Smallville: Executive Producers Talk The Final Season

QUESTION: You’ve had a string of really good episodes this year. Does that make it harder to let go? Or is it because you’re letting go and the show is ending that the episodes are so great?

KELLY SOUDERS: I think what would be the worst thing for us is if the show ended at a time when people were not tuning into it. They weren’t happy and they weren’t interested in the season. I think that would have been the most heartbreaking thing of all. So as much as we don’t want it to end, we’re at least glad people seem to be enjoying this season.

QUESTION: This week’s episode is “Patriot.” What can you share about it?

BRIAN PETERSON: It’s the return of Aquaman, but what’s really fun this time is he comes back with his wife Mera. Not only does that kind of propel the hero story for the episode, but it really shines a light on Clark and Lois’ relationship. There are a couple big Clark/Lois reveals in the episode and some fun action.

QUESTION: Are we going to see more Justice League members coming up soon?

KELLY SOUDERS: Yeah, in “Icarus.” It’s just chock full of heroes.

BRIAN PETERSON: We get to see Hawkeye and Star Girl from the JSA. Then we have an appearance by Black Canary. She comes back in episode 12.

QUESTION: There have been a lot of big moments so far this season, especially for Lois and Clark. Is it difficult deciding what to do now and what to leave for the series finale?

KELLY SOUDERS: It is, but what we’ve come to realize on the show is that if you can move the ball down the field a little further, it just seems to work better for us. There are things like the end of the 200th [episode] when they were lifting off the ground. That was not something we were planning to do at that point in the season, but it just felt like the right thing to do at the right time. We tend to go with our fan gut [Laughs], wanting to push the envelope versus holding it all off.

QUESTION: You’ve still got some big stuff for the finale, I’m sure.

BRIAN PETERSON: Oh yeah! [Laughs] The finale, we’re all really excited about. We just feel like we have to really earn it and get there, so our focus right now is everything up until the finale.

QUESTION: Clark and Oliver have really opened up and let Tess into their world this season, but she’s keeping all these secrets from them. Will they come back to haunt their truce?

KELLY SOUDERS: Oh yeah. She’s going to have to pay for everything she’s been hiding from everyone. And sooner than later.

QUESTION: We recently discovered she’s a Luthor. What is she going to do with that information? And is she keeping that a secret too?

KELLY SOUDERS: Not for long. It all comes to a head in episode 10, titled “Luthor,” shockingly. [Laughs]

QUESTION: Kelly, “Luthor” was your directorial debut. What was it like approaching the characters from that point of view?

KELLY SOUDERS: It was amazing. I had the most incredible month. Our cast and crew are so talented. It was wonderful to be on the floor with them, day in and day out, and really getting to experience it from a different chair.

QUESTION:What can you tease about the alternate universe we’ll be seeing in that episode?

KELLY SOUDERS: Obviously, Lionel just lights up the screen. I would say anybody who’s a fan of the relationships on the show should definitely tune in because you’re going to see them spinning on their heads.

BRIAN PETERSON: And I would say out of all of our alternate reality episodes, this has the most relevant takeaway from any of them in our reality, in our real world. Missing the last three minutes of the show would be a huge mistake.

QUESTION: So it will have big consequences for the real world?

KELLY SOUDERS: Yeah. It will change one relationships in particular forever.

For the full interview, follow the link.