Arrow standing dramatically with his bow. Photo Courtesy of comicsalliance.com.
Netflix has a plethora of superhero shows to watch and, given the recent popularity of superheroes, it’s unsurprising. Every network seems to be hopping on the bandwagon, from the CW to Fox to Netflix itself. If you’re looking for a superhero fix, you’ve got a lot of options and it might be easy to get overwhelmed. From someone who watches almost all of them, here are my recommendations for the top five superhero shows on Netflix from worst to best.
5. DC’s Arrow (CW):
While its writing quality is occasionally controversial, Arrow deserves to be on this list. The CW Network is home to four different superhero shows, creating a DCTV universe with shows that often cross over, including one big crossover extravaganza every year, and it was Arrow that started it all. Arrow follows Oliver Queen, a rich playboy who was marooned on an island only to return five years later with a penchant for archery and vigilantism. If you want to try to tackle the whole DCTV universe, this is where you have to start. While its writing occasionally wavers, Arrow is also the show that best remembers the “normal lives” of its characters, while other superhero shows often just get caught up in the heroics.
4. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (Abc):
If you’ve been paying attention to TV advertisements recently, Marvel is coming out with a ton of new shows this year. However, it’s good ol’ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that paved the way for them (although the show premiered notably after DC’s Arrow). Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D begins right after the first Avengers movie and ties into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you remember Agent Coulson, then you also remember he died in the first Avengers. Turns out that he was mysteriously saved and now has a highly secretive and elite team tasked with hunting down alien and various other mysterious threats, all while discovering the secret behind Coulson’s survival. Since it ties in with the MCU, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is affected by events in Marvel movies, including S.H.I.E.L.D.’s downfall. Well written with lovable characters, there’s a reason this show is so well reviewed.
3. DC’s The Flash (CW):
The second show to enter the DCTV universe, The Flash follows Barry Allen, a forensic analyst for the Central City Police who gains super speed after being hit by lightning during the explosion of a particle accelerator. Don’t know what a particle accelerator is? Don’t worry. This show uses a lot of not-real-but-not-totally-fake science that you kind of just have to accept. This show probably has the best balance between lighthearted humor and gut wrenching heartbreak. If you’re ready to accept the impossible, this is the show for you.
2. Marvel’s Jessica Jones (Netflix):
With the popularity of superheroes, it’s hardly a shock that Netflix decided to swoop in with some Netflix Originals. Jessica Jones is preceded by Daredevil and followed by Luke Cage and Iron Fist, all culminating in The Defenders, but Jessica Jones is widely known to be the favorite. Jessica Jones follows the titular character who is an alcoholic P.I. with super strength who is reluctantly called upon to act as a hero when her old abuser resurfaces. With a storyline that fights rape culture, abuse, sexism and basically anything else you could want it to, Jessica Jones isn’t just entertainment. It’s important.
1. DC’s Gotham (Fox):
While not the most well known show on this list, Gotham deserves this spot. Not only is the show incredibly aesthetically appealing, its characters are written phenomenally, its plots are executed thoughtfully, and its various plotlines always come together in the end perfectly. Gotham takes place in a non specific decade- classic cars mixed with flip phones- but pre-Batman era. In fact, the show opens with the parents of a young Bruce Wayne being murdered, and Gotham’s newest detective, Jim Gordon, promising that he’ll solve their murder. In fact, Gordon tries to help all of Gotham while working within the confines of an incredibly corrupt police force. During all of this, through exceptional character development, we are able to see the creation of several iconic DC villains. While Bruce isn’t likely to don the bat costume soon, viewers watch him go from a scared young kid to the strong capable fighter we know he is as an adult. This is a show that should get more attention than it does.
Most people don’t have the time or obsessive mindset to watch every superhero show out there like me, but maybe you’re looking to start one or two. Hopefully this list narrowed it down for you, but I’ll warn you. Superhero shows can get addicting. You might be watching them all soon enough.