6 Times Smallville Improved Superman Mythology (& 4 Times It Failed)

The decision to make the Kents a political power completely goes against what they always represented in the mythology; they are the basis for Superman's humility. His upbringing as a farmer's son is what keeps him connected to normal people when his powers would make it so easy to rule over them. It was in the fifth season that the series started a storyline in which Jonathan ran against Lex Luthor for a seat in the State Senate. Jonathan won, although his victory was short-lived.

The night of the election Jonathan received a call from Lionel Luthor who intended to exploit Clark's secret as a way to control the new senator. Tensions exploded into a fistfight between the two, which caused Jonathan's weak heart to give out. He staggered outside the barn to walk just far enough to see Clark & Martha arriving. He then died in their arms. Martha Kent was offered his Senate seat in the wake of her husband's death. Assuming his role, she went to the Senate, which was the end of Martha as a series regular.

She reappeared years later at which point she was privy to classified information that a covert government agency, Checkmate, was getting close to Clark's secret. She took the identity of a shadowy espionage player called The Red Queen to obstruct their investigation so that she could protect her son. This transformation took the Kents too far from their Rockwellian roots. Ma Kent should not have CIA level access.