The CW is ‘super’ great right now, and the man at the center of it all is writer, producer, and creator, Greg Berlanti. The mastermind is behind The CW’s hits, Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow.
In 2012, the birth of The CW’s superhero takeover began. It started with a billionaire, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who was stranded on an island where he learned many different skills, which would turn him into the Arrow. After he realized he couldn’t fight off every villain who entered Star City, he enlisted a team to help him. The team consisted of John Diggle (David Ramsey), Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), Thea Queen (Willa Holland), as well as previous Roy Harper (Colton Haynes). The show originally focused on Queen’s struggle with letting people in, and realizing he can’t control every situation in his life. The show now relies heavily on the other characters and the relationships Queen has built over the years with these people by his side.
After the network got a glimpse of the adoration from Arrow fans, critics and viewers alike, The CW moved forward with The Flash, which starred the adorable, smart, super-nerd, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin). Much like superheroes before him, The Flash has a cover job (hey, even though they’re superheroes, they still have to pay the bills!) working as a CSI (crime scene investigator), where he works with a team of investigators who uncover his secret and help him fight off crime. His speed, willingness to help, and sometimes naïve nature sets him apart from other heroes. He isn’t aggressive or a tortured soul in a way; he’s extremely kind and very ordinary. The Flash protects Central City, and sometimes joins forces to help his friends in Star City as well as National City.
It’s a bus, it’s a plane, it’s Marley from Glee? Yes, shy, quiet, and strange Marley from the FOX musical-comedy, Glee is Supergirl, and honestly, no one could play Kara Danvers better! Melissa Benoist plays the ‘adorkable’ Danvers, a girl who is almost too normal, who is hiding a super big secret; a secret that can no longer be contained when National City and the lives of those who occupy it, are threatened. Although she is still trying to understand her powers and wrap her head around the fact that she can do all of the things her cousin, Superman, can do, she is still trying to keep some shred of normalcy. She does this by working at CatCo, the media conglomerate, where she serves as Cat Grant’s (Calista Flockhart) personal assistant. She also has a team that helps her stop the bad guys, her sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh) and her coworkers/best friends, Winn Schott (Jeremy Jordan) and James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks).
The CW’s latest superhero series is Legends of Tomorrow. While the series got off to a rocky start, it is slowly shaping up to be a promising new series from Berlanti. The series stars Arrow characters Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) and Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), as well as Victor Garber and Franz Drameh. Legends of Tomorrow focuses on an odd group of heroes who are trying to prevent the apocalypse from happening. This season there will be a crossover between Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, and hopefully it will bring in more viewers for Legends.
Overall, The CW expanding their demographic to superhero/comic book fans is an incredibly smart move on their part, especially moving Supergirl from CBS to The CW. The lineup is incredibly strong and holds down its timeslots pretty well, which in turn generates solid ratings. The shows are entertaining and have proven to get better with each season. Berlanti is doing a stellar job and his efforts are not going unnoticed. The shows are ones that you can watch with your family and friends; they are suspenseful and they always keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Whether Supergirl is flying through the sky to rescue innocent people from a burning building or the Arrow is trying to find justice for his loved one’s murders, you’re bound to get hooked.
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