We’ve had plenty of memorable characters appear in The CW’s Arrowverse over the years but not all of them are remembered fondly.
It’s still hard to believe that the Arrowverse is over. The CW’s shared universe of superheroes had become a fixture for DC Comics fans who enjoyed catching up with their favorite heroes and villains across 10 years, 6 TV shows, 37 seasons, and 699 episodes (along with a few other adjacent projects as well), but with new management at both Warner Bros. Discovery and The CW, its time at the top of superhero television has come to an end.
It officially bowed out with the series finale of The Flash; the first of the Arrowverse spinoffs and the longest-running of its shows, it concluded with its ninth and final season in May. It certainly felt like the end of an era, but fans take solace in knowing that they can revisit any of the earths in the Arrowverse multiverse as many times as they choose in the form of boxsets, streaming, and more.
The thing that really made fans fall in love with the Arrowverse is its rich collection of characters. Now, don’t get us wrong, not all of them were great, but there were some truly remarkable characters in there. And on that note, let’s look at some of the very best and worst that these shows had to offer.
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Cisco Ramon
Appeared in: The Flash
I challenge you to find an Arrowverse fan who doesn’t like Cisco Ramon on The Flash. Heck, he’s some people’s favorite character on The Flash. That’s how beloved he is to the shared universe of superheroes and its fanbase.
Cisco was a regular part of The Flash from its beginning right through to its eighth season (he departed midway through the seventh). The fact that his absence left such a huge hole on the show says so much about how adored he was, and Carlos Valdes’ remarkable performance is largely responsible for that.
Cisco was everybody’s best friend. A good person, devoted nerd, and loyal best friend, he was the perfect person to guide Barry Allen and Team Flash on all their adventures through Central City. Seeing him get to become his own superhero as Vibe, and the compelling storylines he was involved in as a result (including the Crisis adaptation), made for plenty of fulfilling moments for the fans who longed to see him get the spotlight.
Even when The Flash didn’t know what to do with him in his final few seasons, Valdes’ performance ensured that Cisco continued to to steal the show. He stole our hearts, too.
Verdict: BEST
Hawkgirl
Appeared in: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (and The Flash)
As someone who loves the character of Hawkgirl, I was ready to see her get adapted in the Arrowverse. I didn’t even have a problem with the head-scratching decision to make her a barista on The Flash upon her introduction, as her blossoming relationship with Cisco Ramon was a delight to watch on-screen. Unfortunately, it was when the character’s powers came to the forefront that everything went downhill – a line I really never thought I’d be writing.
The decision to promote Kendra Saunders to a series regular of the Arrowverse on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow should have bene inspired, but it only highlighted the issues with that version of the character. Not only was she portrayed as a damsel-in-distress for the vast majority of the first season’s central storyline, she also found herself involved in a mini love triangle (of sorts) as both Ray Palmer and Jefferson Jackson competed for her affections. This is the same character who has an ongoing romance with Hawkman that has lasted centuries and who is avoiding an immortal stalker who believes he is in love with her.
Ciara Renee did what she could with the role but the material was limited. Kendra never felt like she had autonomy in her own story and was simply a love interest for far too many male characters. Hawkgirl deserved better than that, so it was probably for the best that she and Hawkman flew off at the end of season 1.
Verdict: WORST
Laurel Lance / Black Canary
Appeared in: Arrow, The Flash
Arrow had a bit of a strange history with the Black Canary, but there is no denying how strong its portrayal of Dinah Laurel Lance was. As the first leading lady of the Arrowverse, she had to become a hero at a time when there weren’t any superheroes or metahumans (Arrow took a very grounded Dark Knight approach in its early years), and she did that, overcoming a lot of struggles and trauma along the way.
Laurel’s grief over the loss of her sister Sara was what ultimately pushed her to become the Black Canary, and Katie Cassidy did a sensational job of portraying that. Her strong performance indicated that Laurel was capable of much more than what the writing team was giving her, so it’s a real shame they dropped the ball when the character actually put on the mask. That, and her unforgivable death, was one of the main reasons for the show’s eventual downfall.
Nevertheless, the fact that so many people resonated with Laurel’s story is a testament to Cassidy’s performance and a reminder that the show made a huge mistake sidelining and killing the character off – which was disrespectful to the source material and the fans who loved her.
