For 10 years, 'Smallville' has been a mainstay of the ever-evolving WB/CW schedule. Through cast, creative and even network changes, the show has stayed as strong as the iconic Man of Steel at its center, displaying near-Kryptonian resilience as lesser series bowed out around it.

But after a decade of watching mild-mannered alien-turned-farm boy-turned-reporter Clark Kent (Tom Welling) trying to change the world from his diminutive hometown, we've finally reached the home stretch. Superman casts a long shadow, and when the show returns from its final hiatus on April 15, we'll see Clark embrace his destiny like never before.

AOL TV caught up with 'Smallville' executive producer Kelly Souders who, along with producing partner Brian Peterson, is ushering in the end of a 'Super' era. We discussed the long-awaited return of Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), what's in store for the show's most enduring couples and what fans can expect from the final episodes.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

It's been a long road, watching our mild-mannered Superboy stumbling towards his destiny as the Man of Steel that we all know and love, but after 10 years and 200 episodes, the pop cultural phenomenon known as 'Smallville' is finally reaching its zenith.

Although the last season obviously has its share of bittersweetness for those who have been involved with the project for a almost a decade, the cast and crew couldn't be more excited to share their final chapter with the fans who have brought them this far -- and tonight's episode, 'Homecoming,' is only the first in a series of satisfying payoffs that will eventually close the show in a spectacularly super fashion next May.

Last month, TV Squad and other outlets were invited up to Vancouver to tour the iconic 'Smallville' sets and interview the cast and crew at the show's milestone 200th episode party. See what they had to say about the climax of this beloved series, and get a preview of what you can expect in tonight's record-breaking episode.

The cast and crew of Smallville showed up in San Diego at Comic-Con to talk about the upcoming 27th season of Smallville on The CW. Highlights included a new costume for the will-be Superman, but not the underwear-on-the-outside one we're waiting for. In keeping with the tradition of shiny leather and jackets, Clark's new look is black with a silver logo and a black cape trenchcoat. But it does sport the Superman logo (in silver), so that's progress.

Laura Vandervoort (Supergirl) is out, but Erica Durance (Lois Lane) is in 18 episodes, and we can look for that relationship to start a slow burn. Honestly, though, isn't everything on this show slow by now. Hell, Clark's going to be 40 before he starts flying around regularly.

The Martian Manhunter is one of my favorite DC Comics superheroes. He can shape-shift, read people's minds, and he looks like a cross between Shaft and The Jolly Green Giant. What's not to like? I even dig the Phil Morris version from Smallville. But, I'm not too thrilled about the idea of a Martian-centric Smallville spinoff series.

Smallville executive producer Darren Swimmer suggested to TV Guide (in its upcoming Dec. 8 issue) that a spinoff starring Morris as the Manhunter, aka John Jones, might be a good idea if Smallville doesn't return for a ninth season on The CW. He immediately followed up by cracking "A Martian Manhunter Variety Hour might be fun!," so I don't think he's too serious about it actually happening.

I still wouldn't put it past the network and the Smallville creative team to champion the idea, though. These are the people who wanted to give us The Graysons, a prequel drama about Batman's greatest weakness, Robin.

Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor is history, the great John Glover is no longer chewing the scenery, and the last few seasons seemed to stretch the "Young Man of Steel" concept about as far as it could go. If you're like me, you stopped DVR-ing Smallville even before last season's dismal Kryptonite gum episode, "Hero," which brought the show's penchant for product placement to an all time low. But, for me, Smallville has always been like a Quarter Pounder value meal from McDonalds -- cheesy, full of fat and empty calories, but wholly familiar and comforting. That's probably why I tuned in to watch this season's opener back in September, and I'm glad I did.

The marriage of the internet and television production continues to mature. The latest entry, launching this week, is Gemini Division. While it's too early to tell how the 50 episode saga is going to ultimately be received, it's still worth talking about. Gemini Division is another big step for the future of internet-based productions.

The show is being produced by NBC Universal Digital Studios, which, among other things, means a much larger budget. Something evident in the cast which includes the star of the show, Rosario Dawson. That's a pretty big name for what is ultimately another experiment in the medium. She's joined by Justin Hartley, Danny Woodburn, John Kapelos, Kevin Alejandro, Fransois Chau, and Elizabeth Bogush, among others. It's not exactly Ocean's 11, but those are all pretty recognizable actors.

In one of the rowdiest panels of the Con, the stars and writers of the CW's Smallville took to the stage on the last day of the convention. Moderated by Joseph Loeb, the panel featured Allison Mack (Chloe), Justin Hartley (Green Arrow), new stars Sam Witwer (Doomsday), Cassiday Freeman (Tess), and showrunners Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer. It was a panel full of spoilers, fan appreciation, and a good amount of name plaque requests.

Some of what is upcoming during season 8 can be found after the jump.

(S06E04) Lois and Clark both obsess over the identity of Green Arrow -- a mystery approximately as deep as the cleft in Justin Hartley's chin. Eventually they've got to figure out how to get some chemistry going between Lois and Clark, but evidently this is not the week. Green Arrow, by the way, gets his own Danny Elfman/Batman -esque soundtrack theme, which is cool, even though unoriginal.

Interesting take on the history of Lois Lane they've worked to put together here. She uses her cleavage (and her cousin Chloe's brain) to mount a meteoric rise in the world of print journalism, and is already filing front-page copy under her own byline. Although, judging from the sketch of Green Arrow in her paper, I guess Lois must have described him as looking like the Unibomber to the sketch artist. Not putting Ollie's Robin Hood masquarade costume and archery skills last week together with the " GA Bandit" this week, hardly speaks well of Lois' investigative skills.

Lana, who each week finds herself put through some creepy test of Lex's devising to test her loyalty, may actually be doing better for herself than Lois at this point. At least Lana only gets mentally tortured by Lex -- while Lois gets beat up for continuing to run around with superheroes.

(S06E02) Second show and already here we go with the gimmicks. Clark gets a cold -- a super-powered cold, but nevertheless ...

I know a lot a viewers were disappointed when Zod's conquest of Earth was thwarted in only one episode. I rather, prefer Lex to be Lex, but it's tough to buy the world returning to normal so soon -- even though Kal-el is spending his nights surreptitiously cleaning up Metropolis after "Dark Thursday." It's too soon for me to get excited over a comic relief episode filled with Kryptonian super-sneezes. Clark's fourth-wall-breaking quip to Chloe about putting the world in jeopardy "on an annual basis," was kind of cute though.

In unintentional humor: Lex is kidnapped by a black-ops duo using massively corny walkie-talkie code: the bear is hibernating. Over.

Remember that Aquaman pilot for The CW that was rejected, then revived as a mid-season replacement? Well, forget about it again. It's not coming back at all.

But there's good news for Justin Hartley, the guy who played the ocean-dwelling superhero in the pilot: he's going on another superhero show on The CW. Hartley will play The Green Arrow on at least seven episodes of Smallville. Sounds like a meaty part and a good one. The Green Arrow is trying to form the Justice League and wants Clark to join.

Aquaman, as Anna reported, is still moving forward despite the merger of UPN and the WB into the new CW.  However, there has been a change in casting, and Will Toale will no longer be playing the moist super hero who likes to converse with all the little fishies. Instead, the role is being given to Justin Hartley. Apparently the producers have a thing for actors who were in soap operas. Toale was on Guiding Light and Hartley was seen most recently on Passions. The decision to recast was the result of the merger between the two networks, and Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS (which owns UPN) made the recommendation to give the role to Hartley.

Thanks to Toby for the tip.