The CW’s Arrowverse has given us some incredibly memorable episodes over the years, but which of them are the cream of the superhero crop?
The Arrowverse has been a mainstay on The CW for nearly seven years. In that time, the shared universe of superheroes have forged iconic friendships and battled their greatest enemies, all while entertaining viewers and bringing in record-breaking ratings for the network.
While they haven’t all been perfect for the Arrowverse shows, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow have undoubtedly gotten things right more often than not, with their respective creative teams producing some outstanding seasons over the years. However, as great as they were, the success of these seasons relied on one major factor – the strength of their respective episodes.
Without engaging episodes to entice the viewers and progress the storylines, the Arrowverse show’s overall narratives would have ultimately fallen apart. Thankfully, for the most part, that hasn’t been the case. While all of the Arrowverse shows have faced a few dark days here and there throughout their runs, there has been so much more good than bad. And amidst all of that good, there have been some incredibly memorable outings.
From parallel dimensions and time-traveling time remnants to character-driven arcs and musical extravaganzas, there have been some spectacular adventures in the Arrowverse’s collective 400-plus episodes. With that in mind, let’s travel back in time, looking through the many heroic seasons to determine which ones stood out as the finest episodes the Arrowverse has ever produced
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 30
What’s Past Is Prologue (The Flash season 5 episode 8)
Over the years, The Flash has given us some game-changing outings, so it’s safe to say that we expected nothing less for its monumental 100th episode – and that’s exactly what we got.
“What’s Past Is Prologue” had the right idea of prioritizing the current storyline, but it did so in a clever way that still allowed it to pay tribute to everything that came before. It all came about when Nora West-Allen suggested that Team Flash create their own weapon that could be used against Cicada’s power-dampening dagger. Although they didn’t have the ingredients for such a device in the present, Nora suggested that they travel back to various periods in time, tracking down the necessary equipment.
As a result, we were treated to a trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the show’s most iconic moments. From Savitar’s defeat to Zoom’s reign of terror, Nora got to see some of her father’s most infamous moments up close and personal while we got to relive them all over again (from some fresh new angles).
The episode’s biggest drawback was unfortunately the fact that the plot came across like a waste of time. While it was undoubtedly amazing to see Barry revisit some of the show’s best moments, the overall plan was a complete failure as it was quickly thwarted by Cicada.
For this reason, “What’s Past Is Prologue” wasn’t quite as strong as Arrow‘s 100th episode, but it did do a stellar job of paying homage to some of The Flash‘s greatest hits without ever detracting from the task at hand – and you couldn’t really ask for anything more from what was practically a tribute episode.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 29
Legends of To-Meow-Meow (Legends of Tomorrow season 4 episode 8)
If you’re into wacky off-the-wall adventures that just don’t make any sense, then Legends of Tomorrow is undoubtedly the gift that just keeps on giving. The great thing about a show that is fully aware of just how unruly it has the potential to be is that, most of the time, there are no limits – and that was never clearer than in its fourth season’s midseason finale.
In response to the show being left out of the latest Arrowverse crossover, the Legends showrunners crafted their own mini-crossover to please its fans. The result was a no holds barred nerd-fest that took the show into crazier territory than ever before while paying tribute to some of the most iconic (and cheesy) superheroes of TV.
The episode focused on John Constantine’s decision to save the soul of his lost love, Desmond, which ultimately screwed up the timeline (in major fashion). In his attempts to fix it, the Legends of Tomorrow underwent a series of makeovers, becoming the murderous Custodians of the Chronology before evolving into Charlie’s Angels-inspired Sirens of Space-Time. Oh yeah, and there were puppets in there too.
However, underneath all this lunacy, there was an emotional core, revolving around Constantine’s struggles with damning Desmond all over again. Thus, “Legends of To-Meow-Meow” is an example of Legends of Tomorrow at its finest. It makes you laugh, wheeze and even raises a few eyebrows, but ultimately, it hooks us in a way that very few shows can – registering with us on every emotional level possible.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 28
Finish Line (The Flash season 3 episode 23)
The Flash‘s third season may be remembered less fondly than its predecessors but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the creative team managed to pull things together as it sped towards its conclusion. As a result, we got “Finish Line” – the impressive season finale that brought the grim season to a close, leaving the show at an intriguing crossroads.
After Savitar’s plot to kill Iris was foiled, the evil Barry Allen time-remnant was slowly fading from existence. But in order to avoid his impending doom, he desperately tried to immortalize himself throughout time – another plot that ultimately failed. In the end, the self-proclaimed God of Speed took on The Flash, Kid Flash, Jay Garrick, Vibe and Gypsy before he met his end in a shocking twist that saw Iris kill him moments before he was erased.
This was a moment that righted the season’s wrongs as Iris West-Allen was no longer being portrayed as the helpless damsel that needed rescuing – she was the hero that rescued Team Flash and put an end to Savitar once and for all.
From H.R.’s emotional sacrifice to Killer Frost’s path to redemption, there were a lot of emotional hooks throughout the episode that also proved to be worthy, if predictable, conclusions to some of the season’s secondary arcs. But it was all capped off by a tear-jerking moment that saw Barry redeem his time-traveling sins by imprisoning himself in the Speed Force prison.
While not the show’s best season finale, it was miles ahead of almost everything else that the season produced and it, in the moment at least, brought The Flash back to where it needed to be.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 27
The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly (Legends of Tomorrow season 3 episode 18)
When you’re producing a show that does crazy on a regular basis, continually upping the ante might seem like an impossible task. That is, unless you’re the showrunners of Legends of Tomorrow, of course.