Verdict: BEST
Khione
Appeared in: The Flash
If we could describe Khione as anything, it would be a missed opportunity. Danielle Panabaker has been an always enjoyable part of The Flash whether she is playing Caitlin Snow or Killer Frost, and the same could be said for Khione. The only problem was that the show randomly decided to introduce her in the final season and then do very little with her during that time.
Khione spent the whole of the ninth season figuring herself out, only for it to end up happening off-screen. It turned out that she was a goddess of the natural earth capable of using the natural elements around her, snapping opposing forces into dust and defeating just about anything. And you know what, that was pretty cool. Unfortunately, it was just a completely pointless storyline.
The Flash‘s final season should have been about the most important characters on the show. That includes Caitlin. But the creative team instead decided to shoehorn a new character in in her place, fail to make use of her and then force the narrative that Caitlin had died when nobody on Team Flash remotely cared about their beloved friend’s potential demise. Thankfully, Caitlin did return in the end, but as the Khione storyline went nowhere, it just left us all wondering: What was even the point?
Showrunner Eric Wallace revealed that Khione was planned for a longer season. If that was truly the case, she shouldn’t have been introduced in a shortened final season. It was pointless and completely disrespectful to Caitlin.
Verdict: WORST
Ryan Wilder / Batwoman
Appeared in: Batwoman
Batwoman was in a precarious position when its lead, Ruby Rose, departed the show shortly after its first season completed its run on TV. Thankfully, that opened up the door for a new Batwoman to take over as the DC series introduced a second Scarlet Knight in Ryan Wilder, who was portrayed by Javicia Leslie.
It’s no easy feat to introduce a new character into an established show (much less a new central character), but Batwoman pulled it off well. The main reason for that was Leslie’s performance because she absolutely brought Ryan Wilder to life in just one episode. And after that very episode, it was clear there was still a future for the show.
Ryan brought some much-needed levity and heart to Batwoman. She was a ray of light on our TV screens who could make us laugh with the wittiest of one-liners, but also convincingly be the feared protector of Gotham City. She made such a strong impression in the back-and-forth second season that when the spotlight was finally on her in season 3, she shone brighter than ever. And Leslie should have been given a few more seasons to do it all again.
Verdict: BEST
Curtis Holt
Appeared in: Arrow
Curtis Holt first made his debut in Arrow‘s reviled fourth season, and unfortunately, that says a lot of what you need to know. When Felicity Smoak was shoehorned into the lead role of the show, the creative team randomly decided that they needed another nerdy IT specialist with an annoying knack for rambling and monologues. Except this time, it would be an adaptation of an iconic DC hero.
In Curtis’ defence, there were a lot of times when he was used right, and thanks to Echo Kellum’s endearing performance, he could be an enjoyable part of the show. But too often Arrow leaned into making him more of a caricature than a character, failing to give him much outside of any surface level development. When he finally became Mr. Terrific, he looked amazing, but it was ultimately another missed opportunity that it just felt like Arrow never fully made the most of.
In a show with too many characters, Curtis never really got the chance to stand out as an IT geek or a superhero. And the decision to make this character a regular in a Green Arrow show while simultaneously removing the Black Canary from the cast in the same year was absolutely baffling.
Verdict: WORST
Lena Luthor
Appeared in: Supergirl
One of the most pleasant surprises about Supergirl‘s move to The CW for its second season was the introduction of Lena Luthor. Katie McGrath instantly changed up the dynamics with her commanding performance and the show was better off for it. McGrath’s performance had such a strong aura around it, it was impossible not to pay attention to Lena whenever she was on-screen.
Over the course of Supergirl‘s remaining five seasons, Lena would walk the line between good and evil as she often attempted to do the wrong things but for the right reasons. That’s what separated her from her infamous brother Lex, and even though the darkness attempted to draw her in, her connection with Kara and her inherently good intentions ultimately prevented her from falling into that trap.
The show did do the character an injustice in season 5 by having her be responsible for some irredeemable actions, but we’re glad it figured out a way around that, because the Lena we got in season 6 – a Lena that was at peace with showcasing how light she truly was – was a breath of fresh air.
Oh, how we miss you, Lena Luthor.
Verdict: BEST
Cecile Horton
Appeared in: The Flash
Oh Cecile, it pains us to put you on this list.
The truth is that Cecile was a perfectly fine character whenever she recurred throughout the first three seasons as the DA and Joe West’s love interest. She was great whenever she developed super-powers and challenged Clifford “The Thinker” DeVoe in a way that the rest of Central City could not, and she was pretty fun when she became a part-time detective that helped out Ralph Dibny. However, the longer it went on, the more problematic it became.
