More and more superhero TV shows are being developed, outside of the offerings from Marvel and DC. It's becoming trendy to move into darker and grittier territory with these shows, which now aim their content at more mature audiences. That often pays off, but some shows have featured many disturbing topics and narratives that have shocked audiences.
These superhero TV shows have not held back on their darker moments. Popular superhero series like The Boys were always going to be dark, but as seasons have passed, these shows have gone into much more disturbing territory. Other hit superhero projects, like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Supergirl suddenly became very disturbing, despite their previously lighter tone.
10 The Boys
The Boys is dark from the opening scene. The comic it's based on certainly didn't hold back in graphic and violent content. The show's dark tone is very much set after A-Train brutally kills Hughie's girlfriend, Robin, but each season of The Boys tried to be more shocking, disturbing, and violent.
The Boys never holds back when it comes to depicting violent crimes, terrible deaths, and heinous inhumane acts. While it might be a well-written and amusing series, the corruption of the Compound V-infused supers means that everything is elevated. This results in an escalation of the darkness within them, with Homelander depicted as one of the most disturbing characters on TV.
9 Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. started as a fun addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but its villain-of-the-week formula didn't really work, and audiences were dropping out relatively quickly. S.H.I.E.L.D. had to adapt and change. Therefore, its tone shifted to something darker than anyone might have expected.
Deaths became more common in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it also drifted into the more sinister side of the comics. Hellish beings like Ghost Rider appeared, creepy villains like Ada and Hive increased the stakes, and nightmarish scenarios began to take their toll on the team. Where the show finished was a far cry from where it had begun.
8 Arrow
The Green Arrow's personality has constantly evolved throughout the comics. However, the character was usually depicted with a dry and sarcastic sense of humor, and many of his adventures were heightened. But Arrow decided to take a surprisingly grounded and dark approach to the material.
The CW's Arrow relied heavily on Batman's lore, which is what made the show so dark. Villains like Ra's al Ghul left their mark on Oliver Queen, and the heroes faced death at the hands of the League of Assassins. Damien Darhk's twisted magic and Prometheus' merciless cruelty demonstrated how far the show was willing to go with its antagonists.
7 Invincible
Invincible was always going to be a dark story. The comics depict a shocking level of violence and gore. However, somehow this is more heartbreaking and horrific when placed in animation. Many viewers were witnessing this story play out for the first time and didn't know where it would go.
Invincible's most shocking scene comes near the end of the first season. With Omni-Man turning on his son, he kills dozens of innocent civilians and uses Invincible's body as a weapon. The psychological damage imposed on Invincible is unthinkable, and it was one of the show's darkest scenes.
6 Titans
Titans has featured some truly astounding character arcs throughout its run by taking inspiration from the source material. The comics have depicted the Teen Titans as lighter, hopeful heroes, and they have been defined on TV by the likes of Teen Titans Go!. However, the live-action show was far darker.
From the very first trailer for Titans, it was clear that DC wouldn't hold back in its adult content. By the time characters like Scarecrow appeared, the show had already depicted hellish demons like Trigon, addiction, brutal murder, and the damaging toll of being a hero. It's hard to imagine what these teenagers go through on a daily basis, but Titans certainly didn't pull its punches.
5 Supergirl
Supergirl started its run on the CW as a cheery and inspiring show. Kara Danvers has always been hopeful, so it was hard to imagine how this feel-good series could depart from its tone and throw in darker narratives. For the most part, Supergirl was successful when it was sticking to its simple villain-of-the-week formula.
However, Supergirl decided that its lead character had to evolve. The show suddenly became darker when Kara became more violent and detached from her friends. Loss became a way of life for Kara, and Supergirl became defined by betrayal and grief. It was a dark period for Supergirl that didn't fully suit the show. However, Supergirl was reinvented once more to return to its lighter roots.
4 Legion
Legion was based on the dark Marvel Comics source material. However, for viewers who knew little about the Shadow King, it was shocking to see this X-Men-inspired spin-off dip into the horror genre. Very few superhero shows have been as dark as Legion.
Legion quickly established itself as a great superhero show, as its bizarre visual and narrative techniques made the audience's experience that much more unnerving. David Haller's path to potential villainy changed Legion further. Suddenly, the hero of the piece was becoming darker in his own right, flipping assumptions about the show once more.
3 What If...?
There are some great Marvel cartoons out there that have told brilliant stories, but these were aimed at a younger audience. The assumption was that What If...? would perhaps copy its predecessors and depict some harmless adventures inspired by the MCU's movies. That couldn't be further from the case.
What If...? went from one dark timeline to the next. A zombie apocalypse and a Doctor Strange that had tapped into the dark arts were just the tip of the iceberg. Ultron's attempt to dominate the Multiverse was a terrifying reminder that these foes are genuinely capable of wiping out worlds. Ultimately, the brave execution of What If...? allowed for darker tales to be told.
2 The Sandman
The Sandman dealt with some difficult subjects in the comics, but many viewers show-only viewers had not dipped into the graphic novels before. The Sandman's premise followed the Lord of Dreams after his capture, but it turned out to be far darker.
The Sandman's breaking point comes during the "American Diner" episode where the customers and staff give in to their deepest thoughts and desires. The bloodshed from that episode reframes the rest of the show. It acts as a statement to audiences that nothing is off-limits in the exploration of what it is to be human.
1 The Nevers
The Nevers is a lesser-known superhero show that delivers on an original premise. Although it is clearly influenced by the Mutants in the X-Men, the show puts its own twist on proceedings. Serial killer Maladie's crime set The Nevers' incredibly dark tone.
The Nevers depicts a battle between regular humans and the "gifted," a group of women who suddenly have superhero abilities. The Nevers shows that people are willing to do horrific things when they're scared, and that battle between the two sides quickly leads to bloodshed. However, what could have been a fun and exciting concept becomes a dark and disturbing tale about time travel, murder, and twisted scientific experiments.