Smallville Season 7: Getting Up to Super Speed

"Gripping" barely begins to describe the Season 6 finale of the CW's Smallville. Chloe Sullivan appears to be dead after unwittingly using her meteor power to save Lois Lane. Lionel Luthor looks to be well on his way to the same fate, trapped underneath debris in a rising pool of water. Lana Luthor may or may not have been killed by an exploding car, apparently rigged by her new husband, Lex. On top of it all, Clark Kent is left to contend with his most dangerous nemesis yet, a diabolical mirror image of himself named Bizarro. Of course, if you haven't been following the Smallville saga, all of this doesn't mean much to you. For those still hoping to become fans, however, it's not too late. Here's what you need to know before the Season 7 premier on Thursday, September 27.

Smallville chronicles the early years of Clark Kent, before he becomes Superman. True to Superman mythology, a young Clark arrives in Smallville via spaceship during a meteor shower. Farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt and raise him as their own son. In the first several seasons of Smallville Clark attends high school, fights small town crime (often related to freakish powers residents acquire through exposure to meteor rock), discovers his Kryptonian roots, and hones his super powers.

With six seasons completed, Smallville's plot lines have become complex. The best way to understand the current story line is to become familiar with the main cast of characters: