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10 worst mistakes the Arrowverse ever made, ranked

The Arrowverse entertained us for a decade but it didn't always get things right. What were some of its biggest missteps?

By Michael Patterson

Supergirl -- "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One" -- Image Number: SPG509c_0115r.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Grant Gustin as The Flash, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom -- Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW -- © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Supergirl -- "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One" -- Image Number: SPG509c_0115r.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Grant Gustin as The Flash, Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/Superman, Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom -- Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW -- © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. /
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Legends of Tomorrow, Arrowverse
Legends of Tomorrow -- "Too Legit to Quit" -- Image Number: LGN712a_0648r.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Caity Lotz as Sara Lance, Tala Ashe as Zari Tarazi, Shayan Sobhian as Behrad Tarazi, Olivia Swann as Astra Logue and Lisseth Chavez as Esperanza "Spooner" Cruz -- Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW -- (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved. /

2. The cancellations of Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow

Okay, so technically the Arrowverse didn't make this mistake so much as suffer from it, but it's also too big to overlook as it really marked the beginning of the end for the shared universe that we loved.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman were two of the most beloved shows in the Arrowverse. Sure, they weren't focused on mainstream heroes like The Flash or Supergirl, but they did deliver some of the best storylines to take place within the shared universe. Batwoman, for example, had delivered an incredible 13-episode arc in its third season and deserved the chance to continue telling stories like that, especially as new lead Javicia Leslie was amazing in the title role.

Meanwhile, Legends was the most consistent show in the Arrowverse, finding its footing as a fun but dramatic time-travel adventure that gave all of its ensemble characters a chance to shine. It was the perfect palette cleanser from the serious (and often melodramatic) storylines of its counterparts and its seventh season was one of its best. It also saw a major increase in viewership, further highlighting how Legends was one of the few shows on network TV to maintain a consistent fanbase.

Cancelling both of these shows took out the foundations of the Arrowverse. While The Flash was leading the charge, its final few seasons were not well-received, so there was always intrigue to see what crazy things Legends would do next, or how Batwoman would continue to reinvent itself. The moment that both shows were cancelled, it was the beginning of the end for the Arrowverse, and it also increased the pressure on The Flash to deliver a worthy conclusion to the shared universe - something it ultimately couldn't do.

Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman both deserved far better than this.

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