Smallville season eight launches in America on Thursday, September 18. We should hopefully see it on our screens later this year.

Watch this great clip from the first episode of the series titled ‘Odyssey.’ In this installment The Justice League, head to the Arctic in search of Clark, who disappeared after the fortress collapsed.

Meanwhile, Chloe is being held prisoner by a suspicious group who has discovered she has a new power, and there seems no chance of Clark saving her as he has been stripped of his powers by Jor-El.

Laura Vandervoort has confirmed that her character, Kara (also known as Supergirl) will be returning to Smallville for at least one episode of season eight.

“In October, I’m shooting,” Vandervoort said during a panel with Michael Rosenbaum, who previously played Lex Luthor.. “I only know of one (episode) right now. They’ve asked me to tie up my storyline.”

Vandervoort also denied that there would be a ‘Supergirl’ spin off any time soon saying that there had been discussions about a show at one point but “it just didn’t work out.”

I’ve been trying to catch Smallville on Sunday nights. It’s not an easy task - 9:00 on a Sunday evening isn’t exactly wonderful scheduling.

There’s another problem: I’m finding the series difficult to get into. I find the main characters of Clarke and Lana almost too dull to be interested in. For the most of each episode I find myself siding with Lex in the simple hope that he’ll deliver some action.

1. Tom Welling is a brooding big hunk of a Kryptonian, but there’s very little charisma or wit on display. Superman isn’t all brawn you know, he’s well traveled and articulate (hence the future career in journalism). However, he seems to spend most of each episode being directed around like a stooge by Chloe.
2. Lana Lang’s a funny fish as well. And this whole farcical marriage to Lex has gone on a disastrous tangent. Hasn’t it? I thought Lana was clearly in the ‘good guys’ camp, but I’m totally confused at this point. Kristin Kreuk, who plays Lana, comes across poorly in every episode, as if her character was an afterthought and they had to cram her into the plot somehow. Since they decided to bring Lois Lane to Smallville, they might as well switch to her as love interest and ditch the irredeemably tainted character of Lana Lang once and for all.
3. And what’s with all the Kryptonite? Around every corner there’s another huge block of the green stuff just waiting to knock the wheeze out of Kent. The are two scenarios here: 1) there won’t be any left to dangle around Superman’s neck when he matures, or 2) he’ll be immune to it due to the constant exposure he’s suffered.

I offer kudos to John Glover who plays the brilliant, scheming Lionel Luthor. His presence makes the whole thing worth watching. Michael Rosenbaum is grossly underused as Lex - seemingly, he has the ambition, but so far he hasn’t had the chance to do anything truly terrifying (this series, at least).

Just one big question remains - do I keep watching?

Christopher Reeve has done it, Dean Cain has been there, and now the original Supergirl, Helen Slater will be making a cameo appearance on Smallville.

Helen is due to appear in the sixth epsiode of season seven of the show, and though Supergirl is due to make an appearance, she won’t be played by Helen. Slater will instead be adopting the role of Lara, Clark’s Cryptonian mother.

TVGuide.com have done a fantastic interview with Slater on her appearance, well worth a read.