Ep 1. Exile (1)

Clark Kent (Tom Welling) finds himself in exile at the beginning of Smallville season 3. In the previous season finale, the teenager suffered a catastrophic loss when his father, Jonathan (John Schneider), was severely injured after being caught in the storm that swept through Smallville. In an attempt to heal his father, Clark raced against time to find the Kryptonian crystals that had been taken from the caves, but his best friend, Pete (Sam Jones III), was not able to control them. The resulting explosion blasted Clark and his Kryptonian father, Jor-El (Terence Stamp), into space.

The first episode of season 3, “Exile (1),” opens with Clark adrift in space without any memory of his past life on Earth. He stumbles upon a desolate planet where he is held captive by a cruel alien named Zara (Kristin Kreuk). As Clark struggles to escape captivity, he begins to realize the full extent of his powers and the true nature of his Kryptonian heritage.

After finally making his escape and crash landing back on Earth, Clark is shocked to find that his hometown of Smallville has changed significantly in his absence. His adoptive mother, Martha (Annette O'Toole), is now a state senator, and his best friend, Chloe (Allison Mack), has become a rising star in the world of journalism. Lana (Kristin Kreuk), the girl he's been in love with since childhood, has moved on and is now engaged to Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), Clark's arch-nemesis.

As he struggles to come to terms with all these changes, Clark decides to take on a new identity and start a new life in Metropolis, the big city where he can use his powers for good. He takes on odd jobs and spends his nights stopping crimes and saving lives, but he soon realizes that his superpowers are not enough to protect him from the dangers of the big city.

Meanwhile, back in Smallville, Lana begins to suspect that Lex had something to do with Clark's sudden disappearance. She enlists the help of Chloe to investigate, but their snooping leads them into dangerous territory. As they get closer to the truth, they become the target of an unknown assailant who will stop at nothing to protect Lex's secrets.

With two parallel storylines that will eventually intersect, “Exile (1)” sets the stage for an action-packed season of Smallville. As Clark struggles to find his place in the world, he will be forced to confront his greatest fears and confront his most powerful enemies. He will discover that his Kryptonian heritage has given him not just superpowers but also great responsibilities.

The episode also introduces several new characters who will have an impact on Clark's journey. Among them is Morgan Edge (Rutger Hauer), a ruthless businessman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. There's also Dr. Swann (Christopher Reeve), a brilliant scientist who knew Clark's Kryptonian father and has been waiting for him to return. The episode ends with Clark finally reconnecting with his past and learning the truth about the Kryptonian crystals and the destiny that awaits him.