There are a couple of good people I know who often rave about Smallville in their blogs, about how good it is and how everyone with even a shred of geekiness must watch it. In fairness, I do enjoy Smallville. At its worst, it's still a fun novelty, and at its best it's a great Joseph Campbell style origin story of the modern heroic archetype. Often it meanders back and forth between these two extremes with no consistent middle ground, so faithful viewers aren't always rewarded. The writing can also waffle back and forth. Often the only esoteric references are whenever someone says the name "Superman", even if only referring to Nietzsche (one time).

Now, I should point out that any gripes I have about the show are undercut by the fact that the show is written mostly for thirteen and fourteen year olds. I'm a decade older and a bachelors degree wiser than the target demographic. That Smallville entertains me at all is a huge testament to the writers and actors. But there is another show geared toward someone my age. The "little Buffy spinoff that could", has, and still does consistently every week. Angel.

I've been a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer since my freshman year of college, but it wasn't until later that I started collecting back episodes of Angel from the now defunct Kazaa. Angel takes several novel approaches to the classic struggle of good and evil, often borrowing from mythology and world religion. The show also has much more suspense in the ultimate direction of the show; the final apocalyptic battle between good and evil. The twist on the idea is that the titular character (a formerly evil vampire now possessing a soul and thus, a conscience) is expected to play a major role in the battle, but it is unclear which side he'll end up on, and whether or not that side will emerge victorious.

Smallville exists safely in the comfort of the foregone conclusion that young Clark Kent will invariably grow to be Superman. The show often treats him as being infallible, even though mentally he is still only a sixteen year old boy with untold destructive power. As scary as this ought to be, the danger is often glossed over in favor of the teenage melodrama that the WB network is founded upon.

Angel has recently explored the areas of moral uncertainty and the questionable ethics of choosing the lesser of two evils. TV is not normally a moral authority or an introduction to philosophy. Shows that aspire to do more can often be counted on one hand of an absent-minded carpenter; shows like MASH, the Aaron Sorkin-directed seasons of West Wing, and the original Star Trek. That a television show would even attempt to deal with weighty issues and ideas, even by indirect fantasy and allegory, is commendable.

Both Angel and Smallville are enjoyable programming, albeit quite different. Between the two of them, though, Angel is the show that manages to reward me for retaining my college education. So credit where credit is due to the show with a soul.