Much like the aforementioned “Legends of To-Meow-Meow,” the Season 3 finale was a litany of crazy, and if you look back at the show’s progression, you might just find that this was the moment where the writers officially let go of their inhibitions and just threw everything they had at Legends.
“The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly” was the culmination of a season-long arc, which saw ancient time-demon Mallus released from his cage (following the possession of Nora Darhk). But this wasn’t just any old demon, it was a hellish gargoyle-like creature with a deadly glare and huge wingspan. And after the Waverider’s first captain, Rip Hunter, sacrificed himself to delay the creature and Damien Darhk did the same to free his daughter, it was pretty clear that the Legends would have to come up with a more permanent solution to take the beast down.
Using the six totems of Zambesi, they concocted up their very own pure-of-heart warrior to take on the demon – that warrior was none other than Beebo. And in one of the most visually bizarre moments in television history, the two entities did battle for the fate of time, with the beloved doll winning out.
Whoever pitched the idea of “hellish gargoyle vs. furry doll in the Old West” deserves a raise. On paper, it sounds even a little too out-there for Legends, but in reality, it was nothing short of golden. Words can’t do it justice, but it was, for lack of a better one, legendary.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 26
The Dragon (Arrow season 6 episode 19)
While Arrow Season 6 proved to be a somewhat problematic outing, the good vastly outweighed the bad – thanks in no small part to the final seven episodes, which may be the best string of consecutive episodes that the show has ever pulled off. Buried within that impressive line-up of episodes was “The Dragon” – a dark and grim outing that gave us a look into the mind of the season’s second Big Bad, Ricardo Diaz.
Up until this point, Diaz had only really been a henchman for previous Big Bad, Cayden James, and thus, when he was revealed to be the mastermind behind the murder of James’ son, it almost felt underwhelming. That is, until the second half of the season. With each episode, Diaz became more alluring and enticing as a villain, but “The Dragon” finally let us see who he really was.
Making full use of Season 6’s later time-slot, the episode was incredibly dark as the villain attempted to become a member of the powerful crime organization known as The Quadrant. It was bloody, graphic and highlighted just how far he was willing to go to achieve his goals. Furthermore, the episode also made full use of the brilliant Black Siren (who had also been criminally underused before this) as she challenged Diaz and his motivations.
With long-drawn-out scenes between the pair, the writers took their time with “The Dragon,” making it seem less like a rushed episode of Arrow and more like a mature cable drama. It was a character study that made up for some of the previous less-than-stellar outings, developing Diaz to the extent that we all wanted, and was anchored by two standout performances from Kirk Acevedo and Katie Cassidy.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 25
Aruba (Legends Of Tomorrow season 2 episode 17)
The second season of Legends Of Tomorrow brought together some of the Arrowverse’s most formidable foes as the Reverse-Flash, Damien Darhk and Malcolm Merlyn all teamed up in search of the Spear of Destiny. With those threats (known collectively as the Legion of Doom) having rewritten their fates and created the dreadful Doomworld in the season’s penultimate adventure, it was up to the Legends to change things back, by doing the one thing they did best – screwing up the timeline.
As a result, the team traveled back in time to undo the madness but, as expected, things descended into chaos as the misfit superheroes ended up interacting with their past selves while the Legion of Doom were hot on their trail. However, Sara managed to obtain the Spear and, despite the major changes she could have made, she merely de-powered the mystical object, rendering it useless.
Perhaps what was most interesting about this episode and, in extension, the entire season was the character development. As we all knew by now, Sara wanted her sister, Laurel, back while Amaya wanted to undo the damage done to her family and Mick wanted his partner, Leonard Snart, back. However, all of them overcame their personal desires and ultimately did the right thing, saving reality and stopping the Legion once and for all.
The Arrowverse’s 2016-17 season really was the year of the Legends, and “Aruba” was the point in which we realized that Legends of Tomorrow was officially the best show of them all. The show that was once treated like the shared universe’s B-show was suddenly able to produce a masterful, concise and near-perfect outing that put everyone on notice, and it didn’t fall at the final hurdle – in fact, it excelled. The Legends could mess all they liked, but they were not to be messed with.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 24
The Slabside Redemption (Arrow season 7 episode 7)
Oliver Queen’s imprisonment during Arrow‘s seventh season breathed new life into the show, highlighting that sometimes it’s important to change the status quo. However, it also set the stage for his eventual release and, as we settled in to watch would become the season’s greatest episode, it soon became clear that he was really going to have to work for his freedom.
“The Slabside Redemption” saw the former Green Arrow who, after District Attorney Laurel Lance/Black Siren secured a deal with the F.B.I., was preparing for his release. However, just as things began looking up, Oliver’s nemesis, Ricardo Diaz, took over Slabside and staged a prison-wide lockdown, releasing the prisoners, ensuring that Star City’s former savior would meet his end before he ever got out.
With the threat of Diaz looming, Oliver was surrounded by old enemies whom he had put behind bars and new ones that he made during his time there. But despite those odds, he fought harder than he ever had before, refusing to fall when his freedom was in sight.
This wasn’t just the story of a fallen hero’s final shot at redemption, it was a masterclass in how far one character was willing to go for the people that he loved – and in Oliver’s case it was clear: there were no limits. After a long haul, he finally overcame Diaz and, with Bronze Tiger’s help, saved the prison wardens. Though it most certainly failed him, the Green Arrow did not fail Slabside. And on that note, the writers did not fail us.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 23
Welcome To Earth-2 (The Flash season 2 episode 13)
The introduction of Zoom in The Flash‘s second season opened the Arrowverse up to infinite possibilities. The time-traveling monster did not originate on this Earth and thus, his sudden arrival (and the arrival of various doppelgängers) caught Team Flash off-guard. But it didn’t take the geniuses at S.T.A.R. Labs long to discover the existence of the multiverse and, as a result, we found ourselves eager to find out more about the mysterious parallel dimension known as Earth-2.
