Just as superhero cinema continues to be reign supreme at the box office, so too has television come to reflect the global interest in masked comic book heroes swooping in to save the day. Moreover, the big-screen rivalry between Marvel and DC is just as strong on
the small screen, with both companies having developed an interconnected web of shows.
In 2016, the Marvel Cinematic Universe saw a dramatic uptick in the number of new heroes added to the same world as the Avengers, while DC’s TV “Arrowverse” brought new dimension to its roster of characters by officially bringing Supergirl into the fold. In both cases, this year was a red-letter one for superheroes on television, and fans have plenty to rejoice about.
And so, on that note, let’s take a closer look at the best superhero TV shows of 2016 and see where they rank.
9) Legends Of Tomorrow
Though Legends of Tomorrow is often considered the black sheep of the Arrowverse family, the series took some creative risks this year by shaking up its lineup. Season 1 axed a few notable heroes carried over from parent shows Arrow and The Flash (more on those two later), while its sophomore year introduced Amaya Jiwe/Vixen (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and Nate Heywood/Steel (Nate Heywood) into the mix.
Legends of Tomorrow is often at its best when it’s untethered from overarching mythology and allowed to simply serve as a time-hopping romp, a sort of cross between Doctor Who and the established CW/DC universe. While its narrative still lacks the thrust of its forebears, Legends of Tomorrow has managed to introduce some fun new elements into the mix – such as the Justice Society of America – in season 2 as it continues to try and justify its own existence.
8) Agent Carter
Through all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, few of the female characters have blown up the way Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) has. Atwell’s performance in Captain America: The First Avengerproved so magnetic that Marvel Studios was anxious to work the future co-founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. into another project. Too bad then that the chance to headline her own series didn’t last very long.
The period setting of Agent Carter opened up the chance for imaginative tie-ins to established MCU lore, and Atwell is able to elevate the material and explore Peggy’s struggles to get ahead in the Strategic Scientific Reserve and move on from Steve Rogers. Alas, despite a small but loyal fanbase,Agent Carter is the only show on our list so far that’s been cancelled after just two seasons.
7) Gotham
The concept of a Batman show without Batman would have seemed ludicrous if the world hadn’t already seen a similar approach applied to Superman with the decade-long Smallville. So instead of focusing on the Dark Knight (who’s only a boy, as played by David Mazouz), creator Bruno Heller’s show has steadily turned its focus to the villains that run the city of Gotham.
The tail end of season 2 put the spotlight on Hugo Strange (B.D. Wong) and his experiments within Arkham Asylum, and season 3 introduced the Mad Hatter (Benedict Samuel) and a successful mayoral run for the Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor). Not to mention Taylor and Cory Michael Smith’s Edward Nygma – who have been given one of season 3’s most-talked-about storylines – continue to outshine an already-stellar ensemble cast.
As over-the-top as ever, Gotham may feature something of a muddled overall narrative, but what it lacks in storytelling prowess it makes up for in sheer entertainment value.
6) Arrow
The now-thriving stable of DC heroes over at The CW owe their very existence to this series, which really kicked off the modern age of live-action superhero television. Yet, though Arrow has led to two spinoffs in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, the series itself has struggled creatively over the years.
Season 4’s focus on the more mystical side of things muddled the street-level crime-fighting that made Arrow so appealing in the first place, but season 5 has largely course-corrected this. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), now serving as mayor of Star City, has already begun training a new team of heroes, as they band together to face the mysterious Prometheus (whose reveal should shake things up even further, if rumors prove true).
Moreover, the fact that season 5 will (finally!) mark the end of the show’s reliance on flashbacks should have fans excited about better days to come.
5) Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Much like Legends of Tomorrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at first seemed like a good idea that might not actually work. The concept of developing a show around fan-favorite Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his non-powered team within S.H.I.E.L.D. had potential to provide a distinctive perspective on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, the series only found its footing late in season 1 when the titular organization was turned on its head. Friends became enemies, and the series – much like S.H.I.E.L.D. itself– has been vying to prove its worth ever since. Eventually, Inhumans were brought into the picture (ahead of the announcement of the upcoming ABC show), and recent seasons have deepened the show’s promise with the introduction of the Secret Warriors and Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna). In short, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has developed from a punchline into the exciting extension of the MCU it was always intended to be.
4) Supergirl
Supergirl the character may be the Girl of Steel, but Supergirl the show very nearly bit the dust after just one season on CBS. Thankfully for its devoted fans, cooler heads prevailed, and the series found itself on The CW for season 2.
Buoyed by the charm of star Melissa Benoist, the show manages to overcome its cheesier elements to emerge as a family-friendly addition to The CW’s Arrowverse shows, bringing the mythos of Krypton and the cosmic realm into the world of Green Arrow and The Flash.
Furthermore, the addition of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman as a recurring presence on the series has already bore fruit. Earlier this season, Supergirl and her famous cousin faced down popular DC super-villain Metallo, and the nefarious Luthor family may pose a more formidable threat than any trouble-making alien Kara has faced to date.
3) Luke Cage
The Netflix branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is three-for-three with their most recent effort, as Mike Colter shines as the titular bullet-proof hero in Luke Cage, battling the nefarious Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali) for the streets of Harlem.
Continuing the tradition of grittier superhero stories, Luke Cage feels more like a crime drama than a comic book show, but that’s part of what makes it such a standout. Both this series – created by Cheo Hodari Coker – and its sister show, Jessica Jones managed to re-envision what it means to be a hero, something which audiences have found to be extremely refreshing.
In addition to Colter and Ali, Luke Cage also features winning performances from supporting players like Alfre Woodard, Simone Missick, Rosario Dawson and Erik LaRay Harvey. It may be the latest stop on the way to the superhero team-up The Defenders, but even on its own, Luke Cage is an achievement.
2) Daredevil
Last year, Marvel and Netflix redeemed The Man Without Fear after the 2003 Ben Affleck vehicle tarnished his reputation. With a brooding hero in Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock and an unforgettable villain in Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, Daredevil kicked off a new branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an amazing way.
Season 2 of the show only upped the ante, introducing popular Marvel characters like the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Elektra (Elodie Yung) into the picture. While setting up the in-development spinoff for the former, Daredevil also manages to deepen the journey of its central hero, as he finds himself more conflicted than ever before. It’s unlikely we’ll get a season 3 until after The Defenders hits Netflix in 2017, but we can’t wait to see what happens next in Hell’s Kitchen.
1) The Flash
Though Daredevil very nearly took this topped our list, ultimately our heart belongs to this adaptation of the DC speedster. As part of the Arrowverse, The Flash is the fun escapist entertainment to its more dour predecessor. Despite facing some growing pains in season 2, the series used the Flashpoint universe to retcon certain elements of its plot, most notably with Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) on the verge of turning into the icy Killer Frost
In season 3, Grant Gustin and company continue to nail the perfect blend of CW melodrama, superhero thrills and a wry sense of humor that would no doubt leave Joss Whedon (whose Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a clear influence on this show’s tone) smiling from ear to ear. I mean, what other show would dare to give Tom Cavanagh essentially a new character to play every year or feature wacky villains like a hyper-intelligent gorilla and a man/shark hybrid? For all of its comic book insanity and incomparable fun, The Flash races (sorry, we couldn’t resist) to the number one spot of our list
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