The premiere of the DC Extended Universe's The Flash and the season finale of the CW's The Flash have prompted fans to compare the DCEU and the Arrowverse portrayal of this superhero. At first glance, the DCEU's budget definitely beats the Arrowverse's efforts at impressive visual effects, but a more careful look at these characters reveals a superior quality in the Arrowverse.
This is something that happens beyond The Flash. Throughout its lifetime, the Arrowverse treated fans to great depictions of their favorite superheroes. Although it crashed and burned in its last years, it also created some of the most beloved iterations of DC's heroes. So far, not even a big project like the DCEU has managed to meet their standard.
10 Deadshot
Will Smith's Deadshot in Suicide Squad is one of the reasons the movie got plenty of negative reviews. Even though the film attempts to give the character an emotional storyline (a mercenary trying to do things right for his young daughter), it has a lot going on, and it does not really focus on this.
In Arrow, Deadshot has a longer and more interesting storyline. He's a soldier trying to reconnect with his family and struggling to overcome his time in the military. He even gets an enemies-to-friends storyline with John Diggle. The Arrowverse's Deadshot is a likable villain. Fans were sad when he sacrificed himself to save his team in the third season of Arrow.
9 Martian Manhunter
Zack Snyder's Justice League revealed that the Secretary of Defense, Calvin Swanwick, had been Martian Manhunter all along. Fans were hyped about his cinematic debut, but his short appearance was underwhelming. Since the Snyderverse won't get a sequel, this character will probably just fade into oblivion, reducing him to an Easter egg.
The Arrowverse developed J'onn J'onzz's character way better. Supergirl introduced him in the very first season, paying special attention to his complicated backstory. In the Arrowverse, Martian Manhunter goes from a potential villain to a member of the Super Team and one of the most interesting superheroes in the show. Additionally, Supergirl includes many of the conflicts in Martian society and relates them to current political issues.
8 Supergirl
When Sasha Calle, a Colombian-American actor, was cast as Supergirl in The Flash, the Latinx community in the comics' fandom was thrilled to get representation. Unfortunately, the film failed to truly delve into Kara Zor-El's story. It reduced Kara to Kal-El's replacement in the Flashpoint story without giving her much background. In this sense, the character felt generic and uninspired.
On the other hand, Melissa Benoist's portrayal of Supergirl in the Arrowverse has become an absolute fan favorite. This representation of Kara Zor-El is very human and relatable. In Supergirl, Kara is still mourning the loss of her planet, dealing with her cousin's abandonment, and having to balance a normal life with her superhero persona. At the same time, Kara is funny and charming, and the fandom couldn't love her more.
7 Black Canary
Bird of Prey features the first-ever live-action film version of Black Canary. Jurnee Smollett portrays Dinah Lance, a singer at Roman Sionis's bar, who ends up teaming with Harley Quinn to stop her boss. However, Black Canary's hypersonic scream is the only thing that the DCEU's Black Canary holds over her Arrowverse counterpart.
The Arrowverse's Black Canary is Laurel Lance, a spunky legal-aid attorney and Oliver Queen's first love interest. Laurel isn't a metahuman, but she trains with Ted Grant to become a vigilante and find her sister's killer. Contrary to the DCEU's Black Canary, Laurel's story has a lot of heart. The Arrowverse manages to make her a more sympathetic character, motivated by grief about her sister, her love for her family, and her strong moral compass.
6 Lex Luthor
Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor really missed the mark. Although Eisenberg is an incredible actor, he wasn't the right choice for Lex Luthor. First, it was weird to get a young Lex Luthor with long hair. Additionally, fans found this portrayal too cartoonish, which didn't make sense with Dawn of Justice's gritty vibe.
While Eisenberg's performance was widely criticized, John Cryer's quickly became one of the most iconic portrayals of Lex Luthor. Cryer's Luthor was the perfect mix between evil and pathetic. He was childishly petty but also willing to bomb a children's hospital. Even in his interactions with his beloved sister, Lex's ruthlessness and arrogance were always present. There was absolutely nothing to love about him, but he at least wasn't a two-dimensional character.
5 Iris West
The Flash tried and failed to reproduce Iris and Barry's iconic romance. Between the short time this storyline got and Ezra Miller and Kiersey Clemons's lack of chemistry, fans had a hard time rooting for this couple, especially since the Arrowverse already set the bar too high.
Not only did the Arrowverse touch every relationship milestone between Barry and Iris, but it also let her shine her own light. Candice Patton got to star in her own storylines, even becoming The Flash in one of the series' best episodes. Furthermore, her job as a journalist also impacted Team Flash's job, and it was never just an afterthought in the series.
4 Deathstroke
Deathstroke is inarguably one of the most popular and complex villains in DC. Obviously, he had to be a part of the DCEU. However, Joe Manganiello's version fell short because the franchise did him a disservice by turning him into a secondary villain.
By contrast, Deathstroke is one of the most developed villains in the Arrowverse. Slade Wilson was Oliver's companion in the Lian Ju. The experiences they shared on the island made them a villain and a hero, respectively, forever intertwining their destinies. Additionally, Deathstroke's story isn't just tied to Arrow.Viewers get to learn about his backstory and even sympathize with him.
3 Lois Lane
Amy Adams is one of the best actors of her generation, but the DCEU wasted her as Lois Lane. The DCEU has been criticized for giving Lois very little screen time. Even though she was portrayed as an excellent journalist, she was also a damsel in distress. Her storyline investigating Lex Luthor wasn't prioritized in the movie.
Superman & Lois depicts an independent Lois Lane who fights her own battles despite being married to the Man of Steel. Bitsie Tulloch's Lois is a seasoned journalist, and her relationship with Clark is at a different stage. It's undeniable that the Arrowverse's Lois saves Clark as much as Superman saves her.
2 The Flash
Ezra Miller's portrayal of The Flash has regularly appeared in several installments of the DCEU, but he recently got his own storyline in The Flash. The DCEU created a cynical, sarcastic, and immature version of Barry Allen. Even though he's still very funny, this made him significantly less sympathetic than Grant Gustin's iconic interpretation of this character. In fact, it's hard to see Miller's portrayal as more than a constant comic relief.
On the other hand, the amazing adaptation of Barry Allen provided by CW's The Flash quickly made this show one of people's favorite superhero series. His portrayal of the Flash was so beloved that many fans wanted the DCEU to include him in this universe. Gustin's Barry is funny and sarcastic at times, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a big heart. The perfect balance is what makes this Barry such a relatable and beloved superhero.
1 Superman
Now that James Gunn has announced Henry Cavill won't reprise his role as Superman, many fans have rioted. However, many others think that Cavill's portrayal of Superman was too dark and moody for a character that's supposed to be a symbol of hope. On the other hand, Tyler Hoechlin's performance nailed it.
The Arrowverse's Superman is one of the most wholesome portrayals of the Man of Steel. Hoechlin is great, both as the mighty Superman, a hero that everyone knows and loves, and as Clark Kent, a family man in Smallville who is always willing to lend a helping hand to his neighbors. This humane/god-like duality is the core of Superman's character development.