When Arrow premiered in 2012, it didn’t take long for Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen to find a partner to aid him in his war against crime and corruption in then-Starling City. David Ramsey’s John Diggle (who did not end up becoming a Green Lantern) learned Oliver was The Hood at the end of the third episode, then agreed to work with him in the following one, thus marking, to quote Casablanca, “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Amell and Ramsey also didn’t have trouble having fun in those early Arrow days eiteher, which started when the latter told a specific raunchy joke to the former to make him break.

David Ramsey told the story while appearing on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, where he also got into a friendly argument with the title host about whether Arrow or Smallville was DC’s true flagship TV show. As for the raunchy joke, Ramsey it set up with the following after being asked by a fan about one of his favorite moments working in Arrow:

John Diggle was introduced in Arrow as Oliver Queen’s driver/bodyguard. Moira Queen, Oliver’s mother, hired him to look after her son once he returned to Starling City after being thought dead for five years. Diggle’s presence was initially problematic for Oliver, as he kept having to ditch the man in order to carry out his Hood activities. Meanwhile in real life, David Ramsey used this Arrow scene as a way to mess with Stephen Amell, with the actor continuing:

I guess it didn’t take long for Ramsey to strike up a good rapport with Amell on the Arrow set if he felt comfortable making a joke like that so early on. I can understand why he had trouble keeping a straight face, and it was a nice indicator of things to come. Ramsey was the only other actor besides Amell who was a series regular for the entirety of Arrow’s eight-season run. Along with his time on the Green Arrow-focused series, Ramsey also played Diggle in various episodes of The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Superman & Lois, though in the latter show, it ended up being an alternate version of the character.

David Ramsey last played John Diggle in The Flash Season 9 episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To,” which also saw Stephen Amell reprising Oliver Queen for the first time since Arrow ended in early 2020. While the Arrowverse is no more, both actors have appearances lined up on the 2026 TV schedule. Ramsey will soon appear in an episode of Tracker on CBS, and this fall on Fox, Amell will star in the Baywatch reboot.

While there are some superhero-based titles on the 2026 TV schedule, there was a time, not that long ago, when The CW was literally chockablock with action-packed dramas about DC comics characters. Widely known as the Arrow-verse, the programming reached its peak with six shows on the network, and was so-named for the one that started it all: Arrow. But, wait…did that Green Arrow-focused show actually start the spate of DC titles on the network? Series star David Ramsey recently had a friendly argument with Smallville’s Michael Rosenbaum about which show truly led the charge.

What Prompted Arrow’s David Ramsey And Smallville’s Michael Rosenbaum To Have A Friendly Argument

Superheroes have been a big part of pop culture for decades, but TV shows that followed them had lots of trouble getting (and staying) off the ground until relatively recently. While the Stephen Amell-starring Arrow can certainly be credited with helping to change that for fans, a little 10-season series called Smallville (which focused on Clark Kent’s teen and young adult years) was, technically, first out of the gate.

David Ramsey portrayed John Diggle (Oliver Queen’s confidant and eventual non-Green Lantern partner in vigilante justice) throughout all of Arrow’s eight seasons, and with appearances on other franchise shows like The Flash. During a recent chat with Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Ramsey revealed that he had a conversation with Smallville’s Justin Hartley not long ago, which led to the Tracker star bringing up his earlier stint as Oliver Queen. Leading Rosenbaum to add:

While Hartley didn’t seem to push the issue of Smallville being the show that really served to kickstart the whole DC series universe, Ramsey’s story did prompt Rosenbaum to push a little harder on that note. Man, stirring the pot and trying to sound innocent is such a Lex thing to do, isn’t it? And, Ramsey couldn't really argue his point too much, as he responded:

I love the fact that Hartley enjoyed his time as Oliver/Green Arrow so much that he felt the need to bring it up to Ramsey when they met not long ago. As the actor told Rosenbaum (who, of course, starred on Smallville as Lex Luthor for Seasons 1 through 7, then returned for the series finale) he met the This Is Us star while doing a guest appearance on Tracker, but Hartley’s first long-running primetime role was as Green Arrow on Smallville from 2006 through 2011, which was just about a year before Arrow began.

Listen, folks who are in the know fully realize that Smallville is legendary and was the first to really do some of the DC-based stories right on television, but Ramsey is still correct that Arrow has a special place in the comic book hero sun for directly leading to such a beloved TV franchise.

Reboots and revivals are still cropping up consistently as part of this entertainment landscape, and another one is on the way. Baywatch is getting the reboot treatment again but, following the 2017 movie adaptation, the franchise is returning to its TV roots. At present, the series is getting off the ground, and casting has started. Now, it's been confirmed that Arrow star Stephen Amell is set to lead the show, and I really don’t mind him trading in the Green Arrow suit for a red swimsuit.

It was recently confirmed that Amell will play Captain Hobie in the Baywatch revamp. This marks his first series since Suits LA, which was canceled after only one season by NBC in 2025. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm excited about the prospect of Amell returning for another show. And, while I loved watching him in that Green Arrow suit for eight years on Arrow, he could definitely look good in red, assuming that the reboot sticks with the franchise's iconic red lifeguard swimsuits. Per Variety, the character description for Hobie Buchannon reads as follows:

For those who are familiar with the original Baywatch, David Hasselhoff portrayed Mitchell “Mitch” Buchannon during the first nine seasons. The head lifeguard-turned-lieutenant-turned-captain had a son, Hobie Buchanon, played by Brandon Call in the first season of Baywatch and then by Jeremy Jackson beginning in Season 2 until Season 9. So I'm curious to see how Hobie will continue his dad’s legacy in this new series. Of course, I'm also interesting in seeing what Amell brings to the role.

Speaking of legacy, there is one piece of Baywatch that certainly needs to be included, and I'm referring to the red swimsuits. It’s hard to imagine watching the series and seeing the characters running on the beach wearing swim gear that isn't red. Even Carmen Electra recently donned the famous red swimsuit after expressing interest in appearing in the new series.

It’s hard to recreate the essence of an IP like Baywatch, and the poorly reviewed 2017 film lends credibility to that notion. So it wouldn’t be surprising if the creative team were to try adding some fresh elements. Despite all that, though, you have to have the presence of red swimsuits is essential in my eyes, and I could certainly picture Amell rocking one.

I’m still curious to see how the Baywatch reboot progresses but, with Stephen Amell on board, I can definitely say the show now has a tried-and-true lead actor. He’s no stranger to taking on projects that are already-established and loved by fans, whether it’s an adaptation, reboot, etc. So this show is right up Amell's alley, and I couldn’t be more excited about it (as long as he’s wearing that red swimsuit, that is).

Hopefully, more updates regarding Baywatch casting will arrive sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out the OG series and the 2017 movie, which can be streamed with a Prime Video subscription.

When Arrow wrapped up its eight-season run at the beginning of 2020, one of the final things fans saw was David Ramsey’s John Diggle opening up a mysterious box containing something glowing green that crashed on Earth right before his eyes. This plot point was later revisited on shows like Supergirl, Batwoman and The Flash, and fans waited with bated breath to see if this would culminate Diggle becoming Green Lantern, which had been theorized for a long time. However, by The Flash Season 8 episode “The Man in the Yellow Tie,” this story ended with Diggle walking away without an emerald ring. Ramsey has now shared why he thinks it was the “right decision” his character never became a member of the Green Lantern Corps, and I agree with him.

The actor discussed this topic while participating alongside Arrow co-star Stephen Amell in the Arrowverse Heroes panel at Motor City Comic Con, which was moderated by ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier and also saw Amell sharing why he’s open to playing Green Arrow again. Regarding the green box, Ramsey mentioned how “politics” surrounding the Green Lantern property destroyed his and producer Marc Guggenheim’s attempts to Diggle one of these ring-slingers “for six seasons.” But in the end, he’s happy with how this turned out, saying:

The Arrowverse certainly did its job of teasing John Diggle becoming a Green Lantern. As David Ramsey mentioned at the panel, there was that moment in the "Elseworlds" crossover when John Wesley Shipp’s Flash from Earth-90 observed that this universe’s Diggle wasn’t wearing a ring. Let’s also not forget that Ernie Hudson played Diggle’s step-father, Colonel Roy Stewart, which technically means Diggle could have been known as John Stewart, who’s one of the most popular Green Lantern characters in the comics.

By the time of “The Man in the Yellow Tie,” John Diggle learned from Eobard Thawne, a.k.a. Reverse-Flash, that it wasn’t a Green Lantern ring, but some kind of great cosmic power. Thawne said he could reopen the box, but accepting this power would require Diggle to leave his family behind. The man who fought crime as Spartan refused this offer, causing the box to disappear. I thought this made the best sense to go this route with the character since it would’ve been bizarre for him to abandon his wife and children, and David Ramsey also approved of this choice, saying:

As for David Ramsey saying the Green Lantern property is “in the hands it should be in now,” he’s referring to how the Green Lantern mythos has been incorporated into the DC Universe franchise. We met Guy Gardner in Superman earlier this year, and Lanterns will premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, with Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart as its leads. While the main Arrowverse continuity never pulled the trigger on anything Green Lantern-related, Stargirl, which took place on Earth-2 post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths,” did feature Jennie-Lynn Haden inheriting the ring belonging to her late father, Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern.

You can revisit David Ramsey’s time as John Diggle by streaming Arrow with your Netflix subscription, but take advantage of that while you can, because the show will leave the platform on December 18. Lanterns is now expected to premiere on HBO sometime in mid-2026, with episodes being available to stream afterwards with an HBO Max subscription.

It’s been just over two years since The Flash completed its nine-season run, marking the end of the Arrow-verse (since Superman & Lois wasn’t necessarily part of that universe on The CW). The crossovers were no more, but if you were to ask some of the cast members, that might have been a good thing. For the fans, it was fun seeing characters from all these shows come together, but now Danielle Panabaker is opening up about the challenges that came with filming crossovers, and they're not all great.

First off, let's talk about the pay...

How Much Were Crossover Actors Offered Pay-Wise?

Crossovers were an integral part of the Arrowverse and were an annual thing once The Flash joined the fun. On paper, it's great for the fans; it's great for the casts to get to mingle. According to Danielle Panabaker, it also led to low morale for her and some of the other young actors on the show.

That first year was a bit of a learning curve for everyone, and not just because of what was involved to bring the crossover to life. Panabaker, who portrayed Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost on The Flash, was asked by Michael Rosenbaum on his Inside of You podcast if actors are paid more if they crossed over. She admitted she was only paid $10K, much less than what she made for a regular episode at the time.

The actress also explained that when The Flash had just come out, they didn’t “bake crossovers,” meaning they didn’t put the crossovers into their contracts. Once Supergirl and Legends came around, crossovers were in the contracts. Even then, she alleges it was stated that if they did the crossover, they were only going to be paid a fraction of whatever they were being paid for a regular episode.

Given some of the crossovers had myriad big names attached, I don't find this to be a huge surprise, nor is it a shock that not everyone was happy about the amount they was being paid. She admitted there were times when people had refused to do the crossovers because of the low salary, and they were written out.

Even working twice as hard, the salary wasn’t great, as Panabaker pointed out:

Unfortunately, the low pay was not the only problem for the crossovers.

More Issues With The Crossovers Plagued The Cast

The Sky High actress also opened up about having to be a “team player.” This meant doing her best, making sure that she was punctual and prepared, and that she knew her lines. Looking back at it, Panabaker doesn’t know if being so keen served her, especially since people who weren’t behaving the same way she was were receiving better treatment, in her estimation.

Danielle Panabaker did reveal things had changed as the years went on, but that it was mostly for Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin, and Melissa Benoist, who were the top billed Arrowverse cast. Unfortunately, there was still little improvement for the rest of the cast. At the very least, she was able to direct some episodes and branch out, even if she didn't love directing herself.

It’s a disappointment knowing how things were behind the scenes when the crossovers were arguably one of the best parts about the Arrowverse, but at least almost everyone was in the same boat. Fans can see the sweat and tears that went into the crossovers with an HBO Max subscription and a Netflix subscription.

Although Green Arrow is traditionally paired with Black Canary romantically in the comics and other media, in the TV series Arrow, Emily Bett Richards’ Felicity Smoak filled that position. Initially introduced in Season 1 character loosely based on a minor Firestorm character. Felicity soon became one of Arrow’s most popular protagonists and the love of Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen’s life. It’s been five years since Arrow concluded and Rickards last played Felicity, and she gave a great reason for why she’s down to reprise her breakout role someday.

The actress is currently doing the press rounds for the 2025 movie release of Queen of the Ring, where she plays professional wrestler Mildred Burke. One of Rickards’ stops has been Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, and during her conversation with the title host, she started off by expressing her willingness to revisit Felicity as follows:

Emily Bett Rickards said this when Michael Rosenbaum asked she would agree to reprise Felicity Smoak if Arrow was revived as either a movie or a six-episode limited series. Following her recurring stint in Season 1, Rickards was upgraded to series regular in Season 2, stayed in that position into Season 7, then was absent from Season 8 until the series finale. While segments of the Arrow fanbase were polarized towards Felicity (though that can be said about other characters on the show), the actress would nonetheless be game for the opportunity to portray her in a slightly more positive light. As she explained:

In the final minutes of Arrow’s series finale, Felicity Smoak walked through a portal to the afterlife created by Mar Novu in 2040 to reunite with Oliver Queen in the afterlife, just like she’d done in the alternate future shown in the pre-Crisis multiverse. Even assuming this is truly the end of the character’s story and not just another alternate future, there’s plenty of time that can be explored between then and where we left off with her in the series finale. If they can find a way for Stephen Amell to return as Oliver, Felicity will be a piece of cake.

As for how she feels about Arrow overall these days, Emily Bett Rickards told Michael Rosenbaum that she still looks back on the show itself and Felicity Smoak fondly, though that’s not to say she didn’t have some criticism to share:

Rosenbaum followed up by asking if Rickards ever spoke her mind and shared with the Arrow writers about what she thought should happen to Felicity, to which she answered:

After Arrow ended, Stephen Amell reprised Oliver for an episode of The Flash’s final season, and David Ramsey reprised John Diggle in that series too, as well as made guest appearances in Supergirl, Batwoman and Superman & Lois. The Flash brought the Arrowverse’s main continuity to an end in 2023, Superman & Lois concluded the franchise as a whole last year, and now the majority of live-action upcoming DC TV shows are set either in the DC Universe or the shared universe spawned by The Batman. But maybe there will come a day when DC is interested in revisiting Arrow, and if/when that happens,

Until then, you’re welcome to stream Arrow and many of the other Arrowverse shows with your Netflix subscription. Otherwise, get your fill of DC film and TV content by paying for a Max subscription.

Although Katie Cassidy appeared in every season of Arrow as some variation of Laurel Lance, her time on the show hit a major speed bump in Season 4. That was when Earth-1 Laurel, i.e. the character Cassidy had been playing since the DC TV show began, was killed by Damien Darhk. Last year, Arrow co-creator Marc Guggenheim shared his regret over killing off Laurel, and now Cassidy has reflected on how she learned this unfortunate news, as well as being informed that she’d be coming back as Black Siren, a.k.a. the Earth-2 Laurel.

How Katie Cassidy Learned Laurel Lance Was Being Killed Off

Katie Cassidy opened up about this period of her professional life while on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, telling the title host that she “had to eat humble pie” when they killed her off Arrow. As Cassidy recalled, it all started when she and the rest of the main cast received an email saying that showrunners Guggenheim and Wendy Mericle wanted to meet with everyone for lunch individually to do “a little catch up” on what would be happening for the next few seasons. This didn’t sit well with the actress, as she explained:

This call happened while Katie Cassidy was in New York to attend New York Comic-Con with the rest of Arrow’s cast. It had been set up in the Arrow Season 4 premiere that one of the show’s main characters was in a grave, and Guggenheim broke the news to Cassidy that it was Laurel on this call, which also included fellow co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg. The actress was “angry at first,” and then had this to say regarding why she thinks she was selected:

While that marked the end of Earth-1’s Laurel Lance journey in the Arrowverse (minus flashbacks, dream sequences and visions), it fortunately wasn’t the end for Katie Cassidy on Arrow. We have The Flash to thank for her return in Season 5 and sticking around for the rest of the show’s run.

How Katie Cassidy Learned She’d Come Back As Black Siren

The Flash introduced the Arrowverse’s multiverse, and in the Season 2 episode “Invincible,” viewers met Black Siren, who was allied with Zoom at the time and had the metahuman ability to sonic scream, as opposed to using a device like Earth-1 Laurel did. Here’s how Katie Cassidy recalled being invited over to the Scarlet Speedster’s show:

Evidently that one-off appearance on The Flash was the right call, because “Invincible” hit enough with fans that Marc Guggenheim decided that it was worth bringing Cassidy back to Arrow to keep playing the Earth-2 Laurel. In the actress’ words:

Katie Cassidy recurred as Black Siren for four episodes in Arrow Season 5, and then she was restored to her series regular status in Season 6. While the character started off as a more straightforward villain, she slowly redeemed herself and became an ally to Team Arrow. Cassidy was also going to star in the Green Arrow and the Canaries spinoff that Arrow’s penultimate episode set up, with Katherine McNamara and Juliana Harkavy also on board to reprise Mia Smoak and Dinah Drake, respectively. However, by early 2021, The CW passed on the spinoff.

Fortunately, you can still revisit Katie Cassidy’s years on Arrow by streaming the series with a Netflix subscription. Next up, the actress is leading the psychological thriller Nanny-Cam, which is filming in New Jersey.

Stephen Amell will soon be back on our small screens, as he’s starring as Ted Black in Suits L.A., the Suits spinoff that’s a little more than a week away from its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. However, it’s still safe to say that most people know Amell best from his time playing Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, in Arrow and various other Arrowverse series. Arrow brought Amell to prominence, and while he’s grateful for the DC TV shows, he also explained why working on those first few seasons were challenging for him.

In an interview with Variety, Stephen Amell said he felt like he’d been “shot out of a cannon” at the time he was cast as Oliver Queen and began working on Arrow. But looking back, he didn’t enjoy working on the TV show 10 months out of the year, and he described the stress he experienced on the first several years on this integral CW series thusly:

The TV landscape was a lot different when Arrow started airing on The CW. The show’s first six seasons consisted of 23 episodes yet, and Season 7 was just one shorter, while the final season only had 10 episodes. This is the way things work in broadcast TV usually, but these days, the majority of superhero TV shows are either going direct to streaming or airing on one of the cable channels, so there aren’t nearly as many episodes being ordered per season. Basically, if Arrow were to go into production now, chances are it’d only have 8-10 episodes a season and either air on HBO first or go straight to the people who have a Max subscription.

Acting for a 23-episode TV season year after year would be challenging for any actor, but Arrow was also action-heavy, requiring Stephen Amell to perform in these intensive sequences while wearing that tight costume and shooting arrows. I don’t blame him for feeling overwhelmed so early into making Season 1, and while I wouldn’t condone being disrespectful to anyone on set, I probably would also have a short fuse at times. With those long hours and all that was being physically and mentally asked of me, it would quickly become draining.

Following Arrow concluding in 2020, Amell reprised Oliver Queen one last time for an episode of The Flash’s final season. Now he’s back on network TV for Suits L.A., which premieres Sunday, February 23 on NBC, with episodes becoming available to stream with a Peacock subscription afterwards. While the spinoff was surely challenging in different ways, at least it’s not nearly as physically demanding of him and there are less episodes to do in the season. If you’re interested in revisiting his work on Arrow, it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription.

For decades, countless TV shows have relied on a trope that has come to be known as the "will they, won't they?" phenomenon, in which the story teases the romantic potential of two central characters with great chemistry. The gimmick has worked on many audiences who love tuning in to see if the couple is one step closer to breaking from their platonic dynamic, however, when that moment finally comes, it does not always lead to a happily ever after, especially for the show they were on. We looked at several classic TV sitcoms and hits of other genres, too, and found some prime examples of couples who perhaps should have stayed friends for series' sake.

Rachel And Joey On Friends

The first couple of seasons of Friends largely focused on the potential romance between Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), which ultimately proved to be one worth rooting for even during their rough patches. However, Rachel and Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) brief attempt to date after developing feelings for one another was so awkward that it was even acknowledged by the characters before they decided to go back to being platonic.

J.D. And Elliot On Scrubs

When J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke) first come together on Scrubs, it is one of the most fun and fulfilling plot developments from the medical comedy's early days. However, their rekindling in Season 8 does not have quite the same magic, which might also be a symptom of its less-beloved final years.

Troy And Britta On Community

Following hints that Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) had developed feelings for each other, the study group members' romance was made official in Season 4. Of course, that season, considered the worst season of the show, is also referred to as "The Gas Leak Year" to explain why everyone at Greendale was acting a little off during that time and we consider this awkward and unfunny coupling an essential example of that.

Mulder And Scully On The X-Files

Creator Chris Carter's The X-Files, which follows the unusual investigations of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), is considered to be one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time but another genre you could lump it in with is romance. However, the series was at its best when it only went as far as implying a spark between the FBI agents but was at its weakest any time it went in more explicit directions.

Barney And Robin On How I Met Your Mother

The first season of How I Met Your Mother saw Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) going back and forth on his feelings for Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) before they finally took the leap in a satisfying way or, at least, far more satisfying than Robin's relationship with Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris). The coupling never quite felt right and the fact that most of Season 9 is set at the weekend, which leads to divorce in the finale, makes it feel even more wasted.

Dawson And Joey On Dawson's Creek

The concept of James Van Der Beek's title character from Dawson's Creek having romantic potential with his childhood friend, Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) was already a little too on-the-nose at the time. Their tumultuous "will they, won't they" arc was so irritatingly drawn out and their inevitable coupling proved to lack some significant chemistry, ultimately making it clear that they were not right for each other.

Steve And Laura On Family Matters

You could argue that making Steve Urkel actor Jaleel White the star of the Family Matters cast was the true beginning of the end for the sitcom in terms of overall quality, considering it was originally supposed to be about his neighbors, the Winslows. However, seeing the stereotypical nerd's one-sided crush on Laura (Kellie Shanygne Williams) turn into an actual relationship might be the series' furthest leap over the shark.

Sam And Rebecca On Cheers

Perhaps the quintessential example of an ideal "will they, won't they" relationship is that of Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) from the Cheers cast, whose relationship may have ended by bittersweet means but was fun and satisfying while it lasted. As a result, the bartender's similar "will they, won't they" dynamic and eventual romance with his manager Rebecca Howe (Long's replacement, Kirstie Alley) was not necessarily a detriment to the long-running series but deeply pales in comparison.

Luke And Lorelai On Gilmore Girls

An essential example of a "will they, won't they?" dynamic being far more entertaining than the inevitable romance is Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and Luke Danes (Scott Patterson) from the Gilmore Girls cast. Everything about the single mother's relationship with the diner owner, especially their witty banter, was at its peak when they were still strictly friends who occasionally flirted.

Maddie And David On Moonlighting

One of the first couples that comes to mind when the topic of "will they, won't they" arcs with disappointing turnouts is brought up is David Addison (Bruce Willis) and Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) on the Emmy-winning comedy, Moonlighting. The pair – a sarcastic detective and a former model managing a private investigation firm – drove each other nuts and teased a potential romance for several seasons until they finally gave it a shot but with an underwhelming reception from critics and audiences alike.

Erin And Andy On The Office

If there is one undeniably positive thing we can say about Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) and his relationship with Erin Haynes (Ellie Kemper), it is that the hapless Dunder Mifflin salesperson and flighty receptionist make a much better couple than he and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey). However, Andy and Angela's tragically one-sided dynamic (particularly due to her secret affection for Dwight) led to jokes and storylines that were far more interesting by comparison.

Damon And Elena On The Vampire Diaries

The CW's hit vampire TV show, The Vampire Diaries, boasted the distinction of having a "will they, won't they" arc that branched off from a different trope: the love triangle between Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and undead brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). While "Delena" ended up becoming the winning couple, the challenges they faced – from memory-erasing storylines to Dobrev's exit from the cast – made for an exhausting watch until their happy ending in the series finale.

Daenerys And Jon On Game Of Thrones

Most fans of Games of Thrones would agree that the HBO original series started to go downhill once the writers began deviating from the original source material, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. One such disappointing element of the epic fantasy show was the romance between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) – a relationship that saw the fan-favorite characters veering into directions that seemed unnatural for how they were developed.

