10 Best CW Shows of the 2010s

The CW has been characterized by restraint in the 2020s, and it’s all by design. When Nexstar acquired the network, it pushed scripted series to the bottom of its priority list and started focusing more on reality, sports, and other quickly consumed content. Why? The network had never been profitable since it was launched in 2006, something that might shock many, given the high number of hit shows. Well, money first, so welcome to the new CW where All American appears to be the last person at the party before the door shuts and a new venue is announced.

Still, we will always remember the glory days. From Smallville to The Vampire Diaries, viewers were spoiled for choice. Overall, the 2010s could be described as the network’s best years, given the high number of critically acclaimed shows. Superhero productions, ordinary dramas, soap operas, comedies, and thrillers all filled up a great menu. Here’s the best of what the network had to offer in the previous decade.

10

‘The 100’ (2014 – 2020)

Nuclear contests messed up the world, so welcome to The 100, where, 97 years later, survivors are living on a space station called the Ark. Resources soon become scarce, so 100 teenage prisoners are sent to Earth to see if it’s now habitable. Interestingly, they discover that the once glorious planet isn’t as empty as presumed. There are some humans. What happened?

A Perfect Adaptation of Kass Morgan’s Book

Reverent, beguiling, and provocative, The 100 is epic in scope, with seven seasons, and unfolds at a pensive pace. With its crisp visuals and haunting soundtrack, the show etches into your brain forcefully. And what a great cast! Paige Turco, Thomas McDonell, Eli Goree, and Marie Avgeropoulos fill out the roles, while the proactive Eliza Taylor comes as close as any actor ever has to showing how a normal human would behave in a post-apocalyptic world.

9

‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ (2015 – 2019)

What the hell is Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom) from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend doing? The Yale- and Harvard-educated lawyer is offered a promotion only to panic and flee the building. After a chance encounter with her high school boyfriend, Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), she decides to relocate to West Covina, California, where he lives. Will this obsession blossom into timeless true love?

You’ll Love the Crazy

This lush, lavish show won two Emmys, and with its dialogue, locations, and arcs, it’s easy to see why. Serious drama buffs may find it a trifle elongated, melodramatic, and downright peculiar when Rebecca and her gang suddenly burst into song – but hey, this is The CW, where it’s all an essential part of the entertainment. Viewers who are more receptive to this distinctive brand of fun will be swept away.

8

‘The Flash’ (2014 – 2023)

The Flash

Release Date

2014 – 2022

Network

The CW

Showrunner

Eric Wallace

In The Flash, life is never the same again for forensic scientist Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), after he is struck by lightning during a particle accelerator explosion. He gains super speed, and rather than idle around, he becomes the superhero known as The Flash, saving the world with the help of his buddies at S.T.A.R. Labs.

Best Arrowverse Show

The Flash excels by making the titular character as normal as possible. When Barry is Barry and not The Flash, he is very relatable. The series shines even brighter when you compare it to other live-action productions based on the same DC character. The Ezra Miller-led film was a convoluted mess while the early ‘90s show was goofier than Golden Age comics. Thank God for this particular project, which, in 2020, entered the Guinness World Records as the “Most in-demand superhero TV show.”

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7

‘Nikita’ (2010 – 2023)

Nikita

Release Date

2010 – 2012

Network

The CW

Directors

Craig Silverstein

Nikita, the second adaptation of Luc Besson’s popular French film La Femme Nikita, sees the titular character (portrayed by Maggie Q) reemerging after years in hiding to take down the government-funded secret agent organization known as Division. The agency trained her to be an assassin, but its management is rotten, so Nikita feels compelled to do the right thing.

Plucking the Rot

Considering the way she breaks henchmen’s ankles here, it’s a shame that Maggie Q never became one of the world’s biggest female action stars. Overall, martial arts, gunfire, tech stuff, and the camera’s loving attention to Q’s facial beauty, make the show addictive. The only complaint you’ll have is that there aren’t many seasons. Time flies while watching Nikita.

6

‘Dynasty’ (2017 – 2022)

Dynasty

Release Date

2017 – 2021

Network

ABC

A reboot of the classic 1980s soap opera of the same name, Dynasty follows members of the wealthy Carrington family from Atlanta as they deal with emerging quagmires. After each hectic day, they let off steam with booze, jokes, and excessive fornication.