From Harry Wells to Zoom himself, Team Flash was surrounded by Earth-2 at the beginning of the season, but it wasn’t until the second half when they finally got the opportunity to travel there for a special two-part adventure – and what an unforgettable adventure it was.
Following their arrival, Barry soon realized that, while things looked familiar, everything was different there. On Earth-2, Barry Allen was an even dorkier, highly-strung, C.S.I. with a questionable fashion sense – and he was married to Iris. Speaking of Iris, she was a detective while her father, Joe, was a singer. Caitlin and Ronnie were the villains Killer Frost and Deathstorm while Cisco was the criminal Reverb – all three of whom worked for Zoom.
From the characters’ vintage clothing to the golden filter applied to all Earth-2 scenes, both Earth-2-based episodes were undoubtedly the most aesthetically pleasing outings that the show has ever produced. It felt like we were watching a comic book take form right before our eyes.
The introduction of Earth-2 has shaped so much of the Arrowverse, with Harry a semi-regular member of Team Flash and Black Siren now Star City’s District Attorney, and none of that would have been possible without this amazing episode (and its equally as amazing follow-up).
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 22
Worlds Finest (Supergirl season 1 episode 18)
The very first time that Supergirl crossed over with any of the Arrowverse shows of Earth-1 was when the Scarlet Speedster accidentally breached into the Girl of Steel’s dimension (Earth-38) while he was testing his speed. The event was considered even more spectacular than previous Arrowverse crossovers because, at the time, Supergirl aired on CBS, virtually making it a cross-promotional TV event.
After Barry accidentally invaded Kara’s world, The Flash and Supergirl officially introduced themselves and instantly hit it off. With the former officially stuck on Earth-38 and unable to return, the two nerdy superheroes decided to team up (yes, they actually called it that), with Kara and her team helping the Scarlet Speedster figure out how to get home. And as Livewire and Silver Banshee were currently on the loose, Barry decided to return the favor by helping the Girl of Steel take down the terrible twosome.
While the episode was very much a contained story, it did take some time to progress Supergirl‘s main narrative a little further. Following on from a previous episode (where Kara went on a Red Kryptonite-induced rage, sorely damaging her hopeful reputation), the people of National City rallied to protect Supergirl – showing her that, despite her recent actions, they still believed in her. It was a brief but effective way of progressing the story, once again utilizing the importance of hope – and given the two heroes involved in this crossover, we wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“Worlds Finest” was, in many ways, the embodiment of the classic superhero TV shows, featuring plenty of heroic moments, cheesy grins and even the odd corny one-liner – all of which brought the biggest smiles to our superhero-loving hearts. After months of hoping, these two heroes managed to make the impossible happen, and this amazing adventure merely set the stage for countless more.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 21
Beebo the God of War (Legends of Tomorrow season 3 episode 9)
Midway through its third season, it was well-documented that Legends of Tomorrow thrived on two things – powerful characters and unbridled hilarity. Well, the marriage of these two contrasting styles was never more perfect than it was in Season 3’s midseason finale.
Taking place just after the shocking events of the “Crisis On Earth-X” crossover, “Beebo the God of War” focused on the Legends’ attempts to deal with the loss of their own Professor Martin Stein – a task made all the more impossible by the fact that their next mission involved a younger Stein who ended up displaced in the time of the Vikings.
Of course, being Legends, the whole thing also involved a lot of off-the-wall craziness as the Vikings now worshipped a new God of War: Beebo – a talking doll that the young Stein possessed when he was mysteriously displaced. Of course, things got worse when Damien Darhk showed up and tried to manipulate the Vikings even further.
However, the episode’s main charm lay in the fact that it used this utter ridiculousness to channel real emotion (from the characters and the viewers). Citizen Cold’s use of the Stein puppet may have first seemed rather unusual, but it turned out to be a somewhat touching coping mechanism. Similarly, the use of the young Stein in the bizarre Beebo storyline allowed us to see just how much Jax loved his other half, setting the stage for the character’s own departure.
It just highlighted how Legends‘ eclectic blend of styles is a genre in and of itself and, when it gets the balance right, the show is one of the most endearing on television. You may not realize it at first, but it seems that you can learn a lot from talking puppets and plush dolls. And it all came together in what was undoubtedly a fitting tribute to the legendary Professor Stein.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 20
Flash Vs. Arrow/The Brave and the Bold
The first Arrowverse crossover was a little bit different from its successors. For a start, there were only two shows so it was understandably a much smaller scale storyline and, as a result, there were no major threats to the world – just Starling City.
When Captain Boomerang began killing A.R.G.U.S. agents, Team Arrow needed Team Flash’s help and thus, traveled to Central City with the murder weapon – a boomerang. This allowed The Arrow to work alongside The Flash for the very first time and, well, let’s just say the results weren’t as epic as they had hoped. After interference from Rainbow Raider resulted in Barry losing control, it was up to Oliver to step in and fix things. And after a brief, but epic, battle, The Flash and The Arrow saved the day.
The Arrow half of the crossover took place back in Starling when Team Flash showed up with the results of the tests they ran on the boomerang. However, as they enjoyed their time in the Emerald Archer’s city, Captain Boomerang struck again – this time at A.R.G.U.S.’ headquarters. With Lyla and Diggle’s lives in danger, Cisco and Caitlin called the Scarlet Speedster who, along with The Arrow and Arsenal came to the rescue. They all then teamed up one more time to defeat Boomerang and disarm bombs he had placed around the city.
