The 29 best CW shows of all time

The CW is a polarizing network and often the talk of the TV landscape from fandom to the media. Their slogan ‘Dare to Defy,’ which plays before most CW shows, tends to refer to defying expectations as well as limitations. It’s a motto befitting the home of the Arrowverse, and one they’ve benefited from as a channel striving toward inclusion even as they stumble, make mistakes, and learn along the way.

However, while the network is mostly known for Riverdale and superhero television programs today, it’s been an influential force in television for 16 years. Younger millennials and Gen Z have grown up watching the teen series and adult dramas The CW has made household names.

In fact, before Riverdale had a hold on teen programming, effecting the style and tone of new teen content, The Vampire Diaries held that crown. Before that the series Gossip Girl reigned supreme, and One Tree Hill, and Gilmore Girls.

The CW has had its share of misses but, for the most part, its library of television shows have either been hits or fan favorites regardless of whether the series have been considered to be dumpster fires by TV lovers that can’t stand the network.

While The CW certainly isn’t the home of prestige television, it is and has been the home to the kind of shows that garner a lot of buzz and big fandoms. The world of transformative fanworks is large but CW shows have carved their own corner with the fanart and fanfiction inspired by their characters and universes.

So this list of 29 best CW shows of all time isn’t necessarily about quality, which is often subjective, but about the series that have made a name for themselves or offered something different than what’s ever aired on TV. Though that’s not to say you won’t find beloved CW shows in this collection even if they did burn their fanbases a time or two.

When compiling this list I took into consideration the iconic status of many of these shows, the size of their fanbases, their influence on pop culture, their genre, their stars, and the moments in time in which they aired. Some are personal favorites and others are not. Some you may have heard of and others you may want to check out.

As with anything, there may be a difference of opinion, feel free to share in the comments which shows you feel were overlooked or don’t belong on the list. Let us know what your favorite CW show is and why. Or tell us about the new CW shows you’re hoping will one day be considered one of the best on the network.

But, for now, let’s dive into this list starting with the teen football drama, All American!