All 13 DC CW shows ranked from worst to best

7. Arrow

Arrow. The show that started it all for the Arrowverse. DC fans hold this show in high regard for how pivotal it was at a time when there were no mainstream superhero outings on TV, and it’s easy to see why. If Smallville kept the superhero genre alive, Arrow took it to the next level, putting back on the tights, hoods, and masks, allowing it to embrace what it was once again.

The show centered on Oliver Queen, the playboy billionaire who was shipwrecked on an uncharted island for five years, who returns home to Starling City to right the wrongs that his father and many others committed. He becomes the vigilante known as the Hood (and later the Arrow and Green Arrow), slaying those that seek to do harm,

Arrow was all about Oliver’s growth as a character, as he eventually evolved out of being judge, jury, and executioner, becoming a hero in the process. And it was a compelling watch when it stuck by that narrative. Unfortunately, it meandered a lot after its first two seasons, focusing on the wrong characters, making questionable decisions, and losing its way far too often.

Arrow starts and ends on some of the highest highs superhero TV has ever seen, but a lot of what comes in-between held it back from achieving that greatness more regularly. Nevertheless, it was a mostly compelling thrill-ride that we’ll always be thankful to for kickstarting the Arrowverse. And those first two seasons were divine.