Reflecting on Smallville’s Heat Vision Origin Episode 22 Years Later: Surprised It Was Produced

In the past year, I embarked on a journey to watch Smallville for the first time, and the series largely holds up when exploring Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) transformation into Superman. However, one notable exception is season 2, episode 2, titled “Heat.”The episode’s synopsis outlines a rather sensational plot: “A seductive new teacher (Krista Allen) employs the power of pheromones to convince Lex to propose; meanwhile, Clark grapples with a troubling new ability.”This episode marks the moment Clark Kent first encounters his heat vision powers.

The metaphorical representation of Clark’s heat vision as a symbol of puberty and emerging sexuality is quite poignant, albeit somewhat obvious. The ability of the writers to transform the fantastical notion of Superman shooting lasers from his eyes into a relatable human experience encapsulates what makes Smallville engaging. While I appreciate this aspect of “Heat,”my overall enjoyment was hindered by a particular narrative that detracted from the viewing experience.