There are plusses and minuses to each, but there's really little doubt in my mind that Smallville is the better show. Ultimately, Hatcher's Lois is probably better than Durance's, but that's pretty much all L&C has in its corner. The writing's a bit more nuanced on Smallville, and it tackles darker and weightier issues on just how much responsibility and trauma would be placed on someone like Clark. And Rosenbaum's Lex is just flat-out the best portrayal of Lex Luthor.
Ultimately, Lois & Clark, in my opinion, is the Schumacher Batman films while Smallville is the Nolan Batman films. If that makes sense. Lois & Clark is designed to be just popcorn fluff entertainment (which there's nothing wrong with) while Smallville is much more introspective and complex. Comes down to personal taste.
In terms of Dean Cain vs. Tom Welling, I think it comes down to this. Dean Cain is better at portraying the traditional Clark Kent, the guy hiding his identity and obfuscating his abilities. When he's actually called upon to be Superman, he doesn't do a very good job. On the other hand, Tom Welling is much more believable as Superman, but his Clark Kent (in the sense that you look at Kent as "the mask") isn't very good. But that's only coming into play in the later seasons, as in the first seasons Clark/Superman are essentially one in the same.
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Neoblackdragon
14 years ago
With the show entering its final season I will update myself. I strongly disagree that Lois and Clark is the Shumacher of Superman. Its different, I'd say its like one the bond films. There is a sense of style to it but overall its a very lighthearted show. I have yet to see a Smallville episode where I go.........."you know everything's going to be all right for these characters". With Smallville nothing is right until this show ends.
With Superman character I think it depends on who you prefer. Smallville is choosing to adopt the Superman is the real guy and Clark Kent is the disguise. Lois and Clark adopted the Superman is a disguise/symbol while Clark Kent is real. I think Dean Cain made a good Superman but I guess then what really was the difference between Cains Clark and Superman. Deans Clark wasn't cowardly or weak. Hell this was the guy that everyone came to when they had problems. Superman was treated like a god figure and Clark was the coolest kid on the block. Wellings Blur character is different from his more public Clark(before his transformation into Geek Clark). He's confident and stoic, he takes no lip and will rain down justice on the bad guy. Wellings Clark lacks confidence at many points and has difficulty living his life. The Blur kisses the girl after a save while Clark takes some time to man up and get a smooch in.
Lex i'm going to have to split. They are both good portrayals that bring something to the party. But come on Shea was kicking ass as Lex. This guy was a terrible human being but hell I'd want to be friends with him.
Smallville in recent years has developed stronger plot that I in retrospect I wish Lois and Clark had done. But Smallville is not that introspective and complex. I mean there are episodes that really speak to that but overall, Smallville has had some very shallow plots that revolved around ideas that overstayed their welcome.
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