Sight and Sound: "Run"

"Run," a fourth season installment of Smallville written by Steven S. DeKnight and directed by David Barrett, aired 20 October 2004 on the WB. Featuring Kyle Gallner as Bart Allen, the episode introduced the scarlet speedster to the series' ever-expanding showcase of reinterpreted DC Comics icons. Here, Bart Allen is portrayed as an impulsive, misguided, and self-centered youth with much to learn from the more principled, if fallible, Clark Kent. "Run" features a number of imaginatively staged slow-motion action sequences, each conveying the awe-inspiring super-speed powers possessed by both Bart and Clark, and the plot allows the relationship between these two maturing heroes to develop into a meaningful friendship, allowing for significant future guest appearances. During the episode's memorable final moments, the cocky young speedster proposes a challenge that Clark can't refuse.