Talkville

Did you miss us? The boys are back as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum kick off their rewatch of Smallville Season 3 with Episode 1: EXILE! Tom remembers working with Rutger Hauer, certain cathartic choices he took as an actor in this episode, and how he relates the emptiness of Clark's Red-K Bender to real world situation. Michael talks about shooting on an island with a skeleton crew, unwritten ad-libs during this episode, and how people were upset with Allison's new haircut coming off the break. And of course… what would this series be without a check-in with our old pal Al Gough. Hope you folks enjoy, can't wait to get into the rest of this season.

Join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum for our Smallville rewatch this week as we are graced by one of the most important characters over the last couple seasons - Helen Bryce herself, Emmanuelle Vaugier is on the pod! She shares her experience on the set with cast and crew and some stories you don't want to miss. This week we break down Season 3 Episode 2: PHOENIX. Tom shares the unique surprises of working with Rutger Hauer and what he remembers from the ‘dock shootout' scene in this episode. Michael shares why he wanted Lex to have more of a ‘revenge arc' and how taxing Season 3 was with the darkness Lex delves into.

Try to stay awake this week (or else) as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 4: SLUMBER! The guys talk about the not so coincidental inclusion of REM throughout the episode and what the show would have looked like if the characters all said what they truly believed. Tom shares an easter egg he found and talks about the brilliant choices made by John Glover in this episode. Michael reflects on the lexicon of Lex's historical monologues and talks about dreams that feel too real to be fake.

Great episode this week as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum remember the first appearance of a very special guest in Season 3 Episode 5: PERRY! The guys share on set intimidations working with the great Michael McKean, some funny and embarrassing off set stories with him, and what it was like working alongside a guest who really moves the show forward. Michael talks about the crazy coincidence of the coinciding solar flares when the episode aired and how impressive the wire work was here. Tom remembers his iconic tractor flipping scene and his flax seed fast while on set during this shoot.

This week Smallville goes back to 1961 as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit Season 3 Episode 6: RELIC! Tom talks about the big reveals in this episode, finding out that Jonathan is the ‘actual' chosen one, Lionel has deeper roots to Smallville, and Lana clearly would accept Clark as he is. Michael talks about why he didn't play a Luthor in the throwback scenes and how Chloe has done a 180 this season in terms of likability. And of course, we get a visit from our very own Jor-El, the one and only Al Gough!

We go back to the ‘freak of the week' basics this week folks as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum dive into Smallville Season 3 Episode 7: Magnetic! Tom remembers his time working with Kevin Zegers, one of the worst gags in the history of the show, and why he felt proud of Lana in this episode. Michael talks about his unrelated Magic Castle stories, his deep hatred for yellow cars, and when the cast couldn't stop laughing one day while filming.

This is the one I've been waiting for since Talkville began! Shattered may not be the most monumental Smallville episode, but it's peak Smallville quality-wise: Ken Biller's script is slick and pulsating, his direction (especially that amazing one shot at the Luthor Mansion) captures Lex's deteriorating mental state brilliantly, the montage at the end is chilling (as is Johnny Cash's "Hurt") and Michael Rosenbaum delivers THE defining performance of his career and the show as a whole, IMO. How Michael didn't win an Emmy for Shattered I'll never know.

This week the guys visit the loony bin as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 9: ASYLUM! After going through the long list of stellar guest stars from JTT… Ian Somerhalder… Shawn Ashmore… Jesse Metcalfe and more… we get into one of our most twisted episodes yet. Michael remembers getting gagged, dropping bombs in front of JTT, and the difficulty of working in constraints. Tom remembers going way back with Ian Somerhalder, unique acting choices in this episode, and his biggest issue with the barbed wire prison escape scene.

Keep it down! This week Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum come off of the high of the last couple episodes and back down to reality as we revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 10: WHISPER. Before Michael remembers that one time he actually went blind, Tom talks about ripping off John Glover in preparation for his Ray Charles-esque scenes in this episode. He also remembers what went into his super hearing performance and a funny story from Justin Hartley's first episode. Michael talks about his portrayal of laid back Lex and the process of wardrobe giving Tom his new glasses. 

Join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum as they unwillingly prevent this episode from being deleted from their memory banks by revisiting Smallville Season 3 Episode 11: DELETE! The guys dish back-to-back poor ratings as they talk about this Matrix-laced episode that served as a cautionary tale against SPAM emails. Tom finds a familiar friend in the background of a scene and gets a kick out of the excitement of internet terminology in the early 2000's. Michael lets it fly with opinions for Adele and The Matrix while calling out a certain Easter egg hidden on the set.

Join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum as they revisit the ‘Butterfly Effect' meets ‘Final Destination' meets Smallville episode in Season 3 Episode 12: HEREAFTER! After Michael gets over some of the hair and makeup decision in this episode he reflects on the amount of Lana's friends who end up dying and what he wishes Clark did when Jonathan Kent collapsed in the barn. Tom remembers how dangerous the dynamite-laced house was, the pressure of keeping the WB appearances up, and how he prepared for his emotional scene at the end. One of those weeks where the pod is better than the episode? Hope you dig it.