Both installments of the crossover were undoubtedly sights to be marveled at. In a single TV event, we got to see the two main heroes of the Arrowverse face-off and team up. However, the writers also took some time to develop their relationship, highlighting the growing tension between the pair due to their contrasting styles and approaches – a theme that continues to be explored almost every time they cross paths.
All in all, this long-awaited Arrowverse crossover lived up to our high expectations and, in hindsight, set the stage for even grander adventures.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 19
Duet (The Flash season 3 episode 17)
While the Arrowverse crossover has become an annual thing, that didn’t stop the showrunners of The Flash and Supergirl from doing their own musical crossover midway through their 2016-17 seasons and it may have actually been the most anticipated one of them all.
Ever since Melissa Benoist was cast as Supergirl, fans had been calling for the show to do a musical crossover with The Flash, given that both she and Grant Gustin were previously best known for their roles on Fox’s hit musical comedy Glee – with Gustin playing villainous warbler Sebastian Smythe and Benoist portraying the kind-hearted Marley Rose. Their characters had appeared in multiple episodes together, but they never interacted on a one-to-one basis and thus, fans wanted to see the former co-stars cross over in the Arrowverse. So a musical episode was inevitable, really.
“Duet” saw Music Meister (portrayed by the pair’s fellow Glee star Darren Criss) place both Barry and Kara in a coma, trapping their minds in a musical dream. As a result, we were treated to a number of wonderful group performances from the talented ensemble cast of Supergirl and The Flash, with select members of the Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow casts even showing off their talents as well. This was all capped off by a surprisingly strong narrative in which the only way of overcoming the dream was for the recently heartbroken superheroes to recognize the love in their lives.
From the big band brilliance of Barry and Kara’s “Super Friend” duet to Barry’s beautifully subtle “Runnin’ Home To You,” the songs were nothing short of amazing, and it allowed both of these incredible “supergleeroes” to highlight just how talented they really are. Without a doubt, this musical extravaganza was well worth the wait.
Take a bow CW, take a bow!
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 18
Salvation (Arrow season 1 episode 18)
From about Season 3 onwards, Arrow has fully embraced the fact that it is a superhero show, consistently highlighting its large ensemble of heroes and the ridiculous world they live in – even if it’s to the detriment of the storyline. But if you look back at some of the show’s earlier episodes, you’ll find that plots were a little more subtle and stripped back, focusing more on a character depth over metahuman madness.
“Salvation” was a shining example of this, focusing on a series of kidnappings and murders that were broadcast live – all of which were perpetrated by an entity calling himself “The Savior.” However, the reveal that this murderer was just a normal guy who turned to vigilantism after his wife was murdered really hit home with Oliver and us as viewers. And although The Arrow empathized with him, he was forced to kill him in order to save Roy Harper’s life.
From the disturbing broadcasts to the graphic violence, the episode wasn’t afraid to hold back and it was a glimpse into what made the earlier seasons of Arrow so great. There weren’t any colorful villains here or quick-witted one-liners, there was a lesson about the value of life and what losing life can do to someone. It was full of gritty realism, and the whole ordeal impacted Roy in such a way that it taught him to make a better life, not just for himself, but for everyone else. In many ways, this was the moment that Arsenal was truly born.
“Salvation” was a grim reminder that all it takes is one bad day to turn good people into monsters and it was executed to perfection with unnervingly good storytelling, invasive camera-work, strong performances and a haunting score that still sends chills up our spines.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 17
The Adventures of Supergirl (Supergirl season 2 episode 1)
Supergirl‘s first season was a wonderfully triumphant feel-good story about Kara Danvers’ attempt to become as a good a hero as her more-famous cousin, Superman. However, it wasn’t perfect, and one of its main issues stemmed from the fact that the producers weren’t allowed to really use Superman – who featured only in text conversations and occasionally popped up in a CGI-rendered form on the horizon.
Thankfully, this all changed during the summer hiatus and the writers wasted no time bringing the Man of Steel into the fray in the Season 2 premiere, with Tyler Hoechlin donning the red cape. And what better way to do that than by having him save an aircraft?
As the Venture descended from the skies, both Supergirl and Superman came to the rescue, teaming up for the first time ever as they maneuvered the aircraft to safety. From their impressive shows of strength to Blake Neely’s triumphant score (that certainly paid tribute to John Williams’ classic Superman theme), this opening sequence was nothing short of brilliance, and it set the tone for the remainder of the strong episode, as the pair would later team up to save National City from the collapsing Luthor Corp building.
The episode is also notable for a number of other reasons as it marked the beginning of the full-time end for Calista Flockhart’s Cat Grant and featured the debut of Katie McGrath’s Lena Luthor – all of which helped us realize that Season 2 was destined to be a very different type of adventure. But thanks to the strength of the episode, it paved the way for what was undoubtedly an even better one.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 16
Elseworlds
How do you top all of the previous years’ crossovers? Well, by switching things up and adding a horde of iconic DC characters and Easter Eggs, of course!
2018’s crossover, titled “Elseworlds,” saw The Monitor and Dr. Deegan rewrite reality and, as a result, Oliver Queen became Barry Allen (and vice versa). Unable to convince their loved ones of their true identities, the superheroes traveled to Earth-38 to meet Supergirl, who did recognize them. This then led to a battle for the fate of reality as The Flash, Green Arrow, Supergirl and Superman all joined forces in an attempt to fix things once and for all.
However, the fun didn’t stop there. Their escapades would take them to Gotham City, where they ended up meeting Batwoman, finally introducing a member of the Bat-Family into the Arrowverse. Furthermore, they also encountered The Flash of Earth-90, portrayed by the legendary John Wesley Shipp – a nod to Shipp’s portrayal of the character in the classic ’90s Flash TV series.
