JuicyTalk
While DC movies are praised as the best live-action adaptations, ten episodes in the Arrowverse actually beat out the theatrical feature films. The Arrowverse is one of the best successes DC has ever had at reaching a mainstream audience, but it’s also one of the most divisive onscreen adaptations. While I’m an ardent Arrowverse defender, there’s no denying it had inconsistent quality. One of the harsh realities of rewatching the Arrowverse is that budget cuts meant smaller casts, the end of crossovers, and spotty CGI in later seasons. Plus, some of the writing was cheesy and nonsensical. However, the Arrowverse also had plenty of strong arcs.
However, the Arrowverse, at its best, rivaled and even beat the live-action DC movies. The shows completely nailed most of the casting. Grant Gustin and Matt Ryan have become virtually synonymous with Barry Allen and John Constantine, respectively, to the point that fans have suggested they appear in James Gunn’s DCU. Peak Arrowverse featured fight sequences on a Blockbuster level. Plus, the shows took bold narrative risks that paid off. These ten episodes of the Arrowverse franchise feature high-stakes storylines and fantastic technical elements that truly shine.
10
“Lian Yu”
Arrow Season 5, Episode 23
“Lian Yu,” a truly cinematic episode of Arrow, follows Oliver Queen as he races to free his captive friends and save his son. The rewatchable Arrow episode ventures into territory live-action DC movies haven’t yet explored—the hero and villains working together. Oliver teams up with Slade Wilson and Malcolm Merlyn. The team-up creates exciting character dynamics. Because “Lian Yu” exists within a TV show, it doesn’t waste time on an introduction or tease a sequel, making it more focused.
Oliver’s forced to choose between his son and everyone else he cares about, creating life-or-death stakes. Even when it seems like he can save everyone, Prometheus proves he’s still two steps ahead of the vigilante. The Arrowverse episode also features cinematic-level hand-to-hand combat with peak choreography by costumed characters. Add to that the episode’s shocking final moments, and “Lian Yu” is truly epic.
9
“Fast Enough”
The Flash Season 1, Episode 23
The live-action Flash movie was an absolute mess, driving the final nail into the DCEU’s coffin. Luckily, folks who want to enjoy a compelling, movie-like story following the Scarlett Speedster can turn to The Flash season 1’s high-stakes finale. Visually, the episode knocks it out of the ballpark. Every action sequence in “Fast Enough” is adrenaline-fueled and engaging. We get a good villain monologue that sets expectations and builds tension.
However, the key difference that makes “Fast Enough” better than most live-action DC movies is its emotional resonance. Barry Allen faces the impossible choice of rewriting his past and letting Eobard Thawne go, or letting his mother die and stopping the man in yellow. The emotional stakes are high, and any choice Barry makes will be devastating. A heartbreaking sacrifice reinforces the idea that ordinary people can be heroes.
8
“Aruba”
Legends of Tomorrow Season 2, Episode 17
DC’s live-action movies haven’t featured the Legion of Doom, and the “Aruba” episode of Legends of Tomorrow more than makes up for their absence. The story shows the sheer power of Damian Darhk, Malcolm Merlyn, and Eobard Thawne, who can hold their own against eight Legends. It takes the team breaking the rules of time travel and traveling back to fix their own mistakes for them to stand a chance.
The time-travel storyline, which is more exciting than any live-action timeline-meddling moments in DC movies, leads to intense fight sequences, including the team facing multiple copies of the Reverse-Flash. Rather than leaning too serious or too silly, “Aruba” perfectly balances the tones. On top of that, the story has a few really strong emotional beats. Sara and Amaya both face impossible choices, and their actions prove why they are truly heroes.
7
“Unthinkable”
Arrow Season 2, Episode 23
In the Arrow season 2 finale, Oliver Queen’s decision not to kill is put to the test when Slade Wilson goes after one of Oliver’s loved ones. “Unthinkable” tells a propulsive and high-octane story with extremely high stakes. Deathstroke is an iconic DC character, and Manu Bennett brought him to life perfectly, portraying the villain as extremely unpredictable and menacing.
Although the episode moves at a breakneck speed, it never feels rushed. The climax of “Unthinkable” perfectly cuts together Oliver and Slade’s fight in Star City and their fight in the past. Both fight sequences have excellent choreography, and the editing seamlessly blends them together. In the end, “Unthinkable” subverts expectations by keeping Slade Wilson alive but imprisoned on Lian Yu. It’s poetic justice for him to be stuck on that island, and it leaves him alive, which sets up Oliver and Slade’s reunion in “Lian Yu.”
6
“Reign”
Supergirl Season 3, Episode 9
The Supergirl season 3 mid-season finale, “Reign,” is more impactful than most DC theatrical films because it provides deeper emotional stakes for both the hero and the villain, plus a truly epic ending. Kara and the audience have an emotional connection to Samantha Arias. She’s a loving mother and great friend, so her inevitable turn into the titular Kryptonian Worldkiller feels like a gut punch.
