Superman & Lois ended recently, bringing a shining chapter of superhero television on The CW to a resounding close, and standing counter to a number of complaints I"ve heard over the years about them and their DC Universe. While Superman & Lois closed after the cancelation of the Arrowverse, the series shared much of its DNA with the popular television universe. Tyler Hoechlin"s Superman first appeared in Supergirl before returning for various appearances in some of the show"s enormous team-up events.
Doing superheroes on the small screen is a complex beast, and some of the best DC live-action series have not received as much acclaim as they deserve. While HBO has built a name for itself, and excellent shows like The Penguin are seen as prestigious for their links to the cinematic The Batman universe, other series have been viewed less favorably. The CW specifically has created so many incredible superhero television shows, crafting an incredible superhero history that is focused entirely on the small screen that does not get the credit I believe it deserves.
Superman & Lois Set A High Standard As The CW Ended The Show Was One Of The Channel's Best Programs Yet Close Superman & Lois ended a superhero era as one of the best and most acclaimed superhero TV series in recent memory. The show has been critically acclaimed and warmly received by audiences, especially throughout its final season. Using complex ideas about the hero"s lore, the series brought a wide range of iconic DC characters to life in new and innovative ways. More importantly, it tied these pieces into a complex and beautiful story of family, love, and community, making a unique and eyecatching series that wasn"t afraid to wade into unprecedented territory even as it honored Superman"s legacy.
More than this, I don"t believe that it is possible to craft an iteration of Superman with this kind of depth without the time and space that a long-running television series allows. The show had incredible Superman moments in all four seasons, exploring interesting and complex characters from Superman"s comic history while putting different twists on certain parts of the DC lore. The visuals and story for the final season especially ended the show on a high note, serving as a counter to one notable criticism of the overarching Arrowverse.
Saying Superhero Releases "Look Like The CW" Isn't The Insult You Think It Is From Arrow To Superman & Lois, The CW Has Done Wonderful Work Close Through the years, I"ve heard many say that something "looks like the CW" pejoratively. I’ve heard this complaint used to describe the costumes in Madame Web, as well as other projects outside of the superhero realm, such as Wheel of Time. Many use this as a catchall term that refers to any mixture of oversaturated lighting, cheap costumes, weak writing, and shallow characters. While this could arguably apply to some moments in the programs that the channel crafted, it is an unfair assessment of their incredible superhero fare.
While Arrow started the Arrowverse with a smaller budget, the series used that money smartly and kept the beginning of their universe more grounded. From finding success there, the creatives moved into expanding the universe, which came with additional funds, allowing some of the best subsequent Arrowverse series like The Flash to employ more visual and stylistic flair. From the expansion of that series, all the way to Superman & Lois, the channel has done an excellent job building fleshed-out superhero stories that feel authentic and that use their time and budget effectively.
The CW's Arrowverse Releases Deserve Way More Credit The Legacy Of The Arrowverse Should Be Extremely Positive Close If this derogative understanding of The CW were to hold true, it would be expected that the final season of Superman & Lois would suffer, especially as the budget was reportedly slashed. Instead, the final episodes of the show were crafted with deep care, putting together rich characters, incredible visuals, and strong writing to craft a compelling end to the show. This success is actually a better reflection of what The CW is, especially after crafting hundreds and hundreds of episodes of thoughtful, effective television in the larger Arrowverse.
Of course, there are some missteps inside of that incredible sequence of shows. Even the best of these series had some episodes that did not live up to their potential. However, to understand these failures as the legacy of the Arrowverse and The CW is misguided. The channel and the universe did so much to expand superhero storytelling on television in a multitude of ways. Most of this was done well, and The CW deserves a great deal more credit for these successes.

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