With all of that craziness to contest with and the fear of an impending Crisis, “Elseworlds” was undoubtedly the most ambitious crossover yet. Packed full of engaging content, and with more DC Easter Eggs than you could shake a Batarang at, it was undoubtedly a thrill-ride for the ages. From the stunning visuals of Gotham City to the goosebump-inducing Batwoman theme, there was so much to love about this one. Never has the Arrowverse felt bigger, never has it felt more movie-like and, quite frankly, never has it been better.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 15
Star City 2046 (Legends of Tomorrow season 1 episode 6)
While Legends of Tomorrow‘s first season isn’t exactly considered its best, that didn’t stop it from producing some damn fine episodes – and this one is the greatest example of that.
“Star City 2046” saw the recently formed team land themselves in a possible future and, let’s just say that things didn’t look bright for all of Sara’s family and friends. Star City was a destroyed and abandoned shell of its former self, overrun with crime and desperately low on heroes as it languished under the rule of Grant Wilson a.k.a. Deathstroke Jr. Despite the fact that this future may not come to pass, Sara was unable to leave things as they were and thus, aided the new Green Arrow (Connor Hawke). In doing so, she found the old one.
With a missing arm and a broken soul, an aged Oliver Queen refused to return to action and told Sara to return to the time-stream. But it didn’t take long for the hero within to surface as this Oliver once again donned his iconic hood, made use of a robotic arm and strung up his bow – eventually returning order to his city.
With shades of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, “Star City 2046” was undoubtedly an ambitious adventure for the young show to tackle, but the writers never shied away from the tall task – and this allowed Legends to continue pushing the boundaries, crossing over and making references to more iconic DC characters. While the cast was, as always, impeccable here, the standout was undoubtedly Stephen Amell, who rocked the white facial hair and delivered one of his best performances as the beaten Oliver Queen.
This single episode of Legends was more true to the essence of the original Arrow than some of that show’s own later episodes. It was the Arrow that we all desperately craved and the sequel that we never knew we needed. It was, quite simply, a work of art.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 14
Enter Flashtime (The Flash season 4 episode 15)
While The Flash has had many ups and downs over the course of its run, its fourth season was undoubtedly its lowest point. With Big Bad Clifford DeVoe’s rather complicated and convoluted plan to enlighten people, the show ended up producing a string of mediocre episodes that just couldn’t hold a candle to its glory days.
However, “Enter Flashtime” proved to be a light in the midst of all that darkness. The standalone adventure disregarded the season’s Big Bad as Team Flash were faced with a more-pressing matter – a nuclear bomb that had just been detonated. As a result, the entire episode took place in “Flashtime” as Barry, Jesse Quick and Jay Garrick tried to come up with various ways of disarming the bomb. With time slipping away and his body growing weary, Barry was pushed well beyond his limits – but, thanks to Iris, he managed to outlast his fellow speedsters and come up with a way of doing the impossible.
“Enter Flashtime” was undoubtedly a snapshot of The Flash at its best. It was thrilling, engaging and edge-of-seat from the beginning right until the very end, and it reminded us that, despite the lows of its fourth season, the show was still capable of producing a truly magnificent episode.
In real-time, it may have taken place in a few seconds, but thanks to Flashtime, it was long enough to produce what was undoubtedly the season’s standout episode. Given how lackluster Season 4 actually was, the writers didn’t necessarily have to try to give us a strong standalone episode, but they tried anyway – and as a result, they gave us one of the finest hours of television that The Flash has ever produced.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 13
Resist (Supergirl season 2 episode 21)
Supergirl‘s second season primarily focused on Kara’s relationship with the often-selfish Daxamite, Mon-El – a storyline that effectively paved the way for the invasion of the Daxamite army, led by Mon-El’s cold-blooded mother, Rhea (portrayed by Teri Hatcher). Though the villainess was quite lacking in terms of character depth, she managed to be a convincing (if one-dimensional) threat, and the invasion was a fulfilling conclusion to the story.
The penultimate episode of the season, “Resist,” saw the Daxamite army make their presence felt on Earth as Rhea attempted to rule over humanity. This, however, led to the returns of President Olivia Marsdin (portrayed by Wonder Woman herself, Lynda Carter) and Calista Flockhart’s legendary Cat Grant, as the three staples of classic TV exchanged a war of words.
Cat’s return proved to be the episode’s strongest attribute as she was once again able to inspire Kara with a motivational speech and, in just a few seconds, she reminded us that Season 2 simply wasn’t the same without her larger-than-life presence. This ultimately allowed the Girl of Steel to overcome her inhibitions as she temporarily teamed up with Lillian Luthor as the pair boarded Rhea’s ship to save Mon-El and Lena.
But Cat’s return wasn’t the only main talking point of the episode, as the shocking conclusion saw Superman (under Rhea’s mind control) attack his own cousin, setting up an epic battle for the season finale.
From these very-welcome returns to Cat’s countless words of wisdom, “Resist” was an example of Supergirl at its finest and, despite a number of frustrating character portrayals, it was an epic outing that even managed to outshine the season finale.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 12
Land Of The Lost (Legends of Tomorrow season 2 episode 13)
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow went from strength to strength throughout its second season as it continued to change things up, distancing itself from its previous outing. Like the series itself, the season thrived on hilarity, but its strongest episode actually proved to be its most serious one.