Never a Dull Day When Family Drama Is Involved

Dynasty oozes class due to evocative locations and the great work done by the costume design team. The cast is excellent too, most notably Elizabeth Gillies who plays the heiress looking to get out of her father’s shadow. Grant Snow, who covered similar material in Devious Maids, is also terrific as the family patriarch. The show never lasted as long as the original, but modern viewers will relate to it more than the ‘80s version.

5

‘iZombie’ (2017 – 2022)

iZombie

Release Date

2015 – 2018

Network

The CW

Tired of seeing sluggish zombies who can do nothing other than bite? Try iZombie, a show about one of the greatest crime solvers, Liv (Rose Mclver). She is part of that clan, but she only feeds on peoples’ brains, allowing her to access the memories. This makes her very useful whenever homicides are being investigated.

TV’s Most Likable Zombie

The beautifully plotted drama is by turns funny and frightening, as we rejoice in Liv’s investigative progress, then recoil at the viciousness of the crimes committed. Though the show veers heavily towards situational comedy at times, while injecting one too many cataclysmic twists, this is a tiny quibble given the awesomeness of Rose Mclver’s performance. The funniest moments are when Liv inherits her victim’s bizarre mannerisms after eating their brains. Suddenly speaking French? Enjoying watching dogs fart? It’s silly and fun.

4

‘Riverdale’ (2017 – 2023)

Based on the characters from Archie Comics, Riverdale centers around a group of teams who find themselves caught up in some of the town’s dirtiest conspiracies after a murder. A lot happens in school too, and balancing it all proves to be quite challenging.

Consistently Good

This delightfully bizarre drama earned the admiration of many while collecting Teen Choice Awards trophies by the boatload. Here, the rules of conventional youngster stories get turned on their head, resulting in a show that feels, perhaps, too mature. But that’s not a bad thing. The show’s binge-worthiness is high. Once placed on Netflix, it became a major hit, proving the world needs more stories like these.

3

‘Black Lightning’ (2018 – 2021)

Black Lightning

Release Date

2018 – 2020

Network

The CW

Showrunner

Salim Akil

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To many characters in Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is just a high school principal and an influential member of the community. In secret, he is the superhero known as Black Lightning, who relentlessly tries to stop the villainous Tobias Whale, and his gang, from destroying the neighborhood.

Culturally Relevant

Throughout its run, Black Lighting remained one of the most underrated Arrowverse shows, yet it was flawless. Comb through the entire DC live-action television landscape, and you’ll struggle to find a better villain than Tobias Whale. The show walks a razor-sharp edge between high-octane action and social commentary, making cogent points about oppression and crime. Give it a chance, if you never did.

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2

‘No Tomorrow’ (2016 – 2017)

Based on the Brazilian show Como Aproveitar o Fim do Mundo (How to Enjoy the End of the World), No Tomorrow follows Evie (Tori Anderson), a Seattle woman who acquaints herself with a free-spirited man who believes the world will end soon. He inspires her to create an “apocalyst” (a to-do-list before the world ends). How soon can she get off this delusion train?

Should Have Had a Longer Run

Corinne Brinkerhoff’s show borrows a thing or two from her previous projects (Jane the Virgin and The Good Wife), yet still stands alone as a joyful mosaic of quirky gags and extended banter. At times, the show relies on sound and sight rather than dialogue, but that also works well. A lovely portrait of Seattle life and a light-hearted diss to overthinkers, this is an essential show for anyone who prefers simple characters.

1

‘Jane the Virgin’ (2014 – 2019)

Jane the Virgin

Release Date

2014 – 2018

Network

The CW

Showrunner

Jennie Snyder Urman

Directors

Melanie Mayron

Writers

Jennie Snyder Urman

Jane the Virgin tracks the fate of Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez), a virgin after she discovers she was accidentally artificially inseminated during a clinical checkup and is now pregnant. The father is the son of a wealthy hotel owner, so there is a hint that love will be born out of the mess. But will it?

Virgin Until Season 3

Fun characters, humor, and addictive storytelling make Jane the Virgin hard to ignore. It has its audience, but even casual viewers will find themselves peeking in for a scene or two. Gina Rodriguez ought to have been nominated for multiple Emmys for her work here, but she won’t have much to complain about, given the show’s massive success. Hopefully, many more shows like it pop up in the future.