toward 8-episode prestige miniseries, which kills the "comfy" vibe Smallville mastered.
The Modern Successor: Superman & Lois
The most obvious choice is often the right one. Superman & Lois feels like the spiritual sequel Smallville fans deserved but didn't think they'd get. It flips the script. Instead of watching Clark learn to be a man, we watch him try to be a father to two teenagers who might—or might not—have his powers. Tyler Hoechlin plays a version of Clark that is remarkably close to the "boy scout" essence Tom Welling captured, though with a bit more exhaustion in his eyes.
The show moves the action back to the farm. It treats the setting of Smallville like a character again, dealing with economic decay and small-town secrets. There’s a groundedness here. It isn't just about punching a CGI villain; it's about whether or not Clark can make it to his son’s football game while also stopping a nuclear meltdown. The cinematography is cinematic. It looks expensive. While the original Smallville relied on that early-2000s saturated glow, this show opts for a more muted, prestige-drama aesthetic. It’s basically Friday Night Lights but with heat vision.
Roswell and the Teen Alien Trope
If the part of Smallville you loved most was the "alien trying to pass as human" drama, you have to go back to the original Roswell (1999). Don't bother with the reboot first; go for the original. Max Evans is Clark Kent without the indestructible skin. He’s vulnerable, he’s terrified of being found out by the government, and he’s deeply in love with a human girl, Liz Parker.
The stakes in Roswell feel incredibly intimate. Every time Max uses his powers, he risks exposing his entire family to a secret government agency. It captures that same "us against the world" mentality that Clark, Pete, and Chloe had in the early seasons. It’s moody. It’s filled with Dido songs and leather jackets. It’s peak WB-era television.
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- Roswell (1999): Focuses on the fear of discovery and soulmate tropes.
- The Tomorrow People: A more action-heavy take on young people discovering they are "other."
- Kyle XY: Remember the guy without a belly button? It’s surprisingly close to the "learning my powers" phase of Clark’s life, minus the DC lore.
Why Gotham is the Dark Mirror to Smallville
Most people looking for tv shows similar to smallville eventually stumble onto Gotham. It’s the same premise—a prequel to a legend—but the vibe is completely flipped. If Smallville is a sunny morning in Kansas, Gotham is a rainy midnight in a dumpster.
It’s chaotic. It’s campy. It’s sometimes totally insane.
Instead of following Bruce Wayne’s training (though that is a subplot), the show focuses on Jim Gordon trying to stay clean in a city that is rotting from the inside out. But the real draw? The villains. Just as Smallville gave us the definitive slow-descent of Lex Luthor, Gotham gives us the rise of Penguin and Riddler. Watching Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor develop their characters is a masterclass in prequel writing. You see the sparks of madness before the fire starts. It’s a bit more violent than Smallville, but the DNA is the same: how does a hero—or a villain—become what they are meant to be?
The "Group of Friends" Dynamic in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
You can't talk about Smallville without acknowledging Buffy. Joss Whedon’s masterpiece is the reason Smallville was allowed to exist. Before Clark was fighting meteor freaks, Buffy Summers was fighting vampires as a metaphor for high school problems. The "Scooby Gang" is the blueprint for the "Torch" staff at Smallville High.
Buffy handles the "burden of destiny" better than almost any show in history. The loneliness of being the "Chosen One" mirrors Clark's isolation perfectly. Plus, the dialogue is snappier. While Clark spent a lot of time brooding in his loft, Buffy and her friends were quipping while dusting vampires. It’s essential viewing for anyone who misses the serialized monster-of-the-week format that eventually weaves into a massive seasonal arc.
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Merlin: The Fantasy Version of the Clark/Lex Dynamic
This is the dark horse recommendation. If you loved the tragic bromance between Clark and Lex, you must watch the BBC’s Merlin. It is literally Smallville with swords and sorcery.
The setup is identical. A young Merlin arrives in Camelot where magic is banned on pain of death. He has to hide his powers while serving the young, arrogant Prince Arthur. They become best friends, but you—the audience—know that eventually, they are destined to be the king and the sorcerer of legend. Even better, it features Morgana, whose descent from a kind-hearted friend to a bitter antagonist rivals Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor. It’s heartbreaking. You spend five seasons wanting them to just tell each other the truth, but the tragedy is that they can't.
Moving Beyond the Prequel: The Arrowverse and Beyond
When Smallville ended in 2011, there was a void. Arrow stepped in to fill it a year later. While Arrow started as a gritty, Dark Knight-inspired vigilante show, it eventually birthed an entire universe.
- The Flash: This is actually much closer to Smallville than Arrow ever was. Barry Allen is optimistic, he has a "team" in his ear, and he’s dealing with the death of a parent and a massive mystery.
- Stargirl: Often overlooked, this show has that "small town with a secret" vibe and a heavy focus on legacy. It feels "bright" in a way that modern superhero shows rarely do.
- Shadowhunters: If you liked the teen drama and the "secret world" aspects of the later Smallville seasons (think Justice League and Checkmate), this fits the bill.
The Misconception of the "Perfect" Hero
One thing people often get wrong about Smallville is thinking it’s about a perfect person. It’s not. Clark Kent in Smallville is incredibly selfish at times. He lies to everyone he loves. He lets his fear of rejection stop him from being honest with Lana for six years. He makes mistakes that get people killed.
Modern shows like The Boys or Invincible deconstruct the superhero, showing them as monsters. Smallville did something different; it showed the hero as a flawed teenager who was trying to be good but failing. If you want that nuance, Invincible (the animated series) is actually a great parallel. Mark Grayson loves his dad, wants to be a hero, but realizes that the world is much bloodier and more complicated than the comic books suggest. It’s a "coming of age" story with actual consequences.
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Actionable Next Steps for the Smallville Fan
If you've finished your tenth rewatch and need something new, don't just jump into the next superhero show. Think about what part of the show you miss.
If you miss the Kryptonian Lore, go watch Krypton. It’s a prequel set two generations before Superman, focusing on his grandfather. It’s high-concept sci-fi and explores the political machinations of a dying planet.
If you miss the High School Drama, check out Teen Wolf. It sounds silly, but the first few seasons have a fantastic "secret identity" arc and a strong focus on a core group of friends protecting their town from supernatural threats.
If you miss the Lex Luthor Intensity, watch Succession. It has zero superheroes, but the power struggles and the "son trying to please an impossible father" trope is Lex and Lionel Luthor personified. Honestly, Michael Rosenbaum would have fit right into the Roy family.
Start with Superman & Lois for the most direct "feel" replacement. Then, move to Merlin if you want that emotional gut-punch of a friendship falling apart. The "No Tights, No Flights" era might be over, but the themes of identity and destiny are everywhere if you know where to look.
Finally, check out the Talk Ville podcast. It’s hosted by Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum. They go through the show episode by episode. Hearing them talk about the behind-the-scenes struggles—like Tom having to drive himself to set at 4:00 AM after filming for 16 hours—adds a whole new layer of appreciation for the show. It’s the best way to keep the spirit of the series alive while you search for your next binge-watch.