Now comes news that the CW is pleased with the show’s ratings performance enough to overlook the high production costs and renew the show for an unprecedented tenth season. While Clark is now six years past being a high school freshman and over his Lana fixation, and subplots about Clark’s public speaking anxiety are long since a thing of the past, the show remains intriguing and well scripted, even following the exit of series creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough.

By offering the show an early renewal, the network allows Smallville the chance to craft a season cliffhanger rather than a series-ending capstone episode.