Dr. Lia Teng is a supporting antagonist in the third season of WB TV series Smallville.
Originally from North Korea, Teng was a renowned molecular biologist who worked for the Luthors, engaging in illicit experiments as director of Metron Pharmaceuticals.
She was portrayed by Françoise Yip, who also played Lilian Lee in Sanctuary.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Lia Teng was born and raised in North Korea, but came to the United States after marrying a LuthorCorp employee to get a green card. Having a background in molecular biology, Dr. Teng became director of the LuthorCorp subsidiary Metron Pharmaceuticals in Metropolis and conducted illegal research for Lionel Luthor.
One of her first patients was a boy named Byron Moore, who was experimented on and turned into a ravage beast when exposed to sunlight, though she faced no charges for her unethical experiment.
Phoenix[]
Throughout the season, Dr. Teng was involved in the development of a serum derived from Clark Kent's blood platelets. She accompanied Lionel in a limo to the Metropolis docks where crime lord Morgan Edge delivered a jar of Clark's blood to him. She tested the blood to make sure it was identical and verified it was.
Velocity[]
Chloe Sullivan discovered that Dr. Teng visited Adam Knight twice a week while he was hospitalized at the Smallville Medical Center. She wanted to interview Teng, but she couldn't get near her, so Chloe asked Lex Luthor to look into it. Lex visited Lia Teng at the university, and asked her about Adam Knight. She flat out refused to answer any of his questions even when he asked specifically about blood platelets of unknown origin.
Lex used his influence to get her tenure revoked at Metropolis University. Lia Teng arrived at the mansion furious, demanding an explanation from Lex. Lex informed them that she was conducting illicit drug trials without permission from the FDA. He imagined out loud that federal charges could be brought against her at any time unless she agreed to work for him. He would double her budget if she told him everything she knew, an offer that Dr. Teng agreed to.
Obsession[]
After Adam Knight's cover was blown, he was taken to Metron Pharmaceuticals where he was strapped to a chair. Lionel asked him for his inability to uncover Clark's secrets. Dr. Teng prepared Adam Knight's medication, but Lionel instructed her not to administer it to him. Despite Dr. Teng's protests, Lionel cruelly left him strapped to die alone in the dark.
Resurrection[]
After Garrett Davis's brother, Vince died, his body was taken from Smallville to Metropolis arriving in Dr. Teng's lab. She immediately administers an injection to his chest, which revives him. To Lex's knowledge, Dr. Teng had been deported and tried to contact the North Korean Embassy to find her whereabouts.
Lex later found Dr. Teng at Metron Pharmaceuticals and confronted her that she was not deported after all, but was instead performing research for Lionel Luthor.
Lex interrogated her about the vial of serum that he caught her working on, which he said looked identical to the serum used by Adam Knight, which contained blood platelets of unknown origin. While the two talked, Clark used his super speed to steal the vial undetected.
Later, Lia explains to Lex that Lionel ordered Adam Knight's role in the program terminated, meaning he is supposed to be cut off from receiving any further serum, but due to her ethics, she has been secretly supplying him with a small amount to keep him alive. Unfortunately, it was in such short supply that she is unable to give him as much as he needs. She has him locked up, hidden away while he deteriorates. Lex asks her to reveal the source of the unique blood platelets in the serum, but Lia does not know.
However, she does offer him information about the platelets, such as the fact that they have an astonishing ability to revive necrotic tissue. Before Lex leaves Metron, Lia tells him that he is her only chance to get out from under his father's grip.
Crisis[]
After being confronted by Lex about a vial of the blood-serum, Lionel went behind his back and confiscated the blood platelets. He ordered Dr. Teng to clear out the lab by the end of the day under threat of deportation. Lionel plans to move the lab to another location. The first thing Dr. Teng does after Lionel leaves with the serum is to visit Adam Knight.
She gives him an injection and explained that they are shutting down the lab, but she can't take him with her, and Lionel has taken all the medicine. His injection will wear off in 12 hours. He is filled with rage and desperation and takes it out on Teng by strangling her to death. The other lab techs realize what he's done and try to stop him from leaving. In response, he killed all of them.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Lia Teng on the Smallville Wiki
