Arrowverse order — how to watch the DC series the right way

Our Arrowverse order list takes you through every must-see episode of Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Superman, Batwoman, and more.

Arrowverse order

How do I watch the Arrowverse in order? Many of DC’s best heroes have become part of The CW’s shared multiverse, often introduced through one of the large-scale crossovers before heading off to lead their own shows. What started with Arrow in 2012 has become seven disparate shows, each with a distinct cast and tone.

Some of the Arrowverse‘s best TV series are finished, some are still going, and altogether, they offer a magnificent, years-long canon of superhero television, separate from the DCU. Like your heroism with capes aplenty? Prefer things to be more lighthearted? Or maybe you’re the broody type? All of the above? Chances are the sci-fi series have something for you.

Where do you start with over a half-dozen network thriller series that have been interwoven through the better part of a decade? What are the biggest episodes in the Arrowverse order to watch out for? Reader, you’re in the right place – we’re going to guide you through watching Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Black Lightning, Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, and Superman and Lois, highlighting the most important episodes along the way.

The correct Arrowverse in order list:

  • Arrow 2.8 – ‘The Scientist’
  • Arrow 2.9 – ‘Three Ghosts’
  • The Flash 1.8 – ‘Flash vs. Arrow’
  • Arrow 3.8 – ‘The Brave and the Bold’
  • The Flash 2.8 – ‘Legends of Yesterday’
  • Arrow 4.8 – ‘Legends of Today’
  • Supergirl 1.18 – ‘World’s Finest’
  • The Flash 3.8 – ‘Invasion!, Part 1’
  • Arrow 5.8 – ‘Invasion!, Part 2’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 2.7 – ‘Invasion!, Part 3’
  • The Flash 3.17 – ‘Duet’
  • Supergirl 3.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1’
  • Arrow 6.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2’
  • The Flash 4.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 3.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4’
  • The Flash 5.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 1’
  • Arrow 7.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 2’
  • Supergirl 4.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 3’
  • Supergirl 5.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 1’
  • Batwoman 1.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 2’
  • Black Lightning 3.9 – ‘The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth Crisis’
  • The Flash 6.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 3’
  • Arrow 8.8 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 4’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 5.0 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 5’
  • Arrow 8.10 – ‘Fadeout’
  • The Flash 6.10 – ‘Marathon’
  • Batwoman 2.16 – ‘Rebirth’
  • The Flash 7.16 – ‘P.O.W.’
  • Superman and Lois 1.12 – ‘Through the Valley of Death’
  • Supergirl 6.12 – ‘Blind Spots’
  • The Flash 8.1 – ‘Armageddon, Part 1’
  • The Flash 8.2 – ‘Armageddon, Part 2’
  • The Flash 8.3 – ‘Armageddon, Part 3’
  • The Flash 8.4 – ‘Armageddon, Part 4’
  • The Flash 8.5 – ‘Armageddon, Part 5’
  • Batwoman 3.9 – ‘Meet Your Maker’
  • The Flash 8.18 – ‘The Man In The Yellow Tie’
  • The Flash 8.20 – ‘Negative, Part 2’

Arrowverse order: Barry Allen in The Flash

2012 – 2014, Arrow seasons 1 and 2

Within its first two seasons, Arrow had proven so popular, The CW decided to start bringing in other DC heroes for Oliver ‘Green Arrow’ Queen (Stephen Amell) to fight. First up was Barry ‘The Flash’ Allen (Grant Gustin), who made his on-screen debut in Arrow season 2, episode 8 ‘The Scientist’ as a Central City investigator helping Oliver catch a superpowered thief.

This carries into the following episode, ‘Three Ghosts’, where Barry gets struck by lightning. He’d be running his own show in The Flash next season, developed by Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, two of the same producers behind Arrow, and Geoff Johns.

Notable episodes:

  • Arrow 2.8 – ‘The Scientist’
  • Arrow 2.9 – ‘Three Ghosts’
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2014 – 2015, Arrow season 3/The Flash season 1

In September 2014, Arrow’s third season premiere was joined by season one of The Flash, and since The CW’s schedule had two vigilantes roaming its streets, naturally we had to see them.

Villain Roy Bivolo is causing a stir in The Flash season 1, episode 8, ‘Flash vs. Arrow’, sending people into violent tantrums with his mind. His spell catches Barry, forcing The Flash and Arrow to square off, but it’s not long before their pals, teaming up for the second part, Arrow season 3, episode 8, ‘The Brave and the Bold’.

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A lot of context is placed on this early crossover, and if you want the full effect, watching the preceding seven episodes of the respective seasons helps in that respect. Otherwise, a breezy two-parter that’s only a taste of the kind of large-scale multi-hero action that’d come our way.

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 1.8 – ‘Flash vs. Arrow’
  • Arrow 3.8 – ‘The Brave and the Bold’

Arrowverse order: The Flash and Supergirl

2015 – 2016, Arrow season 4/The Flash season 2/Supergirl season 1/DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 1

Why only add one show at a time, when you can add two? Although to be fair, Supergirl began life on CBS, slightly removed from the main Arrowverse, so DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was the only fully planned addition to The CW. A two-part crossover between Arrow and The Flash brought together the Legends of Tomorrow, and Barry shows up late in Supergirl to meet Kara ‘Supergirl’ Danvers (Melissa Benoist) and establish that connective tissue.

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 2.8 – ‘Legends of Today’
  • Arrow 4.8 – ‘Legends of Yesterday’
  • Supergirl 1.18 – ‘World’s Finest’
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2016 – 2017, Arrow season 5/ The Flash season 3/Supergirl season 2/DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 2

After Supergirl makes a jump from CBS to The CW for her second season, the larger Invasion! crossover takes place. Though Supergirl only acts as a lead-in for the arrival of the Dominators, and our heroes banding together, she’s still fully present.

