10 Arrowverse Episodes That Are Hard To Watch Today

The Arrowverse was a very successful series of DC television shows, but looking back, some episodes haven’t aged well. It all started with the premiere of Arrow in October 2012 and continued until Superman & Lois finished in December 2024. However, many fans see the final episode of The Flash‘s ninth season as the true end of the universe.

Even though the Arrowverse series have finished, fans still enjoy rewatching them and rediscovering their love for the heroes and villains. It’s a great way to relax and escape from everyday life.

As much as I love the Arrowverse, going back to watch older episodes isn’t always a great experience. Honestly, some of the stories and special effects haven’t held up very well. There are definitely episodes where I cringe at certain lines or moments, and knowing what happens later in the series can make some storylines way too depressing to revisit. It’s a bit of a mixed bag when I try to rewatch things.

10. Supergirl season 2, episode 13, “Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk”

I used to enjoy watching “Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk” – it was silly and funny, although the character of Mr. Mxyzptlk always felt a bit unsettling. Now, though, it’s hard to watch because it’s clear the episode features a lot of men who are controlling and exhibit behaviors associated with incels.

Mon-El often seems immature and self-centered, and that’s especially true in this episode. It was satisfying to see Kara tell him to leave, but it’s frustrating that she immediately forgives him and kisses him without any real discussion or consequences for his actions.

The episode began with Myxy’s playful prank involving Mon-El, but his behavior quickly turned disturbing and crossed serious lines. By the end, his actions were deeply unsettling, as he repeatedly disregarded boundaries and pressured a woman against her will. As a result, “Mr. & Mrs. Mxyzptlk” is neither a pleasant romantic story nor an enjoyable viewing experience.

9. The Flash season 1, episode 18, “All-Star Team Up”

I have to admit, “All-Star Team Up” is usually the one episode I fast-forward through when I rewatch the series. It just didn’t quite deliver on what I expected! I was really hoping for a proper team-up between The Flash and The Atom, but it ended up focusing much more on The Flash working with the police, which wasn’t really what I signed up for.

The villain was also a weak point of the show, feeling childish both in her abilities and reasons for doing what she did. The scene with Barry being attacked by bees was so over-the-top and silly that it only worked as something you’d see in a comic book – it just didn’t translate well to the screen. It didn’t make sense that someone as fast as Barry couldn’t easily escape them.

This episode portrays Iris in a way that feels like a tired, sexist stereotype, which is disappointing considering how much we usually enjoy her character. She talks about wanting a career, but the entire episode focuses on her relationship problems. Usually, her character is much more complex and well-developed than this.

8. Legends of Tomorrow season 1, episode 15, “Destiny”

Okay, so as a big fan of these shows, I have to say the Legends of Tomorrow episode “Destiny” is tough to rewatch. It’s the last one where we see Leonard Snart as a regular, and that’s a real bummer. I always loved Snart – he was a fantastic villain on The Flash, and honestly, I think he really came into his own on Legends. He just made the show better.

The character got a really compelling storyline in the spinoff, but unfortunately it ended abruptly after just one season. While it was sad to see him go, the writers handled his departure exceptionally well.

Snart’s death is arguably the second most impactful on the show, surpassed only by Martin Stein’s. While his sacrifice was well-written and moving, revisiting the episode ‘Destiny’ is always a deeply sad experience.

7. The Flash season 3, episode 17, “Duet”

I’m a big fan of musical episodes, and the actors in this crossover really showcased their singing talents. They made good use of the Arrowverse cast’s abilities. However, the music and choreography—except for one standout song—aren’t enough to make “Duet” very enjoyable to watch now.

Recent episodes of both The Flash and Supergirl have been quite serious, so the lightheartedness of “Duet” felt out of place. The plot was confusing and awkward at times, and the ending didn’t feel justified by what happened earlier.

Both Kara and Mon-El, and Barry and Iris, had understandable reasons for splitting up. However, they get back together without addressing the issues that caused the breakups in the first place. To make matters worse, Barry proposes to Iris with a song, “Runnin’ Home to You,” that is overly sentimental and directly references their relationship in a clumsy way.

6. Arrow season 4, episode 15, “Taken”

The Arrow episode “Taken” has several problematic story choices that make it difficult to watch now. It’s frustrating that Felicity regains her ability to walk not through rehabilitation, but because she’s angry enough to leave Oliver. This feels insensitive at best, and actively harmful towards people with disabilities at worst. The storyline also spent too much time building up her recovery for it to happen in such a way.