Nick And Jess On New Girl

Even though they retained a pleasantly platonic relationship early on, anyone who has ever seen a sitcom likely was able to predict that Jessica "Jess" Day (Zooey Deschanel) and Nick Miller (Jake Johnson) from the New Girl cast were destined for romance from the beginning. For how much it was a delight watching the roommates become a couple, most would agree that the show was always at its best when they were still friends.

Booth And Brennan On Bones

Fans of Bones would argue that seeing forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) officially becoming a couple after years of teasing did not ruin the crime procedural by any stretch. However, many viewers were disappointed to see the series immediately jump ahead and show them settled down and with a baby on the way instead of taking the time to show the natural evolution of their relationship.

House And Cuddy On House

Admittedly, it was fun to watch Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) flirt with Dean of Medicine Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) but no one could have imagined that such as selfish, manipulative, and emotionally unavailable jerk like him could be in a loving relationship with her. Of course, it was these very behaviors that doomed their romance, which ended permanently when Edelstein left the hit medical drama.

Rory And Jess On Gilmore Girls

The romance between Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) and Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki) was a sweet tale of first love that made Gilmore Girls' inaugural run a winning first season. Unfortunately, after Luke's troubled nephew, Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia), moved to Stars Hollow and piqued Rory's interest, it ruined the relationship and, after she and Jess became official, her likability began to wane.

Buffy and Spike On Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Angel (David Boreanaz) briefly shared a romance that Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans would agree was fun and exciting. In fact, we can think of several reasons why Buffy should have picked Angel over Spike (James Marsters), who was never intended to be a regular character in the first place anyway.

Josh And Donna On The West Wing

There is no denying that among the West Wing cast members, Bradley Whitford's Josh Lyman and his assistant Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) had one of the most irresistible dynamics. However, when their relationship became more than strictly professional, the coupling was largely deemed as coming too late into the political drama to make for a satisfying outcome.

Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin was an otherwise sweet and inspiring dramedy who did not know how to handle the blossoming romance at the center of it all. Because of various contrived developments and signs of incompatibility, the title character (played by Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni) are considered one of the weakest TV couples in recent memory.

Max And Helen On New Amsterdam

One of the biggest mistakes that a TV show can make when pairing up a "will they, won't they?" couple is changing the fundamental makeup of each character. That is how many fans felt when Dr. Max Goodwin (former The Blacklist cast member Ryan Eggold) and Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman) struck up a relationship on the NBC medical drama, New Amsterdam.

Clark And Lana On Smallville

Smallville established at the very beginning that Clark Kent (Tom Welling) had a crush on classmate Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and eventually formed a relationship with her that was riddled by an unstable foundation before they split in Season 8. Luckily, soon after, Clark would begin dating his true soulmate, Lois Lane (Erica Durance).

Jackie And Fez On That '70s Show

To be fair, fans and critics would agree that That '70s Show had already been experiencing a steep decline in quality by the time Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis) developed a crush on Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) out of the blue in the seventh and final season. However, seeing them finally come together in the finale following years of Jackie rejecting him just felt weird and the creators seemed to agree, based on how they split them up and got Jackie and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) back together for That '90s Show.

Zack And Kelly On Saved By The Bell

Watching Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) pursue Kelly Kapowki (Tiffani Thiessen) to no avail was always one of the most fun things about Saved by the Bell. Watching the often horribly behaved sitcom kid become a true romantic and win Kelly's heart just felt off-brand and things only became more ridiculous when they got engaged during Saved By the Bell: The College Years.

Coulson And May On Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have enjoyed shipping characters, but few "will they, won't they?" couples in the franchise were more popular than Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his colleague, Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen). It is just a shame that it took Coulson's imminent death, and with only days left to spare, to inspire them to finally give a relationship a try.

Shawn And Juliet On Psych

Fans of Psych would likely agree that the best relationship on Psych is Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) and Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill). Yet, it might be a hot take to say that Shawn's slowly built-up coupling with Det. Juliet O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) was added to show for a needless element of romance but without taking the time to build the relationship into something genuinely worth rooting for.

Lane And Zack On Gilmore Girls

There are many polarizing romantic storylines on Gilmore Girls but most fans have come to agree that Lane Kim (Keiko Agena) and Zack Van Gerbig (Todd Lowe) have the worst. To be frank, they just feel Lane's former bandmate is a bad influence on her.

Oliver And Felicity On Arrow

While audiences are willing to suspend disbelief for all kinds of reasons when watching a comic book TV show, fans and critics had a hard time believing the relationship between Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards). The wealthy vigilante and his employee-turned-lover were incompatible for an irritating number of reasons.

Pete And Myka On Warehouse 13

What made the coupling of Secret Service agents Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) and Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) a low point for SyFy's Warehouse 13 was that there was no actual "will they, won't they" buildup. They were clearly and perfectly platonic duo until Pete realizes he is in love with Myka completely out of the blue.

Michael And Holly On The Office

Let's make something clear: seeing Michael Scott (Steve Carell) find a happy relationship with Holly Flax (Amy Ryan) was a grandly heartwarming sight. We're only counting their relationship because it led to Carell's exit from NBC's The Office cast and, with it, the series' creative downfall.

Maeve And Otis On Sex Education

Over the course of four seasons, it seemed like Netflix's Sex Education was building toward a long-awaited happily ever after for Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey). Unfortunately, the series betrayed its centerpiece couple by introducing a long-distance relationship plot, ultimately ruining them for good.

Lucifer And Chloe On Lucifer

Despite having the actual Devil as its main "hero," Lucifer is a fun, bizarre take on the crime thriller genre. Yet, many fans felt that the show went in an overly dramatic direction when the title character Tom Ellis and Det. Chloe Decker (Lauren German) became a romantic couple.

Being a superhero must be especially taxing around the Christmas season since vigilantes do not really have the luxury of being able to take the day off that time of year. At least it gives fans like me a chance to enjoy some entertaining and certainly non-traditional Christmas movies and TV specials in which our favorite comic book characters are forced to become protectors of holiday cheer. Celebrate the season in the most “super” way possible by watching these great Christmas movies, TV shows, and specials featuring your beloved costumed crime fighters.

Batman Returns (1992)

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer

What it’s about: A snow-covered Gotham City serves as a battleground for Bruce Wayne as he faces off against The Penguin and enters a flirtatious rivalry with Catwoman.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Batman Returns (also one of the all-time best live-action Batman movies for its dazzling production design and some of Michael Keaton's best Batman moments) teaches us that mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it, but a kiss can be deadlier if you mean it.

How to watch Batman Returns

• Stream Batman Returns on Max
• Rent or buy Batman Returns on Amazon
• Buy Batman Returns on Blu-ray on Amazon

Hawkeye (2021)

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld

What it’s about: Retired Avenger Clint Barton crosses paths with young, aspiring archer Kate Bishop who helps him defeat a terrifying foe so he can make it back home in time for Christmas.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld’s chemistry and some fun action sequences make Hawkeye one of Disney+’s best Marvel TV shows yet and easily one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most festive installments.

How to watch Hawkeye

• Stream Hawkeye on Disney+

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

What it’s about: Tony Stark begins to suffer a bit of an identity crisis while facing his most dangerous enemy yet as the holidays roll around.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: The first of the Marvel movies to get into the holiday spirit (as confirmed by Disney+) was the uniquely thrilling Iron Man 3, which is also just one of many Christmas action movies from Shane Black.

How to watch Iron Man 3

• Stream Iron Man 3 on Disney+
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Amazon
• Buy Iron Man 3 on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Director: James Gunn

Starring: Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper

What it’s about: Hoping to cheer up Peter Quill, Drax and Mantis pay a visit to Earth in search of the perfect Christmas gift for him.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: The most recent MCU installment with a festive twist is The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which is destined to be a Christmas staple for its hilarious and heartwarming moments, a fantastic soundtrack, and an appearance by a cinematic icon.

How to watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

• Stream The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney+

Arrow: Three Ghosts (2013)

Starring: Robbie Amell, Katie Cassidy

What it’s about: After Oliver Queen is drugged and left for dead by Cyrus Gold, he is given a cure by Felicity that causes him to hallucinate about his past.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: The ninth episode of the second season of Arrow (one of the best DC TV shows on Netflix), “Three Ghosts,” is an absorbing take on one of the most influential holiday stories of all time, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

How to watch Arrow: Three Ghosts

• Stream Arrow: Three Ghosts on Netflix
• Buy Arrow: Three Ghosts on Amazon

Ultimate Spider-Man: Nightmare On Christmas (2014)

Starring: Drake Bell, Mark Hamill

What it’s about: A run-in with Nightmare takes Peter Parker on a journey through his past, present, and future and offers a glimpse of a world without the webslinger.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Another fun Dickensian superhero Christmas special is the 22nd episode of the third season of Ultimate Spider-Man (one of the best animated Spider-Man TV shows), “Nightmare on Christmas,” which also bears some similarities to the plot of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.

How to watch Ultimate Spider-Man: Nightmare on Christmas

• Stream Ultimate Spider-Man: Nightmare on Christmas on Disney+
• Buy Ultimate Spider-Man: Nightmare on Christmas on Amazon

Smallville: Lexmas (2005)

Starring: Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum

What it’s about: After a gunshot puts him in a coma, Lex Luthor experiences a flash-forward in which he is raising a middle-class family with Lana Lang.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Another holiday episode of a comic book TV show boasting loose inspiration from A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life is “Lexmas” – the ninth episode of the fifth season of Smallville which is a largely heartwarming story before taking a dark twist.

How to watch Smallville: Lexmas

• Stream Smallville: Lexmas on Hulu
• Buy Smallville on Blu-ray on Amazon

Batman: The Animated Series: Christmas With The Joker (1992)

Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill

What it’s about: The Joker challenges Batman and Robin to rescue a kidnapped Commissioner Gordon, Harvey Bullock, and Summer Gleeson before midnight on Christmas Eve.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Another superhero Christmas episode featuring Mark Hamill as the villain is “Christmas with the Joker” – an all-time classic Batman: The Animated Series episode for the Clown Prince of Crime and the 38th episode from Season 1 of one of the best animated TV shows.

How to watch Batman: The Animated Series: Christmas with The Joker

• Stream Batman: The Animated Series: Christmas with The Joker on Max
• Stream Batman: The Animated Series: Christmas with The Joker on Amazon Prime

The Flash: Running To Stand Still (2013)

Starring: Grant Gustin, Mark Hamill

What it’s about: Weather Wizard breaks Captain Cold and The Trickster to collaborate on an attack against Barry Allen’s alter ego around the holidays.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Yet another superhero Christmas episode featuring Mark Hamill as a villain (The Trickster) is “Running to Stand Still,” which, as The Flash’s second mid-season finale, certainly does not disappoint as entertaining spectacle, let alone its holiday themes.

How to watch The Flash: Running to Stand Still

• Stream The Flash: Running to Stand Still on Netflix
• Rent or buy The Flash: Running to Stand Still on Amazon
• Buy The Flash on Blu-ray on Amazon

Shazam! (2019)

Director: David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Mark Strong

What it’s about: An abandoned teen is imbued with powers and an adult body by a wizard who chooses him to be his champion.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: One of the funniest superhero movies set around Christmas (or funniest comic book movies in general) is Shazam!, which you may recall features a wild third act set at an elaborate holiday display.

How to watch Shazam!

• Stream Shazam! on Max
• Rent or buy Shazam! on Amazon
• Buy Shazam! on Blu-ray on Amazon

Merry Little Batman (2023)

Director: Mike Roth

Starring: Luke Wilson, Yonas Kibreab, James Cromwell

What it’s about: With Bruce Wayne out helping the Justice League, his young son, Damian, is left to foil a villainous plot to steal Christmas.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: Imagine the plot of Home Alone, replace Kevin McCallister with Damian Wayne, throw in some “Grinchness,” and you basically have Merry Little Batman – one of the best movies on Amazon Prime for a family of DC fans to enjoy around the holidays.

How to watch Merry Little Batman

• Stream Merry Little Batman on Amazon Prime

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman: Twas The Night Before Mxymas (1996)

Starring: Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, Howie Mandel

What it’s about: Clark begins reliving Christmas Eve over and over again with subtle changes to Metropolis citizens’ behavior each time, as part of a tricky imp’s spell.

Why it is one of the best Christmas superhero titles: There may be a few too many time-loop stories set around Christmas but only one has the Man of Steel and that is "Twas The Night Before Mxymas" – the charming, often hilarious, and even touching 11th episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Season 4.

How to watch Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Twas The Night Before Mxymas

• Stream Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Twas The Night Before Mxymas on Max
• Stream Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Twas The Night Before Mxymas on Tubi
• Buy Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 4 on DVD on Amazon

Hopefully, these titles can help rescue you from a crummy holiday.

Before she started playing Agent Jessica Knight on NCIS, one of Katrina Law’s most well-known roles was her recurring stint as Nyssa al Ghul on Arrow. Introduced in Season 2, Law’s character appeared in every season that followed, and was among the many returning guest stars who were present for Oliver Queen’s funeral in the series finale, titled “Fadeout.” In an interview with CinemaBlend, Law reflected on what it was like for her getting together with so many familiar faces from Arrow’s eight-season run for this integral scene that she described as a great way to bring “closure.”

While the majority of my recent conversation with Katrina Law concerned her current gig on NCIS, including when she knew Jessica Knight would stick around for Season 22 and why her character made that big decision in the Season 22 premiere, I concluded out conversation by bringing up her appearance in “Fadeout,” which aired on The CW nearly five years ago. Here’s what the actress told me about her experience shooting the funeral scene:

Nyssa al Ghul was chiefly seen in “Fadeout” speaking with her half-sister Talia and her former lover Sara Lance at OIiver Queen’s funeral. As Arrow fans will recall, Nyssa’s father, Ra’s al Ghul, forced her to marry Oliver in Season 3, but the marriage was ultimately annulled by “The Thanatos Guild.” Nevertheless, Nyssa and Oliver maintained an amicable enough relationship once they became allies, and when Sara thanked Nyssa for attending the funeral, she said there was “nowhere else” she’d be. Clearly Katrina Law felt the same way at the time, as she welcomed getting one last moment with the Arrow actors she’d spent so much time with over the years, as well as meet some new people in the process.

Although Arrow came to an end in early 2020, its lore continued to be explored through John Diggle’s appearances in various DC TV shows in the years afterwards, most of which revolved around the green-glowing box he found in “Fadeout.” Then this corner of the Arrowverse was touched on one last time in The Flash Season 9 episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To,” which saw David Ramsey once again reprising Diggle and Stephen Amell reprising Oliver Queen for the first time since Arrow’s series finale. Arrow’s penultimate episode, “Green Arrow and the Canaries,” was also meant to be a backdoor pilot for a spinoff with the same name, but it was decided in early 2021 not to move forward with the project.

Revisit all of Arrow’s eight seasons with a Netflix subscription, which can also be used to view The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and Black Lightning (you’ll need a Max subscription to watch Batwoman). If you’d rather look to the future, I advise you read through our guide of upcoming DC TV shows.

Though Stephen Amell doesn’t have any upcoming DC TV shows on his docket — he’s set to star in the NBC spinoff Suits: L.A. — he’ll likely never stop going to bat for Green Arrow, having portrayed the Emerald Archer for eight seasons, providing a cornerstone to The CW’s Arrowverse. And as DC fans await John Cena’s pumped-up return in Peacemaker Season 2, Amell reflected on how James Gunn’s show and others would rather crap on the Arrowverse than honor it.

The Peacemaker Joke

To quickly catch anyone up who isn't already aware, Peacemaker featured a variety of DC character easter eggs in Season 1, with some coming across as more needlessly salacious than others. The streaming action-comedy waited until the finale to go for Oliver Queen’s throat (or another contracting orifice) with this My Little Pony-centric barb:

It was a joke that certainly wouldn’t have flown very far on The CW, which skewed far more family-friendly with its Arrowverse humor, despite going fairly dark with some of the shows’ plots. At the time, Stephen Amell brushed it off, saying he hadn’t watched because he was too busy outclassing John Cena in the wrestling ring, which was…a bit of an exaggeration. But it clearly did get to him at some point.

Stephen Amell's Latest Comments

Stephen Amell popped by the podcast Insight with Chris Van Vilet to talk about Heels hitting Netflix, which has fans optimistic that the streaming service will order up Season 3, as well as his ongoing relationship with the WWE and various pro wrestling superstars. At one point, the host brought up the disparaging Green Arrow comments made in Peacemaker, and the Canadian actor smiled as he not only addressed the joke, but also the idea that the Arrowverse remains a punchline despite its continued popularity. As he put it:

While I’m sure there are plenty of Snyder Cut fanatics out there who would wag a disapproving finger at that assumption, it’s easy to see where he’s coming from. The Arrowverse kept DC fans invested in its conspiracies, time-travel mysteries, Speed Force shenanigans and billionaire vigilantes for nearly a decade without much controversy, pumping out tons of episodes on limited budgets compared to the funding granted to DC TV shows in the years since.

Not trying to come across as overtly pissed off, Stephen Amell did keep his smile going throughout that part of the conversation, and confirmed that this isn’t the kind of thing that still keeps him up at night, even if it may always get under his skin. In his words:

It all comes back to the old adage: if you don't have anything nice to say, go complain about Marvel. Wait, no, it's to not say anything at all. And Amell followed up his complaints by pointing out that he's got nothing but love and respect for John Cena, if not the dude that'll be leading the DCU for the foreseeable future.

I’ve met John a handful of times. There couldn’t be a nicer, more genuine person. If I should be mad at anyone, it should be James Gunn for writing that in the first place, but he could not be a nicer guy. He’s such a good guy. So it’s not a personal vendetta against him.

What superheroes will Peacemaker poke fun at (without any My Little Pony orifices referenced) in Season 2? Will Amell's Suits: L.A. debut feature any Green Arrow easter eggs? We'll have to wait and see.

For fans who need more superhero antics in their lives, all eight seasons of Arrow can be streamed now with a Netflix subscription, while Peacemaker’s first season is available via Max subscription, with Season 2 hitting the 2025 TV schedule at some point.

There are few novelties within the media landscape that can be more enjoyable than good crossovers. For years now, creatives have found intriguing ways to cross-pollinate properties. Said events are especially common when it comes to TV shows, and viewers have certainly been treated to some entertaining productions involving multiple series mixing it up. On that note, we’re going to talk about 32 particularly excellent small-screen mashups. 

Batman/The Green Hornet

The 1960s series Batman and The Green Hornet linked up in a few small ways during their runs, but their most prominent crossover occurred during a two-part episode of the former show. “A Piece of the Action” and “Batman’s Satisfaction” saw Gotham’s protectors forge an uneasy alliance with the Hornet and Kato, and the result was a truly action-packed hour of pulpy goodness.

Full House/Family Matters

Remember the time Family Matters’ Steve Urkel appeared on Full House? In Season 4’s “Stephanie Gets Framed,” the Urk Man traveled from Chicago to San Francisco for a science fair and ended up giving Stephanie Tanner advice regarding her new glasses. The result was a relatively sweet installment, which built a solid bridge between two of ABC’s best TGIF comedies.

The Jetsons/The Flintstones

The respective casts of Hanna-Barbera’s prehistoric and futuristic animated sitcoms finally came together in the 1987 TV movie The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones. During the special, the two groups walked a mile in each other’s shoes via time travel, and the result was a fun piece of work that could make you yell Yabba Dabba Doo!

The Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction/Green Acres

It’s no secret that CBS’ The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres are all set within the same fictional universe. All three shows crossed over multiple times, but the sweetest example was arguably the Hillbillies Season 7 episode “The Thanksgiving Spirit,” in which the casts of the three comedies warmly shared a meal together.

St. Elsewhere/Cheers

Both Cheers and St. Elsewhere are set in Boston, so it was only fitting that a connection was built between the two NBC shows. The crossover occurred during Season 3 of the medical drama, when several doctors visited the titular pub from one of the best sitcoms of all time. Come for the intrigue of the mashup, and stay for Rhea Perlman’s Carla Tortelli chewing out a group of medical professionals.

Diff’rent Strokes/Hello, Larry

Honestly, Hello, Larry wasn’t all that interesting on its own, but its three two-part crossovers with fellow NBC sitcom Diff’rent Strokes were solid. The final meetup between the two casts, “Thanksgiving Crossover,” was particularly enjoyable and highlighted character dynamics in fun ways.

Boy Meets World/Sabrina The Teenage Witch

Fan-favorite Sabrina the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart briefly appeared as her eponymous character during the closing tag for the Boy Meets World Season 5 episode, “The Witches of Pennbrook.” Her appearance may not be considered canon now, but it was certainly cool to see at the time. 

Scooby-Doo/Josie And The Pussycats

Throughout the two-season run of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Mystery Inc. ran into a number of notable people – both real and fictional. It was only fitting that the sleuths met up with their fellow Hanna-Barbera-birthed peers from Josie and the Pussycats. The two gangs teamed up to solve a mystery in “The Haunted Showboat,” resulting in a fun romp.

NCIS/NCIS: Los Angeles/NCIS: Hawai’i

In early 2023, NCIS’ first triple crossover debuted, bringing together characters from the mothership show as well as the Los Angeles and Hawai’i spinoffs. The shows’ respective teams joined forces to investigate the apparent suicide of a retired military official. It can be said that this Avengers-style event was well worth the wait.

Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley

Within the fictional TV universe co-created by producer Garry Marshall, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley cross-pollinated multiple times. One of the most notable instances of that was with the two-part crossover “Shotgun Wedding,” in which Shirley and Laverne became engaged to Richie Cunningham and the Fonz to save them from arranged marriages.

The Mask: Animated Series/Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask: Animated Series were adapted from Jim Carrey movies, so it was only right that they both crossover. The two-part event – which was spread across both shows – was a truly wild romp that involved brain-switching shenanigans, a trip to space and more.

Friends/Mad About You

Amid all the truly strong and ridiculous Friends episodes, is the memorable two-parter, “The One with Two Parts.” The installments see Joey Tribbiani falling for Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister, Ursula, from Mad About You. The fun episodes also featured cheeky cameos from Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzle, who appeared as their MAU characters.

The Golden Girls/Empty Nest/Nurses

Three-show crossovers can be tricky, but NBC pulled off a fun one in 1991 with The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Nurses. “Hurricane Saturday” saw the characters of the Florida-based sitcoms weathering a massive storm and humorously crossing paths as they did so.

The King Of Queens/Everybody Loves Raymond

Due to a retroactive bridge being retroactively built between them, Everybody Loves Raymond and The King of Queens crossed over multiple times throughout their runs. One of the best of those, however, is the first crossover, which occurred in the Queens Season 1 episode “Road Rayge.” It’s a funny episode that sees Doug Hefferman and Ray Barone striking up a friendship after meeting at the DMV.

Power Rangers In Space/Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation

Power in Space’s “Shell Shocked” marked the realization of a Saturday morning dream, as it saw the rangers team up with the heroes in a half shell. These iterations of the amphibious martial arts masters hailed from Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (a show that shouldn’t have been canceled after one season). The Turtles were mind-controlled by the Rangers’ nemesis, Astronema, who uses them to take over the power team’s Megaship.

The Office (U.S.)/The Office (U.K.)

Both iterations of The Office collided when Ricky Gervais’ David Brent popped up on a Season 7 episode of the U.S. series. During that installment, he and his American counterpart, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), ran into each other. I don’t know what’s funnier: the two abrasive bosses getting along so well or Michael awkwardly telling David that Dunder Mifflin wasn’t hiring.

Supergirl/The Flash

The Arrowverse showcased a number of great team-ups over the years, but the first was a fun crossover between The Flash and Supergirl, in which the titular hero of the former show found himself in Kara Danvers’ universe. As fun as the Supes Season 1 episode is, what’s even more amazing is that this event happened before the Melissa Benoist-led show moved from CBS to The CW to join its slate of DCTV fare.

Sister, Sister/Smart Guy

Fellow shows on The WB, fan-favorite Sister, Sister and Smart Guy seemed like the right fit for a crossover, with the former sitcom hosting it. The episode saw 10-year-old prodigy T.J. Henderson being recruited to tutor twins Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell for their SATs. T.J. ultimately employed some unconventional – but effective – methods to get the job done.

