The Ultimate Truths Revealed: The Unforgettable Journey of Rewatching the Arrowverse

Summary

Superman's Tyler Hoechlin was often overshadowed before his own series, but Superman & Lois showcases his exciting portrayal.

The Flash's storytelling became monotonous as Barry continuously relied on Team Flash for motivation and triumphs, resulting in a decline in the show's appeal.

Although the Arrowverse introduced the Suicide Squad on Arrow, it unfortunately failed to fully utilize their potential, which left fans feeling disappointed.

Upon rewatching the Arrowverse now that it has concluded, fans of the shared DC Universe on TV will come face to face with some harsh realities. The Arrowverse, which began with 2012's Arrow and expanded with multiple new series over the years, includes Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman. With a total of six main series, two animated series of shorts, and the adjacent Superman & Lois, the DC TV universe boasts a significant number of episodes spread out across numerous seasons.

In May, Grant Gustin's The Flash season 9 brought an end to both his time as Barry Allen and the Arrowverse as a whole, as Superman & Lois exists in a different Earth. Now that the Arrowverse has concluded, and with the DCEU movies following suit with the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December, fans will have to wait until the release of James Gunn's DCU to experience a live-action shared DC universe once again. This waiting period presents the perfect opportunity for fans to rewatch the Arrowverse. However, while the DC shows offer plenty of excitement, repeated viewing may also bring forth some negative aspects.

12 Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman Was Constantly Upstaged Before His Series

Before leading Superman & Lois, Tyler Hoechlin's portrayal of Clark Kent was not nearly as beloved as it is now that he has his own series. In Supergirl season 2, Hoechlin made his debut as Superman, but he was easily defeated by Supergirl in the season finale. He made it clear that he wasn't holding back, allowing the Arrowverse to establish Supergirl's superior strength over Superman. Another instance where Hoechlin's Clark Kent took a backseat was during the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event. Kara and Brandon Routh's portrayal of Superman from a different multiverse were chosen as Paragons to save the multiverse, while Hoechlin's version was not included. However, thanks to Superman & Lois, audiences have now witnessed the true excitement and allure of Hoechlin's depiction of the iconic character.

11 Team Flash Started Hurting The Flash After Some Time

An issue that plagued The Flash in the Arrowverse was the lack of agency for its lead speedster. Over the years, Barry struggled against villains, received pep talks from Team Flash members, and ultimately defeated his foes. However, this repetitive cycle became tiresome after several seasons. Furthermore, the show lost some fans when Iris became more involved in Team Flash and famously claimed, "We are The Flash." Despite the beloved original Team Flash, the addition of new members to the team over the years made the show somewhat less interesting.

10 Arrow Set Up The Suicide Squad For Nothing

Before the release of Suicide Squad in 2016, the Arrowverse introduced their own incarnation of the DC team. During Arrow season 2, David Ramsey's Diggle joined forces with characters like Deadshot and Bronze Tiger, forming the Arrowverse's own Suicide Squad under Amanda Waller's leadership. The addition of Cupid expanded the team, promising a bright future for the Arrowverse. However, their potential was short-lived as both Deadshot and Amanda Waller met their demise, leading to the disbandment of the squad and ultimately paving the way for the DCEU movie. While a new iteration of the Suicide Squad emerged during Arrow season 7, it was a departure from the original concept.

9 Long Seasons Slowly Held The Arrowverse Back

The Arrowverse shows often consisted of over 20 episodes per season, but maintaining the same level of quality throughout multiple years posed a significant challenge. Over time, it became evident that there were instances where the heroes of the Arrowverse could have defeated the main villains of their respective seasons much earlier than the season finale. Consequently, a multitude of filler episodes were employed to bridge the gap between significant plot developments. A more concise structure, featuring 13 episodes per season, would have greatly alleviated the storytelling issues faced by the Arrowverse.

8 The Arrowverse’s VFX Got Worse Over The Years

7 Crisis On Infinite Earths Made A Brandon Routh Superman Mistake

The Arrowverse was not expected to have movie-level CGI, but over the years, the VFX in the DC TV universe began to look noticeably bad. Online compilations easily reveal the deterioration of the universe's VFX in relation to characters, powers, and even backgrounds. In The Flash season 7, a particularly egregious example of poor CGI is seen in Fuerza, turning him into a questionable-looking monstrosity. Additionally, Supergirl's later seasons resorted to strange cuts to compensate for inadequate VFX during scenes of Kara flying or fighting.

