It's the End of the Arrowverse as We Know It
Why the DC TV universe may be coming to an end.
It hasn't even been three years since the Arrowverse aired its most ambitious crossover effort, Crisis on Infinite Earths -- a crossover that happened when Arrow, the show that started it all, aired its final season.
Now, with the news that Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow won't return to The CW, the Arrowverse is now down to two shows -- and one of them, The Flash, is rumored to be entering its final season.
In a way, it's hard to believe that a shared TV universe featuring DC superheroes now may be ending in full. But there were plenty of signs that the Arrowverse might be nearing its end, despite a crossover that generated a lot of buzz.
Let's look at a few factors that may have determined the fate of the Arrowverse in the "post-Crisis" era.
1. The CW is up for sale.
The CW, a joint venture between CBS and WarnerMedia that formed in 2006 when the two combined UPN and The WB Into one network, was put up for sale earlier this year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network has not been profitable, with revenue generated from licensing the shows to international markets and streaming services.
The Arrowverse shows utilize a lot of CGI and special effects, which raises the cost of production. It's thus harder to sell a potential network buyer on the idea that it's worth keeping shows that are expensive to produce.
And with more streaming services entering the marketplace, it's more difficult for TV networks to draw viewers. While the Arrowverse shows had a loyal following, they didn't always generate the viewership numbers that may persuade executives to keep them on the air.
Selling a potential buyer on shows that have large budgets and draw low ratings is a difficult task. Hence, the Arrowverse shows are less likely to be part of The CW's future.
2. The Flash is showing its age.
It can be difficult to keep a TV show going strong for multiple seasons. It's not unusual for shows to go off the air after five or six seasons. Those that make it past a seventh season may find it hard to keep the momentum going.
The Flash had a strong debuts season but hasn't been able to match the quality of that season. Perhaps that's an unfair benchmark to clear, but recent seasons haven't had the most satisfying storylines or antagonists.
There may be no better example than the recent Armageddon storyline. It's understandable that the producers couldn't pull off a typical crossover, but the storyline itself was mediocre and Despero came off as a disappointment.
It hasn't helped that popular characters such as Cisco Ramon and Harrison Wells are no longer a part of the show. While the creative team deserves credit for trying to inject new characters into the mix, it can be difficult to fill the shoes of a popular character — and that ties into the next point.
3. Legends of Tomorrow lost nearly all of its original cast.
The first season of Legends of Tomorrow wasn't considered a good season, but then came the second season, in which the writers let the personalities bounce off one another and unveiled antagonists who had great chemistry and interactions.
Again, it's understandable that a creative team would like to introduce new characters. However, characters such as Ray Palmer, Nate Heywood and Mick Rory were loved by fans, and with Sara Lance the only remaining original cast member, some viewers may have lost interest.
And while Legends has been known for going over the top with its material, perhaps it went a little too over the top at times. It's one thing to have the heroes form a giant Beebo to stop a time demon, but it may be harder to sell people on the idea that Sara Lance is now a clone made in part from alien DNA.
The introduction of Booster Gold in the season eight finale was fun, but it may have been too late to save the show's fate.
4.Batwoman made an abrupt shift after its first season.
Ruby Rose's departure from Batwoman after just one season, and the subsequent decision to cast Javicia Leslie in the lead role, may have had a jarring effect on some viewers. Because the decision was not only not to recast Kate Kane, but to have a new character take over the Batwoman role entirely.
That's not a knock on Leslie, who did a good job with her role as Ryan Wilder. But when you are rolling out a series for the first time and viewers are still getting to know the lead character, they may find it hard to adjust to a new lead character after a single season.
The Arrowverse creative team also heightened expectations for a new pairing for future crossovers, which leads to the next point.
5. Supergirl went off the air after Arrow.
Supergirl was arguably part of the Arrowverse Trinity alongside Arrow and The Flash, and when Batwoman became part of the lineup, plans were to have her and Supergirl form a crossover pairing, similar to Flash and Green Arrow.
However, then came the news that Supergirl would come to an end after six seasons. That meant that two-thirds of the arguable Arrowverse Trinity no longer had their own shows, nor would there be planned crossovers with Batwoman.
While plans for a crossover between Batwoman and Superman (of the show Superman and Lois) were discussed, they never materialized, with the COVID-19 pandemic cited as the main reason why.
Now, with Batwoman and Legends ending and The Flash possibly doing the same, the Arrowverse has pretty much ended its run. It's hard to see it go by the wayside, but given the circumstances, it's something we probably should have seen coming.
But this holds true: The Arrowverse stands as one of many reasons why superheroes have enjoyed quite a run in TV and movies in recent years. And while the entertainment landscape has changed, it doesn't appear superhero movies and shows will go away any time soon -- even if they exist in a different form than the Arrowverse.