The Fairly Oddparents/Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Few cartoon crossovers can match the greatness of the three-hour-long crossovers between Nickelodeon’s The Fairly Oddparents and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Known as The Jimmy/Timmy Power Hour, the episodes saw Neutron and Timmy Turner coming into interdimensional conflict on multiple occasions. Even today, seeing characters from two of the best Nick shows of the 2000s is downright delightful.

New Girl/Brooklyn Nine-Nine

I’m not sure anyone could’ve predicted that a crossover between New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine would happen, but that’s exactly what fans were treated to in 2016. This was a two-part event spread across both comedies, and it was certainly fun to see Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta, Zooey Deschanel’s Jessica Day and more mix it up.

Luke Cage/Iron Fist

After much demand from the fans, Netflix’s Luke Cage featured a true superhero tag team between the show’s eponymous character and Danny Rand of Iron Fist. While reception to the latter show and its protagonist had been relatively underwhelming, fans loved what was done with Rand on Cage. All in all, it was a team-up worthy of the Heroes for Hire legacy.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air/In The House

One crossover that I’d argue is rarely talked about is the one that took place between The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and In The House. ITH’s “Dog Catchers” saw Alfonso Riberio guest star as Carlton Banks and Tatyana Ali as Ashley Banks. The story involved Carlton (inadvertently) alerting Marion Hill (LL Cool J) to the fact that friend Tiffany Warren’s (Maia Campbell) new boyfriend was two-timing her with Ashley.

The Simpsons/Futurama

“Simpsorama,” a Season 26 episode of The Simpsons, finally brought Springfield’s famous family into contact with the cast of Futurama. The Planet Express crew made their way to the present to prevent Homer and co. from causing a dire situation in the future. The crossover not only employed the kind of gags specific to both Matt Groening-produced shows but preserved the heart as well.

Scandal/How To Get Away With Murder

Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope and Viola Davis’ Annalise Keating finally met each other when Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder crossed over. The 2018 multi-episode arc saw the crisis manager and defense attorney join forces to collaborate on a class action case. Both actresses brought their A-game for what proved to be a truly emotional story, with some poignant social commentary.

Supernatural/Scooby-Doo

I’m not sure many people envisioned Supernatural bringing in the Scooby-Doo characters upon the announcement of a crossover in 2017. However, the episode, “Scoobynatural,” ultimately received high praise from critics and fans alike. Seriously, the sight of Sam and Dean Winchester aiding Mystery Inc. in a case (set against the backdrop of one of the animated franchise’s classic episodes) was so much fun.

The X-Files/Cops

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like if The X-Files’ Mulder and Scully’s off-kilter adventures were ever presented in a format similar to Cops’? Well, look no further than the Season 7 episode “X-Cops,” as it put the two in such a situation. The idea may have sounded wild at the time, but it proved to be highly entertaining TV.

Archer/Bob’s Burgers

It’s rare that a crossover gets wilder than the one between Bob’s Burgers and Archer, which occurred in the later show. "Fugue and Riffs" featured an amnesiac Sterling Archer waking up to discover that he’s the head of the Belcher family from Bob’s. That episode was certainly fun, especially considering that H. Jon Benjamin voiced both Archer and Bob regularly anyways.

That’s So Raven/The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody/Hannah Montana

Disney Channel gifted children of the 2000s with a real treat when the three-way TV event That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. It brought together the casts of the hit shows That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana for a madcap meetup that’s still beloved today.

Doctor Who/Torchwood/The Sarah Jane Adventures

Series 4 of Doctor Who ended on a high note with a two-part finale that brought the eponymous Time Lord and his allies together with characters from two spinoff series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Not only did the Who writers manage to provide plenty of crossover craziness, but they also wrapped up a number of pivotal story arcs in the process.

Generator Rex/Ben 10

It’s not often that two awesome do-gooders link up on the small screen, and Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United offered a shining example of that. While it was great to see the two eponymous characters ultimately team up, it was also cool to see them come to blows upon first making contact.

Bones/Sleepy Hollow

The notion of the cast of Sleepy Hollow and Bones coming together for a two-part story sounds weird on paper, and that’s because it is. Nevertheless, it was intriguing to watch Special Agents Seeley Booth and Temperance “Bones” Brennan team up with FBI Agent Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane to investigate a decades-old corpse on Halloween.

Arrow/The Flash/Supergirl/Batwoman/Legends Of Tomorrow

The producers behind “Crisis on Infinite Earths” did the impossible by uniting the casts of not two, three or four Arrowverse shows but all five series that were on the air at that time. What was even more impressive was that in addition to Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and Batgirl being involved, Black Lightning’s eponymous hero was also in the mix. You’d be hard-pressed to find a small-screen crossover as massive as this one was.

It may seem that your favorite character from your favorite TV show was always part of the main cast, but that might not be the case. In fact, some of the most iconic TV characters were never meant to last more than one or two episodes until a behind-the-scenes decision changed their fate. The following are some famous examples that might have you looking at your favorite show's next guest star differently.

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

It was not just three-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul's brilliant, empathetic performance as Jesse Pinkman that kept him in the Breaking Bad cast until the end. Creator Vince Gilligan had a pitch for the early demise of Walter White's (Bryan Cranston) student-turned-partner that shocked studio executives so deeply, that he scrapped the idea and, thankfully, kept the fan-favorite character alive.

Andy Dwyer (Parks And Recreation)

The lovably absent-minded Andy Dwyer was originally meant to appear in just six episodes from the first season of Parks and Recreation when he was still dating Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). Michael Schur found future blockbuster leading man Chris Pratt just too funny not to keep around, leading to his series regular promotion and Andy's eventual romance with April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza).

Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Happy Days)

The role that made Henry Winkler a star would eventually be the star of Happy Days. However, "Fonzy" was originally introduced as a small-sized character before the audience's rousing enthusiasm convinced producers to make his presence more frequent.

Frasier Crane (Cheers)

Kelsey Grammer's stint in the Cheers cast as Seattle-based psychiatrist Frasier Crane was originally meant to last only a few episodes. Yet, he became one of the NBC sitcom's most popular characters and went on to lead his own self-titled spin-off that was arguably as good as the original series.

Spike (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Spike started out as just another vampire for Sarah Michelle Gellar's titular hero to fight when he was first introduced in the second season of Joss Whedon's hit series. However, his subsequent popularity would ensure that James Masters got a regular role in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast and even became a love interest for Buffy.

Chandler Bing And Phoebe Buffay (Friends)

Before Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow were added to the Friends cast as Chandler and Phoebe, the sitcom was going to mainly focus on just four young New Yorkers. That was until the actors' natural charisma convinced creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman that they deserved starring roles instead of occasional appearances like they initially envisioned.

Carol Hathaway (ER)

If the pilot of ER were filmed exactly as it was originally written, it would been the first and last episode featuring Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), who was initially going to take her own life. When test audiences made note of the nurse manager's chemistry with George Clooney as Doug Ross, the head writers kept her alive and on the show until Margulies left in Season 6.

Luke Danes (Gilmore Girls)

Diner owner Luke Danes was originally written as a woman, but creator Amy Sherman-Palladino did a gender swap when the network asked for more male characters. It was not until they noticed the chemistry between Gilmore Girls cast members Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham that their will-they-won't-they dynamic was incorporated into the dramedy.

Lafayette Reynolds (True Blood)

In only the second novel from Charlaine Harris' book series, The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Lafayette Reynolds is murdered. However, the psychic cook's onscreen counterpart (played by Nelsan Ellis) lived on in the HBO series adaptation (and one of the best horror TV shows on Max), True Blood, after developer Alan Ball realized how well the character fit in the world.

Castiel (Supernatural)

Played by Misha Collins (when possessing the body of Jimmy Novak), Castiel first appeared on Supernatural in Season 4 for what was intended to be just a three-season arc. Soon after, however, Collins was promoted to a series regular and the angel would remain a trusted ally to Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester.

Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

At first, ABC's spin-off of Perfect Strangers followed the lives of the Winslows, until the family sitcom's star family took a backseat to their nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel. After Jaleel White's Season 1 guest spot rescued the show from cancellation, he made more appearances and was promoted to a series regular in the Family Matters cast in Season 2.

Andy Bernard (The Office)

Ed Helms' role as The Office character Andy Bernard was introduced in Season 3, which was initially conceived as his sole year on the mockumentary sitcom. However, creator Greg Daniels really liked the character and brought him back from anger management to be a permanent fixture of the Dunder Mifflin family.

Sgt. Fin Tutuola (Law & Order: SVU)

While most famous for a song about killing cops, rapper Ice-T's most famous acting role is, ironically, a police officer on Law & Order: SVU. Also ironic is the fact that Fin Tutuloa was originally conceived as a five-episode guest role in 2000, but would remain a regular part of the cast.

Jack Shephard (Lost)

Before Matthew Fox joined the Lost cast as Jack Shephard, the character was supposed to die in the pilot to establish that no character was safe in the survival drama. In fact, Michael Keaton signed on to play the role under this condition but dropped out when they decided to make him the lead because he did not want to commit to a series at the time.

Felicity Smoak (Arrow)

Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, Felicity Smoak was initially introduced in the first season of Arrow in a recurring role. Emily Bett Rickards would be promoted to series regular, however, when the role was promoted to Oliver Queen's primary love interest.

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

A prime example of a character who underwent a major personality change is Steve Harrington (Joe Kerry), who was initially introduced in Stranger Things' first season as some archetypal '80s high school bully with an expiration date. However, fans' unexpectedly positive response, thankfully, led to the character's revamping and ensured Keery would be a valuable member of the Hawkins crew.

Boyd Crowder (Justified)

Watching U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and career criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) flip back and forth is one of the most addictive elements of Justified. Thus, we are thankful Boyd survived the pilot episode instead of being killed, like in Elmore Leonard's original short story, "Fire in the Hole," and that Goggins was promoted to series regular.

NoHo Hank (Barry)

Anthony Carrigan is easily one of the standouts of HBO's Barry cast for his performance as Chechen criminal NoHo Hank. It is no wonder his role expanded beyond Season 1 despite initial plans to kill him off.

The Armorer (The Mandalorian)

The Armorer (Emily Swallow) is one of the most fascinating and multi-layered characters from Disney+'s Star Wars Universe TV show, The Mandalorian. Her arc nearly ended with the first season in a scrapped scene that depicted her sacrificing her life.

Logan Roy (Succession)

No one could have succeeded in the role that Logan Roy played in HBO's Succession cast, but there could have been a major void left in his place had things gone as originally planned. Brian Cox's role was meant to die after Season 1, but instead survived and became one of the hit dramedy's most beloved characters.

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

In creators Michael Jacobs and April Kelly's TGIF favorite, Topanga Lawrence was first introduced as that one weird girl in Cory Matthews' (Ben Savage) class. Soon enough, however, Danielle Fishel would be promoted to a series regular in the Boy Meets World cast after it was decided that the character would be Cory's love interest.

Gunther (Friends)

James Michael Tyler was merely hired on Friends as a background actor for scenes taking place at the Central Perk at first. In Season 2, however, the coffee shop manager was given the name Gunther, and the actor was promoted to a recurring supporting role that went on to appear in 185 episodes total.

Janitor (Scrubs)

The unnamed Janitor was originally conceived as a recurring role because it was going to be revealed at the end of Season 1 that he only existed in J.D.'s (Zach Braff) imagination. Creator Bill Lawrence decided to scrap that idea and make Neil Flynn a main part of the Scrubs cast after noticing the actor's improvisational skills, which ended beautifully for the character.

President Josiah Bartlet (The West Wing)

When Aaron Sorkin first conceived the idea for his Emmy-winning political drama, it was meant to focus primarily on the White House staff, with the President of the United States only showing up every so often or even not at all. Luckily, that changed and Martin Sheen's performance in NBC's The West Wing cast as Josiah Bartlet became one of the most beloved and inspiring highlights of the series.

Elijah Krantz (Girls)

Broadway theatre sensation Andrew Rannells first joined the cast of HBO's Girls as Hannah's formerly closeted college boyfriend Elijah Krantz in a very minor role before coming back occasionally during the first three years. By the dramedy's fourth season, creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner decided to add Rannells as a series regular and Elijah went on to become one of the series' most memorably funny characters.

April Ludgate (Parks And Recreation)

April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation is more than just a character who was not originally planned for a big role. There were no plans for her to be a part of the show at all until creator Michael Schur met Aubrey Plaza during the casting process and was so impressed with her talent that he invented a role just for her.

Aram Mojtabai (The Blacklist)

In the first season of NBC's The Blacklist, Aram Mojtabai was brought in by the FBI as a cyber crime consultant for what was only meant to be one episode. However, the writers responded well to actor Amir Arison's ad-libbing, started calling him back for more episodes, and made him a series regular in Season 2. 

Summer Roberts (The O.C.)

Rachel Bilson had very little screen time in the first episode of The O.C. and her character, Summer Robert, was practically written as an unnamed friend to Marrissa (Mischa Barton). Creator Josh Schwartz found the actor's grasp on the character to be very compelling and her chemistry with Seth actor Adam Brody led him to write her a much bigger part for the coming-of-age drama.

Joshua Rosza (The Originals)

Steven Krueger was first brought in for a minor recurring stint on The Originals as Joshua Rosza. However, by season 5, the vampire character became a regular role in the hit supernatural drama.

Killian Jones/Captain Hook (Once Upon A Time)

When ABC's fantasy series Once Upon a Time brought in Killian Jones (who is really Peter Pan's nemesis, Captain Hook), it was initially meant to be for a five-episode run in Season 2. While he quickly became a fan favorite due to his chemistry with Jennifer Morrison, his promotion to a regular role really came about when the cast and crew became deeply impressed with Colin O'Donoghue's performance.

Brittany S. Pierce (Glee)

Heather Morris was initially brought on to the Glee set to help teach the cast members how to do the dance from Beyonce's "Single Ladies" video before she ended up landing a guest role as Brittany Pierce. However, after he discovered her comedic talents, co-creator Ryan Murphy began giving the once-frequently silent cheerleader more things to say before making Morris a series regular.

Kima Greggs (The Wire)

While filming the first season of The Wire, Sonja Sohn discovered by accident that her arc as Shakima "Kima" Greggs was originally intended to end in the 10th episode of the crime drama. Luckily, HBO executive Carolyn Strauss expressed interest in the character, convincing showrunner David Simon to have her survive her planned shooting and come back for the remainder of the series.

In 2020, Arrow concluded its run on The CW, although characters like Oliver Queen and John Diggle would later resurface in The Flash and other corners of the Arrowverse. Still, with nearly half a decade having passed since the eight-season saga following Stephen Amell’s Green Arrow ended, Marc Guggenheim has opened up about aspects of the show that didn’t turn out the way he hoped. Specifically, he talked about what would have prevented Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance from being killed off, as well as why Arrow Season 4, i.e. the season in which she met her demise, is his “least favorite” of the bunch.

Marc Guggenheim Regrets Arrow Killing Off Laurel Lance

Although Katie Cassidy appeared in every season of Arrow and resumed being a series regular in Season 6 to continue playing Earth-2’s Laurel Lance, the Earth-1 Laurel, who’d been around since the show began in 2012, was mortally stabbed by Damien Darhk in “Eleven-Fifty-Nine.” While discussing the drastically different kinds of fan reactions that Arrow received in comparison to fellow Arrowverse series Legends of Tomorrow, Marc Guggenheim said during his appearance on The Showrunner Whisperer that had he known the Emerald Archer’s show would have gone on as long as he did, Earth-1 Laurel would have stuck around, explaining:

Laurel’s death was met with a lot of backlash from fans in 2016, though at the time, Marc Guggenheim defended the decision. But like he said, that was back when Arrow was only expected to run for five seasons, and it ended up going for an additional three. It’s fortunate Katie Cassidy was able to keep participating in Arrow, and I presume she welcomed the opportunity to play a Laurel with a much different personality. Still, I can’t help wondering what might have happened with Earth-1 Laurel had she survived the events of Season 4.

Marc Guggenheim Doesn’t Like Arrow Season 4’s Tone

Marc Guggenheim’s regret over what happened to Earth-1 Laurel are just part of his larger issues with Arrow Season 4. As he acknowledged in the below quote, going with a more lighthearted tone following three seasons of dark storytelling wasn’t a good call:

Guggenheim added that he wished he and the Arrow writing team had approached Season 4’s storyline differently, and that they’d “stuck to the game plan too rigidly in a lot of places.” So he’d go back and change things if he could, though he then shared why he wouldn’t touch the Season 4 finale, titled “Schism”:

If you’re interested in revisiting Arrow, it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription among plenty of other DC movies and TV shows on that platform. Otherwise, make sure you have a Max subscription, as that’s where the majority of upcoming DC TV shows will be going.

While it’s still unclear whether or not Netflix will tag with Jack Spade for a third season of the wrestling drama Heels, that drama’s star Stephen Amell is 100% heading back to network TV now that NBC confirmed its series order for the legal drama spinoff Suits: L.A. series order. The spinoff to USA’s hit legal drama (whose surge of streaming popularity on Netflix in 2023 sparked calls for a follow-up) unveiled its first look at Amell’s new character Ted Black, but the actor’s fans were positively green with Arrow references.

Having filmed the pilot over the spring in Vancouver, nearly 12 years after suiting up as Oliver Queen, Amell is no doubt pumped to get his latest TV show in front of audiences, even though it won’t be arriving before the 2024 premiere schedule concludes. But it’ll seemingly take some time before his fanbase fully transitions from Arrow-based reactions to Suits-adjacent comments. Check out his Instagram post below.

With a whole sunlit city seen through massive windows behind him, Stephen Amell’s Ted Black could feasibly be a superhero alter ego, but it’s not a super-suit he’s wearing for NBC’s newest legal dramedy. And he likely won’t be donning any masks, either, barring any COVID-related plotlines. But fans don’t need visual connections to remember what will possibly go down as Amell’s most celebrated role.

Easily the most popular reply to Amell’s pic is a spin on a classic Arrow quote from the CW/DC drama’s first season:

The Hood was addressing criminals and other evildoers with his ominous phrase, but it’ll be interesting to see which side of the moral line Ted Black falls to, and whether or not he’d be an aid to a local superhero or a hindrance. Not that Suits: L.A. or any other NBC shows will feature superheroes, but one can dream.

Now here’s a smattering of other Arrow-centric comments from Stephen Amell’s fans.

• Once Oliver Queen, always Oliver Queen:))) - @r7raha
• Excited to see this series. I confess, I still watch Arrow on Netflix every day. My daughter makes fun of me, but I don't care.👏 - @doeraeheart
• I thought this was a screenshot from when Oliver was Mayor 🤣🤣 - @mirroredbrandie
• Does he fight crime by night and wrestle on the weekends? - @dinny_cork
• If there's no slamon ladder scene I'm losing it - @ashwin.vardhan
• Billionaire playboy to a Corporate lawyer anyways I'm excited - @minor_muku
• Oh my god I thought this was Oliver Queen and my heart skipped a beat - @itsssnoemii
• Where is the beard, Stephen??? - @benneyendoni

And yes, there were certainly plenty of other comments with other forms of "You have failed this..." jokes, with no doubt plenty of others on the way once more pics and trailers are released. Heaven help us all if Ted Black happens to find archery to be a soothing pastime, or if he happens to enjoy wearing bad wigs.

Not that it was solely TV fans who chimed in on Amell's post. His wife Cassandra, Superman & Lois' Elizabeth Tulloch and an Arrow actor also shared their support, as seen below.

• Pretty hot. - @cassandrapants
• Congrats my friend 🙌🙌🙌 - @bitsietulloch
• First time ever on set I worked with this man. I was a Bratva gangster trying to kill him in the Russian fight club scene. Arrow season 7 episode : Prochnost - @joebergfilm

Suffice to say, Stephen Amell has a ton of support behind him going into his first season as Ted Black. And if NBC or Peacock happens to go into development on Suits: Central City with Grant Gustin in a title role, we'll all know what the deal is.

The former federal prosecutor that the actor is playing will be surrounded by other characters who are aiming to keep his firm afloat during a period of crisis. Those characters will be portrayed by the likes of Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, Alice Lee, Bryan Greenberg, and Troy Winbush.

Expect to find Suits: L.A. hitting NBC's schedule during midseason premieres, and be sure to catch up on the O.G. series streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Stephen Amell is returning to network primetime TV later in the 2024 TV schedule, but his new starring role won't be on The CW or involve dressing up as a superhero to fight crime like his eight seasons of Arrow. After he was cast in the pilot for the Suits spinoff that was developing back in February, NBC has ordered the project to series and revealed the official description. Now, as any Suits viewer can surely guess, this show definitely isn't going to be set in a world of bow-wielding comic book heroes and villains, but I got some unexpected Arrow and Oliver Queen vibes from the newest info.

NBC announced the series order for Suits: L.A. on July 19, listing Stephen Amell as the top-billed actor and confirming Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, Bryan Greenberg, and Troy Winbush as cast members. (McDermitt's casting was initially announced not long after Amell's was in February.) Original Suits creator Aaron Korsh remains on board the Los Angeles-set spinoff as creator and executive producer.

But none of those details are what had me flashing back to my days of covering Arrow up until it ended in 2020. NBC also released the official description of the series and what Amell's character will be motivated to do. Take a look:

Do I think that Ted Black's backstory in New York that led to him reinventing himself in L.A. will be anywhere near as grim and bloody as Oliver Queen's backstory that led to him reinventing himself as the vengeful Green Arrow? Of course not, and I foresee far less green leather in Stephen Amell's future in the world of a legal drama than as star of the show that launched the whole Arrowverse.

But as somebody who did cover Arrow back in its heyday, I did have to laugh when I read about Stephen Amell's new character reinventing himself and embracing a role he never would have in his former life. An ensemble of characters whose loyalties are tested with bleed beteween their personal and professional lives? Talk about Team Arrow vibes!

Even though there may not be a ton of overlap between former Arrowverse viewers and NBC legal drama fans, it would be fun to get an Easter egg or two. Stephen Amell seems to have fond memories of his time as the Green Arrow, as he reflected on shooting the Arrow pilot as he was traveling to Vancouver to shoot another pilot back in March, which was presumably Suits: L.A.

If he was referring to Suits: L.A. in that post, it's curious that it was filming in Vancouver when the show is quite obviously set in Los Angeles. It's not unusual for series to film in British Columbia, but while it was easy to pass Canada off for the fictional Star(ling) City in Arrow, Vancouver and L.A. aren't quite interchangeable. The original Suits – which was set in New York City – did film in Canada.

For now, it hasn't be confirmed that he was headed north to film Suits: L.A.'s pilot in that post, and we can only speculate. The odds do seem good that the Suits spinoff getting a series order means that any dreams of Heels coming back are likely dead. At the time of writing, NBC hasn't announced when exactly to expect the show, and it wasn't in the lineup when the network confirmed the premieres of its two remaining Law & Order shows or any of the rest of its series.

NBC's Instagram post about the series order did say that Suits: LA is "officially coming your way on nbc and streaming on [Peacock] this fall." As the wait begins for the new show, you can always rewatch the original Suits with a Peacock Premium subscription and/or Arrow with a Netflix subscription.

While there is still one upcoming DC show on The CW – Superman and Lois, which will return this fall on the 2024 TV schedule – the heyday of superhero shows on this network is long gone. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning and Batwoman dominated the network’s programming between 2012 and 2023, and they’d occasionally come together for epic crossovers, creating quite an interconnected world. However, those Arrowverse moments were not easy to make, and a producer got real about just how challenging it was to coordinate this television universe and their crossover events.

Marc Guggenheim, who served as the co-creator of Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow and an executive producer on Supergirl, The Flash and Batwoman, got real about the headache-inducing logistics of planning crossovers on Multiverse of Color. He said these events were some of the hardest things to do when it came to these shows, and explained why, saying:

Adding to that, he broke down everything they had to consider when creating crossovers. They were dealing with multiple casts, crews, budgets and stories (among many other things), and it was a massive puzzle to solve, as he said:

He went on to say that there was a lot of trust between him, other producers and executives working on these massive shows, which helped. However, that does not diminish just how complicated these are.

Not only are there multiple complex storylines to figure out and integrate into one big story, but logistically, it sounds like a nightmare. He specifically cited “Crisis on Earth-X” – which aired in 2017 as a crossover of Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, and was actually almost a “seamless movie” – as a particularly difficult one. This was because the cast had to play both their characters and their evil doppelgangers, doubling the screen time of all the actors.

