11 Best CW Shows of All Time, Ranked

A retired vigilante (Cress Williams) dons the supersuit once again — and even takes it over to the Arrowverse in a massive crossover — to fight for justice for his community. The series shows the effects on his family, as well as how they all, too, get involved in the superhero life.

The spy thriller, adapted from the 1990 film La Femme Nikita, follows the titular character (Maggie Q) who escapes from a secret government-funded organization, hides, then sets out to take Division, responsible for black ops, down.

Based on Kass Morgan’s YA novel, the series begins by following juvenile delinquents (Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos, Richard Harmon, and others) sent back down to Earth after living in space following a nuclear apocalypse. But things get complicated when it comes to them interacting with the survivors on the planet — and that’s just the beginning.

Inspired by pro football player Spencer Paysinger’s life, the sports drama follows two families from different worlds (Crenshaw and Beverly Hills) when they collide after a football player (Daniel Ezra) from South L.A. is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High. It leads to the spinoff All American: Homecoming.

The drama features one of the most debated love triangles on TV in recent years — two vampire brothers (Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley) and a human teen (Nina Dobrev) — other romances, life-and-death stakes, and even follows the characters, at various times, to the afterlife. The world grows with The Originals, then its spinoff Legacies.

Dying doesn’t stop Liv (Rose McIver) from living. With a change of profession and her new zombie abilities, she works in the coroner’s office and helps a detective (Malcolm Goodwin) solve crimes thanks to visions she gets by eating victims’ brains. The most fun part? She thanks on the characteristics of the victims whose brains she consumes.

Whether or not you read any of the Carolyn Keene books, the mysteries — with supernatural twists! — that the amateur sleuth (Kennedy McMann) and her friends (Tunji Kasim, Alex Saxon, Leah Lewis, and Maddison Jaizani) solve are intriguing and allow for a fresh take on a well-known character.

The reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger follows Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki), a widower and father who started the series returning from a stint undercover. It’s a mix of personal, family, and procedural drama that both fits in with The CW programming and takes it beyond teen conflicts.

Inarguably the most fun series of the Arrowverse, it first brings together various heroes and villains from the other shows (played by Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, and others) to travel through time and deal with threats. The various time periods lead to entertaining adventures, and characters come and go from the Waverider. Beebo alone earns this show a spot on this list.

The Stephen Amell-led series is the one to kickstart what would come to be known as the Arrowverse. It all starts with Oliver Queen returning home after five years on an island (and other places, as would be revealed) and setting out to right the wrongs in his city with help from family and friends (played by David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland, and others). By the end — and across various crossovers with the other shows in the franchise — Oliver saves the multiverse.

For 15 seasons, fans watch Sam and Dean Winchester (Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) as they save people, hunt things, and stop a few apocalypses as part of the family business. They’re joined by allies and show that family doesn’t end with blood with help from angel Castiel (Misha Collins), fellow hunter Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), and many more.