With much of the season focusing on Rip Hunter’s waywardness (beginning with his vanishing and his eventual evil turn at the hands of the Legion of Doom), “Land Of The Lost” was all about saving the former captain of the Waverider and the only way to do that was for the Legends to take a walk into his mind. Unfortunately for Sara and Jax, Evil Rip’s mind wouldn’t go down so easily and instead, conjured up evil versions of them both. But all was not lost as Gideon appeared in person, steering things back in Good Rip’s favor and helping her one-and-only captain take back his body.
There are no words to describe just how fulfilling that slow-motion shot of Rip, back in his signature trench-coat, walking towards the Legends truly is. It marked the culmination of his dark days and, after his sacrifice at the beginning of the season, it was a full-circle moment that finally brought the beloved character back to where he belonged. Though it would be a short-lived homecoming, it was all worth it just to receive this glorious episode.
There were no ridiculous antics or hilarious one-liners here. In this single episode, Legends of Tomorrow proved that it had no problem getting serious when necessary and, in doing so, it provided us with its most flawless outing to date. With a strong emotional narrative and a score that gives you goosebumps, this was powerful, engaging and, quite frankly, nothing short of phenomenal.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 11
Invasion!
The third annual Arrowverse crossover was bigger and better than ever as characters from all four Arrowverse shows (Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl ) crossed over for the first time. And what better threat to bring these iconic heroes together than aliens?!
A three-part special, “Invasion!” saw the arrival of the Dominators on Earth, causing Barry to once again reach out to Oliver. The team would then contact the Legends before Barry jumped to Earth-38 to pick up Supergirl – and just like that, the most powerful combination of heroes that TV has ever seen was formed.
While the Dominators’ motivations were difficult to follow, it’s easy to overlook this as the rest of the crossover was quite literally out of this world. It was all sewn together nicely, with all of these unique heroes interacting well together for the very first time. Moreover, each of the three parts were loyal to their respective show with The Flash‘s episode highlighting the Scarlet Speedster’s team just as the Legends of Tomorrow entry did with its own team.
However, it’s impossible to talk about just how strong “Invasion!” was without mentioning the Arrow entry, which also served as the show’s 100th episode. After being abducted by the Dominators, Team Arrow was placed in a dream sequence where everything was different. Oliver was due to be married to Laurel Lance as she, his parents and Sara were all alive, with the episode paying tribute to many of the show’s greatest attributes.
After months of anticipation, “Invasion!” was everything it should have been and more. It relied on the best of the Arrowverse’s science fiction elements while stunning us with countless triumphant moments – all while making time to pay tribute to the Arrowverse originator’s milestone episode. And it was all capped off by one hell of a final battle. This is what the Arrowverse crossovers are all about.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 10
Lian Yu (Arrow season 5 episode 23)
Arrow came full circle with the conclusion of its fifth season as Adrian Chase’s master plan culminated back where it all began for Oliver’s emerald journey – Lian Yu. The island had played such a major role in the Green Arrow’s life so it was only fitting that when the five-year flashback narrative drew to a close, it still had a major role to play in the present. Just as Prometheus had been claiming, Oliver was stuck in an endless cycle of repetitive violence and with the past mirroring the present, it was hard to deny that.
With all of Team Arrow kidnapped by Chase, Oliver turned to his former friend and enemy, Slade Wilson – ending a multi-year rivalry between the pair and finally bringing Deathstroke back to the show. The remainder of the episode would prove to be a thrilling face-off between the heroes and the villains as Oliver struggled with the possibility of killing Chase and saving his son.
While an emotional phone call between Oliver and his mother brought an end to the five years worth of island flashbacks, the show-stopping showdown with Prometheus brought an end to the incredible fifth season and left us with the best cliffhanger in Arrowverse history.
“Lian Yu” was a love letter to the best of Arrow‘s five years, paying tribute to the past while thrilling us in the present and setting up an intriguing future. With Arrow staples Katie Cassidy, Susanna Thompson and Manu Bennett all returning for the episode, it was more like a series finale than anything else. And when the dust settled, it was clear that the writers had succeeded in redeeming themselves after the horrific fourth season.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 9
Crisis On Earth-X
When it comes to the crossovers, it’s clear that The CW really does live by the mantra “bigger is better.” The 2017 edition, “Crisis On Earth-X”, marked the first time that Supergirl fully took part and thus, the event was a four-part extravaganza, taking place across all four of the network’s Arrowverse shows.
Unlike previous events, the quadrant of heroes weren’t forced together because of some cataclysmic event, but instead, all united for a much more positive occasion – the long-awaited wedding of Barry Allen and Iris West. Of course, a congregation full of superheroes didn’t stop evil Earth-X Nazi Doppelgängers, Dark Arrow and Overgirl (and the Reverse-Flash) from crashing the ceremony with their army of soldiers and seeking the heart of Supergirl.
As a result, The Flash put his nuptials on the back-burner and once again joined forces with Green Arrow, Supergirl (along with their respective teams) and the Legends to take down this monumental threat. What then ensued was an incredible film-worthy saga as the heroes of Earth-1 attempted to destroy Earth-X’s evil army once and for all. But it wasn’t just all epic action as the writers took the time to tackle important storylines, highlighting that love will always trump intolerance.
From the debut of The Ray to the return of Wentworth Miller (as Earth-X’s heroic Citizen Cold), this grandiose adventure was overflowing with jaw-dropping moments, awe-inspiring visuals and glee-inciting Easter Eggs, alongside what was undoubtedly the most concise and well-written storyline that the crossovers have seen yet. It amazed us, amused us and ultimately broke our hearts – but, all in all, it was nothing short of spectacular.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 8
The Runaway Dinosaur (The Flash season 2 episode 21)
It would be wrong to revisit the Arrowverse’s greatest hours without taking a detour into the Speed Force for what was undoubtedly one of The Flash‘s most powerful stories. This one took place towards the end of its second season, but the best thing about it was that it was a reminder of the best of Season 1.
