After more than a decade of redefining the TV superhero landscape, the Arrowverse finally came to an end with The Arrow. flashThe ninth and final season of . It’s been a wild ride for the shared DC universe, with some incredible highs and the most forgettable lows, but it’s undeniably left an impact on the pop culture landscape.
However, it also left a huge void in the minds of die-hard universe fans who went from watching five or so shows at a time to not having any shows at all. Thankfully though, there are plenty of other great DC TV shows to fill that void, many of which are not only entertaining but also critically acclaimed.
10 Gotham (2014 – 2019)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%
debuted only two years ago arrow same year flash, Gotham take the old story batman, and taking it in some bold new directions. The series opens with new GCPD Detective Jim Gordon on a mission to investigate the Wayne family’s murder and intervene in the life of their orphan Bruce. Over the next five seasons, more and more familiar faces from Batman mythology will intertwine stories.
It may have taken some liberties with the source material, but it’s handled in a unique way that really fits into this all-too-familiar world. Plus, the cast is stellar, with memorable performances of Penguin, Riddler, and Joker, not to mention a brilliant portrayal of young Bruce going to his destiny.
9 Smallville (2001 – 2011)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%
The show paved the way for modern superhero drama, serving as a sort of “original Arrowverse.” Centered on Clark Kent, a teenager growing up in the titular town, small town Pioneered the fusion of teen drama and superhero action. More importantly, it crafts some incredible character work, takes some cheesy themes, and makes it feel genuine and heartfelt.
Perhaps the show’s greatest strength is its depiction of Clark’s friendship with future nemesis Lex Luthor. The depth of that relationship and the drama it generated was the driving force behind the show’s first seven seasons. However, if you’re looking for more typical superhero fare, there’s also the evolving Justice League archetype to look forward to.
8 Superman & Lois (2020-present)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
From Clark Kent’s teenage years, to his parenting struggles, superman and louiseis the latest show to take a more personal and grounded look at Man of Steel. The show follows a titular power couple who move from the metropolis to Smallville to raise their teenage son on the Kent family farm.
It does an excellent job of balancing superhero action with heartfelt family drama, and the stakes are often more personal and down-to-earth than typical superhero fare. Plus, until a recent reconnaissance, the show was actually part of the Arrowverse, making it the last tenuous link to that extinct universe.
7 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993 – 1997)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Another Superman show, louis and clark Take Man of Steel into the 90s and it’s better than you remember. As the title suggests, it focuses more on the relationship between the two leads, but it’s also surprisingly focused on the investigative journalism side of things. The Daily Planet and its staff actually play a key role, with many of the plots driven by Lewis and/or Clarke’s investigation.
But most importantly, dean kane and Terri Hatcher With incredible chemistry, both deserve more recognition for their portrayal of the characters. Overshadowed by later Superman shows, louis and clark Seriously underrated and worth re-evaluating.
6 Lucifer (2016 – 2021)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
Many viewers will be surprised to learn that this supernatural police procedural is even based on the comics, but it is loosely based on neil gaimanof sandman and its lucifer derivative series. While this adaptation deviates significantly from the source material, it manages to create a fun, sexy, and surprisingly deep six-season thriller.
It manages to balance a great blend of humor, action, and heart, showing surprising character development and introspection. It’s very different from your typical DC show, but it has a compelling mythology, a compelling plot, and an incredibly captivating protagonist. tom ellisyou will be instantly addicted.
5 Batman: The Animated Series (1992 – 1995)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
With the success of projects like this spiderman universe Movies, most people today would agree that animation is not just for children, it can be used to tell compelling and mature stories.One of the first works to demonstrate this is the Batman: The Animated SeriesThe superhero cartoon was redefined more than thirty years ago.
With its signature dark Art Deco style, mature tone and character-driven storytelling, the series is more “grown up” than some reality shows and movies.It also has the honor of launching the entire dc animated universeso if you’re looking for another shared DC TV universe, then this is an obvious choice.
4 The Peacemaker (2022-present)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
2021 suicide squad was a much-needed hit for the DCEU, and one of the movie’s breakout characters was john cenaThe Peacemaker, who soon received his own spinoff TV show. While you’d be forgiven for doubting that this gruff, ultra-violent, and mostly comedic character could host his own show, you’d be wrong.
‘Peacemakers’ Season 1 Keeps Violent, Lewd Jokes suicide squad, but it hits you hard with surprising character depth and heartrending emotion. Cena, in particular, flexes his acting muscles in a way that really makes you reevaluate his character. Thankfully, despite the busy schedule, james gunn Assure fans that season two is still on the way.
3 “Stargirl” (2020 – 2022)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
In a world of cynical superhero deconstruction, star girl For those who prefer more classic superhero stories, it feels like a breath of fresh air. The show was unfortunately canceled in its heyday, but it managed to bring light and optimism to the screen while still managing to tell a story that was mature and grounded.The whole thing feels like a love letter to superhero comics, which makes sense considering it’s being handled by a prolific comic book writer star girl Creator, jeff jones.
to tease crisis on infinite earth, star girl It always felt like an adjacent show to the Arrowverse, and it’s a shame there wasn’t any crossover between the two. Still, it’s a fun and heartfelt ride, especially for fans of old-school comics.
2 Watchmen (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
With a critically acclaimed season, warder The show is unusual in that it’s a sequel to the 1986 manga of the same name, but it’s not connected to the 2009 film adaptation. The result is an intelligent and thought-provoking analysis of some major social issues through a deconstructed superhero lens.
Don’t worry, though, if that sounds too heavy-handed for you, the show also delivers plenty of riveting sci-fi antics, as well as a clear take on the source material, several of whose characters and plots are picked out. It weaves all these threads together beautifully, ensuring there is something for everyone.
1 Doom Patrol (2019-present)
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Based on the critically acclaimed 80s/90s doom patrol comic book by grant morrison, words cannot adequately describe the surreal, insane nature of this series. Focusing on a group of dysfunctional “heroes” with strange and erratic powers, the show is part psychodrama and half-comedy with appeal on multiple levels.
That’s because behind all the zombie asses and towns getting sucked out of donkey asses, the show’s heart is a character study, an in-depth examination of mental health issues.Additionally, it helps inspire Brendan FraserWe are grateful for our return to the spotlight.
