For multiple reasons, I'd say I'm partial to <em>Smallville </em>over <em>Superman & Lois</em>, and think it holds up as one of the best Superman adaptations we have. Maybe it's partially nostalgia, but I found <em>Superman & Lois </em>to be far more melodramatic in a way that didn't resonate with me. That isn't to say <em>Smallville </em>isn't melodramatic; it is. However, I have more personal fondness for the charm of the early 2000s WB feel than the contemporary CW aesthetic. Beyond that, <em>Smallville </em>may have its episodic cheesiness, but when zoomed out, the overarching narratives and character dynamics are terrific. Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor might have the best arc in DC television adaptations.