Guggenheim then laid out some of those behind-the-scenes challenges they had to handle across the years when they were creating these massive crossovers. Using “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and a scene that involved tons of characters as his example -- which was a crossover between Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, and left many debating if it was the best or worst thing to happen to the Arrowverse -- he said:

Earlier in the interview, the producer explained that they’d schedule the shows so each one would have a day where they’d shut down so the cast could go work on a different series. He also noted that over time they got better at scheduling out and planning these episodes. However, it's still a stressful amount to juggle no matter how much practice you've had.

Adding to the complications, Guggenheim pointed out that when they were constructing these television events, they’d have to talk with every showrunner for each show, work out rights for footage from different DC projects and convince actors to say yes:

I also haven’t even brought up the scheduling challenges that came out of weather issues (because these shows were filmed in Vancouver) and problems with CGI and special effects...

All this is to say, these multi-show events were spectacular and a major moment in modern network television history. Understanding the work that went into them behind the scenes honestly makes them even better.

To go back and see these epic crossovers, you can stream Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow with a Netflix subscription. Various other DC shows, including some of the Arrowverse, like Batwoman, can be viewed with a Max subscription. And if you do go back to view these wild television events, make sure to give them a little extra appreciation now that you know just how hard they were to create.

While Arrow wasn’t the first DC TV show to air on The CW, with that honor belonging to Smallville since it was part of the opening programming block following The WB and UPN merging into one network, there’s no question that the Stephen Amell-led series was a big deal for the channel. The adventures of Oliver Queen paved the way for spinoffs like The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman that all came together to form the Arrowverse. However, it turns out that even before this shared continuity came into existence, Arrow was already crucial to The CW’s survival.

Arrow co-creator Marc Guggenheim appeared on The Showrunner Whisperer to speak with host Andy Behbakht about his career, including the origins of Arrow, which premiered in 2012, six years after The CW launched. When asked what hurdles he had to overcome in Season 1, the executive producer revealed:

Wow, talk about high expectations right out of the gate! When Arrow first hit the airwaves, The CW’s other shows included Gossip Girl, 90210, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries, all of which certainly had sizable fanbases, and Smallville had concluded its 10-season run the year prior. But evidently things were dire enough at The CW that if Arrow hadn’t grabbed viewers immediately with the Emerald Archer’s adventures in then-Starling City, the network would have simply collapsed.

Fortunately, that didn’t end up happening. While Arrow handled the Green Arrow mythology with a darker tone compared to much of its comic book source material, with Marc Guggenheim and the rest of the creative team taking inspiration from Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, the show proved popular enough to warrant The CW ordering a second season. In the end, Arrow ran for eight seasons (though it was originally designed to only last five seasons), and the Arroweverse as a whole became one of The CW’s biggest draws of the 2010s. So yeah, it’s be an understatement to say that Arrow fulfilled Peter Roth’s wish of it being a “hit.”

If you’re now in the mood to revisit Arrow, it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription. Otherwise, use our 2024 TV schedule to keep track of what’s currently airing/streaming, and remember that plenty of other DC programming is available to watch if you have a Max subscription.

In 2012, Arrow premiered on The CW and kicked off a shared universe of DC Comics properties on television. The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Black Lightning followed, and for nearly a decade, this franchise delivered interconnected stories that channeled the same appeal that their comic book source material had been doing for decades. Many superheroes were featured in the Arrowverse, but we’re here to talk about 32 that had major roles in the franchise.

Before going further, there are some stipulations to point out. First, these characters need to have been established in the comics as superheroes before they were introduced in the Arrowverse, hence why characters like Nia Nal/Dreamer, Sara Lance/White Canary and John Diggle/Spartan aren’t on here. Second, these characters need to be chiefly known as heroes in the comics, which is why the likes of Captain Cold, Heat Wave and Killer Frost won’t be mentioned. Finally, we’re only covering the six live-action shows that made up the main Arrowverse continuity, both pre and post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths,” so don’t go looking for people from shows like Superman & Lois and Stargirl.

Green Arrow

Arrow starred Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, and while he initially went by The Hood and The Arrow, this version of Oliver finally started going by Green Arrow in Season 4. In addition to his eight seasons leading Arrow, Amell’s Oliver participated in all the biggest Arrowverse crossover events. He died in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” but fans got to reunite with him in the Arrow series finale and The Flash episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To.”

The Flash

Oliver Queen may have ushered in the Arrowverse, but it wasn’t until Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen got struck by that bolt of lightning that this franchise started getting truly fantastical and fully embracing its superhero roots. Barry protected the citizens of Central City for nine seasons of The Flash, and he was also present for every big Arrowverse crossover event. This Barry also had the unique privilege of being the only Arrowverse hero to cross over with the DCEU, as he met Ezra Miller’s Flash in “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Supergirl

Although Supergirl originally debuted on CBS, it was established to take part in the wider Arrowverse continuity when Barry Allen traveled to the Earth of Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers late in Season 1. Those ties only grew stronger once the show moved to The CW, and from there, Kara rounded out the Arrowverse’s main trinity of superheroes with Barry and Oliver Queen. At the end of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” Kara’s Earth merged with the franchise’s main Earth, so Supergirl concluded its six-season run in the same world where the majority of her superhero cohorts now live.

Batwoman

Initially Batwoman starred Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, the same character who holds the mantle in the comics. However, following Rose’s exit post-Season 1, Ryan Wilder (seen above) was created to take over as the vigilante, with Javicia Leslie being cast to play her. Batwoman only lasted three seasons, but both Kate (later played by Wallis Day) and Ryan still stood out as important heroes before, during and after that time, with the former appearing in both the “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths crossovers,” and the latter both reprising her role on The Flash and playing an evil speedster version of Ryan called Red Death early in Season 9.

Black Lightning

When Black Lightning came along, there was absolutely nothing connecting it to the Arrowverse. Jefferson Pierce’s return to superheroing unfolded in its own corner of the multiverse, but then “Crisis on Infinite Earths” came along and merged his Earth with the main Arrowverse Earth and Supergirl’s. Cress Williams would later reprise Jefferson for an episode of The Flash Season 8, but it was across Black Lightning’s four-season run where he shined best, with no one but the allies in his immediate circle on hand to help him out.

Black Canary

Five individuals held the Black Canary mantle in the Arrowverse: Sara Lance, the Laurel Lance from Earth-1, Evelyn Sharp, Dinah Drake (seen above), and the Laurel Lance from Earth-2. Of those five, the two Laurels and Dinah were able to unleash a sonic scream on their enemies, although Earth-1’s Laurel’s came from a device rather than as a metahuman ability like the other two. There had been plans for Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy to continue respectively playing Earth-2 Laurel and Dinah alongside Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak in a Green Arrow & The Canaries spinoff, but it was never picked up.

The Atom

Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer debuted at the beginning of Arrow Season 3, where he would unveil his A.T.O.M. exosuit. After initially having been presumed dead by the end of the season, Ray resurfaced in Season 4 having been revealed to be shrunken to the size of an atom, and he was able to incorporate shrinking into his exosuit. From there, he became one of the founding Legends of Tomorrow and stuck around on that show as a series regular until midway through Season 5.

Arsenal

By Arrow Season 3, Colton Haynes’ Roy Harper, who’d already appeared in the first two seasons, had taken up archery and joined Oliver Queen in fighting crime as Arsenal, though he was also called Red Arrow by the media. Although Roy had to leave Team Arrow that same season after he masqueraded as The Arrow and faked his death, he would still pop in and out of the show throughout the rest of Arrow’s run to help out his friends. He also followed in his comic book counterpart’s footsteps by gaining a cybernetic arm.

Speedy

The second Speedy in the comics was Mia Dearden, so it was only appropriate that Willa Holland's Thea Queen, who was a loose adaptation of the character, also received that name. When Roy left Star City, he left his Arsenal costume behind, and she made adjustments to it so she could wear it out in the field and join her brother Oliver as a bow-and-arrow-wielding superhero. Eventually she embarked on a personal crusade to battle the Thanatos Guild.

Vibe

Carlos Valdés’ Cisco Ramon was already a valued member of Team Flash at the beginning as its tech genius, but after he discovered he was a metahuman capable of manipulating dimensional energy, he became Vibe. Cisco took a metahuman cure in Season 5, but he continued to fight crime as Mecha-Vibe using a suit that provided him with some of his former powers until he left in Season 7 to join A.R.G.U.S.

Superman

I know, I said I wouldn’t include anybody from Superman & Lois on this list. However, in this case, I’m talking about the Superman from Earth-38/Earth-Prime. In other words, this is the Clark Kent who appeared on Supergirl and participated in “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” We’d assumed he was also the one leading Superman & Lois until it was revealed that show is set on another Earth.

Martian Manhunter

Originally Supergirl viewers thought David Harewood was playing Hank Henshaw, the man who became Cyborg Superman in the comics. But early in Season 1, it was revealed that his character was actually J’onn J’onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter, who assumed Henshaw’s identity to try and do good as the director of the Department of Extranormal Operations. Harewood would later play the sinister Henshaw for a few episodes, but it was J’onn who stuck around for all of Supergirl as one of Kara’s most important allies.

Elongated Man

Ralph Dibny gained his elastic powers from The Thinker’s machinations in The Flash Season 4, and after being stabilized, he joined Team Flash to help them fight crime as Elongated Man. Hartley Sawyer portrayed the character through to the end of Season 6, but after the actor was fired from the show, a stand-in performer was used for the Season 7 premiere. While healing from some major burns, Ralph decided to leave Team Flash to travel the world with Sue Dearbon and dismantle various criminal organizations.

Vixen

Although Mari McCabe, the Vixen from the comics, was played by Megalyn Echikunwoke in the Vixen and The Ray animated web series, as well as an episode of Arrow, it was the character’s grandmother, Amaya Jiwe (seen above), who got more attention in the Arroverse. An original character created for Legends of Tomorrow, Amaya, played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers, was active as Vixen during World War II as a Justice Society member, and after traveling through time with the Legends for a while, she returned to her original time period at the end of Season 3. Richardson-Sellers then stuck around a few more seasons as a shapeshifter named Charlie.

Firestorm

Just like in the comics, the Arrowverse’s original Firestorm duo consisted of Robbie Amell’s Ronnie Raymond and Victor Garber’s Martin Stein, with the two being recurring characters in The Flash Season 1. However, after Ronnie died in the Season 2 premiere, Stein merged a few episodes later with Franz Drameh’s Jefferson “Jax” Jackson (seen above), and the two went on to join the Legends of Tomorrow. That’s where they stayed until Stein died in the “Crisis on Earth X” crossover, prompting Jax to leave and resume his normal life.

John Constantine

Although NBC’s Constantine series only lasted one season, Matt Ryan was able to keep playing the trenchcoat-wearing sorcerer in multiple other ways, most notably in the Arrowverse. Following a guest appearance in Arrow Season 4, he returned two years later in Legends of Tomorrow, where he eventually became part of the team and hung around until the end of Season 6. Even then, Ryan remained on the series to play Gwyn Davies, the inventor of time travel.

Kid Flash

Depicted as Iris West’s long-lost brother rather than her nephew like in the comics, Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West was introduced midway through The Flash Season 2. After Season 3’s premiere showed him as the Kid Flash of the Flashpoint timeline, the main version of Wally gained super speed when Doctor Alchemy restored his powers from that other reality. Wally exited as a series regular at the beginning of The Flash Season 4, but would later make guest appearances in Seasons 6 and 9, as well as appearing in the latter half of Legends of Tomorrow Season 3.

Jay Garrick

After it was revealed that the Jay Garrick that viewers had been following along with in The Flash Season 2 was really the sinister Zoom, the real Jay was revealed at the end of that season to be a doppelgänger of Henry Allen from Earth-3. With John Wesley Shipp having played Barry Allen in The Flash TV show from 1990 (whom he also reprised in “Elseworlds and “Crisis on Infinite Earths”), it was only fitting that he also play this veteran speedster as well.

Thunder/Blackbird

If you’re making a show about Black Lightning, then it’s only appropriate that you include his superhero daughters too. The first of them was Nafessa Williams’ Anissa Pierce, a.k.a. Thunder, although there were also various instances where she went by the moniker Blackbird. Unlike her father and sister, Anissa didn’t generate and manipulate electricity, but rather was able to manipulate her density with her breathing, giving her super strength and durability.

Lightning

Like her superhero name clearly indicates, not only did Jennifer Pierce inherit the same kind of powers as her father, but she also had the added ability to generate electricity on her own rather than just manipulate it like Jefferson. China Anne McClain played Jennifer for the majority of Black Lightning’s run, but for a good chunk of Season 4, Laura Kariuki took over the role, though this was later revealed to be an ionosphere entity who stole her identity.

Mister Terrific

After being introduced in Arrow Season 4 as a Palmer Technologies employee who worked closely with Felicity Smoak, Echo Kellum’s Curtis Holt (rather than Michael Holt, like in the comics) officially joined Team Arrow at the beginning of Season 5, taking the identity Mr. Terrific, which had previously belonged to his favorite wrestler. Curtis stuck with the team until the end of Season 6, and from there he briefly worked for A.R.G.U.S., then took a job in Washington D.C.

Wild Dog

Instead of using Jack Wheeler from the comics, Arrow gave that superhero identity to the original character Rene Ramirez, played by Rick Gonzalez. Although frequently hotheaded, Rene was nonetheless another valued member of Team Arrow for many seasons, though there was a period where he, Curtis and Dinah formed their own group. Eventually, Rene retired from being Wild Dog and became mayor of Star City by the end of the show.

XS

While XS is indeed a character from the comics, The Flash’s version of her is a melding of her and Barry Allen’s daughter, who was known as Dawn in the comics. In this show, while it’s implied that’s what Jessica Parker Kennedy’s character used to be named too, changes to the timeline led to her being named Nora, after Barry’s mother. The original version of Kennedy’s Nora was erased from the timeline after Cicada’s dagger was destroyed, but fortunately, a new version of her came into being afterward.

Impulse

Rather than being Barry Allen’s grandson like in the comics, Jordan Fisher’s Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse, is depicted as Barry and Iris West’s son, i.e. Nora’s sister. Introduced towards the end of Season 7, and a speedster just like his father and Nora, Impulse shared a special connection with Jay Garrick and had already made an enemy out of Godspeed from his time period.

Guardian

In Supergirl, the Guardian mantle was held by the Olsen siblings rather than Jim Harper or Mal Duncan. James Olsen first started fighting crime as Guardian in Season 2, with Winn Schott making him his suit and shield. Then in Season 6, one season after Mehcad Brooks stopped playing James as a series regular, Azie Tesfai’s Kelly Olsen (seen above) took over as the new Guardian, although James did don his costume one last time in the series finale.

Citizen Steel

Nick Zano’s Nate Heywood joined Legends of Tomorrow at the beginning of Season 2, gaining the ability to transform his body into steel from an experimental serum. This power is more like Colossus’ from the X-Men than the Nate from the comics, but it was a welcome one to have until mustard gas eroded the steel in Season 7, which led to him retiring from the team. This version of Nate also simply went by Steel rather than Citizen Steel, not to be confused with the John Henry Irons Steel.

Mon-El

Hailing from Daxam, a planet populated by Kryptonian offshoots, Mon-El gained the same kind of superpowers as Supergirl when he landed on Earth. However, because he was a spoiled prince from the Daxamite monarchy, it took a while for him to start behaving like a hero. Mon-El and Kara fell in love, but while Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist married in real life, it wasn’t meant to be for the characters. Mon-El ended up traveling to the 31st century and joined the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Batwing

When Batwoman began, Luke Fox initially started out working behind the scenes to help Kate Kane out, having already been keeping Wayne Tower secure on Batman’s behalf. Then in Season 2, Campus Johnson’s character began his own superhero journey, one which culminated in him constructing a supersuit and becoming Batwing, just like in the comics.

Brainiac 5

Brainiac 5 was one of Mon-El’s teammates in the Legion of Super-Heroes, and together with Saturn Girl, they traveled back to the present day in Supergirl Season 3. By the end of that season, Winn Schott decided to travel to the future to stop an AI-killing virus, Jesse Rath’s Brainiac 5, a.k.a. Brainy, stayed in the present and became one of Supergirl’s most valued allies. He also formed a romantic relationship with Nia Nal.

Hawkgirl

Although both Hawkgirl and Harman appeared in Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 following their introductions in the “Heroes Join Forces Crossover,” Ciara Renée’s Kendra Saunders unquestionably had the bigger role. After her version of Carter Hall was killed by Vandal Savage, she joined the Legends to help try to defeat the villain across time. By the end of Season 1, Kendra and a later incarnation of Carter left after Vandal was finally killed for good.

Rip Hunter

Arthur Darvill’s Rip Hunter, one of DC Comics’ greatest time travelers, assembled the Legends of Tomorrow to help him stop Vandal Savage. Season 2 saw him bring brainwashed by the Legion of Doom, but fortunately, their programming was erased, and he then decided to leave the Legends after realizing he had nothing left to teach them. He then spent the next five years of his personal timeline forming the Time Bureau, but by the end of Season 3, Rip sacrificed his stop the demon Mallus.

Jesse Quick

Rather than being Jesse Chambers like in the comics, The Flash’s version of Jesse Quick was Jesse Wells, the daughter of Earth-2’s Harrison Wells. Violett Beane's character gained her super speed after being exposed to dark matter during an attempt to restore Barry Allen’s own speed. By Season 3, she began fighting crime on Earth-2, and occasionally on Earth-1, as Jesse Quick. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Jesse was restored to life in the new multiverse created during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

While the Arrowverse is over, these 32 will be remembered as some of its most prominent superheroes, and there are plenty of others we could spend time talking about. They’re just among the many reasons why this franchise will continue being enjoyed for years to come.

There have been dozens upon dozens of movies featuring professional wrestlers over the years, but there have been just as many, if not more, TV shows with titans of the industry like The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Dating back to the early days of the TV sitcom, some of the most famous men and women who have ever entered the ring have appeared either in starring roles or in brief yet unforgettable cameos. 

Some of these are iconic while others may have slipped between the cracks of our shared memories, but here are 32 TV shows featuring professional wrestlers.

That '70s Show (The Rock, Ken Shamrock, The Hardy Boyz)

That ‘70s Show premiered in the middle of the Attitude Era, so it wasn’t all that surprising when The Rock, Ken Shamrock, and The Hardy Boyz showed up very early on in the Fox sitcom’s run. During the first season, those WWE legends portrayed some very ‘70s wrestlers, with Dwayne Johnson getting much of the screen time with a character strikingly similar to his real-life father, Rocky Johnson.

The Simpsons (Bret Hart)

Dozens of celebrities have played themselves on The Simpsons, including former WWE Champion Bret “The Hitman” Hart, who popped up in “The Old Man and the Lisa” back in Season 8. In the episode, Hart is revealed to be a potential buyer of Mr. Burns’ mansion after the uber-wealthy character loses his fortune.

Thunder In Paradise (Hulk Hogan, Sting)

After leaving WWE in August 1993 and before joining WCW the following March, Hulk Hogan did what anyone with his amount of influence, power, and star power would do, he created his own TV show. Thunder in Paradise, which feels like both a spinoff and knockoff of Baywatch, lasted only one season on TNT, but it was as wild as it was short-lived. Plus, the likes of Sting, Jimmy Hart, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake also popped up from time to time.

Boy Meets World (Mick Foley, Vader)

Boy Meets World, like other ABC sitcoms of its era, featured multiple wrestlers over the years, including Mick Foley (as Mankind) and Vader, who actually made more than one appearance on the long-running show.

Baywatch (WCW Roster)

When it comes to the biggest TV shows of the ‘90s, Baywatch is definitely on that list. Though the show didn’t earn its “iconic” status because of its wrestling cameos, the appearances by Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and other WCW stars in “Bash at the Beach” did make for a wild crossover event. Jet skis, Ric Flair challenging Hogan to a match to decide the fate of a youth center, and so much more happens in this unforgettable episode.

Family Matters (The Bushwackers)

Some of the best Family Matters episodes were those where Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) and Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) teamed up, dressed up in costumes, and then took on some kind of goons. One of the funniest is “Psycho Twins,” which saw the unlikely duo wrestle WWE Hall of Fame tag-team The Bushwackers in a hilarious match. It’s silly and it makes no sense, but Luke and Butch made the most of it.

The Dick Van Dyke Show (Classy Freddie Blassie)

“Classy” Freddie Blassie will forever go down as one of the most fearsome and legendary wrestlers to ever enter the ring. But did you know he also made an appearance on The Dick van Dyke Show? Well, the all-time great heel showed up in “The Twizle” and twirled Rob Petrie over his head by the time the credits rolled.

The Bernie Mac Show (Triple H)

Before Paul “Triple H” Levesque became WWE’s Chief Content Officer, the 14-time world champion made quite a few movie and TV appearances. Though it’s probably not the first one that comes to mind, Triple H’s appearance on a random 2005 episode of The Bernie Mac Show is comedy gold. After Bernie’s nephew keeps calling “The Game” and pestering him, the WWE legend shows up at his house and utters his “It’s time to play the game” catchphrase wearing a turtle neck and apron.

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (Kevin Nash)

Kevin Nash has been in movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, John Wick, and Magic Mike, but did you know he also showed up on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch back in 1997? Around the time he was dominating WCW as a member of the NWO, Nash portrayed “The Giant” in an episode of the beloved ‘90s sitcom.

Parks And Recreation (John Cena)

While it’s not on one of the best Parks and Recreation episodes, John Cena did show up during the hit NBC comedy series’ seventh and final season. Playing himself, the “Doctor of Thugonomics” popped up on “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show,” where he had a classic scene with Chris Pratt’s character. 

I Think You Should Leave (Aron Stevens)

Tim Robinson has to be one of the biggest wrestling fans in the entertainment industry because he is constantly bringing wrestlers onto his various shows. This includes the most recent season of his I Think You Should Leave sketch comedy show which features Aron Stevens, formerly known as Damien Sandow in WWE, in the instantly iconic bit where Robinson tries to start a “pay it forward” chain in a drive-thru. 

Nash Bridges (Stone Cold Steve Austin)

Remember Nash Bridges, the CBS action-comedy series starring Don Johnson and Cheech Marin from the ‘90s? Well, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin got in on the fun back in 1999 when he showed up as Jake Cage, a tough-as-nails cop who stole just every scene he was in throughout his six appearances on the series.

Peacemaker (John Cena)

The DC streaming series, Peacemaker isn’t really a wrestling show, but with John Cena taking the lead role, we had to include it. This hilarious, violent, and charming comic book show sees one of the most detestable and annoying characters from The Suicide Squad and turns him into an American treasure.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia ('Rowdy' Roddy Piper)

The Late “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was one of the first and most successful wrestlers-turned-actors, appearing in movies like They Live, Hell Comes to Frogtown, and countless others. He also had a recurring role as Da’ Maniac on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where he quickly became one of the best side characters the show ever created.

Ballers (The Rock)

The HBO sports drama series, Ballers, spends more time focusing on professional sports than pro wrestling, but with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson taking up a lot of screen time, it has to be included. It has always felt like Johnson’s Spencer Strassmore was a version of The Rock that got into being a sports agent instead of the Peoples’ Champion.

Smallville (Kane)

Throughout the 2000s, if a TV show needed big strong men who could also act a little, they’d call upon WWE to fill the void. And Kane did just that in an episode of Smallville where he goes toe-to-toe with Tom Welling’s Clark Kent in an unforgettable and painful fight.

Married... with Children (King Kong Bundy)

Married… with Children was a show that pushed the limits of broadcast TV censors during its run, and some would consider low-brow humor. That being said, it was only fitting that the beloved Fox sitcom would feature a wrestling episode that saw WWE legend King Kong Bundy step into the ring with Bud Bundy (David Faustino), who was dressed up like a bumblebee for extra dramatic effect.

Psych (The Miz)

Monday Night Raw has been on USA Network for most of its 31-year run, and Psych called the channel home throughout its eight seasons, so it’s only fitting that there would have been some crossover. Well, we got just that in a 2012 episode where The Miz popped up as a contestant on a dating show who has a big secret. He got to yell, he got to smash things, and have a ton of fun.

