Superman's Father, Jor-El, Is Coming To Smallville

I just can't figure Smallville out.  It's simply all over the place.  There are times we hear some really good things and other times we're left wondering what the heck are the show's producers thinking.  Should we just accept that this will never be Superm an?
 
You may recall that Jor-El apparently traveled to Earth prior to Krypton's destruction and Clark's arrival.  When we had the flashback episodes, Jor-El looked identical to Clark.  Even in the episode, Blue, the replicant of Jor-El's wife Lara thought Clark was actually his father.  
 
EW has announced that Julian Sands has been cast as Jor-El.  He'll be appearing in the November episode called "Kandor."  It will be revealed that Jor-El arrived with Zod and other Kandorians on Earth.  Jor-El's voice had been provided before by Terrance Stamp (General Zod in Superman II).
 
I have to say that I wasn't crazy about the idea of Jor-El having been on Earth before.  I'm not sure what this episode will bring.  Will it simply be another flashback episode?  How many times did Jor-El go to Earth?   What do you think about this?  Does Julian Sands resemble Tom Welling?