Felicity unexpectedly ends things with Oliver due to the situation with William, which seems unlike her. Oliver explains he wanted to be honest with her, but William’s mother insisted he keep their connection a secret if he wanted to maintain a relationship with his son. It’s a complication the Felicity from earlier seasons would have likely empathized with.

This also kicks off a breakup plotline that felt unnatural and didn’t enhance the overall story. Oliver and Felicity eventually reconciled a season later, but they immediately fell into the same old communication problems.

5. The Flash season 6, episode 18, “Heart of the Matter: Part Two”

While The Flash isn’t perfect, most of its scenes are at least somewhat enjoyable. But the lightsaber-like lightning fight in “Heart of the Matter: Part Two” was a real low point. It felt awkward, the special effects were bad, and the writing wasn’t good. As a big Star Wars fan, I was really disappointed by this attempt to reference it.

The lightning bolt scene is easily the most poorly executed moment in The Flash‘s history, and it’s so bad it ruins the entire episode. Even Grant Gustin disliked the scene and attempted to have it rewritten.

That one scene is so cringeworthy that “Heart of the Matter: Part Two” is now one of the most difficult Arrowverse episodes to revisit.

4. Batwoman season 2, episode 1, “What Happened To Kate Kane?”

Even great TV shows struggle when actors leave, and the Batwoman episode “What Happened To Kate Kane?” is a particularly weak example of this.

Okay, so as a Batwoman fan, I gotta say this episode felt a little weird. It was supposed to be all about introducing Ryan Wilder as the new Batwoman, but honestly, Kate Kane’s presence loomed so large it didn’t feel like Ryan’s story. The episode kept circling back to the old Batwoman, and visually, it was packed with references to Kate’s beginnings – it just kept pulling my attention away from getting to know Ryan.

It’s hard to fully enjoy this first episode knowing how great Ryan Wilder becomes later in seasons 2 and 3. She doesn’t get a strong introduction in ‘What Happened To Kate Kane?’ and feels a bit overlooked.

3. Supergirl season 4, episode 11, “Blood Memory”

The Supergirl episode “Blood Memory” is a difficult, yet important, watch. It powerfully illustrates that prejudice against transgender people can come from anyone, and the show’s writers handled this sensitive topic with skill and honesty. It was emotionally impactful when it first aired and remains so today.

Watching this is especially hard right now, given everything happening in the world. The story’s message feels incredibly relevant today. It’s heartbreaking to think about Nia believing her sister was safe.

However, the rest of the story in “Blood Memory” doesn’t quite work. The memory pills feel like an unnecessary and forced plot device. It’s hard to believe Alex wouldn’t remember basic things about Kara, even after having their memories altered. And, looking back, it seems absurd that Nia’s sister would leave her mother’s funeral while the building was on fire.

2. Legends of Tomorrow season 3, episode 17, “Guest Starring John Noble”

The episode “Guest Starring John Noble” was well-received when it originally aired, but it hasn’t aged well. It’s hard to believe someone signed off on a plot involving a psychic gorilla targeting Barack Obama. Even for a show like Legends of Tomorrow, which is known for being over-the-top and ridiculous, the idea feels too silly.

The visual effects for Grodd in this episode are noticeably worse than they were in The Flash. The attempt at humor also falls flat, feeling awkward rather than funny. Two particularly awkward lines are “Run, Barry, Run” and “looks like we’re all on Obamacare.”

Obama’s appearance felt like a pointless joke. Previous episodes thoughtfully integrated historical figures into the story, but young Barack Obama could have been replaced with almost any other character without changing the plot at all.

1. Arrow season 7, episode 13, “Star City Slayer”

Okay, so “Star City Slayer” is genuinely a good episode – the writing and acting are surprisingly strong. That’s what makes it tough to even bring up. But honestly, it sets the stage for two storylines that really drag Arrow down for the rest of its run. It’s a strong episode with devastating consequences for the show’s overall quality, in my opinion.

In the episode “Star City Slayer,” William goes to live with his grandparents, and Oliver and Felicity completely cut off contact with him for many years. While it doesn’t really matter where William lives, their decision to not speak to him for so long feels harsh and unlike them. Also in this episode, Felicity discovers she’s pregnant.

Similar to Felicity, Mia wasn’t a character from the original DC comics and felt like an unnecessary addition to the story. The fact that Oliver and Felicity left Star City to protect their baby, but not William, made the situation with him even harder. Introducing Mia also created a plotline where William was kidnapped, which was never fully resolved. Honestly, I wish the ending could be removed because it makes the episode, “Star City Slayer,” really tough to watch.

2025-11-08 06:01