Charmed (Booker T, Scott Steiner)

During the final years of WCW, you’d see wrestlers show up in movies like Ready to Rumble and shows like Charmed for some reason. In the episode “Wrestling with My Demons,” five-time WCW Champion Booker T, Scott Steiner, and Buff Bagwell all appeared and showed off their skills in a demonic ring.

GLOW (Multiple WWE, TNA And AEW Wrestlers)

Netflix’s GLOW is one of those shows that was canceled too soon. Despite not being around all that long before it lost a “loser leaves the streaming platform” match, the semi-autobiographical series about the Glorious Ladies of Wrestling promotion featured multiple WWE, TNA, and AEW wrestlers, including John Morrison, who has wrestled for all three of those promotions.

3rd Rock From The Sun (Chyna)

Years before her untimely passing, Chyna, aka, the “Ninth Wonder of the World,” had a recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun as Janice, a very muscular rookie cop who later became Harry Solomon’s (French Stewart) girlfriend.

Hannah Montana (John Cena)

Years before he was leading Peacemaker or killing it in the Fast & Furious franchise, John Cena appeared on all manners of kids shows, including Hannah Montana. During the show’s fourth season, the future WWE Hall of Famer gave Jackson Stewart (Jason Earles) a personal, and physical, lesson in the importance of reading.

Star Trek: Voyager (The Rock)

The Rock didn’t immediately become the biggest thing in Hollywood. Instead, he worked on various TV shows and film projects throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000s, including Star Trek: Voyager where he played the  Pendari Champion who fought Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in an unforgettable contest.

The Flash (Edge)

In addition to being one of the most decorated wrestlers of the 21st century, Edge has also spent the past few decades appearing on all kinds of TV shows, including The Flash. In Season 2 of The Flash, the Rated-R Superstar took on the role of the villainous Atom-Smasher. 

The Cleveland Show (Ric Flair)

The Cleveland Show is another animated series to feature a wrestling legend. In the Season 3 episode titled “BFFs,” the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair hosts a camping trip that quickly goes from being a bad time to an all-time terrible experience for all involved. But hey, Flair seems to be having a great time.

Law & Order: SVU (Goldberg)

Former WCW and WWE Champion Bill Goldberg made his presence known on the 2007 episode of Law & Order: SVU with his portrayal of Cupid. Though he’s not around all that long, the former NFLer’s time on screen is absolutely insane and sees him get hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, through a bench, and slam someone through a window.

Billions (Becky Lynch)

Becky Lynch, who has been one of the most impactful female wrestlers on the planet for the better part of the past decade, has made her fair share of TV appearances during that time. That includes a 2020 episode of Billions where “The Man” dropped by to give a motivational speech to Axe Capital. It was brief but it was very exciting, to say the least.

The X-Files (Rob Van Dam)

Rob Van Dam, aka, “Mr. Monday Night,” is one of the most legendary ECW champions of all time, and the former WWE Champion even took his exciting in-ring abilities to The X-Files back in the day. Though he was not around all that long, and he was wearing a mask for a portion of that time, Van Dam had a key role in the “Fight Club” episode where he took on Randall “Tex” Cobb’s Bert Zupanic in a fun wrestling match. 

Arrow (Cody Rhodes)

Cody Rhodes and Stephen Amell have had quite the history over the years, and part of that includes the “American Nightmare” showing up on Arrow. Rhodes’ Derek Sampson appeared in a total of seven episodes split between Seasons 5 and 7. And yeah, he did get to finish his story this time.

Cousins For Life (Roman Reigns)

Roman Reigns may be the feared Tribal Chief and Head of the Table in the Bloodline, but before he became the dominant Undisputed WWE Champion on his historic title reign, the wrestler appeared on an episode of Cousins for Life. In the 2019 episode “Farewell to Arthur?” Reigns gave a brief yet hilarious performance that has us begging for a face-turn.

G.I. Joe (Sgt. Slaughter)

The G.I Joe: A Real American Hero animated series is one of the most beloved cartoons of the ‘80s, and perhaps one of the reasons for this is Sgt. Slaughter’s unforgettable run portraying a fictionalized version of himself. The cartoon and toys based on the show made Slaughter an even bigger name in wrestling, even if he turned his back on Hulk Hogan and America at the start of Desert Storm.

Detroiters (Kevin Nash)

Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson are from Detroit, and former WWE Champion Kevin Nash is from Detroit, so it only made sense for the iconic wrestler to have a recurring role on the comedy duo’s Detroiters. On the show, Nash played “Big Hank” Cramblin, Robinson’s on-screen father who had quite a presence.

These are just a couple of dozen TV shows that have featured wrestlers in one way or another over the years. Though some are more memorable than others, each of these shows featured some of history’s best wrestlers having a grand ole time on the small screen.

While Stephen Amell may be known mainly for his acting work, he also has a solid following amongst pro wrestling fans. This is partly due to his work on the two-season Starz series Heels but also because of the high-profile wrestling matches he's participated in over the years. Amell recently shared a wild story about his match at WWE SummerSlam in 2015 and how Warner Bros. asked him to pay to promote Arrow at the event. 

WWE superstar Cody Rhodes may be at the top of the wrestling food chain these days, but back in 2015, he was a mid-carder still putting in the work to establish himself as a standout talent apart from his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes, and equally famous half-brother, Goldust. He found a way to do so with a feud with then-CW star Stephen Amell, which eventually led to a guest-starring role on Arrow that Rhodes took pretty seriously. 

With the two squared against each other in the ring at SummerSlam 2015, one would think The CW would do all it could to promote the appearance of the Arrow star. As Stephen Amell recently revealed during a virtual live signing event with HighSpots Superstore, they wanted him to pay for it:

It's wild to hear that Warner Bros. wanted Stephen Amell to pay to be able to walk out to the Arrow theme song, especially for a massive WWE event like SummerSlam. While his tag-team match with Neville against Stardust and King Barrett, currently available to watch with a Peacock Premium subscription, wasn't the headlining event, the fact it took place at one of the WWE's biggest events of the year was pretty noteworthy. Perhaps WB banked on the wrestling company paying the fee for Amell or just wanted someone to pay regardless. 

As such, Stephen Amell did not get to use the Arrow theme for the big match; instead, it was music made by the team at WWE. The actor was fine with what was written but expressed regret that he wasn't able to use the iconic show theme for his big wrestling moment:

Stephen Amell won the match, but Cody Rhodes has moved on since then and isn't begging for a rematch. Instead, he's hoping to "finish the story" and beat undisputed champion Roman Reigns after falling short at WrestleMania 39. It's expected the two will have a rematch at WrestleMania 40, and little chance of Amell showing up to aid Reigns in taking out his old rival. 

Though he hasn't fought with Cody Rhodes, Stephen Amell has stayed connected to the world of pro wrestling. In 2018, he appeared at AEW's All In to fight Christopher Daniels and also worked with recently-returned WWE superstar CM Punk on Heels. With Punk's growing feud with Rollins, could Amell be worked in to serve as a piece in helping Punk's quest for a major title at WrestleMania or another upcoming WWE event? I know that I would be up for seeing it happen, but the WWE might be more focused on the immense talent pool it already has. 

Stephen Amell is several years removed from his stint on Arrow, the hit CW show that launched the Arrowverse (and is available for Netflix subscribers to stream). However, the series and those involved still seem to hold a place close to the actor’s heart. That shines through in the way that he continues to discuss the superhero series and pay tribute to it. Unfortunately, Amell recently found himself in the position of having to memorialize one of his colleagues. He revealed that a crew member (and his friend) Dave McLean died. With that, the star lovingly paid tribute to the man who he says “literally kept the lights on.” 

It was on Saturday that the 42-year-old Canadian star took to his Facebook account to announce his friend and colleague’s passing. The star – who portrayed Oliver Queen during the show’s eight-season run – explained in a video that his buddy was with the program starting in the first season. He also shed some light on what the late crewman’s job was on set and why it was important for the production. From there, the Heels alum also emphasized the father of two’s commitment to his role:

According to Stephen Amell, Dave McLean went missing after his 50th Birthday and explained that he’d hoped for the best with the situation. Sadly, as the visibly emotional Amell himself conceded, that didn’t prove to be the case. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star didn’t get into specifics regarding the circumstances of McLean’s death, though he did stress the importance of talking to someone if “you’re feeling down.” With his caption, he also encouraged fans to donate to a GoFundMe page set up for the late genny operator’s wife, Linnea, and their two kids:

The star deftly portrayed a do-gooder for nearly a decade, and Stephen Amell could play even more superheroes as time goes on. Despite that though, I don’t think he could be any more noble than he was when sharing this video. Not only was this a sweet tribute to someone who was integral to producing the Arrowverse’s inaugural series, but the appeal to fans to seek out help, if needed, was also admirable. It’s also commendable that he used his platform to aid the McLean family in the midst of their loss. 

Stephen Amell definitely has no problem sending out messages to his fans via social media, regardless of what the reason is. Some of his most notable ones, though, have involved the comic book-inspired show that made him a true star. He shared an emotional address ahead of Arrow’s series finale in 2020. He also dropped a message confirming his return for The Flash’s final season, which was part of the 2023 TV schedule. You have to appreciate the fact that Amell doesn’t mind getting raw with his fans, especially when it comes to honoring friends.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Dave McLean during this time.

There are plenty of great DC movies and TV shows on Netflix for comic book fans to check out, which is one thing that makes it one of the best streaming services to subscribe to today. Let's take a deeper look at all of the great superhero movies and series under the DC umbrella that a Netflix subscription provides — some of which a Max subscription will not even get you.

Preacher (2016-2019)

Criminal-turned-minister Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), his ex-girlfriend Tulip (Ruth Negga), and a vampire named Cassidy (Joe Gilgun) team up to, literally, find God after the Almighty goes missing.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's hit DC Wildstorm comic, Preacher is a refreshingly unique and cheekily funny supernatural thriller from developers Sam Catlin, Seth Rogen, and Evan Goldberg.

• Stream Preacher on Netflix

Batwheels (2022-Present)

The Batmobile (voiced by Jacob Bertrand) and other vehicles used by the Dark Knight (voiced by Ethan Hawke) and the BatFamilly become equipped with a sentient A.I. that allows them to become heroes on their own.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: For younger children who may not be ready for the live-action Batman films or even Batman: The Animated Series, Batwheels serves as a perfect entry point into the DC Universe.

• Stream Batwheels on Netflix

Justice League And Justice League Unlimited (2001-2004, 2004-2006)

Batman (the late Kevin Conroy), Superman (George Newbern), Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg), and more of the world’s greatest heroes form an alliance that grows much, much larger in later years.

Why they are some of the best DC titles on Netflix: Relive all of the best episodes of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which was the cornerstone of the much esteemed DC Animated Universe that was spearheaded by Batman: The Animated Series.

• Stream Justice League on Netflix
• Stream Justice League Unlimited on Netflix

The Batman (2004-2008)

The wealthy, orphaned Bruce Wayne (Rino Romano, one of the most underrated and best Batman voice actors) becomes a symbol of his greatest fear to intimidate the most feared criminals threatening Gotham City.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Not to be confused with the 2022 comic book movie starring Robert Pattinson, The Batman is an animated series that offers a refreshing take on the early years of Bruce Wayne’s war on crime.

• Stream The Batman on Netflix

Arrow (2012-2020)

An irresponsible billionaire (Stephen Amell) returns from a long hiatus with a new determination to protect his crime-ridden city with expert archery skills.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Based on the character of Oliver “Green Arrow” Queen, co-developer Greg Berlanti’s acclaimed Arrow pioneered a shared universe of DC TV shows on The CW that came to aptly be known as the “Arrowverse.”

• Stream Arrow on Netflix

The Flash (2014-2023)

After he is struck by lightning, a forensics investigator (Grant Gustin) gains the ability to move faster than any other living being.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: The second installment of the Arrowverse, The CW’sThe Flash, also boasts one of the most beloved iterations of Barry Allen.

• Stream The Flash on Netflix

Supergirl (2015-2021)

Clark Kent’s cousin, Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist), uses her Kryptonian abilities to fight crime on her own in National City.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Originally airing on CBS before joining her fellow Arrowverse-canon series on The CW, Supergirl is, surprisingly, among the lowest-rated superhero TV shows on IMDb, but is one of the best modern DC TV shows, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

• Stream Supergirl on Netflix

DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow (2016-2022)

A diverse group of crime fighters and criminals work together, traveling through time to fight evil.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: You never know what you are going to see next while following the ragtag crew from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, which was cancelled before it could finish its story after seven seasons.

• Stream DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow on Netflix

Black Lightning (2017-2021)

A former superhero (Cress Williams) with the ability to generate electricity comes out of retirement to protect his community from a vicious criminal gang.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: One of the more unique installments of the Arrowverse — for following an older character who forms a team with his own family — is Black Lightning, which was cancelled at The CW after four seasons.

• Stream Black Lightning on Netflix

Lucifer (2016-2021)

After growing tired of his life ruling Hell, Satan (Tom Ellis) comes to Earth in human form and uses his expertise in all things evil as an LAPD consultant.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Originally airing on Fox, Lucifer — based on the DC Vertigo title — later became one of the best crime TV shows on Netflix for its dazzling blend of fantasy and hard-boiled mystery.

• Stream Lucifer on Netflix

Sweet Tooth (2021-2024)

A young, half-man, half-deer hybrid (Christian Convery) struggles to survive Earth’s post-apocalyptic landscape with help from one of the few humans left (Nonso Anozie).

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: Robert Downey Jr. serves as a producer for this comparatively more lighthearted adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s dark, dystopian fantasy series from DC Comics, Sweet Tooth.

• Stream Sweet Tooth on Netflix

The Sandman (2022-Present)

After spending over a century in captivity, the personification dreams (Tom Sturridge) must prevent a living nightmare (Boyd Holbrook) from wreaking havoc on the Earth.

Why it is one of the best DC titles on Netflix: After years in development hell, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman — which has a second season in the works — was finally adapted for screen as a Netflix original series featuring a top-notch, star-studded cast and a passionate understanding of its source material.

• Stream The Sandman on Netflix

Bodies (2023)

The same corpse of an unidentified man is discovered in the exact same place in London by four different detectives in four different time periods.

Why they are some of the best DC titles on Netflix: Based on Si Spencer's acclaimed graphic novel published by DC Vertigo in 2015, Bodies is an eight-episode, Netflix original crime drama with a mind-bending sci-fi twist, developed by Torchwood writer Paul Tomalin.

• Stream Bodies on Netflix

Be sure to check back and see what upcoming DC movies and upcoming DC TV shows will be available to stream on Netflix next.

Having a long-running TV show is a tricky thing. Namely because quality can ebb and flow depending on the season, for even the most acclaimed projects. Most shows have at least one clunker of a year, whether it be in the beginning of the series, the final season, or somewhere in between. And I've picked the worst season from 32 major television shows. Let's break it all down.

To be clear: this isn't to say that these seasons are unwatchable or made me dislike the show at a whole. Well... mostly. But these are the installments of major shows that simply didn't stand up to the rest of its run. Here are those shows, including major titles like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and more. 

Lost - Season 6

Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams' Lost was quintessential water cooler programming at the height of its run on ABC. But there were a few seasons that failed to really resonate with fans, including Season 6. The final season's big mystery was surrounding its flash sideways, which was finally revealed in Lost's controversial series finale. And it's for the way that it attempted to stick the landing that makes Season 6 the worst.

Dexter Season 8

There are a number of final seasons on this list, as it's fairly common for long-running shows to decline in quality as the years go on. Dexter was definitely in that category, with Season 8 offering a less than satisfying antagonist for Michael C. Hall's title character to face off against. Dexter's finale is also widely panned, so much so that a new season New Blood was produced to give the killer protagonist a better sendoff. And yes I'm still mad about Deb's fate.

Gilmore Girls - Season 6

Gilmore Girls has a wildly popular fandom, who re-watched the original series annually. But there are some parts of the show that remain controversial, perhaps the biggest of which is Season 6. In it there's a huge block of episodes where Rory and Lorelai are not speaking. And it's really not the same show without the titular Gilmore Girls snacking and dropping pop culture references. While Season 7 feels off because it was done without Amy Sherman-Palladino, the feud between protagonists puts Season 6 at the bottom of the list for me. As someone who watched the show live, those months of weekly episodes was especially painful. 

Grey's Anatomy Season 17

For a show to run as long as Grey's Anatomy has, there's going to be some ups and down in terms of quality. There are a number of season that don't work for the fandom, but for me the worst has got to be Season 17 aka the Covid season. Grey's incorporated the pandemic in real time into its main narrative for the season, with actors wearing masks and face shields in scenes to make the set a safe space. The results were awkward, and Meredith spent most of the season in a Covid related coma. While Grey's brought back McDreamy, George, Lexi, and Sloan during Meredith's beach scenes, I still would have preferred to see her involved in the show's main plot. 

Weeds Season 6

Showtime's dramedy Weeds began with an intriguing premise: a widower in the suburbs starts selling marijuana in her affluent neighborhood to provide for the family. But as the show went on the stakes kept getting higher and higher for Mary-Louise Parker's protagonist Nancy. Season 6 saw the Botwin family on the run, hiding from the Esteban. While it was fun to see the Weeds cast in new situations, it ultimately ends up being a season without too much substance. And the gag of their road trip from hell got old after a while. 

The Office - Season 1

While there are plenty of shows with disappointing final seasons, there are also some that struggled to find their footing with early episodes. The US version of The Office is in that category, and it was unclear if Season 2 was even going to happen. Following the first season's performance, The Office made Steve Carell's Michael Scott more likable, with his issues coming from a deep need for approval. And once we understood how Michael ticked, his bonkers managerial choices became endearing rather than enraging. And now its one of the most popular network comedies of all time. 

Game of Thrones - Season 8

Anyone who watched HBO's megahit fantasy series Game of Thrones probably could have guessed which season I was going to include on this list. The eighth and final season stood out among the rest for its strange pacing, and for delivering long-awaited moments like the CleganeBowl. Unfortunately, the final few episodes took some bold jumps that fans didn't appreciate include Dany breaking bad. The series finale of Game of Thrones is still controversial to this day, although fans have returned to Westeros via the new prequel House of the Dragon. 

Roseanne - Season 9

Roseanne was a super successful comedy series in the '90s, running for a whopping nine seasons originally. Part of its appeal was because the Conners family was working class, and was therefore more relatable to typical TV audiences than other picture perfect sitcoms. Then Season 9 happened, with Roseanne and Dan winning the literal lottery. The whole season felt out of place as a result, including the wild Roseanne finale which basically undid everything we saw throughout its tenure on the small screen. Luckily that finale would end up being retconned when the show returned to the small screen and was given a spinoff with The Conners. 

The Walking Dead - Season 9

AMC's The Walking Dead was wildly popular throughout its first few seasons, but some fans ended up eventually losing interest and falling off. What's more, some quit the show after Negan brutally killed off Glenn. But for me the worst chapter in its run on AMC was Season 9. We all knew it was going to be Andrew Lincoln's last few episodes on the show, which seemed to really slow down its momentum. Eventually The Walking Dead would get better by becoming more of an ensemble project without Rick, but this transitional period was a low point for me. 

American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Ryan Murphy's anthology series American Horror Story is usually quite popular every October, but some of the seasons are stronger than others. There was a lot of hype surrounding Apocalypse ahead of its premiere, as it would serve as a crossover and feature the return of beloved characters from both Coven and Murder House. Unfortunately, the final result failed to live up to that premise, and instead felt like a bit of a jumbled mess. Considering how long fans like me waited to see the witches return to the screen, it was a letdown that final result left so much to be desired. 

Friends - Season 9

Friends is another insanely popular network comedy, one that was a complete sensation during its whopping ten seasons on the air. But some seasons were better than others, especially regarding its main plot line. Season 9 suffered because the show was originally going to end there, before negotiations were made to do the tenth and final season. And as such, the main storyline felt muddled and somewhat anticlimactic as a whole. Luckily the Friends finale would end up providing a great ending when it finally aired. 

Breaking Bad - Season 1

Breaking Bad is one of the most acclaimed TV shows to be on the air in years. It consistently performed well at the Emmys, and fans have applauded the final season as a whole, especially the Breaking Bad finale. But the show was also a bit of a slow burn at first. I personally had to try multiple times to get through the first season of Breaking Bad, before things started really heating up with the introduction of Giancarlo Esposito's Gus Fring. So Season 1 is at the bottom of my ranking for the story of Heisenberg. 

The Simpsons - Season 1

The Simpsons is a groundbreaking animated television show that has the honor of being the longest running American show on television. There's been plenty of discussion over the years about the quality of the series, which has gone through ups and downs during its decades on the air. And for me Season 1 was another example of a show that struggled to find its footing. Obviously the beloved series ended up hitting its stride, but I feel the OG episodes don't necessarily stand the test of time. 

Riverdale - Season 3

The CW had a hit on its hand with Riverdale, which served as a gritty adaptation of Archie Comics. The show's unique visual language made it fun to watch, and I'd typically binge watch a full season once it dropped on Netflix. But Season 3 saw the show take a wild turn. Rather than simply being a murder mystery, Riverdale began dealing with the supernatural for the first time. And there were some serious growing pains. Although we never could have known that Riverdale's finale would include a wild quad twist. 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 1

This one might be a controversial pick for fans of the show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite TV show of all time, and it's one that I often come back to throughout any given year. And while some fans don't like Season 6's dark tone, the show's first season is the weakest for me. During Season 1 Buffy functions much more like a procedural, rather than moving forward and overarching narrative. I personally think the show is best when Buffy's ensemble cast is all assembled, which doesn't happen until later seasons. Plus Season 1 just looks super dated.

Heroes - Season 2

Heroes was a huge hit when it debuted on NBC, with the show offering an original live-action superhero story. Unfortunately, the momentum of that show came to a screeching halt with the Writer's Strike of 2007-2008. Season 2 ends up rushed as a result, and failed to meet the expectations of the series. What's more, Heroes' sophomore season introduces a number of character we'd never see again. One can only imagine which shows will be similarly affected by the recent WGA strike.

Seinfeld - Season 8

Seinfeld is another comedy on this list that is pretty universally acclaimed. But that doesn't mean the iconic '90s sitcom didn't have a few low points throughout its run on TV. Season 8 was the first chapter Seinfeld without creator Larry David, and the difference was pretty obvious. Case in point: the show no longer opened up on Jerry performing a stand up set. 

True Blood - Season 7

True Blood arrived at the height of the early aughts vampire craze, and provided a R-rated take on the blood suckers. The show was violent and campy, and soon became a sensation. But like so many other popular shows, the Anna Paquin-led series failed to stick the landing with its final season on the air. True Blood's finale was generally panned, and the final season felt a bit messy as a whole. I mean, they killed Tara at the beginning of Season 7... offscreen. The disrespect!

Happy Days - Season 5

Happy Days had an impressively long run on the air, and made household names out of talents like Henry Winkler and Ron Howard. The show had a long impact on pop culture as a whole, especially its somewhat infamous fifth season. Season 5 featured Fonzie famously "jumping the shark", which has now become a term for when shows go too far and lose the audience.

New Girl - Season 5

New Girl had a long run on Fox, and has continued to have a life via streaming. But Season 5 failed to bring it the same way the rest of the show did. Namely because Zooey Deschanel was on maternity break, and the show was without its titular character. While Megan Fox's replacement character Regan was a great foil for Nick, the show just wasn't the same without Jess. 

House Of Cards - Season 6

When the streaming wars began, Netflix had some major wins with Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. The latter became a prestige drama, with a killer cast that helped people subscribe to Netflix for the first time. But the allegations against Kevin Spacey saw him removed from the show, and it never really recovered. House of Cards Season 6 killed Francis Underwood off camera, while Claire became the sole protagonist. While Robin Wright killed it, the final season just felt off, and the series finale failed to satisfy fans who stuck it out. 

Glee - Season 4

Glee became a sensation after its first season on Fox, and had a few years of being wildly popular. But its quality started to wane after its first few seasons on the air, and some folks fell off entirely. Season 4 was when things started to change for me, as it took a number of the biggest characters out of William McKinley High School. Kurt and Rachel became roommates in New York City, and it no longer felt like the same musical series that captured the attention of so many. 

Parks And Recreation - Season 1

Just like The Office before it, Parks and Recreation struggled a bit in its first season on the air. The mockumentary comedy was charming, but the cast of Parks & Rec weren't all taking center stage just yet. And Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope was originally criticized for being too close to Steve Carell's Michael Scott. But the show eventually found its footing, and remains popular and utterly meme-able. 