On your mark… Get set… Woah! Did Clark just kill someone?!? Join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum as they revisit the cautionary PSA against street racing in Smallville Episode 13 VELOCITY! Before we get into the legality of Clark's actions the guy gush over Sam Jones III's performance in this episode and how it won over Michael. Tom talks about driving the Porsche and his wish for Jonathan in this episode, while Michael questions Lana's judgment and reveals the biggest shock of the series.

Smallville tackles psychotic relationships this week as Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling revisit Season 3 Episode 14: OBSESSION! After the guys gush over their time on set with the wonderful Sarah Carter, they analyze some of Tom's noticeable giddiness in scenes throughout the episode. Michael talks about the plastic butcher knife horror scenes and questions why Lana stays in her own psychotic relationship. Tom gives props to certain choices taken by Allison and remembers how they got an honest reaction to the ‘Jonathan walking in on his son' scene in the episode.

Smallville tackles psychotic relationships this week as Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling revisit Season 3 Episode 14: OBSESSION! After the guys gush over their time on set with the wonderful Sarah Carter, they analyze some of Tom's noticeable giddiness in scenes throughout the episode. Michael talks about the plastic butcher knife horror scenes and questions why Lana stays in her own psychotic relationship. Tom gives props to certain choices taken by Allison and remembers how they got an honest reaction to the ‘Jonathan walking in on his son' scene in the episode.

This week Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 16: CRISIS! How fitting that the guys are joined by someone special who helped calm crises everyday on set, the very beloved Natalie Cosco - head of makeup on Smallville. Natalie talks about keeping a calm and positive energy, the difficulties of doing ‘blood in eye' effects, and the one time she lost it on set. Michael talks about his love for Linkin Park, the hypocrisy of gun scenes with the CW, and the teenage PSA's throughout this season. Tom gushes over beautifully pure eyes and the idea of Clark Kent disrupting destiny.

What an episode… Join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum as they revisit a very impactful episode of Smallville in Season 3 Episode 17: LEGACY. The guys admire the last on camera performance from the late great Christopher Reeve and talk about how he was able to dominate a scene as an actor despite his condition. Later, Tom really connects to the themes of vulnerability as a father that ring throughout this episode; while Michael comes face to face with very creepy Lex behavior. And this week we have our first in studio Talk Ville guest with Lionel Luthor himself… JOHN GLOVER!

We explore journalistic integrity this week as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 18: TRUTH! After reflecting on times in their career when journalists were trying to get close for a story, the guys reflect on all the truth bombs dropped across Smallville in this episode. Michael talks about the pros and cons of a relationship with a journalist and remembers bringing real life situations with his father into his scenes with Lionel. Tom pokes at yet another scene where Clark deals with syringes and shares a crazy memory from Season 1.

What have you done!?! Phenomenal episode this week as Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum are joined by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar to revisit Season 3 Episode 19: MEMORIA! After Al talks about some of the ‘behind the scenes' conflicts with this storyline and DC, Miles shares his experience with his directorial debut on the series and explains what it was like to direct the show he created in its third season. We get into a lot this episode… Rumors of Batman, Chloe potentially becoming Lois Lane, Tom pranking the crew with his bulge, and Michael drawing similarities between his personal life and his Lex characterization.

Wouldn't be right talking about this episode with the guy, join Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum alongside John Schneider as they talk about the first cast-member directed episode of Smallville in Season 3 Episode 20: TALISMAN! Before talking to John, the guys discuss Lex getting loose with certain decisions in this episode, how Michael and Glover timed the ‘knife grab,' and whether or not they could be Paris girls. Schneider talks about the comfortability of directing his fellow cast members, how he watched the show while it was airing to expand the series, and also why he had issues with parts of the process off-set.

Move over Aubrey Plaza, because Emily Dinsmore is back this week as we revisit Smallville Season 3 Episode 21: FORSAKEN! After the guys talk about the quick ascension of the young girl into a mass murderer, we talk about one of the saddest sequences in the series thus far… the farewell to Pete Ross. Michael talks about the emotion of the final basketball scene between Clark and Pete, while Tom speculates on the departure and what Sam's future on the show could have been.

Damn, he's here! Welcome SAM JONES III as he joins us on our Smallville Season 3 finale: COVENANT! Before the guys talk to Sam about his experience on the series, his deep family bond with the cast, and his surprise that Pete was white - they dissect the jaw dropping cliffhanger montage that this episode leaves us with. Michael questions some of the bookend nakedness that this episode opened and closed with, Tom questions Lex's obsession room reveal, and Ryan finds one of the coolest coincidences that has happened this season. Stay tuned for our recap of Season 3 next week!

Before we say goodbye to Smallville Season 3 and get ready to graduate in Season 4, let's take a quick look back at some of our favorite moments this past season. Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum share the results from some of the ‘Best of Season 3' voting along with final episode ratings, favorite scene scoring, and more. We couldn't do this without you folks… Appreciate all the interaction and love this year. Get ready for Season 4 of our rewatch premiering Wednesday January 17