SPOILERS for all season finales, including "Doomsday", are ahead. You've been warned! Now that Doomsday has aired, I figure a poll is in order. What's your favorite Smallville season finale? Tempest Exodus Covenant Commencement Vessel Phantom Arctic Doomsday You just saw it. Get voting! (Episode summaries quoted from Smallville Wiki.)
I'm gonnna have to go with Vessel and I thought in Covenant it was Lana that was "killed" in the explosion, to fake her death. That must be a misprint.
I'm voting Temest, the first finale. It was totally exciting, and at that point the show had lots of promise, the premise was working, all of the cast, yes including Lana, had good chemistry. All the pieces were there and it was perfectly executed. Which doesn't mean the other finales were poor, but each season the show deviated further from what it did best.
Covenant... that head shaving scene with Lionel was awesome..... classic mobster type feel... great stuff...
Season 2's "Exodus" where Clark caused Martha to lose the baby and then ran away. You just can't beat that. Not only was it pretty heavy stuff for Smallville, it was pretty heavy stuff for all of Superman period.