But it was Smallville Season 3, which aired from 2003 to 2004, that fundamentally altered the DNA of the series. Shedding much of its high school trappings in favor of a darker, serialized narrative, Season 3 is widely regarded by fans and critics alike as the creative peak of the show’s ten-year run. It was the year the teen soap opera grew up to become a legitimate superhero tragedy.
Is worth watching? Absolutely. In fact, it is essential viewing for any superhero fan. This is the season where the show outgrew its "teen drama" label and became a tragic epic. Smallville - Season 3
Lex discovers the "Level 3" experiments at LuthorCorp (testing on meteor-infected children). He begins investigating his father’s obsession with Clark. And for his trouble? He is committed to a mental institution, drugged, and nearly lobotomized. The heartbreaking moment comes when a drugged Lex looks at Clark and says, "You’re my best friend," not knowing if he can trust that reality. But it was Smallville Season 3, which aired
This season belongs to Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor. The title of episode 11—*"Shattered"—*is the perfect descriptor for Lex’s psyche. At the start of Season 3, Lex is trying to be a good man. He has survived his father’s assassination attempts, he genuinely cares for Clark, and he is in love with Helen Bryce. Is worth watching