Shameless - Season 11

Like Grey's Anatomy, Shameless produced a season that was set at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. While incorporating mask use helped Season 11 be produced on time, it was a pretty distracting plot point. Overall, the final season failed to live up to what the Gallaghers were capable of. And the series finale felt more like a regular episode, leaving a number of unfinished plot points for the audience to ponder. 

Angel - Season 4

The popularity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was so high that after three a seasons a spinoff was produced starring David Boreanaz's Angel. These two shows embraced serialized storytelling long before the MCU would make it commonplace. But Season 4 of Angel is my least favorite, despite some exciting Buffy crossovers. Cordelia Chase ends up possessed for a good chunk of episodes, which was a story that got old. And the writing around Angel's son Connor was downright abysmal, as he remains one of the most hated TV characters of all time. 

Community - Season 4

Community is the little show that could, with longtime fans watching as Six Seasons and a Movie came together against the odds. But that doesn't mean that all of its seasons were created equal. Case in point: Community Season 4 aka the Gas Leak Season. It was the first season without creator Dan Harmon, and had a number of gimmicks that failed to really resonate. 

The Handmaid's Tale - Season 5

The Handmaid's Tale is available with a Hulu subscription, and is a gripping and grueling adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name. But the most reason installment to air, Season 5, didn't hit quite as hard as its predecessors. I think this is mostly because so many of the stories weren't actually set in Gilead, but in Canada. Add in the loss of Alexis Bledel's Emily, and the fifth season was my least favorite so far. 

That '70s Show - Season 8

That '70s Show made household names out of its cast of actors. But this level of adoration is why Season 8 ends up being the weakest link during its tenure on the air. The final season continued on without Topher Grace's Eric, and the absence of the show's protagonist was very noticeable. Especially when a new character was brought into the group in an attempt to replace him. Ashton Kutcher also left the show, which is why Season 8 is definitely at the bottom of the list.

Arrow - Season 6

The CW's DC superhero show Arrow is one that famously had ups and downs in relation to quality. Still, many fans consider Season 6 to be the worst entry of the bunch. In it we saw Team Arrow frustratingly get split up, and fans took umbrage with the show's plot and pacing. Luckily there were two more season of Arrow to help and satiate disappointed audiences. 

Felicity - Season 4

Felicity has a unique place in the grand history of network TV. After all, we'd never seen a haircut absolutely shake the entertainment industry as when Keri Russell cut off her signature locks back in Season 2. While the show started off as a teen drama, Season 4 ventured into new territory by introducing witchcraft and time travel into the equation. And while J.J. Abrams would prove his sci-fi skills in Star Trek and Star Wars, perhaps Season 4 of Felicity wasn't the right time.

How I Met Your Mother - Season 9

How I Met Your Mother had a seriously impressive run on CBS, with a whopping 9 seasons. The premise of the show meant that all the years of stories from the show's narrator would eventually reveal... how he met the kids' mother. That eventually happened with the entrance of Cristin Milioti. But fans took umbrage with the final season's handling of that plot line, as well as Robin and Barney's divorce. 

The West Wing - Season 5

The West Wing is TV history, and helped make Aaron Sorkin into a household name. But the show's fifth season on the air was a bit of a disappointment, namely because it was the first one without Sorkin at the helm. Overall the story felt a bit of a jumbled mess when compared to the previous installments, which were rather universally acclaimed.

As beloved as these series are, even the greatest of TV shows can have a weak season. 

The CW was once the place to be for TV superhero action thanks to the Arrowverse, comprised of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman at its height. The shared superhero universe ended earlier this year when The Flash finished its run back in May. Unlike Supergirl, Legends, and Batwoman, The Flash team was able to plan ahead and construct a fitting finale, so the Arrowverse got a happy ending. Director Jesse Warn helmed episodes across The CW's superhero shows over the years, and recently reflected on the experience to CinemaBlend.

Jesse Warn was prolific across the Arrowverse going back to 2014, with multiple episodes of Arrow, Supergirl, and The Flash to his name as a director, as well as a producing role on Supergirl. He even directed one of the very last episodes of The Flash, which aired in March. When I spoke with Warn about his action-packed episode of Jesse L. Martin's The Irrational, I noted that a closely-connected TV universe on the scale of the Arrowverse was all but unprecedented and asked for his thoughts on his time working there. He shared: 

The Arrowverse crossovers started small, when Arrow and The Flash were the only two shows and the Green Arrow and Scarlet Speedster weren't facing multiversal disasters on the regular. For better or worse, the most ambitious crossover was undoubtedly "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which not only brought the existing Arrowverse shows together, but also officially brought Black Lightning in and featured characters from other DC Comics projects, including Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar and even Ezra Miller as the DCU's Flash.

Based on what Jesse Warn shared about his time working on the various CW superhero shows, it sounds like there was a sense of crossover behind the scenes as well with the cast and crews. There are of course a shortage of superpowers on The Irrational compared to the Arrowverse, but Warn did reunite with former Flash series regular Jesse L. Martin for the new NBC drama. After I was won over by the new show based on one specific line, I asked the director if he had a sense of deja vu working with Martin again. He laughed and shared: 

Alec Mercer on The Irrational definitely isn't interchangeable with Joe West on The Flash, but Arrowverse fans can see a familiar face in action with Jesse L. Martin's new gig on NBC. If you missed the first two episodes and want to give the show a shot, you can find it streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription. As for the Arrowverse... well, it seems to be finished for good. 

Superman & Lois will return for a fourth season, but isn't technically part of the Arrowverse despite the leads playing Clark Kent and Lois Lane across the "Elseworlds" crossover and "Crisis on Infinite Earths" event. You can still find The CW's former superhero shows streaming, however. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Black Lightning can be found with a Netflix subscription, while Batwoman is streaming for fans with Max subscriptions.

The CW is looking towards something of a rebrand and, with that, the network that was once known as a place for teen dramas, supernatural fare and superheroes isn't the same. The end of The Flash earlier this year marked the end of the Arrowverse, which was started by Arrow back in 2012. The Stephen Amell-led series ran for eight seasons and officially came to an end in early 2020. However, Amell recently revealed the show wasn't always going to run as long as it did.

Stephen Amell appeared at the Cincinnati Comic Expo on September 23, where he revealed a very interesting fact about the show that solidified him as a star. Fan account flashfacts4real posted a video to Instagram from the actor’s panel. It seems  a fan asked him when he knew it was time to end the show, and Amell then admitted just how long Oliver Queen’s journey was supposed to last:

It sounds like Arrow has something else in common with Supernatural, as the 15-season show was also supposed to end after Season 5, which still blows the creator's mind. The reasoning for the superhero show's extension is unknown but, looking back at its run, it would have made sense for the series to end after the fifth season. It's worth mentioning that the flashbacks had been such an important part of the series since the pilot episode. When they finally concluded in that season's finale,  with Oliver going back to Lian Yu, it marked a true full-circle moment.

That’s not to say that it was a bad thing for the show to go on for three additional years. Because of that, fans were able to see more crossovers within the Arrowverse, were introduced to additional characters and more. The flashbacks may have been  pivotal for the first five seasons, but it was refreshing not to have them during Season 6 and beyond.

Arrow's increased run also allowed the series to help welcome Batwoman to the sprawling superhero franchise and have Oliver Queen meet Superman. Those are actually two of Stephen Amell’s favorite Arrowverse memories. So sure, it might've been appropriate if it ended after five seasons as planned. However, fans surely could've missed out on more than a few major developments had that come to pass.

And while it’s been over three years since the show's finale aired, it’s been just over five months since Amell last appeared in the Arrowverse. The actor returned as Oliver Queen for The Flash’s final season and even cleared up an issue from the last episode of his own show. Stephen Amell and co. should be proud of the work they did over the years, and you can check it out by streaming all eight seasons of Arrow with a Netflix subscription.

The past year has been quite a busy time for Disney boss Bob Iger, from welcoming himself back to the mega-corporation in late 2022 to backwalking some of Bob Chapek’s pricy theme park decisions to the lawsuit-laden culture war with Florida’s governor. Though his early return was largely positive, Iger totally stepped in it thanks to an in-depth CNBC interview in which he heavily criticized Marvel Studios for its lacking Disney+ success being a major hindrance to the box office earnings for the MCU in a post-Avengers: Endgame world. Arrowverse co-creator and comic scribe Marc Guggenheim entered that conversation with a P.O.V. that sounds more than a little loyal to his longtime ties to DC.

Bob Iger, who also provoked anger by calling out striking writers and actors as being “non-realistic” with their demands, claimed that Marvel screwed up by not only releasing an increased number of theatrical films, but also by pumping out streaming TV series, which he says “diluted focus and attention.” Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. vet Clark Gregg shared a brief response to that notion, as CinemaBlend reported, but former Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow showrunner Marc Guggenheim had a lot more to say about it that essentially aligned with Iger’s vision, albeit more from a creative angle than one based more purely on financial gains. When appearing on an installment of the podcast The Aarthi and Sriram Show, Guggenheim addressed the glut of MCU programming, saying: 

As someone who helped create DC’s most fluid and interconnective live-action universe to date, Marc Guggenheim’s viewpoint here actually is more informed than one might think from the outset. Granted, the Arrowverse was on a vastly different wavelength than the MCU, without blockbuster features factoring into the mix, but Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and the rest also churned out far more hours of content than Marvel has with its small-screen efforts. And on comparatively tiny budgets, also, which often didn’t help with the quality, but at least made things consistent throughout the seasons. 

More to his above point, one wouldn’t have needed to see Sara Lance or Ray Palmer’s Arrow seasons or Mick Rory and Leonard Snart’s villainous roots on The Flash in order to fully understand Legends of Tomorrow. There may be connective tissue that adds layers of value and context for completists, but that tissue shouldn’t affect a project’s ability to tell a coherent tale all on its own. Guggenheim continued:

Guggenheim is good at making it clear he does enjoy Marvel projects — save for those still unseen — and isn’t just siding with Bob Iger to be harsh to the fandom. It's no secret that he's written a bunch for Marvel comics, and not just superhero stories for S.H.I.E.L.D. and X-Men, but also Star Wars series. But then he let the DC vibes enter into his answers, as seen below. 

Basically, what Marc Guggenheim is saying here is that the only way Marvel can save itself from overproduction is to pull a storytelling move directly from DC lore, and should probably just be more like DC in general. Okay, okay, that’s not actually what the Green Lantern co-screenwriter is saying, but it’s not like he accidentally dropped a “Crisis on Infinite Earths” reference in there.

Not only was that one of the comic medium’s most important and influential arcs, but it was also the namesake of the biggest Arrowverse crossover event, with so many cameos and surprises, which included Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen. Regardless of one’s feelings about it, it inarguably changed that TV multiverse in huge ways, which is what Guggenheim is suggesting should happen within the MCU.

Regardless of what he thinks, though, Kevin Feige is gonna do Kevin Feige. And considering Miller’s Flash movie has widely been considered to be one of DC’s biggest bombs, with James Gunn and Peter Sarafan steering the DCU into an unknown future, I can’t imagine the Marvel Studios bigwig is looking across the comic pond for any inspiration on that front. Still, though, maybe he could just suddenly become obsessed with Jaws’ less is more outlook for guidance…

The Flash is done at The CW, and with its end, Stephen Amell is feeling nostalgic about what could be the final months of the Arrowverse. There's still no word on whether Superman & Lois will return for Season 4, and even if it did, it takes place on another Earth than Earth Prime (the home of almost every Arrowverse show). Amell may not be thinking about all of that, but he was thinking about his favorite moments from his run as Oliver Queen.

Stephen Amell was recently asked about fond memories related to the various Arrowverse crossovers, and the actor had quite a few. Amell gave EW a list of his standout crossover moments from his time as Green Arrow and made me want to bust out my Netflix subscription to revisit a few of them:

Stephen Amell sounds like just as big of a fan of heroes crossing paths as everyone else is. I know I was just as hyped when Barry and Oliver met for the first time as I was here recently when they teamed up for the final time. There was always fun to be had when heroes teamed up, which might've played into why Amell enjoyed those moments so much. 

The former Arrow star mentioned a lot of moments but did single out one experience as one that was of particular note. Amell talked about what they did when filming Ruby Rose's debut as Batwoman for the crossover Elseworlds, which involved a special plane ride: 

The CW traditionally filmed Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl in Vancouver, Canada, so one can understand why flying a private jet to Chicago would stick out to Stephen Amell. Especially for something as monumental as the debut of Batwoman – even if Ruby Rose ultimately left the role after one season of her series. Not that I'd expect that fact to sour Amell's memory of a private jet flight to Chicago because, seriously, how cool is that?

It's bittersweet to hear Stephen Amell speak so fondly of his time in the Arrowverse, knowing that the peak era of superheroes on The CW is over. There isn't even another show right now that Superman & Lois could crossover with if it wanted to, though the possibility of former actors appearing isn't out of the question. Perhaps one day we'll see a big reunion crossover for all of the Arrowverse heroes past and present, though, at present, it seems like that era might be coming to a close unless The Flash sets up a spinoff. 

Stephen Amell is no longer in the Arrowverse, but those looking for superhero action on The CW can watch Superman & Lois on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. It's certainly a show capable of delivering the level of hype the early seasons of Arrow did, so I'd highly recommend anyone who hasn't watched to check it out. 

Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Flash Season 9's ninth episode, “It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To.” Read with caution!

It was a long time coming, but Stephen Amell finally returned to his vigilante roots and reprised his role as Oliver Queen in the latest episode of The Flash. Still The Spectre, Oliver helped Barry defeat Ramsey Rosso (who was threatening the multiverse) before he turned the world into controlled zombies. It was an emotional reunion between Oliver and Grant Gustin's Barry Allen, to say the least, but if the hero were to return again, what would a movie focused on him look like?

In an interview with TV Line, Amell, who portrayed Oliver for eight seasons on the Arrowverse flagship series Arrow, opened up about whether or not he’ll play the character again. In regards to the recent episode of The Flash, Amell was asked if this was his last time suiting up, and while he gave a short answer, it gives fans just enough hope:

While it sounds like Stephen Amell isn’t opposed to suiting up again in the future, don’t count on Arrow being revived. The actor mentions that the series had a good run on The CW, but 20+ episodes per season is a lot to handle (probably more so with a family), and it likely won’t happen like that again, though the final season of Arrow only had 10 episodes. However, there are other ways for him to reprise the role. 

It's possible that Arrow could still come back in some way if not another season. Amell did express interest in a limited series-type return or through a movie, especially if it means more freedom or time for the stunts and action sequence, as he said about the final fight sequences on Arrow:

It’s clear that Oliver Queen is still close to Stephen Amell, maybe more now than ever due to his return on The Flash. Even though it’s unlikely the show itself will come back, especially with The CW going through so many chances, there’s always the hope of a revival movie, whether it be on streaming or network TV. Shows like Arrow are definitely limited in terms of what they can and can’t include when it comes to scenes like action sequences, and it sounds like Amell has it all worked out in his head on how the series could return if given the chance. 

As of now, it doesn’t seem like an Arrow movie or limited series will happen, but it has only been a few years since Arrow ended Olivee Queen's main story, so nothing is out of the question. At the very least, depending on whether Superman & Lois continues next season, possibly while still part of the 2023 TV schedule, even if it’s not technically part of the Arrowverse, maybe Oliver Queen take can a trip down to Smallville. Anything can happen.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 9 of The Flash Season 9, called “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To.”

The episodes are counting down until The Flash ends its nine-season run on The CW, and the latest threw Barry a birthday party that was an excellent excuse to bring in some familiar faces from across the Arrowverse. The most notable, of course, was former Arrow star Stephen Amell, whose Green Arrow is responsible for launching the entire superhero universe that spanned six series at its peak after the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover. The Flash had to revisit that Crisis to bring back the late Oliver Queen, and in the process addressed an issue of mine with the Arrow series finale that has been lingering since that show ended in 2020. 

As fans will undoubtedly remember, Oliver actually died (twice) and became the Spectre in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, with two episodes of Arrow left to go before the final credits rolled. He didn’t even appear in the penultimate episode, which was the “Green Arrow and the Canaries” backdoor pilot that ultimately was not picked up to series. Most of Amell’s screentime in the series finale was via flashback until the very end, when he had an afterlife sequence with Felicity after they’d spent decades apart. 

At the time, I was divided on whether or not he got a happy ending, but it just didn’t feel right to me that Oliver Queen – the founder of the Arrowverse – was killed off in “Crisis,” absent from his show’s penultimate episode, and barely had any non-flashback moments in the series finale. In fact, his role in The Flash’s “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To” on April 26 gave him more substantive screentime than his own finale. Admittedly, I haven't kept up with watching the Arrowverse regularly in recent years, but it was enough to fix my problem that Arrow ended without giving the Green Arrow a real goodbye with him on screen. 

Plus, the episode touched on some leftover questions from the series finale. When Barry, upset at the fact that he had been killed by Wally under the influence of Ramsey Rosso, accused Spectre-Oliver of bringing back everybody he loved once he got his powers, Oliver pointed out that it was “not everyone,” because he didn’t bring back his father. He continued:

Hearing straight from Oliver why his dad wasn’t brought back in the Arrow finale like Moira and Tommy were was far better than the speculation from that episode… and a nice confirmation that Oliver knew better than to set off his own Spectre version of Flashpoint like when Barry brought his mom back. 

Plus, Oliver got to reunite and spend some time with Diggle, which was so great that I decided to stop worrying about the details of how and why this was at all possible even in the rule-breaking world of The Flash. In the process, he cleared up what that green box from the Arrow finale actually meant, and it should stop any speculation that there’s a Green Lantern ring meant for Dig out there. According to Oliver: 

Dig went on to say that Oliver is his family, and he’s just glad that he got to say goodbye this time. As an Arrow loyalist even to this day, I’m with Diggle on that one! Sadly, there was no Olicity reunion, but Oliver did at least mention why he couldn’t visit his wife and their kids. When Dig asked if he was going to see her, Oliver got emotional and responded: 

While that doesn’t make the bittersweet ending to Arrow any less bitter on the Olicity front given what had already been established back in the Season 7 finale, it did result in an update on the kids from Diggle: William is in college, and Mia has mastered the salmon ladder. Throw in Oliver getting back in the Green Arrow suit, an epic action sequence without superpowers, and one last “You have failed this city,” and I was satisfied that the character finally got a worthy goodbye from the Arrowverse.

Was it occasionally cheesy? Sure. Will I always and forever hate it when Oliver is called "Ollie" by anybody other than his sister in the Arrowverse? Evidently, yes! Do I wish that he’d gotten more screentime in the present in his own finale than in this episode of The Flash? Of course, but I’m just glad that The Flash was able to bring Stephen Amell back one last time as the Green Arrow. Even Grant Gustin hadn’t been sure that it could happen! 

So, will “Crisis on Infinite Earths” go down as the best thing that the Arrowverse did, the most ruinous thing the Arrowverse ever did, or something in the middle? That’s a matter of opinion (and I know that I’m not a fan when looking back), but this episode of The Flash addressed some of my Arrow-centric issue with that crossover and how it affected the Arrow finale. The episode also may have secured the survival of the Arrowverse in DC’s future plans. 

For what remains of the Arrowverse at this point, keep tuning in to The CW on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET for the final episodes of The Flash. You can also revisit the highs and lows of Arrow streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Flash Season 9 episode, "It's My Party And I'll Die If I Want To." Read at your own risk!

Oliver Queen made his big return to the Arrowverse in The Flash Season 9 and might've saved more than Central City. Barry and Oliver teamed up one more time to stop a dastardly plot in which returning villain Bloodwork nearly gained control of the multiverse via the possession of Wally West. What's most important is that this episode might've just secured the survival of the Arrowverse into DC's future plans. 

If you're a fan of superheroes, you're likely aware that James Gunn has a big vision for the future of the DC Universe and has been tasked with masterminding its creative direction on the big screen. Ironically, the upcoming Flash movie is a big part of that, and will usher in a shift in direction for the brand as a whole. I believe that this episode of the TV shows has at least made it possible for the Arrowverse to survive as "canon" in this new DC Universe without much trouble. 

Oliver Revealed The Real State Of The Universe Post-Crisis

At the end of the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event, we learned that some Earths were merged, others were destroyed, and others remained in existence after the Anti-Monitor's defeat. It wasn't entirely clear how many Earths survived, however. It originally sounded more like more worlds were destroyed than were created. 

As Oliver revealed, that's not the case, and there are more worlds than any of them knew about following "Crisis." We weren't given an exact number, but Oliver's unwillingness to give Barry a precise total for how many iterations of The Flash exist across the multiverse suggests that there are a lot. That's a vast departure from what we originally thought, in which the number of worlds seemed to be just a handful. 

Why Clarifying This Was Important For The Arrowverse's Survival 

The Flash TV series clarifying it's part of a massive multiverse in its final season might've been the smartest thing it could've done for the Arrowverse ahead of The Flash movie as a new chapter in DC entertainment. As mentioned, there are changes happening in the DC Universe, and The Flash movie is spearheading that with a story that deals in the multiverse. 

Ezra Miller already made a cameo in The Flash; now that The CW series has clarified the vastness of its multiverse to the audience, it'll be harder to justify if it doesn't exist in this new era of DC. Now, when we see Sasha Calle's Supergirl in the movie who doesn't look anything like Melissa Benoist's Supergirl, it's all good! 

Will The Arrowverse Be A Part Of James Gunn's New Vision For DC?

While I'm grateful that The Flash made a move that could help justify the Arrowverse's existence in the future of DC, whether or not elements from the TV shows make it to the big screen remains to be seen. After all, Grant Gustin apparently didn't even get a cameo in The Flash movie, which I think was a huge mistake, for the record. 

I also can't imagine it's the top of mind in any discussions amongst DC executives, but we can always speculate. Hopefully, the continued buzz for Superman & Lois will help keep interest in the Arrowverse active. After all, Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch appeared as Clark Kent and Lois Lane in the Arrowverse before getting their own show!

For now, The Flash airs on The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Those feeling nostalgic for the previous seasons of the show may want to use their Netflix subscription to binge previous seasons as we get closer and closer to the grand finale. 

The Flash is in its final season on The CW, and while the series hasn't been able to bring back a number of its former stars over the years, it will bring back a very big one soon. Stephen Amell will reprise his role as Oliver Queen in the upcoming episode "It's My Party And I'll Die If I Want To," which is a character return that star Grant Gustin didn't see coming. Having previous posted behind-the-scenes photos together, both actors recently spoke about the reunion ahead of the episode and shared some details about the return. 

Barry Allen will reunite with Oliver Queen in an adventure involving returning villain Dr. Ramsey Rosso, who crashes Barry's birthday party. It's not entirely clear how Stephen Amell's Oliver will return in The Flash, which might be why Grant Gustin confessed to TVLine he wasn't sure it would happen. Gustin talked about the return and how he didn't believe Stephen Amell's return was actually possible:

Arrowverse fans might've felt it was impossible for Stephen Amell to return as Oliver Queen as well considering he's dead. Of course, the DC universe has any number of ways to bring a hero or villain back from the dead, and The Flash only adds to the number of possibilities. We've learned that Barry will actually team up with the original Oliver from the afterlife, which is a new one, even for this series. 

What was it like for Stephen Amell to get back into the saddle after leaving the Arrowverse? The actor has managed to stay busy with his series Heels since the end of Arrow, but that didn't make the return to The CW any less stressful for him:

Stephen Amell had some jitters when he first showed up to the set, but once he had some time to get back into the swing of being on an Arrowverse set, he was comfortable. I wouldn't have expected anything differently given he was a fixture on the network for the better part of a decade.  

Overall, Stephen Amell is happy that he was able to return for the final season of The Flash and to share scenes with Grant Gustin. Amell talked about the experience briefly, and confirmed how great it was to be on the show: 

Stephen Amell is just one part of what looks to be an exciting final stretch of episodes for The Flash. Among other things, it's looking like we'll finally get to see Cobalt Blue and some more returning villains. After being disappointed by some of the earlier surprises in this season so far, I'm hoping the show can finish strong with this appearance by Stephen Amell and others toward the end. 

The Flash airs on The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm ET. This season is hurdling toward the finish line, so be sure to take a look at our 2023 TV schedule to see what new shows are on the way after it's over. 