Barry Allen’s journey to retrieving the speed that Zoom stole from him wasn’t just a physical journey, but a mental one. Haunted by his own speed, Barry made his way through the Speed Force as it began taking the form of his loved ones. However, what started as a bizarre and rather uneasy episode soon developed into one of the most endearing outings that the show has ever produced.
The episode’s title stemmed from Barry’s favorite childhood book and, in the episode’s most moving moment, the Speed Force (in the guise of his mother, Nora) began reading the story to him and he began reciting it from memory, staring at his mother with the most loving look in his eyes. In that moment, he had finally overcome his struggles and, in doing so, regained his speed.
Directed by Kevin Smith, “The Runaway Dinosaur” was an emotional rollercoaster that finally allowed non-comic fans to learn a lot more about the Speed Force while bringing The Flash back to its family-centric roots. It was heartfelt, well-written, visually stunning and centered around an incredible performance from Grant Gustin. Without a doubt, this was The Flash at its finest.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 7
Pilot (Arrow season 1 episode 1)
When Arrow first arrived on our screens, Smallville was still fresh in comic book fans’ minds – as was Justin Hartley’s comic-accurate happy-go-lucky portrayal of the Green Arrow. Thus, Greg Berlanti and The CW had to ensure that their new Green Arrow had something different to offer – which they effectively managed to do with the show’s premiere episode.
Focusing on Oliver Queen’s return to society, the Arrow pilot was quick to differentiate itself from previous comic book adaptations. Calm, collective and internally troubled, this Oliver was nothing like his comic book counterpart, just as the grim and moody tone of the show was nothing like the somewhat upbeat tone we were expecting.
From the get-go, it was clear that Arrow wasn’t intended to be a superhero show. Instead, it was a gritty crime series that just so happened to feature a hood-wearing vigilante. But that vigilante was no superhero, he was a dark avenger scarred by the trauma of Lian Yu who sought to stomp out corruption by righting his father’s wrongs.
With a compelling redemption narrative at its heart and an intriguing ensemble of supporting characters, Arrow‘s first episode gave us an insight into what we could expect from the remainder of the season – and to say that it looked promising would be an understatement.
It was undoubtedly lightning in a bottle because, no matter how hard they tried, the writers have never been able to recapture the perfection that the show’s pilot (and whole first season) possessed. They struck gold, or Emerald if you will, with this one.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 6
Pilot (Supergirl season 1 episode 1)
With Arrow and The Flash dominating superhero television in 2015, CBS attempted to get in on the superhero fun with Supergirl – which infamously moved to The CW for its second season. And after finding their Girl of Steel in Melissa Benoist, work on the series officially began.
The pilot episode obviously centered on the titular character, Kara Zor-El, who arrived on Earth years after Krypton’s explosion. By that time, her cousin, Kal-El, had grown up to become Superman. However, years later, Kara (now the mousy assistant of media mogul Cat Grant) finally unveiled her powers to the world when she, much like her cousin, saved a plane from crashing. In doing so, she soon realized that her own adoptive sister, Alex, was an agent for the Department of Extra-Normal Operations, tasked with taking down alien threats.
Despite a few teething issues, Kara was able to overcome any obstacles in her way, relying on Winn Schott, James Olsen and the D.E.O. as the residents of National City discovered that Earth now had a new savior – and her name was Supergirl.
Unlike The Flash, there was no backdoor pilot or pre-pilot guest-appearances here. So, it was up to this episode alone to prove why the show was good enough to be on the air, and thankfully, it succeeded in every single way possible. It was triumphant and grandiose, possessing that feel-good quality that the classic superhero shows were renowned for while also setting yet another standard for the modern-day ones, highlighting that not all of them had to be dark to be entertaining. As far as pilots go, this one was made of Steel.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 5
Pilot (The Flash season 1 episode 1)
Rounding out our hat-trick of pilots is the very first episode of The Flash.
Over two years after revolutionizing superhero TV with Arrow, Greg Berlanti began producing a spin-off show centered on an even more iconic character, The Flash. Following on from Barry Allen’s introduction in Arrow, the show would focus on the character’s journey to solving his mother’s murder and clearing his father’s name, all while gaining super-speed in the process.
The show’s pilot episode reintroduced us to Barry, adding a little more background to his story, before his encounter with the lightning bolt that put him in a coma for nine months – an event that ultimately gave him super-speed. With his good heart and motivation to be more than he was, Barry soon convinced the team at S.T.A.R. Labs to help him take down criminal, Clyde Mardon, who possessed weather-controlling abilities, and as a result, he became The Flash.
This exhilarating adventure proved to be the first in a very long line of them, but it was undoubtedly a risky one. The show introduced super-powers and metahumans into the once-grounded Arrowverse, making it seem a lot more, for lack of a better term, comical than before. Moreover, The Flash itself was light-hearted, hopeful and was essentially everything that Arrow wasn’t.
Thankfully, all of these risks paid off in a big way, as the show was the perfect yin to Arrow‘s yang, offering up equally high-quality programming while giving us something quite different. The Flash took the Arrowverse to a new place, making it feel so much bigger – both literally and figuratively – as it gave us a ton of rich new characters, locations and storylines to explore. And it did it all in its very first episode. The Flash‘s pilot episode was nothing short of a triumph.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 4
Streets Of Fire (Arrow season 2 episode 22)
Slade Wilson’s revenge was taken to the next level in the penultimate episode of Arrow‘s second season when his army of Mirakuru soldiers flooded the streets of Starling City. The sudden attack caught everyone off-guard as the super-powered henchmen destroyed the SCPD and raised hell in the train station. But with corrupt mayor Sebastian Blood in charge, the National Guard was not called in and thus, Starling was well and truly under siege.
