I Think the Arrowverse’s Best Team-Up Didn’t Happen in a Crossover

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The appeal of The CW’s Arrowverse lies in its crossover episodes that occur frequently across its series, uniting the superheroes. Initially, these crossovers are just The Flash and Green Arrow joining forces to take down a couple of rogue metahumans, but they soon expand into something more significant. The climactic event in the Arrowverse, titled “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” involves the heroes battling the Anti-Monitor who is intent on annihilating the multiverse. Each episode boasts unexpected appearances, and it seems as if every character from the Arrowverse takes part in the battle. Despite its many strengths, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is not the franchise’s most impressive team-up.

One of the most memorable instances showcasing multiple heroes in the Arrowverse occurs relatively early, specifically within Season 1 of “The Flash”. While it may lack the grandeur or excitement of a crossover event, it underscores the fact that a shared universe isn’t limited to the big screen.

Barry Allen Calls in Some Friends in The Flash Season 1

In numerous ways, “The Flash” is deeply interwoven with the main series of the Arrowverse, specifically “Arrow.” The first appearance of Barry Allen within this universe occurs during Season 2 of “Arrow,” setting up his solo series through a storyline known as a ‘backdoor pilot.’ After mastering his skills in Starling City, he returns to Central City, where a lightning strike during the particle accelerator explosion grants him superpowers. Similar to Oliver Queen, Barry decides to combat crime and the harmful metahumans in Central City. Not long after, the Arrow appears in town to assist The Flash in subduing an aggression-inducing villain. In due course, Barry reciprocates this aid by traveling to Starling City to help fight Captain Boomerang.

In the initial crossover of the Arrowverse, a significant triumph was achieved, proving that multiple superhero series can harmoniously exist in one universe, collaborating flawlessly without any hiccups. However, The CW ventured into risky territory by organizing an alliance earlier in Season 1 of The Flash, which they didn’t adequately prepare for in advance. In Episode 22, titled “Rogue Air,” Team Flash grappled with the predicament of Harrison Wells, aka the Reverse-Flash, who possessed extensive knowledge about them and was quicker than Barry. As the villain appeared at S.T.A.R Labs at the end of the episode, it became evident that The Flash was no match for him. Aware of his predicament, Barry summoned reinforcements. Arrow (Stephen Amell) and Firestorm (Robbie Amell) promptly arrived and joined forces with the main character to defeat Reverse-Flash. Oliver even employed Ray Palmer’s nanites to keep the villain still so he could land a few hits. This joint operation was highly successful, serving as an exciting meta-moment for the Amells, and establishing that heroes within the Arrowverse can lend assistance to their comrades without grandiose formalities.

The Flash Returns the Favor in Arrow Season 3

In “Rogue Air,” Oliver appears noticeably different from his typical self, having adopted an all-black attire provided by Ra’s al Ghul. Barry observes this change but decides not to elaborate; instead, he hints that Oliver might require aid in the near future. True to his word, Barry hurries off to Nanda Parbat, the base of the League of Assassins, during Arrow Season 3, Episode 23, titled “My Name is Oliver Queen.” There, he liberates all of Oliver’s associates. Regrettably, he can’t stay because the Reverse-Flash remains a significant threat, but Barry does everything possible to assist Team Arrow in overcoming the League of Assassins.

The fleeting appearances of various characters at the ends of Arrow Season 3 and The Flash Season 1 give the Arrowverse an authentic comic book feel, as if each episode is a separate live-action comic. In the source material, bringing heroes together requires minimal effort since they can be placed on a single page. However, getting actors onto sets and into costumes demands more work. Yet, the Arrowverse productions are not deterred by this challenge; they strive to create an intimate atmosphere despite having access to countless characters from across multiple universes, and they successfully achieve this goal from the beginning.

The Arrowverse shows are streaming on Netflix.

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2025-07-22 22:40