When "Crisis on Infinite Earths" first aired, it seemed like the peak of the Arrowverse. We witnessed the biggest crossover event in DC television history and what should've been the start of the next chapter of DC television. Unfortunately, things didn't work that way, and as The Flash nears its end, I can't help but think back on the ways this crossover ruined the Arrowverse at large. 

While I've held this opinion for a while, I think I finally reached a breaking point thanks to The Flash's Season 9 episode "The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky." I'll get into that more later because there are just so many things I need to revisit before that moment that has me so upset we ever got this crossover in the first place. 

Crisis Stepped On Arrow’s Final Season And Ending

I'll be the first to admit I wasn't a massive Arrow fan toward the end, but after seeing other Arrowverse shows conclude without a proper ending, I can't help but feel bad for the flagship series. So much of Arrow's final season was intertwined with "Crisis on Infinite Earths" that it stepped on the opportunity for the series to close out in a way more personal to its series.

Instead, Arrow had to close out its series after its lead character was killed off in the crossover event. Saving Stephen Amell's exit for a massive crossover could've been a great move in hindsight had the Arrowverse thrived in the years following, but let's be honest, that hasn't been the case. In hindsight, it might've been best had Oliver at least died in a proper season of Arrow and not become The Spectre. 

Some Shows Pretended Like Crisis Never Happened

Superman & Lois has had a lot of success on The CW, and weirdly enough, it wouldn't be possible if it weren't for "Crisis on Infinite Earths." It was the mega-crossover that retconned Lois and Clark's baby for two teenage sons, which laid the groundwork for the series as we see it today. 

And yet, despite that, Superman & Lois made a distinctive effort to minimize any mentions to the greater Arrowverse and even explicitly confirmed in Season 2 that it takes place in a different world than the prime shows. In other words, the Tyler Hoechlin-played Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch-played Lois Lane from "Crisis" aren't even the same versions we're following on this show. It seems like a terrible vote of confidence when a show directly created from the crossover doesn't want to acknowledge it, or the greater universe for that matter. 

The Rules Following Crisis On Infinite Earths Have Been Confusing 

"Crisis on Infinite Earths" changed the Arrowverse permanently, but not in a way that was always easily understood. Heroes lived and heroes died, but also heroes died and then lived again. There are also multiple versions of the same villains co-existing and entirely new versions of previous villains. Oh, and as we learned recently on The Flash, there are even people who were dead before "Crisis," like Becky Sharpe, that are now also alive again. Not everyone is alive, though; some people, like Barry Allen's mom, are still very dead. 

Perhaps the biggest problem following "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is that none of the shows effectively laid out every scenario for how the world would work following the mega event. Sure, fans were drip-fed reveals across The Flash, Supergirl and Batwoman, but I'm sure there were plenty of people not watching all of those shows concurrently. Even if you were, it'd be hard to mash all that information together into a coherent bible for how this world operates now. It sounds like a mess, and to be quite honest, it has felt like one too. 

It Teased A Future Crossover That Never Happened

Remember at the end of "Crisis on Infinite Earths" where we saw the Arrowverse's version of the Justice League? They even teased Gleek, the blue monkey! The Paragons who remembered Crisis all got together in order to stop the next major crisis should it come, and the building itself was dedicated to Oliver Queen's memory! 

Thankfully, The Flash has found a way to bring back Oliver in its final season because aside from a brief visit to that base of operations in the show's "Armageddon" event, it hasn't been used for jack since it was established. Granted, the pandemic definitely helped put the kibosh on productions filming crossovers for a while, and by the time restrictions had opened up, a couple of shows were already on their way out. Oh, and as mentioned, Superman & Lois is not part of Earth Prime. It really sucks because I was looking forward to this crossover. 

We Never Got A Proper Reestablishment Of The Multiverse

At the time, it seemed like "Crisis on Infinite Earths" was meant to usher in the new era of the Arrowverse. And yet, as The Flash heads toward its final episode, so many shows that have come after it are ending or have already ended. It's actually pretty sad to watch the ending of the other Earths and realize that Stargirl, Doom Patrol, Titans and Swamp Thing were hyped at the end, and they'll all officially be gone before too long (although to be fair, Swamp Thing had already ended by that point).

Let's also not forget the fact that at the time, it seemed like we'd be getting a Katherine McNamara-led Arrow spinoff. Unfortunately, plans changed and that project never came to be. McNamara still ended up on The CW with Walker: Independence, so some good did come out of it, but to date, there still hasn't been a follow-up series to Arrow despite its popularity. 

In fairness, the pandemic definitely played a hand in this and some of the rough runs for other Arrowverse shows, but it's not like "Crisis" really teed up any of these shows for success. In fact, there wasn't even a significant torch-passing moment to the new era of shows, just an acknowledgment that they existed entirely separate from the rest. That was a real missed opportunity, and maybe they should've tried to incorporate the other shows a bit more. 

The Arrowverse certainly hasn't been the same since "Crisis on Infinite Earths," and it's safe to say that hasn't been a good thing. It feels like we're in the end times of this DC franchise, which probably wasn't the goal at the time it was made. Sure, there were other factors that played into that, but overall, this crossover didn't do anything to help the situation. 

While it's not what it once was, fans of the Arrowverse can still catch the franchise's remaining shows on The CW. In fact, the network just kicked off Gotham Knights, which is definitely worth a watch, along with many other shows on the 2023 TV schedule if you're looking for something new. 

If The Walking Dead actor Chad L. Coleman playing a villain on a DC TV show from The CW sounds familiar to you, it’s because he played crime lord Tobias Church back in Arrow Season 5, who met an unfortunate demise at the hands of Prometheus. This time around, Coleman is appearing in Superman & Lois Season 3 as Bruno Mannheim, a longtime enemy of the Man of Steel’s from the comics. Ahead of this new season’s premiere, I spoke with Coleman about what makes his version of Mannheim such a compelling antagonist, as well as how this character differs from what Church brought to the table in Arrow.

Per the official character description from The CW, Superman & Lois’ Bruno Mannheim is known to the people of Metropolis as “a local hero” and “a philanthropist who’s revived the struggling neighborhoods of the city.” However, like his comic book counterpart, Chad L. Coleman’s Mannheim actually leads the criminal organization Intergang, albeit in secret, and Elizabeth Tulloch’s Lois Lane has been been trying to for years to uncover proof of his illegal activities. During my conversation with Coleman, I asked him what makes him such a worthy antagonist to throw into the Superman & Lois mix, and he answered:

Bruno Mannheim is one of the two majors villains who’ve been announced to appear in Superman & Lois Season 3, the other being Lex Luthor, who’s being played by fellow Walking Dead alum Michael Cudlitz. It’s unclear if Mannheim and Luthor will cross paths during the season, but Chad L. Coleman made it abundantly clear that the former is a formidable threat all on his own. Let’s also not forget towards the end of Superman & Lois Season 2’s finale, David Ramsey’s John Diggle revealed to Wolé Parks’ John Henry Irons and Mannheim is believed to be the man who killed the version of Irons who originated from Superman & Lois’ Earth (which is separate from the main Arrowverse continuity), although why he did so is a mystery.

As for how Chad L. Coleman’s version of Bruno Mannheim stands out compared to Tobias Church, the actor laid out that Mannheim is a more cerebral opponent, meaning we should be way more worried about what he’s up to compared to what Church did during his brief stint on Arrow. Coleman explained:

With a setup like that, I’m eager to learn how Bruno Mannheim will antagonize Superman & Lois’ eponymous protagonists and their allies. In addition to Chad L. Coleman and Michael Cudlitz coming aboard, Season 3 is also bringing in Michael Bishop to take over as Jonathan Kent following Jordan Elsass’ departure. Given the shakeups at The CW over the last year, it’s unclear if Superman & Lois will return for Season 4, although Wolé Parks is optimistic that there will be at least one more batch of episodes.

Superman & Lois Season 3 premieres tonight at 8 pm ET on The CW. Be sure to look through our 2023 TV schedule to keep track of what shows are on the air now or will be hitting the airwaves/streaming soon, and don’t forget you can stream Superman & Lois’ first two seasons with an HBO Max subscription.

DC Comics no doubt know that 2023 marks the end of an era, as The CW’s Arrowvverse will take its final bow via The Flash Season 9. It’s a somewhat sad occasion for fans of the long-running superhero TV universe, but the show is seeking to close things out on a high note. The Grant Gustin-fronted show is bringing back a cavalcade of franchise alums, including beloved Arrow star Stephen Amell. The news seemed to come as a surprise to some fans, and Amell has since gotten honest about his return. Additionally, he dropped an f-bomb while making an appeal to those awaiting the episode.

Stephen Amell has been plenty busy since he hung up his bow when Arrow closed out its run in 2020. The 41-year-old actor has participated in some wrestling engagements, and that passion spilled over into his Starz sports dramedy Heels, which premiered in 2021. So with other gigs on his plate at the moment, what made the actor want to don his jade outfit once more? When taking to Instagram, he shared a video, further confirming his reprisal. And when asked why (and how) he’s getting back into the superhero fold, he suggested that fans shouldn’t worry much about that: 

I think the actor summed all of that up quite nicely. But he wasn’t finished there because, as mentioned, he threw in an f-bomb for good measure while asking the fans for one thing. And you can honestly understand where the entertainer is coming from on this one:

And that’s that. It’s nice to get further confirmation from the actor himself, who also acknowledged his return using a Twitter post. There are still plenty of variables to consider here, however, with the biggest being that Oliver Queen died near the end of Arrow as a result of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. Perhaps he’ll re-appear courtesy of a flashback or maybe even a supernatural dream sequence. Whatever the case, I’m sure the writers have put a lot of thought into this major development. 

As previously mentioned, Stephen Amell – who discussed another turn as Green Arrow just recently – isn’t the only Arrowverse alum returning to send The Flash off in style. David Ramsey will reappear as fan-favorite character John Diggle, and Keiynan Lonsdale will once again suit up as Wally West/Kid Flash. The villainous Ramsey Rosso a.k.a. Bloodwork, played by Sendhil Ramamurthy is set to rear his ugly head in Season 9 as well. If that weren’t all, Supergirl alum Nicole Maines is playing Nia Nal/Dreamer again, while Batwoman’s Javicia Leslie is returning as a new character.

There’s a lot to look forward to in this last stretch of episodes, and Stephen Amell’s return as Oliver Queen is just the icing on the cake. Hopefully, the show not only provides him with a meaningful guest spot but can also close out this final leg of its TV race strong.

The Flash’s ninth and final season airs Wednesday February 8th at 8 p.m. ET on The CW as part of the 2023 TV schedule. You can also stream the show, alongside Arrow, using a Netflix subscription.

Following Smallville’s 10-season run from 2001 to 2011, The CW kicked off a new DC Comics continuity with Arrow, starring Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, who initially went by The Hood and The Arrow, but then later permanently adopted Green Arrow as his superhero moniker. By the middle of Arrow Season 2, Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen was introduced, and less than a year later, he was off on his own adventures in The Flash. The Scarlet Speedster’s series is now about to begin its ninth and final season, and word’s come in that Amell’s Oliver have an “epic-yet-emotional” reunion with Gustin’s Barry in this last stretch.

Fresh off yesterday’s news that David Ramsey’s John Diggle/Spartan, Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West/Kid Flash and Sendhil Ramamurthy’s Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork will all appear in The Flash Season 9’s ninth episode, it’s been announced that Stephen Amell will guest star in that same episode. No details about Oliver Queen’s involvement have been disclosed, but The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace had the following to say about looping Amell in (via Deadline):

Stephen Amell has previously appeared in eight episodes of The Flash, including the pilot and each installment of the wider Arrowverse crossovers from years past. The last time Oliver Queen and Barry Allen saw each other was in Part 4 of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event, in which Oliver delivered some parting words to Barry and Caity Lotz’s Sara Lance before dying as a result of restoring the multiverse with his Spectre powers. Barry and Sara were then seen attending Oliver’s funeral in the Arrow series finale, and by the end of that episode, we got to see Oliver in the afterlife with Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity Smoak. So this will be Amell’s first time playing Oliver since Arrow concluded in early 2020.

Now that we know Stephen Amell will reprise Oliver Queen in The Flash Season 9, question emerge. How will he fit into the episode? Are we simply getting a flashback of Oliver, or will he somehow come from the afterlife to aid Barry Allen and Team Flash? And on a slightly lesser note, will Amell also be reuniting with David Ramsey? After all, John Diggle was an important character on Arrow for the entirety of its run, so it’d be a shame if we couldn’t see these two together one final time.

Whatever the answers to these questions are, the announcement of Stephen Amell appearing in The Flash’s final season comes just a few days after the actor was heard on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast talking about what it would take for him to reprise Oliver Queen, saying:

In addition to Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen and the other characters mentioned earlier, The Flash Season 9 will see Batwoman’s Javicia Leslie reprising Ryan Wilder (though it hasn’t been officially clarified yet if we’ll be seeing the main Ryan or a doppelgänger), Supergirl’s Nicole Maines reprising Nia Nal/Dreamer, and Andy Mientus reprising Hartley Rathaway/Pied Piper, one of Flash’s enemies-turned-allies. Season 9 will also bring in Richard Harmon as Owen Mercer, the new Captain Boomerang. As far as the show’s leading lineup goes, Jon Cor’s Mark Blaine/Chillblaine has been upgraded to main cast member, while Jesse L. Martin will only recur as Joe West in the final season.

The Flash Season 9 premieres Wednesday, February 8 at 8 pm ET on The CW. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on these final episodes, and don’t forget to read our 2023 TV schedule to see when your other favorite shows are airing.

It’s been almost three years since Stephen Amell took his final bow as the Green Arrow, and with the Arrowverse slowly dying down on The CW, it may be too late for the actor to return to the role once again on TV. However, with shakeups going down at DC, could he be up to joining the Justice League on the big screen?

In a new interview with Greek House Show, Stephen Amell opened up about the possibility of returning to the role as the hooded vigilante, but not necessarily on the small screen. Following Henry Cavil’s departure as Superman and Wonder Woman 3’s reported cancellation, the future of the DCEU is seemingly up in the air. Amell was asked about whether he would want to appear in the cinematic universe as the Green Arrow, and he was all for continuing to tell Oliver Queen’s story:

As of now, there is no DCEU Green Arrow, so Stephen Amell hypothetically still has a chance. And even if there was a Green Arrow already cast, or another one gets cast in the future, who's to say that a multiversal twist couldn't happen to have more than one Emerald Archer? Plus, fans can’t forget about Ezra Miller making a cameo on The Flash opposite Grant Gustin, so if the DCEU can be in the Arrowverse, why can’t it be the other way around? Or at least a Green Arrow from another universe still played by Amell, in light of how Arrow ended?

If Stephen Amell were to be in the DCEU as the Green Arrow, it wouldn’t necessarily be with the Justice League or other heroes. Although he had his own show with Arrow, Amell would still want a separate movie if given the opportunity, mostly because of second chances:

Arrow lasted for eight seasons on The CW and nearly spawned the spinoff series Green Arrow and the Canaries. Amell's series kicked off what would become the Arrowverse, and beloved DC heroes joined the network, but it was separate from the movies. While it’s hard to tell whether some of the Arrowverse could bleed into the DCEU, it sounds like the actor is interested in continuing Oliver’s story if given the right kind of chance. It's not surprising since Oliver is always with him.

With the shakeups happening at DC lately on top of the Warner Bros. Discovery debacle, it's unknown what the DCEU will look like in the future, as well as who will be part of it. After everything going on with Ezra Miller, fans have also been campaigning for The Flash’s Grant Gustin to take over the role as the Scarlet Speedster on the big screen, especially with the superhero series coming to an end in 2023. If, by some miracle, Gustin and Amell come together again to reprise their roles in the DCEU, even for just a movie or two, it would be something that superhero fans could celebrate.

Since The Flash is part of the 2023 TV schedule and is now the last remaining Arrowverse series after DC’s Stargirl’s finale, only time will tell if we will see these same heroes again on the big screen. For now, you can always revisit Amell's time as the Green Arrow with Arrow streaming via a Netflix subscription.

Even though Katherine McNamara’s Walker: Independence is airing now on The CW, the actress still thinks about her previous venture on the network. While Arrow spinoff Green Arrow and the Canaries never went to series, McNamara opened up about the one storyline she needs solved, and fans likely agree. 

The potential spinoff’s backdoor pilot in Arrow’s final season ended on a major cliffhanger where William was taken. To this day, that mystery hasn't been solved on screen. When McNamara returned as Mia Smoak for the “Armageddon” crossover event, she had yet to find her big brother. In a new interview with Looper, the Shadowhunters alum discussed how much she needs that Arrowverse storyline to be solved:

It’s definitely still a disappointment that the episode ended on a cliffhanger, and we never got a resolution. Since McNamara still has an interest in the story being told in the Arrowverse (or at least what’s still left of it after all the cancellations), hopefully that will be resolved at some point before it’s too late, even if we don’t get to actually see it happen.

Katherine McNamara also revealed that she has been campaigning for the resolution of the storyline for quite some time. She knows that not only do the fans deserve it, but Ben Lewis, who played William, also deserves some closure for his character. And if it was up to her, there’d be no question about it:

It’s unknown if this storyline will ever be resolved, unfortunately, but knowing that Katherine McNamara is determined may make fans feel just a little better. It does make me wonder if the Arrow writers who crafted the cliffhanger in the first place already had plans for what had happened to William. From the way McNamara is talking, it sounds like she has no clue just what her on-screen brother got into.

With The Flash as the last remaining series that is canonically in the Arrowverse (as Superman & Lois is not in the Arrowverse), my fingers are crossed that we all get our wish and McNamara returns in The Flash’s final season to get some help in finding her brother. Or, at the very least, we get some good news about it, and the rescue happens off-screen.

Prior to returning to the Arrowverse for the “Armageddon” crossover, Katherine McNamara expressed interest in returning as Mia. Now with a year passed since she reprised her role as the Green Arrow, McNamara has her new project on The CW, but her heart is still with Mia and finishing that story. Unfortunately, with The CW making cuts following their Nexstar deal, it’s hard to predict what will happen on the network.

Stream all eight seasons of Arrow on Netflix with a subscription! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what to look forward to.

The CW’s Superman & Lois is finally in production on its third season, which is sure to excite fans of the Arrowverse-adjacent series. We’ve already seen a massive behind-the-scenes change for the show, with the exit of one of its lead stars (with their role recently recast). Now, the show has brought in an actor to play a new character to the series entirely. S&L has officially cast its villain for Season 3, and it’s tapped an Arrow alum for the job. 

Chad L. Coleman has officially joined the cast of Superman & Lois as the villainous Bruno Manheim, according to TVLine. The actor is arguably best known to superhero fans for his role as Arrow’s Tobias Church, a role that he played for four episodes during the fifth season of the series. Coleman has been in more galactic surroundings as of late, since he’s currently playing the role of Klyden on The Orville (which is streamable with a Hulu subscription). His credits also include The Walking Dead, The Expanse, All American and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The actor is an intriguing pick for Bruno Manheim, who was briefly mentioned by John Diggle during the final moments of S&L’s Season 2 finale. Based on the description of Manheim, this iteration of the classic Superman villain will pretty much fall in line with his characterization in the comics. The baddie is described as “a local hero” in the city of Metropolis and has “revived the struggling neighborhoods of the city.” Despite that, Lois Lane has apparently been working for years to prove that he’s the leader of the criminal organization Intergang. 

It’s good to finally have confirmation that Manheim will indeed be involved in this latest stretch of the acclaimed series. But one can’t help but wonder if he’ll be the only big bad that the show has to offer during the third season. Season 2 featured two antagonists in Ally Alston and Bizzaro, though the latter proved to be more of an antihero by the time of his shocking death. Superman & Lois has been known to deliver a villain switcheroo or two, so I’m curious as to how they proceed this time around.

As previously referenced one of the other big stories regarding Season 3 is the departure of Jordan Elsass, who played the role of Jonathan Kent. The star explained that he’d opted to leave the show in order to focus on his mental health. This time last week, it was reported that Elsass would be replaced in the role by Australian actor Michael Bishop. 

Changes like cast additions and exits can cause uncertainty, but Superman & Lois’ producers have given fans few reasons to doubt their work. In terms of Chad L. Coleman’s casting as Bruno Manheim, I’m excited to see what he does in the role. The Arrow alum has proven himself to be a talented actor and can certainly hold his own alongside the show’s other talented stars.

A release window hasn’t been confirmed for Superman & Lois Season 3 just yet but, while you wait, check out the first two seasons using an HBO Max subscription. Also, take a look at CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule for info on shows that are premiering in the near future.

It’s been over two years since Stephen Amell drew his final bow on Arrow, but he's keeping plenty busy since then. The actor has been showing off his muscles and wrestling moves on the Starz series Heels, though he also engages in some brilliant off-day activities, like spending time with his family. He recently did just that and, while I have no idea what’s going on in some recent photos the actor posted of him and his wife, they are pretty adorable.

Via a sweet post shared on Instagram, Stephen Amell told his fans to find their person while also dropping two photos of him and his wife, Cassandra. It's hard to nail down the true nature of the post. One of the photos seems to show the Mrs. laughing at his misery, while the other one is as sweet as can be. Regardless, I am here for it:

I mean, I think most would agree that in good relationships, partners can be both sweet and on occasion, hilariously awful to one another. Again, it should be pointed out that it looks like they're just goofing around. I still wouldn't blame you, however, if you wanted a bit more context, though.

Stephen Amell is one to turn sweet moments into awkward or goofy ones for social media, even if he doesn’t mean to. While at Universal Studios Hollywood in October 2021, the lead actor of the Arrow cast tried his best to take a sweet family photo with his wife and daughter. Unfortunately, and hilariously, the snapshot did not turn out as planned, but that didn't stop Amell from posting what may be the worst, and most endearing, family photo ever to his social media account.

The Arrowverse alum's social media accounts are practically treasure troves of fun stills involving his loved ones. There are some that are incredibly sweet and others that are just funny and show off just how much fun he, his spouse and kids have together. They're clearly not afraid to act like themselves in front of the camera, even if it may be a bit weird. But of course, that's what makes their relationship so great.

Stephen Amell's hilarious posts aren't always just family-related, either. For example, he's definitely not above using TikTok to channel the Green Arrow or post a hilarious fan pic involving Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. He even once shared a hilarious vacation story that makes him wish he actually was Oliver Queen. 

But at the end of the day, it's just great to see Stephen Amell spend time with his family, and it further proves that his actual personality is a far cry from that of his late CW superhero. (I doubt that Oliver and Felicity Smoak's relationship would be so pleasant.) Here's to more adorable family-centric posts from Amell and, if you would like to see him suited up again in Arrow, you can stream all eight seasons with a Netflix subscription.

Some threats in the DC Comics universe can be vanquished with some simple punches or blasting energy beams, but all too often, problems of a magical variety pop up that can’t be dealt with using brawn or brains alone. Fortunately, there are a number of people you can call for precarious situations like this, including John Constantine. Created by Alan Moore, Rick Veitch, Steve Bissette, and John Totleben, Constantine debuted in the pages of 1985’s The Saga of Swamp Thing, and after being a staple of DC’s Vertigo line of books, he’s been incorporated into the main DC canon for more than a decade now.

In addition to being a powerful sorcerer, the blonde, trench coat-wearing, chain-smoking John Constantine is also one of DC Comics’ most prominent LGBTQ+ characters, having been established as bisexual back in 1992. But there’s a lot more to delve into with Constantine not just in comics, but in other media too. We could spend hours, if not days talking about all things Constantine, but for those simply looking for a brief history of the character, we have you covered.

John Constantine In Comics

Within the original Vertigo continuity he existed in, John Constantine was born in Liverpool, Lancashire in 1953, and unlike stories told within the main DC universe, he aged in real time. As such, he turned 35 during the first year of Vertigo’s Hellblazer series and was in his 60s when that series wrapped up. 

Looking over John Constantine's background from the Vertigo era, he had a rough childhood, ranging from his mother dying after giving birth to him and his stillborn brother, to he and his older sister being abused by their alcoholic father. John started dabbling in magic as a child, and he became more experienced as an adult while hanging out in London-based occult circles and traveling the world. Unfortunately, John Constantine’s first attempt to use his magic in a heroic way went horribly wrong, as it ended with a young girl named Astra Logue being dragged to hell, which left him guilt-ridden for years. 