Cecile’s psychic abilities saw her constantly reveal characters’ private thoughts to a room full of people, which is pretty questionable behavior. They also saw her consistently forced to the forefront of the Team Flash storylines to such an extent that the final few episodes of a show called The Flash were telling us that Cecile could be the most powerful metahuman to ever exist. You see the problem here?
Cecile is at her best when she’s supporting those around her (she has a lovely bond with Barry) but too often the show relied on her for jokes and humor without ever stopping to think how it was using her outside of that. Danielle Nicolet is a joy to watch, but The Flash overused Cecile something serious.
Verdict: WORST
Oliver Queen / Green Arrow
Appeared in: Arrow
We can’t honor the best of the Arrowverse without setting aside some time to appreciate the man responsible for its very existence. Oliver Queen’s mission to better himself and save his city saw him put on a green hood and wield a bow and arrow, becoming the Arrowverse’s very first superhero. But he didn’t start out that way.
Oliver’s initial plan was to take out those who wronged Starling City by any means necessary, but his vendetta eventually made him see that he could do more. With that, he put down his quest for vengeance and picked up the mantle of a hero, vowing to protect the innocent people who needed his help.
We will say that Oliver constantly regressed throughout Arrow‘s eight seasons, perhaps giving into brutish tendencies he had previously overcome, but if anything that makes him all the more human. The truth is that he did grow a great deal over the course of the show’s run, stepping up to save the multiverse in his last act of heroism, sacrificing himself so countless worlds (and billions of people inhabiting them) could live.
He also looked incredibly badass doing it.
Verdict: BEST
Chillblaine
Appeared in: The Flash
Of all the series regulars The Flash ever added to its line-up, Chillblaine might be the most head-scratching. The character, whose real name is Mark Blaine, originally debuted in the seventh season as something of a semi-antagonist. I say “semi” because the other half of the time, he was being set up as a love interest for Killer Frost.
The two had chemistry for sure, but their love story wasn’t exactly a compelling watch, with the show often saddling them with corny storylines. That is until the baffling choice to kill Frost off kicked off a Chillblaine redemption arc where he wanted to better himself to carry on her legacy.
Unfortunately, when he joined the show full time in season 9, he regressed, turning on Team Flash in a misguided attempt to bring Frost back. And yet the show continued to bend over backwards to convince us that he was good, before writing him off for lengthy periods of time (so that he could redeem himself off-screen instead, apparently).
Like all of season 9, Mark’s presence on the show accomplished little other than frustrating audiences. Chillblaine was perfectly fine in a recurring or guest role, but we didn’t need his constant switching sides to drag down the final season of the show. Sadly the creative team didn’t feel the same way.
Verdict: WORST
Iris West
Appeared in: The Flash
Every Flash needs a lightning rod, and for Barry Allen, that was always Iris West. It’s easy to see why Barry thought so highly of Iris: She was kind, warm, smart and driven, and that was the perfect introduction to the character for audiences all over the world.
Iris has been there for Barry from the very beginning of The Flash, but she has also carved out an incredible path of heroism for herself. Revealing the existence of the Scarlet Speedster to the world, she started a must-read blog that eventually developed into a huge media empire as Central City Citizen Media. While doing that, she battled adversity, took on all comers, defended her husband against some deadly villains, and crafted an incredible legacy. She even defeated that awful Time Sickness, being the only redeeming quality about an arc fans would rather forget.
Candice Patton’s performance as Iris West-Allen will not be forgotten. She broke glass ceilings and changed the game, constantly delivering some of The Flash‘s finest acting week in and week out. While the story should have served her better from time to time, Iris was always one of the show’s most enjoyable aspects, and history won’t forget that.
Verdict: BEST
Sara Lance / White Canary
Appeared in: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow
Sara Lance was one of the most popular additions to Arrow when she showed up in its second season as The Canary, a vigilante who assisted the Arrow in stopping Deathstroke’s war on Starling City. Her death in the show’s third season propelled Laurel to carry on her legacy, but we knew she was destined for greater heights and that made her death scene all the more shocking. And that is why it was so fulfilling to see her return from her premature death to headline spinoff series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Over the course of seven seasons, Sara evolved from hardened assassin with no time for the outlandish crew around her to a beloved, respected leader of that very team. She also found love, finally getting some form of peace with wife Ava after the hell she endured over the years with Legends developing her personality a great deal further. She grew so much and it was a joy to watch.
