All 32 DC TV shows ranked from worst to best

5. Smallville (2001 - 2011)

If Batman was largely responsible for the initial wave of DC TV, Smallville was responsible for its rebirth. The Superman prequel series premiered on The WB in 2001 and ended up enjoying a decade-long run that influenced the future of superheroes on TV and largely welcomed it in to the 21st century.

The show found success at a time when there weren't any other superhero shows on TV, and it did so by masquerading as a teen drama. Being that it was telling the story of Clark Kent's high school years and his love for Lana Lang, it appealed a great deal to teens in an era when more and more young people were watching television. The fact that the show was about a young superhero was even better, making Smallville a must-watch for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other sci-fi teen hits.

It evolved so much throughout its ten seasons, becoming more triumphant and heroic along the way. By the end of its run, Clark was Superman in all but name only, and it was up to the series finale to help him achieve that final goal. It was a fulfilling moment in a series that DC TV owes a huge debt of gratitude to, and a reminder that Smallville is one of the greatest Superman stories ever told. And Tom Welling is one of the greatest actors to ever play the Man of Steel.