It was a tough decision, but I voted for season 1. (It was a choice between that and S2.) Why? I think because, when it was first shown, it didn't matter that it was 'apart angst'; what mattered was the
potential for Lois and Clark to get together.
Moreover, this was the season with the most 'human' Superman, at least in my opinion. This Superman had doubts and insecurities; he was still learning how to be a hero. He had none of the arrogance he displayed in S4. (I'm particularly thinking here of Sex, Lies and Videotape, and his determination to tell the 'truth'. Now, I have nothing against honesty -- quite the reverse -- but I don't like the idea of Superman being so certain that he is on the moral high-ground.)
Oddly, I find Lois's conversation in the courtroom in WWW one of the most cringe-worthy moments in the show. She says Superman is on a pedestal, above everyone else, but later professes to love Clark.
In S4, it is almost as though Clark has bought into Lois's perception of Superman, although she, herself, has adjusted to the idea that the man on the pedestal is Clark.
I'm not sure that I'm explaining this well.
Okay, so the romance in S4 isn't bad -- some of the episodes are awful, though -- but I didn't just watch the show for romance. I watched it for wider (but still character-driven) reasons. I was routing for Clark-the-outsider to find the normal life he so desperately wanted. I was routing for Lois to learn to open up to another person.
And I was routing for them to bring Luthor down. Yes, I prefer first season Luthor to second or third season Luthor... despite Lois's relationship with him.
Okay, so maybe I liked S1 for the 'apart angst', but hey... Nothing wrong with that!
Besides, that is the season with my two favourite episodes in it -- Strange Visitor and, more particularly, GGGOH.
Wow, I didn't expect this answer to be so long!
Chris