Crisis on Infinite Earths is arguably one of the greatest Arrowverse crossovers to date. This epic event marked the return of Brandon Routh, known for his portrayal of Ray Palmer/The Atom, who appeared as an older version of Clark Kent from Superman Returns. Routh's impeccable performance as Clark and Superman, along with his portrayal in the most impressive live-action Superman suit to date, captivated audiences. However, Crisis on Infinite Earths did a disservice to Routh's Superman by replacing him as a Paragon with Lex Luthor. It is unfortunate that Routh's Superman did not have the opportunity to fully shine as one of the heroes who saved the multiverse, as his role was abruptly cut short.

6 The Flash Losing Elongated Man Was A Heavy Blow

5 Black Canary’s Death Was A Baffling Decision

Ralph Dibny, also known as the Elongated Man, was a notable asset to The Flash series during his time on the show. Unfortunately, the character had to be written out after actor Hartley Sawyer was dismissed from The Flash due to the emergence of controversial remarks he had made on Twitter in the past. Dibny provided an enjoyable dynamic as Barry's crime-fighting partner, and the show had just begun exploring his relationship with Sue Dearbon, whom he eventually marries in the comics, before Sawyer's departure. Ultimately, the potential of the Elongated Man was left untapped due to the repercussions of Sawyer's comments. The CW addressed the situation by stating, "Hartley Sawyer will not be returning for season seven of The Flash. We have a zero-tolerance policy for derogatory remarks targeting any race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation on social media. These remarks contradict our values and policies, which strive to create a safe, inclusive, and productive environment for our team."

The decision to kill Laurel Lance in Arrow season 4 was not only shocking, but also one of the worst choices made in the Arrowverse. Green Arrow and Black Canary are highly regarded as one of DC Comics' beloved couples, making this death even more disappointing. Not only did it eliminate any possibility of seeing the iconic duo from the comics come to fruition, but it also perpetuated the negative trend of fridging female characters in superhero media. Damien Dahrk's act of killing Laurel served as a punishment to her father for his betrayal, further highlighting the poor decision-making in the Arrowverse. Losing Laurel Lance not only meant the loss of a strong female DC hero, but also highlighted the flaws in the show's storytelling.

4 The Flash Got Worse Without Speedster Villains

The Flash had a streak of three consecutive seasons featuring speedster main villains, but when the series attempted to deviate from this formula, it didn't find the same level of success. Season 4 of The Flash remained entertaining with the introduction of The Thinker as its main villain, while season 5 of the show made questionable plot choices to prolong Barry's pursuit of Cicada. Although Bloodwork brought a refreshing change for non-speedster villains in The Flash, the female Mirror Master, Eva McCollough, failed to rival iconic villains like Reverse-Flash and Zoom who possess super speed. Ultimately, it can be concluded that The Flash's strongest seasons were the ones that pitted Barry against speedster main villains.

3 Lian Yu’s Explosion Resulted In No Major Deaths

The initial seasons of Arrow portrayed the narrative of Oliver Queen's survival after his father's boat sank and his subsequent five-year stranding on the island of Lian Yu. However, his presence on the island was not constant throughout this period. In the finale of Arrow season 5, the main antagonist Prometheus, also known as Adrian Chase, triggers a series of explosions on Lian Yu through his suicide, placing numerous crucial Arrow characters in jeopardy. Although this scheme by the villain stands as one of the most astonishing moments in Arrow, it ultimately leads to the underwhelming revelation that only the mother of Oliver's son, William, perished, with no significant character deaths.

2 Supergirl Botched Jimmy Olsen

1 Justice League, Green Lantern, & More Teases Were Never Paid Off

Mehcad Brooks' portrayal of Jimmy Olsen on Supergirl diverged significantly from the character depicted in the comics. Unlike his nerdy and exuberant counterpart, played by Jeremy Jordan's Winn Schott, Brooks presented a more self-assured and muscular Jimmy. This departure was emphasized by the character's imposing physique, a departure from his portrayal in the comic books. Despite this, Supergirl eventually transformed Jimmy Olsen into a superhero named Guardian, illustrating how the series failed to grasp the essence of the character as an outsider observing the world of superheroes. Regrettably, the series also failed to give Jimmy the prominence he deserved.

Upon rewatching the Arrowverse after its conclusion, it becomes evident that there are numerous unresolved plot threads that will now forever remain unresolved. Had The Flash season 10 not been canceled, it would have introduced the Justice League, the esteemed DC team that was formed during the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event within the Arrowverse, but inexplicably never united on-screen. Additionally, The Flash season 10 would have delved into Diggle's Green Lantern storyline following his decision to ignore the call from the luminous green box, thereby adapting the compelling Blackest Night narrative. Furthermore, various hints and teases such as Mia Smoak's rescue of William will forever go unanswered, given the conclusion of the Arrowverse.