However, the threat merely resulted in the rise of the city’s greatest heroes and, in doing so, allowed some of the show’s most important characters to experience a redemption of sorts. The recently-demoted Officer Quentin Lance helped rally what was left of the SCPD and highlighted his expert leadership when he suggested they work with The Arrow instead of against him – a bold move that ultimately earned him his promotion back. Similarly, his daughter, Sara, returned to the city and overcame her demons by showing herself to the public (and Laurel) as she actively saved a child, revealing that The Canary could be a hero too.
“Streets of Fire” felt like a season finale in and of itself. It did a great job of highlighting the threat by making this huge city seem incredibly claustrophobic, as literally nowhere was safe. The intensity was high and, as a result, the stakes felt real. Furthermore, there were some really moving scenes throughout, with Oliver training Laurel how to use his bow and Felicity’s powerful monologue both acting as powerful bookends to the episode.
In spite of the tremendous odds that were stacked against them, the heroes rose to this challenge and, although they faltered at times, they never failed to show strength, courage and determination. Due to this internal conflict, the episode did a tremendous job setting the table for the incredible season finale.
Speaking of which…
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 3
Unthinkable (Arrow season 2 episode 23)
Following on from the last entry is Arrow‘s explosive second season finale in which the long-awaited collision between Oliver Queen and Slade Wilson finally took place.
With Slade’s Mirakuru army continuing to cause destruction on the ground, Oliver brought in the big guns as he arrived at the battle with The Canary, Arsenal, the SCPD, Nyssa Al Ghul and the League of Assassins. In one of the show’s best-choreographed group fights, Team Arrow took the fight the super-soldiers while administering a cure to the Mirakuru at the same time.
The Arrow would then foil Deathstroke’s plan to kill “the woman he loved,” leading to a final showdown between the pair on a rooftop as A.R.G.U.S.’ Amanda Waller threatened to destroy the city in order to contain the threat. However, the beauty of this scene was that, as the fight unfolded, the flashback narrative mirrored the present, with Oliver and Slade’s very first battle running parallel to their last. It was only then that Oliver finally managed to subdue his foe, saving the city from complete destruction.
There is a reason that Deathstroke is so highly regarded among the Arrowverse fandom, and this episode showcased why. It was a fitting end to an exceptional season – one that allowed two years worth of flashbacks to come full circle while providing us with perhaps the most impressive “final boss” battle of the show’s run to date. It was daring, bold and downright gripping and it brought an end to the show’s most edge-of-seat narrative yet, with the foretold encounter exceeding expectations.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 2
Sacrifice (Arrow season 1 episode 23)
Nearly a year after bringing Arrow to our screens, the writers had the tall task of closing the first season in a satisfying way that would hopefully leave audiences wanting more. The first season had been a success, with fans hooked on Oliver Queen’s redemption and Malcolm Merlyn’s revenge-driven plot to level the glades. It was overflowing with gripping storylines – all of which came to a head in the explosive season finale.
“Sacrifice” was a fitting culmination to all of that, with each character’s personal arcs colliding at the same time. Merlyn’s “Undertaking” shone a light on everyone’s true colors, with Moira Queen and Quentin Lance finally letting go of their inhibitions and trusting themselves to do the right thing. Laurel Lance showed her true character by standing by the collapsing Glades while Tommy Merlyn did the same, returning to save her.
But the biggest story was, of course, the rematch we had been waiting months to see as The Arrow himself took on the Dark Archer in a rooftop battle with the fate of Star City hanging in the balance (a moment that later season finales have tried to replicate). And it all built towards an incredibly emotional closing scene that had us all crying our hearts out.
In many ways, the finale was a tribute to everything that had made the Arrowverse’s premiere season so great. It was thrilling, unnerving and edge-of-seat drama that never stopped shocking us from beginning to end, and it ultimately paved the way for the show’s even stronger second season.
Rarely has Arrow ever been as perfect as it was here.
Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 1
Fast Enough (The Flash season 1 episode 23)
The Flash‘s debut season was a masterclass in storytelling. From the mystery surrounding the Reverse-Flash’s identity to Barry Allen’s deep-rooted desire to save his mother, the show was full of compelling narratives and internal conflict – and this was never more evident than it was when everything came together in its flawless season finale.
Gifted with the opportunity to change the timeline by his archenemy, Eobard Thawne, Barry was faced with the realization that he could undo his own mother’s death – all he had to do was help the Reverse-Flash return to his own time. It didn’t take long for him to accept the offer and thus, he returned to that fateful night to put things right.
However, things took a surprising turn when his future-self (who was also present) warned him against that and, in a cruel twist, Barry had to stand by and listen while his mother was killed all over again. He then emotionally comforted her as she died, telling her that he and his father were okay. A raw, beautiful and tender scene anchored by award-worthy performances from Grant Gustin and Michelle Harrison, this was undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history.
Barry’s impossible decision brought an end to the first season’s storyline, but that didn’t stop the drama from increasing tenfold, when the time-travel resulted in the opening of a wormhole right above Central City, leaving us with an edge-of-seat cliffhanger that ensured we would all return for Season 2.
All in all, “Fast Enough” was an incredibly satisfying culmination of The Flash‘s near-perfect freshman season. It was a heartbreaking conclusion of one adventure and an unnerving beginning of another. And it was, without a doubt, the greatest episode that the Arrowverse has ever seen.
Which Arrowverse episodes have been your favorites?