This is another of the crossovers where watching each season from the start helps. Not necessary, but advised. Later on, Kara and Barry get together for a musical episode in The Flash. Good fun!

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 3.8 – ‘Invasion! Part 1’
  • Arrow 5.8 – ‘Invasion! Part 2’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – ‘Invasion! Part 3’
  • The Flash 3.17 – ‘Duet’

Arrowverse order: The Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, and Supergirl

2017 – 2018, Arrow season 6/The Flash season 4/Supergirl season 3/DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 3/Black Lightning season 1

The Arrowverse comes together to fight nazis. What better enemy for The CW’s four superhero shows to battle in their first large-scale four-parter? Our version of the heroes find themselves on Earth X, a dimension where the Axis forces didn’t lose WW II. They meet embattled counterparts who’ve been fighting the good fight against fascist scum for years, and the Nazi versions of Arrow and Supergirl.

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Despite the bleakness it all ends with everyone escaping, and having a nice double wedding. Black Lightning starts airing, but it’d be a while before Jefferson ‘Black Lightning’ Pierce (Cress Williams) becomes a full part of the universe.

Notable episodes:

  • Supergirl 4.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1’
  • Arrow 6.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2’
  • The Flash 4.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 3.8 – ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4’
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2018 – 2019, Arrow season 7/The Flash season 5/Supergirl season 4/DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 4/Black Lightning season 2

At this point in time, it still wasn’t clear if Batman or Superman would ever join in the growing DC TV universe, given their established roles in the DCEU. Then, for Elseworlds, Gotham City is introduced, bringing in Ruby Rose to play Arrowverse’s Batwoman, Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch), and, finally, Superman, Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin).

Black Lightning was still its own corner, but that’d change soon enough, since all the groundwork was being laid down for the most ambitious crossover yet, next season.

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 5.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 1’
  • Arrow 7.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 2’
  • Supergirl 4.9 – ‘Elseworlds, Part 3’
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2019 – 2020, Arrow season 8/The Flash season 6/Supergirl season 5/DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 5/Black Lightning season 3/Batwoman season 1

Here we are, the ultimate crossover of the Arrowverse’s disparate groups and heroes, adapting a cornerstone of DC comics canon. Crisis on Infinite Earths is a five part epic of campy televisual entertainment, bringing in Black Lightning, and throwing Batwoman into the deep end for her first season.

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A few unexpected faces join in, too, from across the board of DC TV and movies, but no spoilers here. If you know the source material, you won’t be lost by just jumping in here, but if you don’t, the preceding episodes are more helpful than usual. Dimension-hopping is complicated, and understanding the arcs and motivations of everyone involved will make sure you’re never lost among the colourful battles and impassioned speeches.

This is the peak of the Arrowverse, and it’s a good time.

Notable episodes:

  • Supergirl 5.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 1’
  • Batwoman 1.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 2’
  • Black Lightning 3.9 – ‘The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth Crisis’
  • The Flash 6.9 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 3’
  • Arrow 8.8 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 4’
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 5.0 – ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 5’

Arrowverse order: Tyler Hoechlin as Superman

2020 – 2021, Batwoman season 2, the Flash season 7, Superman and lois season 1, supergirl season 6

Following Arrow ending in January 2020, John Diggle, played by David Ramsey, drops by several of the reamining shows in the universe. He starts in Gotham City, then gives Barry Allen a hand, before dropping by Smallville, before ending with a visit to Supergirl.

It’s a nice coda to Arrow, the series that kickstarted this whole franchise, and helps push us toward a new generation. How quaint!

Notable episodes:

  • Batwoman 2.16 – ‘Rebirth’
  • The Flash 7.16 – ‘P.O.W.’
  • Superman and Lois 1.12 – ‘Through the Valley of Death’
  • Supergirl 6.12 – ‘Blind Spots’

The Flash season 8

2021 – 2022, The Flash season 8, Batwoman season 3

Barry Allen faces Despero, a tyrannical alien who travels back in time to prevent the end of the world. The problem? Apprently The Flash is the cause. Taking him on, and figuring out what’s happening, requires assistance from Black Lightning, Batwoman, Alex Danvers, and plenty more besides.

Oh, and John Diggle shows up again. Always floating about, these days. Damien Darkh then helps Iris in another episode of The Flash.

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 8.1 – ‘Armageddon, Part 1’
  • The Flash 8.2 – ‘Armageddon, Part 2’
  • The Flash 8.3 – ‘Armageddon, Part 3’
  • The Flash 8.4 – ‘Armageddon, Part 4’
  • The Flash 8.5 – ‘Armageddon, Part 5’
  • Batwoman 3.9 – ‘Meet Your Maker’
  • The Flash 8.18 – ‘The Man In The Yellow Tie’
  • The Flash 8.20 – ‘Negative, Part 2’
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2022 – 2023, The Flash season 9

All good things must come to an end, and The Flash is the show that’s seeing out the Arrowverse. As part of the conclusion, Barry Allen is doing a tour of the other heroes, including Batwoman and Supergirl.

Notable episodes:

  • The Flash 9.5 – ‘The Mask of the Red Death, Part 5’
  • the Flash 9.7 – ‘Wildest Dreams’

That’s every Arrowverse crossover so far. Be sure to come back for more caped crusading, or have a look at our guide to the DCU‘s Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. If you want more televisual action, check out our guides to The Witcher season 3 and the best horror series.