Caity Lotz was a believable badass in the role who also looked like she was having the time of her life in the role, and we had the time of our lives watching her do it. An awesome performance for an awesome character.
Verdict: BEST
Chester P. Runk and Allegra Garcia
Appeared in: The Flash
The Flash‘s final season just wasn’t getting any wins. Two phenomenal episodes aside, it was a bit of a miss for the legendary Arrowverse show, and a large part of that was down to the show’s incessant desire to focus on its newer characters that the audience just didn’t care for (and tell some predictable stories along the way).
No characters suffered from this more than Chester P. Runk and Allegra Garcia. Both were instantly enjoyable additions to The Flash when they first arrived but the more the show focused on them and their romance, the more it suffered (and the more fans got fed up). Their romance added nothing to the plot and yet the show continued to tease us with a will they/won’t they across three seasons. The problem is that people have to care if they will or won’t. In this case, they didn’t.
We’re happy both characters got the happy ending they deserved, but the show invested far too much time and not enough substance into building out “Challegra”. Therefore, when they went through all the predictable relationship beats in the final season, it did nothing but take away screen-time from the show’s primary characters – and that is something that fans understandably couldn’t forgive.
Chester and Allegra could have been awesome additions to Team Flash, but the material was not there.
Verdict: WORST
Barry Allen / The Flash
Appeared in: The Flash
When Barry Allen first made his debut on Arrow, it was clear that the Arrowverse had found its next superhero. Barry was already a hero before he was struck by lightning, with goals and desires that consisted of nothing but helping people, solving crime, and doing some good. So when that bolt of lightning chose him, he had the tools to put all of that into action.
The Flash is the Arrowverse’s most veteran superhero as he headlined his own TV series for nine seasons. Grant Gustin’s infectiously enjoyable performance is a large part of the show’s success, as he brought Barry to life in a way that was just so effortlessly charming.
There are layers to Barry’s character too. He wanted to be a hero to save his mom and free his dad from prison. While he wasn’t able to do one of those things, he got the closure he needed and knew that he could honor his mother’s memory by being the good person she raised him to be. He did that, and so much more, saving Central City, the universe, and the whole multiverse whenever he needed to. All of that, and his beautiful relationship with Iris West, made him one of the most beloved characters in TV history.
Verdict: BEST
Felicity Smoak
Appeared in: Arrow
Felicity Smoak is proof that you can have too much of a good thing. The perfect example of a good experiment gone wrong, Team Arrow’s quirky IT expert was once an incredibly beloved addition to Arrow, lightening the mood in its earlier gritty days and bringing a smile to people’s faces whenever they needed it. But the creative team failed to understand Felicity’s value as a supporting character, forcing her to the forefront of the show to its own detriment.
By season 4, Felicity was Arrow‘s main character and that’s when both the character and the show began to fall apart. As a main character, she lost all of her likable qualities: She made the kidnapping of Oliver’s son all about her, ruined her friends’ engagement party by making a scene about not wanting to get married, and then hijacked those same friends’ own wedding to – get this – get married.
Felicity had absolutely no business taking up as much screen time as she did, and the fans rightly made their voices heard, with the show’s reviled fourth season seeing the ratings suffer a major decline, and it is now widely regarded as the very worst of the Arrowverse.
Verdict: WORST
Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Appeared in: Supergirl
Melissa Benoist’s performance as the Girl of Steel on Supergirl is one that we will still be talking about decades from now. The show was the first real female-led superhero series on television in years, and Benoist was nothing short of divine in the iconic role. She also had a lot to work with, because Kara Danvers was easily one of television’s all-time greatest characters.
The older cousin of Superman, Kara first felt quite intimidated by the large shadow of the Man of Steel’s legacy she was living in, but she quickly overcame that as National City’s new hero, proving that the sky really was the limit. She was also incredibly nuanced, as she struggled with the balance of living two different lives as Kara and as Supergirl, making her a much more well-rounded hero than many of her counterparts.
The thing that makes Supergirl the very best that the Arrowverse has to offer is that she is inherently hopeful. There is a light inside of Kara that radiates every time she helps or inspires those around her, and that makes her the true personification of a superhero.
Verdict: BEST
Which of the Arrowverse characters are your favorites? Who did you love and who did you like the least?