Smallville returns tonight with a huge episode, the one where Lex Luthor will truly become evil. At least I hope so…it’s been seven years now, he needs to descend into depths of his black soul at some point.

Lex will also be getting some answers, according to Brian Peterson, an executive producer on the show:

“The rest of this season is, for the most part, about Lex finding what he’s always been looking for,” Peterson said. “‘Veritas’ [the last original episode to air] launched the next five episodes, which are all about Lex finding what he’s been searching for.”

More info from SciFi.com:

Smallville‘s season was interrupted by the recently settled writers’ strike. “Veritas” was originally designed as an extended season finale. But it aired as an hourlong episode, with several scenes unfinished. Those scenes will now form the basis of the season’s final episodes, Peterson said. “I think it’s going to be nice to actually see each piece of that story, rather than have it all hit in one episode,” he said.

I’m pretty stoked for tonight’s episode and the rest of the season. Hopefully they close it out on a high level.

As for season 8 of Smallville, it’s already been renewed, but it will return without creators/producers Al Gough and Miles Millar. There will still be four producers/writers who have been around for quite awhile, so the show isn’t likely to take a nosedive just because these two left.

I agree with one of our readers, Adam, who likes the move and hopes it brings some better stories to the series. It’s been a roller coaster the last few years, where you have some remarkable episodes that are followed up by some pretty crappy efforts.

As we’ve reported already, Lana and Lex aren’t signed on for next year, so the entire show could change as new characters are needed. Early spoilers say that next year will be all about Clark and Lois Lane.

My hope is that they scrap the town of Smallville in the offseason and move Clark to Metropolis and the Daily Planet.

Perhaps it’s time he flies and becomes the hero he’s supposed to be.

I also think the show was great last year with the introduction of Green Arrow and his buddies, including the Flash, but they’ve gone away from that this year and the fact that a lot of it has been focused on Lana Lang has been a detriment. I’ve been a major proponent of her being killed off immediately because she’s gone way past the point of annoying. I think the character’s development over the years is just awful, going from upstanding, good girl, to outright evil genius at times…it was just unrealistic.

And now that I’ve said that, maybe there is good news for me coming up shortly. It’s been reported that Rosenbaum, who plays Lex, will not return next year, but now I’m hearing that Kristin Kreuk will also be absent in season eight. They supposedly are open to guest appearances, but they will no longer be regular cast members.

I’ve heard some rumors of a big event happening in the final five episodes this season, which returns on March 13th, so perhaps that will have some bearing on the Lex and Lana situation.

The real curiosity with this news is how the series will go on without Lex Luthor. I think getting rid of Lana will be fine, because we all know that Clark eventually falls in love with Lois Lane, who has been on the show for a few seasons now. Granted, the chemistry between the two doesn’t seem great to me, but maybe that can change.

I’m hoping these last few episodes in season 7 will be redeem the year for me, and the preview playing right now on the official Smallville site shows some pretty interesting things.

Pete is back? That would be awesome!

Smallville is still the CW’s top rated show with a 3.86 rating, only a tiny drop from last year’s 3.98, so it’s no wonder they want to keep it going.

But for me…I think it’s getting close to the time it needs to end, or they need to move it out of the town of Smallville forever. I’m ready for him to finally learn to fly and become the hero he’s supposed to. Enough with saving your friends, your destiny awaits you out in the world.

So what do you guys think? What will season 8 be like without Lana and Lex?

I know one of you out there might even have more inside info on all this, so do speak up! *grin*