The episode of the Arrowverse show also took a risk by ending with a visceral fight sequence that nearly killed Kara, and it paid off. The action sequence is gorgeous from a cinematography and visual standpoint, and the slow-motion shot of Supergirl falling into the city hits the right emotional beat. The ending makes the superhero feel utterly human, with the citizens of National City wondering, for the first time, if Supergirl can really save them.
5
“Enter Flashtime”
The Flash Season 4, Episode 15
The Flash‘s season 4 episode “Enter Flashtime” trades the punch-fest that appears in virtually every live-action DC movie for an actual ticking time bomb. With adrenaline and a true crisis on his hands, Barry pushes his powers to the limit as he tries to prevent a nuclear explosion that’s in the process of detonating. The entire episode occurs in mere seconds, and the longer Barry is in Flashtime, the more physically exhausted and mentally unraveled he becomes.
The stakes are incredibly high. If he slows down even a little bit or can’t come up with a solution, the entire city will be destroyed. He tries to get help from the speedsters Jay Garrick and Jesse Quick, but they can’t last nearly as long in Flashtime. Grant Gustin gives a career-best performance as Barry Allen in “Enter Flashtime,” and John Wesley Shipp and Violett Beane also deliver emotionally impactful performances. Ultimately, “Enter Flashtime” is a masterclass in suspense that no DC movie has matched.
4
“Out Of Time”
The Flash Season 1, Episode 16
“Out of Time” is the number one must-watch episode of The Flash, as it combines high-stakes action with emotional storytelling. From the minute the episode starts, the audience gets sucked into the story with a flashback of Mark and Clyde Mardon being turned into the Weather Wizard. Every scene of the episode pushes the story forward, with a fast pace that never feels rushed or uneven.
The first moment with Cisco and Eobard Thawne, who is posing as Dr. Wells, displays their close relationship. This makes Cisco’s questioning of Wells more devastating. Their arc ends with possibly the most emotional scene in The Flash. Eobard Thawne killing Cisco really hits hard because of the incredible acting from Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh. Everything builds up to a high-stakes ending, featuring a tsunami that could destroy Central City and the final introduction of time travel in the Arrowverse.
3
“Crisis On Infinite Earths: Part 4”
Arrow Season 8, Episode 8
Crisis on Infinite Earths is best watched all together. However, I only gave myself permission to break the rules once for a full multi-show crossover, and that has to go to a different event. When separated, Hour 4 is the best and most valuable part of the Arrowverse crossover. The entire point of this DC crisis is to collapse the multiverse into a singular world, and this comes to a head in Hour 4.
The episode provides much-needed context for the Anti-Monitor’s creation. Oliver Queen takes on the role of Spectre and dies permanently, which is the Arrowverse’s equivalent of Iron Man’s death in Endgame. The moment in Crisis packs an emotional punch after eight years of loving the character. Additionally, the episode features a major showdown between the Paragons and the Anti-Monitor, which may not have the best CGI, but the score still makes it feel epic.
2
“It Went By So Fast”
Superman & Lois Season 4, Episode 10
Superman & Lois’s series finale “It Went By So Fast” is one of the best onscreen pieces of superhero media in existence. Actors David Corenswet of the DCU movie and Tyler Hoechlin of Superman & Lois tap into the same emotional vulnerability and compassion for others, showing a gentle masculinity that is very needed. The writing in It Went By So Fast really leans into this very human side of the alien hero.
While Superman & Lois was planned as a Supergirl spinoff set on Earth Prime, it ended up existing on Earth-TUD25, where Superman is the only hero.
The episode pits the Man of Steel against Lex Luthor and Doomsday in a truly gripping final battle. The Kryptonian managed to defeat both villains and save the world. However, it comes at a high cost—Superman’s life. This leads to an epilogue that reflects on grief and aging, jumping through the years and culminating in a beautiful, tear-jerking reunion between Clark and Lois. “It Went By So Fast” is truly the best that the Arrowverse has to offer, and it’s a shame that more people haven’t seen it.
1
“Crisis On Earth-X”
Arrowverse Crossover Event
If I am going to include an entire crossover event on this list, it has to be Crisis on Earth-X. The crossover starts with Barry and Iris’ wedding getting interrupted by Nazi superheroes from Earth-X, a world where the Nazis won and took over the entire globe. By the end, all the teams, including the Legends, face off against the Nazis in Central City.
Crisis On Earth-X Episodes In Viewing Order | ||
|---|---|---|
Show | Season | Episode |
Supergirl | 3 | 8 |
Arrow | 6 | 8 |
The Flash | 4 | 8 |
Legends of Tomorrow | 3 | 8 |
As much as I love Crisis on Infinite Earths, the earlier Arrowverse crossover is more cohesive and team-oriented, feeling like a 4-hour movie with a bigger, unified cast. They didn’t need to spend too much time establishing why the villains are bad. They are Nazis. However, they still give Dark Arrow, Overgirl, and Reverse Flash actual motivations. The Arrowverse‘s TV budget doesn’t feel like a limitation, as the fight scenes and CGI are well-done. On top of that, Professor Stein’s sacrifice packed an emotional punch.
- Created by
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Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg, Phil Klemmer, Geoff Johns
- Latest TV Show
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Batwoman
- First Episode Air Date
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October 10, 2012
