The DCEU should take some tips from CW’s Arrowverse
By Jason Hall
The DC movie universe has struggled to find its identity, and despite a few successes, it still has earned a bad reputation. It could learn a few lessons from the CW’s Arrowverse.
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Many people have different opinions about the Arrowverse, but I think most people would have to admit that the CW has built the most successful television superhero franchise ever, and done it all on a TV series budget.
Fans might disagree over which series is the best or which seasons are great and which aren’t, but overall, the CW superhero experiment has delivered some of the best spectacles on TV or the big screen.
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My prime example for this argument is the Crisis on Earth-X event that played out across all the shows last year. They built a story that gave everyone the spotlight and set up plenty of opportunities for everyone to work together without over focusing on one person or denying anyone a big moment. The biggest strength that the CW has displayed over the years has been building characters that audiences care about and roots for. I think Wonder Woman pulled that off and it’s what makes her relatable, but the rest of the DCEU hasn’t really pulled off the same trick. The Arrowverse is also not afraid of being sentimental or even cheesy at times. The DC movie universe could learn to take itself less seriously too.
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When I think of Arrow or The Flash, I know the personalities of those characters and it is fun to watch them take on new challenges. Beyond Wonder Woman, I don’t really know who DC’s version of Superman or Batman is anymore. Their movies have too often leaned on the perception of the past films and characters without establishing who they are now. I want the DC Cinematic Universe to work out and I want to see them succeed, but I think they have been trying to move too fast.
The DCEU needs to focus on telling smaller stories with their larger than life characters and build new relationships with the audience. What’s your opinion?