5 DC TV Shows That Were Better Than Anything In The Arrowverse (#1 Is a Superhero Masterpiece)

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DC television is often associated with the Arrowverse, a hugely popular franchise of superhero shows on The CW. Over more than ten years, it included six different series and really changed what people expected from superhero TV. Shows like Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl became major parts of pop culture during their run.

The Arrowverse shows were fun and definitely added to the world of superhero TV, but they weren’t DC’s best. Many other excellent DC series have aired, both before and after the Arrowverse, and some truly stand out as top-tier superhero entertainment. Here are five DC shows that surpass anything the Arrowverse offered.

5) Doom Patrol

Originally appearing on DC Universe before moving to HBO Max, Doom Patrol is a spinoff of Titans, but many fans consider it a much better show – and one of DC’s best TV series ever. The show centers around a team of people who’ve gained superpowers through traumatic experiences. Brought together by Niles Caulder, also known as The Chief, they become superheroes. When The Chief goes missing, the team sets out to find him, uncovering shocking secrets about their own origins along the way.

Doom Patrol isn’t just a superhero show; it’s a heartwarming and often funny story about finding family and learning to heal. It beautifully shows that even when you’re flawed and broken, you can still find peace, acceptance, and love. It’s truly unlike anything else on television.

4) Wonder Woman

For many, the original live-action Wonder Woman isn’t Gal Gadot, but Lynda Carter, and that’s understandable. Carter played Wonder Woman in the popular 1970s TV show, which, though it only ran for three seasons, had a lasting impact on superhero media. Because of this, Carter has made appearances in recent projects like the Arrowverse shows, the Flash movie, and Wonder Woman 1984.

Lynda Carter’s portrayal of Wonder Woman is still considered the best. While it has a bit of a playful, over-the-top style, that’s part of what makes it so endearing and true to the comic books. No other adaptation of the Amazonian princess has quite measured up.

3) Pennyworth

I’ve always found Pennyworth to be a really unique DC show. It started on Epix and finished on HBO Max, and it’s connected to the Gotham series, so it’s not quite the DC universe we’re all used to. But honestly, that’s what I love about it! It does its own thing and it’s really refreshing.

This series takes place in 1960s England and tells the story of Alfred Pennyworth before he became the Wayne family’s butler. It’s a fast-paced spy thriller where Alfred fights against a dangerous fascist group called the Raven Society, working alongside American agents – including Thomas and Martha Wayne, who are part of a covert organization. While it’s a bit crazy and connects to the worlds of both Batman and V for Vendetta, it’s a surprisingly captivating and often overlooked show.

2) Peacemaker

Though Peacemaker started as a spin-off from James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, it quickly establishes itself as a unique and excellent series. Following the film’s events, it centers on John Cena’s character, Christopher Smith, as he attempts to become a true hero while grappling with his troubled history. The show isn’t just about Peacemaker, though; his team is also made up of quirky and flawed individuals, and their dynamic works surprisingly well as they team up to save the world.

Okay, so as a huge movie and TV fan, let me tell you, Peacemaker really blew me away. It’s hilarious, super violent (in a good way!), definitely not for the faint of heart, and just a blast to watch. But honestly, it’s more than just surface-level fun; it actually made me think, and even got a little emotional. And John Cena? He’s phenomenal as Peacemaker – seriously, a career-best performance. It’s pretty close to a perfect series, if you ask me.

1) Watchmen

There’s been plenty of debate about adapting Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s Watchmen, and that intensified when Damon Lindelof created an HBO series that wasn’t a remake, but a brand new sequel. However, the show might actually be the best DC Comics television series ever made.

Set 34 years after the events of the original story, the series moves to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where police officers began wearing masks following a white supremacist attack. Years after this event, known as “White Night,” detective Angela Abar, also known as Sister Night, investigates the murder of her friend and police chief, Judd Crawford. Her investigation uncovers unsettling truths about masked vigilantism and her own past. The show brilliantly expands the Watchmen universe using real historical events, capturing the tone and spirit of the original comic. With exceptional performances and a conclusion that was both fulfilling and left viewers wanting more, it’s not only a fantastic adaptation, but also truly compelling television.

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2026-01-22 19:13