One of the best and most influential superhero shows ever made is leaving Netflix after being on the streaming service for more than a decade. Premiering on The CW on October 10, 2012, the show in question was added to Netflix a year later, and has been a staple for the streamer ever since. Now, due to a licensing expiration, it’s set to depart its current home for another service later this month, marking the end of an era for DC fans who have grown accustomed to watching one of their favorite shows on Netflix.
If you haven’t guessed, we’re talking about Arrow, the DC superhero series that followed in Smallville’s footsteps to become something entirely its own, and usher in a new era of television. Viewers who are currently watching it on Netflix have until December 18 to finish up before all eight seasons depart the streamer for its new home on HBO Max. The reason for the switch is due to the fact that the licensing agreement between The CW, Warner Bros. and Netflix is coming to an end, and will not be renewed. Other series affected by the expiration include Supernatural and The 100, which are also leaving Netflix on the same day as Arrow.
Starring the likes of Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Caity Lotz, Colton Haynes, and Willa Holland, Arrow brought to life the beloved DC comic character, Green Arrow, and kicked off what would later become known as the Arrowverse. Unlike Smallville before it, Arrow featured a grittier, more grounded tone that worked to deliver a superhero series that didn’t necessarily feel like it was ripped from the pages of a colorful comic book. It highlighted long, intricate fight scenes, complex storytelling, and felt more like a prestige drama you might find on HBO or AMC. As such, it completely changed the way people viewed The CW going forward, and has been credited with saving the network from the brink of extinction. Check out the synopsis below:
“When presumed-dead billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Amell) returns home to Starling City after five years stranded on a remote island in the Pacific, he hides the ways the experience has changed him. As he reconnects with those closest to him, including his sister, Thea (Holland), Oliver appears to be the same wealthy, carefree bachelor they’ve always known. At night, flanked by his devoted friend, Diggle (Ramsey), Oliver uses his secret persona – that of a vigilante – to right societal wrongs and transform the city to its former glory.”
‘Arrow’ Was a Big Hit With Fans and Critics
As with any TV series that lasts for more than a couple of seasons, Arrow eventually began to divide fans and critics the longer it went, but it didn’t start off that way. The first season holds a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 85%, and an audience score of 80%. Pundits called it everything from “one of the best comic book shows to hit the small screen” to an “action-packed drama that appeals to viewers of all ages.” The majority of fans were in agreement, as they deemed it everything from “amazing” to a “real treat for DC fans.”
Coming to an end on January 28, 2020, Arrow is one of those shows that will go down in history for not only being one of the best superhero shows ever, but for reshaping the face of TV, and influencing later favorites such as Peacemaker, Daredevil, and The Punisher. Look for it to disappear from Netflix on Dec. 18, but reappear on its new home of HBO Max at a later date.
- Release Date
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2013 – 2020-00-00
- Network
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The CW
- Directors
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James Bamford, John Behring, Glen Winter, Michael Schultz, Wendey Stanzler, Laura Belsey, Gregory Smith, Guy Norman Bee, Nick Copus, Jesse Warn, Gordon Verheul, Antonio Negret, Kristin Windell, Thor Freudenthal, Rob Hardy, Eagle Egilsson, Dermott Downs, Joel Novoa, Kevin Tancharoen, Tara Miele, Ben Hernandez Bray, Mairzee Almas, Alexandra La Roche, Andi Armaganian
- Writers
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Oscar Balderrama, Sarah Tarkoff, Speed Weed, Keto Shimizu, Rebecca Bellotto, Drew Z. Greenberg, Jill Blankenship, Deric A. Hughes, Benjamin Raab, Erik Oleson, Lana Cho, Tonya Kong, Moira Kirland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Bryan Q. Miller, Jenny Lynn, Maya Houston, A.C. Bradley, Barbara Bloom, Mark Bemesderfer, Nolan Dunbar, Gabrielle Stanton, Elisa Delson, Marv Wolfman