The series finale of Superman & Lois marked the end of The CW’s DC programming era, with the show concluding its four-season run as the last DC Comics-based series on the network.
The finale also symbolized the end of The CW’s connection to the Arrowverse, which defined the 2010s.
Superman & Lois wrapped up in a way that precludes any continuation, aligning with new leadership at both The CW and Warner Bros. Discovery, who now have different approaches to DC content.
The CW, under new ownership, has shifted its focus from scripted series to sports and unscripted programming. The network now airs only a few co-productions, with smaller budgets.
Meanwhile, DC’s TV projects are moving to HBO and Max, with bigger budgets and more mature themes, as seen with shows like The Penguin and Lanterns. This marks a shift away from the sprawling, interconnected comic-book franchises seen on The CW.
Here are the numbers behind The CW’s DC era:
- 10: The number of DC-based series, starting with Arrow in 2012, with nine of them executive produced by Greg Berlanti.
- 46: Total seasons across all 10 shows, with The Flash (9 seasons) and Arrow (8 seasons) as the longest-running.
- 817: Combined episode total, with Supergirl’s first season airing on CBS. Only Law & Order, JAG/NCIS, and CSI have more episodes in multishow franchises.
- 699: Number of episodes from the six core Arrowverse shows.
- 6: Major crossover events, including the epic Crisis on Infinite Earths in 2019-2020, which boosted viewership across multiple series.
The conclusion of Superman & Lois marks the end of a significant chapter for The CW’s superhero content.