John Constantine’s spell-casting is enough to make him formidable, but he has many other tools at his disposal that make him a force to be reckoned with. However, there are times when John’s magic simply isn’t enough, which is when he turns to arguably his greatest tool: manipulation, using just his words to fool both demons and allies to get what he wants.

In 2010, John Constantine was thrown into the main DC Comics universe at the end of the Brightest Day event, and when the New 52 reboot happened a year later, he was one of the starring characters in the Justice League Dark series. As far as John Constantine’s romantic relationships go, some of his notable pairings in the comics include Zatanna (who harnesses a different kind of magic), fellow sorcerer Nick Necro, Lucifer Morningstar and Stanley Manor.

John Constantine In Film

In 2005, 20 years after John Constantine debuted in the comics, he made his way to the big screen in, well, Constantine, staring Keanu Reeves. The movie followed John, who was suffering from terminal lung cancer, helping Angela Dodson, a troubled LAPD officer who was trying to prove that her sister’s death wasn’t suicide. Among the other familiar Constantine-affiliated characters this movie brought in were Shia LaBeouf’s Chas Kramer (known in the comics as Francis “Chas” Chandler), Tilda Swinton’s Archangel Gabriel, Djimon Hounsou’s Papa Midnite and Peter Stormare’s Lucifer Morningstar.

Constantine received mixed reviews and made $230 million worldwide off a budget somewhere between $70-$100 million. Although Keanu Reeves and Constantine director Francis Lawrence have expressed interest in making a sequel all these years later, between the direction the DCEU is going, their busy schedules and John Constantine’s future in the TV realm, it’s doubtful this well ever happen. And speaking of TV…

John Constantine In TV

Outside of popping up in a few episodes of the animated series Justice League Action, John Constantine has solely been represented on TV so far through Matt Ryan’s portrayal in the Arrowverse. We first met this version of John in his own TV series on NBC, but unfortunately, the show was canceled after just one 13-episode season.

Then in November 2015, Matt Ryan reprised John Constantine for the Arrow Season 4 episode “Haunted,” with the character appearing in both the present-day storyline and flashback sequences. Two years later, he resurfaced as a recurring character in Legends of Tomorrow Season 3. From there, John was upgraded to the main cast in Season 4, a position he held until the end of Season 6, although Ryan remained on the show in Season 7 to play early 20th century scientist Gwyn Davies.

Matt Ryan not only looked just like the original John Constantine, but also excelled at nailing the character’s personality and manipulative nature. Legends of Tomorrow even briefly explored the character having to endure terminal lung cancer. Legends of Tomorrow also adapted John’s past with Astra Logue (played by Olivia Swann), who started out as a villain, but later joined the Legends. The “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover also revealed that Constantine goes back with Tom Ellis’ Lucifer Morningstar from the Lucifer TV series.

As far as John Constantine’s romantic relationships go in the Arrowverse, besides an early tryst with Sara Lance, Matt Ryan’s version was notably paired with two people in the Arrowverse. In Legends of Tomorrow Season 4, we learned that John sent his old boyfriend Desmond to Hell when he became possessed by Neron as part of a deal to keep the demon from taking John’s soul. Eventually Neron was lured out of Desmond’s body, but Desmond had no wish to continue where he’d left off with John. Then during Seasons 5 and 6, John got cozy with Zari Tarazi, a.k.a. the new timeline version of Zari, not to be confused with the original Zari Tomaz. Sadly, that relationship didn’t work out either.

It’s doubtful we’ll ever seen the Arrowverse’s John Constantine again, not just because Legends of Tomorrow has been canceled, but also because there’s a new TV version of the character on the way. J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot production company are making a Constantine TV series for HBO Max as part of its Justice League Dark franchise. As of this writing, it hasn’t been officially announced who will play the new John Constantine, although The Illuminerdi claimed in April that Gangs of London’s Sope Dirisu was being eyed for the role.

John Constantine In Animated Movies

Along with playing John Constantine in live-action, Matt Ryan also voiced the DC Animated Movie Universe version of the character. This take on John Constantine was introduced in 2016’s Justice League Dark, and later starred in the Constantine: City of Demons web series, Justice League Dark: Apokolips War and the DC Showcase short Constantine: The House of Mystery. This version of Constantine lines up pretty closely with his comic book counterpart, and as far as his romantic relationship goes, it’s mentioned in Apokolips War that he used to date King Shark. 

Unlike the Arrowverse’s John Constantine, it’s possible that the DCAMU’s John Constantine might resurface someday, but explaining why will require going into major SPOILERS for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War and Constantine: The House of Mystery. At the end of the former movie, John persuaded to The Flash to run back in time and create another Flashpoint so that all the devastation on Earth would be undone. Then the latter short film revealed that he was locked in the House of Mystery by The Spectre so he could avoid being punished for messing with the fabric of time. You can watch the DC Showcase short for yourself to see how John escaped that Doctor Who-inspired hellscape in the first place, but by the end of the story, John was dragged through a large portal, begging Spectre to kill him because of what awaited him on the other side. With an ending like that, it’s hard to imaging that this is the last we see of him.

All this was a basic overview of John Constantine, so if you want to dive deeper with the character, check out his comic book appearances on DC Universe Infinite or watch some of his adventures in other media with your HBO Max subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Flash episode “The Man In The Yellow Tie.” Read at your own risk!

A lot happened in the latest episode of The Flash, including not one but two versions of Eobard Thawne, but even that didn’t compare to the unexpected scene with John Diggle. David Ramsey’s character bopped around many Arrowverse shows with his mystery box for the past couple of years, so his appearance wasn’t necessarily surprising. What was surprising is that the box storyline actually resolved in this episode, but now that it’s done, I’m disappointed. 

In what some might call a downer year for the Arrowverse considering all the cancellations, the resolution of John Diggle’s green glowing box that he found in Arrow's series finale was yet another letdown for me. Here’s what happened and why I’m so upset with what we learned on The Flash. 

How The Flash Finally Resolved Diggle's Box Storyline

After Barry had a conversation with Eobard Thawne at his prison cell located in A.R.G.U.S.’ Lian Yu facility, John Diggle appeared and revealed to Thawne that, after consulting some of the Arrowverse’s greatest minds, he realized that he might need the help of someone from centuries beyond. Thawne confirmed to Diggle that his instincts were spot on, and he knew exactly what the former Arrow character had to do to reopen the box. 

Essentially, Thawne helped Diggle recreate the emotions he felt on the night that he first found the box, which helped reopen it and revealed that green glow. Diggle basked in the green, which Thawne revealed was Diggle’s key to being powerful. Diggle ultimately rejected the power, and when he threw it, the box dematerialized into a void. 

When a dismayed Thawne questioned why he’d do that, Diggle said the power would take him further away from his family, who he'd neglected over the years while trying to unravel the mystery of the box. It’s an understandable ending, though not one I’m satisfied with in the slightest. 

Why I’m Disappointed

I can understand why Diggle ultimately denied the mysterious power of the box and decided to choose to try to win back his family instead. What I can’t understand is why it took over two years to pay off a storyline that simply featured John rejecting the box. If that was always the plan, I’m not sure we needed several appearances by Diggle across multiple shows for a storyline like that.

After all, I’m sure one of the reasons why fans stayed invested in Diggle’s story was due to speculation that he’d eventually become a Green Lantern. Fans wondered for years if John would become a Green Lantern, and the Arrowverse and even Ramsey played on that with references and vague quotes. 

In fairness, the theory was initially debunked years ago, but then we’d get a special like “Elseworlds” in which the Barry Allen of another universe wondered where Diggle’s “ring” was. Additionally, while we never saw what was inside the box, I think it’s clear what the implication was with the glowing green light. 

John Diggle rejected the box, but it does seem like he’s going on another path before too long. He’s reportedly starring in the in-development series Justice U and has another appearance set for Superman & Lois’ Season 2 finale, according to Todd Helbing’s interview with TV Guide Magazine (via Screen Rant). It’s possible that we see the setup for his new path there, but that just feels tacked on to a prior mystery with a poor resolution at this stage. 

We’ll see how it goes, but I don’t see myself revisiting this journey anytime soon. The Flash airs on The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. As for John Diggle’s next appearance, look out for him in the Superman & Lois Season 2 finale on Tuesday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET. 

Colton Haynes came to Arrow back in 2013 as a familiar face to Teen Wolf fans, and became a key part of the superhero show that would go on to launch an entire universe of TV shows that is still going to this day. That said, his role as Roy Harper involved going back and forth in series regular status over the years, and now the actor has revealed why Season 7 was his last as a regular, with only sporadic appearances in the eighth and final season. 

In an excerpt from his new memoir (via E! News), called Miss Memory Lane, Haynes revealed the truth behind his reduced role as Roy in Season 8 of Arrow after returning to series regular status in Season 7. Now, more than two years since the series finale (for which Haynes did return), his memoir sheds light on what happened behind the scenes. He wrote: 

Colton Haynes doesn’t identify which of the cast mates he “couldn’t stand working with” over the course of what was presumably Season 7, which was the last season in which he was billed as a regular. When the news initially broke back in 2019 that Haynes would not be back in a full-time capacity for the eighth season, the actor took to Twitter to state that he “was not asked to come back for the final season as a series regular.”

He also said in that message in 2019 that Roy is “never gone too long,” so there wasn’t a sense of bad blood between Haynes and the show. He didn’t actually appear in every episode of Season 7, but is credited for appearing in ten out of the season’s 22 episodes. 

His role in Season 7 was split between the present and flash-forwards to the dystopian future that featured the kids of the present-day heroes, including William, Mia, Zoe, and Connor Hawke, as well as older versions of heroes including Felicity, Black Siren, Black Canary, and Wild Dog in addition to Roy. 

Haynes later appeared in three out of the ten episodes of Season 8, including the series finale that featured many of the most notable characters from the entire history of the show following the events of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover that changed everything and set Oliver up for an arguably happy ending despite his “Crisis” fate. Haynes was one of several cast members who shared touching messages on the last day of filming.

The actor may never open up with all the details about the cast mate who he “couldn’t stand” to work with, but at least it seems like he’s in a good place if he was able to open up in his memoir. He’d previously shared why he departed as a regular the first time around at the end of Season 3, saying that he asked to step away for the sake of his mental and physical health.  

Colton Haynes has not returned to the Arrowverse for any of the other shows since the end of the parent series in early 2020, but fans with a Netflix subscription can revisit his days as Roy Harper/Arsenal with all eight seasons of Arrow available streaming. For some more current viewing options, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule.

The lead actor from The CW's Green Arrow is adding to one of the latest viral TikTok trends. Stephen Amell, who played Oliver Queen for eight seasons on Arrow, found a cool way to channel the character for a new viral duet. And quite frankly, it’s making me think about the superhero show's bittersweet conclusion yet again. 

A number of TikTok users have taken to duetting a video that shows social media user Katey Bridges accidentally hitting her bedpost. And if that weren't enough, Bridges also lets out a short, but funny, yelp after the bump. Up until now, users have mostly dubbed over the humorous moment with songs, but Stephen Amell cheekily used it to say one of Oliver Queen's most memorable lines from Arrow:

Of all of the videos I've seen result from this new trend, this one might be my favorite. It’s been over two years since the inaugural Arrowverse show finished its run, so it’s nice to see its leading man donning a hood and an (invisible) arrow for fun. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Green Arrow probably didn't make TikToks, though I'm certainly grateful that the actor is.

Stephen Amell has been showing quite a bit of love to his former character on social media as of late. The actor previously shared a throwback stunt video showing the early days of the CW show. He made it clear that he could still do his share of stunts, and one can't help but get the idea that he does miss those days. While on vacation in January, Amell also posted about wishing he could be as agile as Oliver, after injuring himself multiple times. (Truth be told, I wouldn't mind having Queen's sweet skills myself.)

Between his Oliver Queen tributes, his support for his superhero friends like Jensen Ackles, and more, the actor has shared some heroic quality online. While it’s unlikely that we'll actually ever see him suit up on the Arrowverse shows again, considering he did sacrifice himself, I'll definitely take sweet and funny posts any day of the week.

When he's not having fun on the web, though, Stephen Amell is focused on his current series. The actor is preparing for the second season of the Starz wrestling dramedy Heels. The show, just like Arrow, requires rigorous training and, based on the shirtless shots of Amell that we've seen, the work is paying off. He may not have the exact same physique from his Arrow days, but his big guns are still plenty impressive.

Fingers crossed that Stephen Amell will keep using social media to keep Oliver Queen and Arrow alive, especially since Green Arrow and the Canaries is not moving forward on The CW. It would certainly give me a good reason to check out TikTok on the daily!

It’s been over two years since The CW’s flagship Arrowverse series, Arrow, came to an end. While it seemed like the series' legacy could continue in the form of Green Arrow and the Canaries, a spinoff set in 2040 that follows Oliver’s daughter, Mia as the new emerald archer alongside Lance and Dinah Drake, the network officially canned the series last year. Now, Katie Cassidy is opening up about the decision, and why she believes it was actually a good thing. 

Katie Cassidy portrayed Laurel Lance/Black Canary/Black Siren throughout Arrow’s eight-season run and became a fan favorite. So it was no surprise that the network considering bringing the character back for the proposed series, which had a backdoor pilot (starring Cassidy, Kat McNamara, and Juliana Harkavy) air towards the end of the parent show's final season. While promoting her new spy thriller Agent Game, Cassidy spoke to ComicBookMovie.com about the axed spinoff. The actress shared her honest thoughts about it, and it sounds like she was ready to to begin a new chapter in her career:

The actress' feelings are understandable, especially since she was on the original show for such a long time. Although it’s clear that the superhero series will always hold a special place in her heart, it was simply time for her to move on. She may not be open to playing Laurel on a regular basis anymore, but she could always return for a guest spot. Her former co-stars have done this. David Ramsey was making the rounds across the universe last year (ahead of his reported Justice U series), and Kat McNamara showed up in The Flash’s “Armageddon” event.

Not only that, but it seems another one of her colleagues would love to have her back. In October 2021, Legends of Tomorrow star and former Arrow actress Caity Lotz revealed that she’s “always pitching” ideas for Laurel Lance to appear on the series. Legends is the most reasonable Arrowverse series for the character to appear on, given its unpredictable nature, and I'd personally love to see it happen.

Of course, such a gig would have to line up with Katie Cassidy's busy schedule, highlighted by her newest project. According to Deadline, her upcoming directorial debut, Daddy Issues, which she also co-wrote with Maria Betrand and Meg McCaig, focuses on three women who must wrestle with how their fathers have impacted their lives. Cassidy will also star in the film and produce it.

With this, perhaps the Supernatural alum can simply direct an episode of Legends of Tomorrow or another Arrowverse series instead of making an appearance. That would certainly serve as a consolation prize of sorts for some fans who'd love to see her working within the superhero franchise. For fans like myself, it's sad that Green Arrow and the Canaries didn't get picked up, but I'm glad to see Katie Cassidy is getting to try some new things in her professional life.

Although Katie Cassidy is primarily known for TV outings like playing Juliet Sharp in Gossip Girl and various versions of Laurel Lance in the Arrowverse, she’s also appeared in a handful of movies over the years. Well, the actress is about to take a big step forward with the film portion of her career, as it’s been announced that she’ll be directing her first movie. However, the subject matter might not be to the liking of Paul Blackthorne’s Quentin Lance, Laurel’s dad on Arrow.

Katie Cassidy’s feature directorial debut is titled Daddy Issues, which she co-wrote with Maria Betrand and Meg McCaig. The movie is described by Deadline as a coming-of-age story set in Los Angeles about three women who “should have already grown the fuck up,” but are “unable to escape the relationship dysfunction they learned from their fathers.” So while the two main versions of Laurel Lance in Arrow shared a close bond with Quentin Lance (though that’s not to say there weren’t rocky moments), Daddy Issues will focus on the negative ways the trio’s respective fathers have imprinted on them.

In addition to the aforementioned creative duties and starring in the flick, Katie Cassidy will also produce Daddy Issues. Marina Studios has also come aboard the movie after Cassidy showed a presentation for the project earlier this year at the Mammoth Film Festival. Production will unfold this fall in Boston and Los Angeles.

The news about Daddy Issues follows six months after the release of Katie Cassidy’s last film appearance, the romantic crime drama I Love Us, which she also executive produced. In addition to directing her first movie, there’s another reason 2022 will be a big deal for Cassidy on the film front, as she’ll soon be seen acting alongside Mel Gibson, Dermot Mulroney and fellow Arrow vet Katherine McNamara (who’s returning to The CW for Walker: Independence) in Agent Game. Still, it’s safe to say that making Daddy Issues will hold a particularly special place in Cassidy’s heart later this year.

Katie Cassidy’s other notable film credits include Click, Taken, the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Monte Carlo and Wolves at the Door. As far as Katie Cassidy’s work in the Arrowverse goes, we haven’t seen the Earth-2 incarnation of Laurel Lance, a.k.a. Black Siren, since Arrow concluded in early 2020. While there had been plans for her to star alongside Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak and Juliana Harkavy’s Dinah Drake in the Green Arrow and the Canaries spinoff following Arrow’s penultimate episode serving as a backdoor pilot, The CW announced that it was passing on the project in January 2021. 

However, Caity Lotz, who debuted as Sara Lance on Arrow and has been leading Legends of Tomorrow since the beginning, has expressed interest in bringing Katie Cassidy back to the time travel series, as she made two guest appearances as the original Laurel Lance in Season 1. So maybe there will come a day where we see a Laurel back in the Arrowverse, but for now, Cassidy will be keeping busy putting Daddy Issues together.

While we wait for more news about Daddy Issues and Katie Cassidy’s other creative endeavors, look through the lineup of 2022 movie releases to see what will play in theaters and on streaming later in the year. This includes Agent Game, which will be released online and in select theaters on April 8.

It's hard to believe that it's now been nearly ten years since the world was introduced to Stephen Amell's version of playboy vigilante Oliver Queen for Arrow, which would ultimately launch an entire superhero universe on The CW. Amell played the hooded hero of Star City for eight seasons and while it’s only been two years since the series ended, Amell is looking back at what it took for him to play a superhero.

Stephen Amell took to social media to post a throwback video of him training for his then-upcoming CW superhero series back in 2012. The training looks intense and involves him making big jumps, flips, and hanging on for dear life. In a Facebook post, Amell wrote "I can still do that" but then followed with "Probably." The Heels star also posted the video on TikTok, and it's hard to look away:

It’s pretty fun to see Stephen Amell looking back to the months before Arrow premiered in fall 2012 and changed his life, and he never shied away from showing off his real-life Green Arrow skills, like when he competed on American Ninja Warrior. That said, he's also not afraid to poke a little fun at his post-superhero self compared to Oliver Queen.  

A month ago, Amell took a vacation that was not without some injuries. He shared the story on social media, noting that Oliver Queen survived five years after being shipwrecked on an island, transformed into a hero, saved people and sacrificed himself, while Amell lost his watch while cliff diving and mistakenly grabbed a sea urchin. Not everyone can be like their character, and it looks like as the years go on, Amell is gradually becoming less and less like Oliver.

Even though Stephen Amell may not be as athletically trained as Oliver Queen anymore, his newest TV character is still very physical. Because he plays a pro wrestler on Starz’s Heels, Amell still needs to work out. He posted a shirtless photo that proved that he was back in his prime Arrow body, even mentioning that he was “one juice cleanse” away from blowing the first season poster away. 

It's clear that Arrow will always be part of Stephen Amell’s life, whether that’d be him wishing that he could still the stunts he was able to do, or getting a permanent reminder to pay tribute to the vigilante. Although it doesn’t seem like he could be returning to the role of Oliver Queen any time soon, at least he seems to look back fondly on his days as the Green Arrow. And Arrow does live on with the spinoffs, and even certain characters who debuted on the Emerald Archer's show back in the day.

Oliver Queen is definitely gone but Stephen Amell is keeping his memory alive, and I would officially love to see him try to recreate that video from 2012 now in 2022, just to prove whether or not he can. If you want to relive Amell's days as the Green Arrow, you can always check out all eight seasons of Arrow with a Netflix subscription.

Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen repeatedly clashed with many villains during Arrow, but few were a thorn in his side for as long as Chien Na Wei, a.k.a. China White, played by Kelly Hu. The X2: X-Men United actress recurred as the villain for six of the show’s eight seasons, through both the present-day storyline and in the Season 3 flashbacks. Well, despite Arrow having ended in early 2020, Hu is still game to play China White again in the Arrowverse, albeit with less painful injuries the next time around.

During my interview with Kelly Hu about her turn as Cheshire (a role she also plays in HBO Max’s Young Justice) in the upcoming animated movie Catwoman: Hunted, I brought up her notable tenure on Arrow and asked her what it was like getting to pop in and out of The CW series for most of its run. She answered:

As Kelly Hu noted, she first appeared as China White in the Arrow Season 1 episode “Honor Thy Father,” where she was sent by the Chinese Triad to kill Laurel Lance. However, Season 3 revealed that Oliver Queen first ran into China White during his time in Hong Kong, two years before he returned to Starling City and began his crusade as The Hood. China White would later team up with fellow antagonists like Bronze Tiger, Carrie Cutter and Liza Warner, and following her brief stint in the Ghost Initiative (the relaunched Task Force X), she was last seen in the Season 8 episode “Welcome to Hong Kong,” where she was ultimately defeated by Black Siren.

There have been a handful on instances where an Arrowverse villain chiefly affiliated with one show has resurfaced on a different show, so it certainly is possible Kelly Hu could get the opportunity to reprise China White elsewhere. Maybe she could even go toe-to-toe with Katherine McNamara’s Mia Queen, Oliver’s adult daughter who has the capability of traveling to the present, as seen in The Flash’s “Armageddon” arc. However, given all her body has been through over the years with performing stunts and acting out fight sequences, Hu is more than ok now with her stuntwomen handling the action-heavy aspects of the character. There’s no need for her to suffer any more injuries.

For now, you can hear Kelly Hu’s latest turn as Cheshire when Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Catwoman: Hunted on February 8. Hu can also be heard later this year as Dr. Anna Ripley in the Amazon Prime Video animated series The Legend of Vox Machina.

It’s been two years since fans of flagship Arrowverse series Arrow said their heartfelt goodbyes to the vigilante. Star Stephen Amell has since broken away from Oliver Queen to star in a new series, and now he has shared a funny vacation story to prove that he is definitely not the Green Arrow anymore.  

While on vacation, Stephen Amell proved to himself and to Arrow fans that he doesn't quite have the skills of the Star City vigilante. He took to Twitter to update his followers on some recent adventures that did not end so well, and compared it to how his character, Oliver Queen, managed to spend five years on an island, become a hero, save the multiverse, and live life before getting to enjoy the afterlife: 

Stephen Amell proved back in his Arrow days that he had some definite Oliver Queen skills in real life, even if he wasn't a masked vigilante with a bow and arrows. However, he didn't have quite the same experiences as the Green Arrow, and it makes sense that some of his superhero abilities have faded over the past couple of years. It’s pretty hilarious to know that while his beloved character can save an entire multiverse and and survive impossible situations on an island in the North China Sea, Amell ran into some problems while trying to recover his watch.

Even though Amell has moved on from Arrow, as he now stars in the Starz wrestling show Heels, Oliver Queen is still with him. Last year he posted a shirtless photo to show fans that he was back in his prime Green Arrow bod. Still, playing a wrestler means that he doesn't necessarily have to keep superhero fit, so his skills are more those of a human being who doesn't have to save his city, friends, family, and/or the multiverse on a regular basis. 

It’s nice knowing that Oliver Queen will always be in Stephen Amell’s heart, though I bet he wishes he still had some of Oliver’s survival skills. While he didn’t have the best of luck on vacation, at least it will be one he will always remember. Oliver may have been able to survive on Lian Yu, I don’t think Amell would be able to, considering his recent adventure.

Fingers crossed that the Green Arrow abilities come back to Stephen Amell for his next vacation if he runs into another mishap. Or even another role. It’s definitely hilarious to see the contrast between the real-life Amell and what his character could do, as well as that Amell has a sense of humor about it to share on social media. If the actor gets his superhero mojo back someday, maybe he should stray from cliff jumping, or at least jump without any valuables on him?