The CW’s Arrowverse is an expansive shared universe with many TV series based on DC superheroes. It was a fun time for DC Comics fans, from when Arrow first aired in 2012 all the way until The Flash ended in 2023. The television universe was filled with big action, dramatic stories, and memorable characters. The odd thing with the Arrowverse, though, is figuring out what’s actually part of the canon.

The obvious shows that are completely canon to the Arrowverse are Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman. Supergirl and Black Lightning are also canon, but they’re both in a weird boat. Supergirl was originally planned to be a standalone series and even aired on a completely different network. However, it was eventually moved to the CW and multiverse shenanigans allowed it to become one of the Arrowverse mainstays. Black Lightning may have aired on the CW from the get-go, but was also planned on being a standalone series until multiverse shenanigans also allowed the titular hero to crossover with the others.

There are also two web series that exist within the Arrowverse canon. Vixen and Freedom Fighters: The Ray both aired on the CW Seed. Animated versions of other Arrowverse characters were seen in both series while live action versions of Vixen and the Ray made appearances in other series.

Then there are all the much more complicated additions. Constantine, which was canceled after only one season, aired on a separate network and was never meant to be a part of the Arrowverse. Quite a while after it ended, Matt Ryan continued to play John Constantine in Arrowverse appearances. He eventually became a series regular in Legends of Tomorrow. This led fans to assume the Constantine series was canon. However, Matt Ryan and showrunners of the show have said in interviews that the series happened in a different timeline despite the events still being something the character went through before he appeared in the Arrowverse. This one is certainly up for interpretation.

Stargirl aired on both the CW and HBO Max, however, it exists within its own universe. The timeline in which Stargirl takes place, though, was canonically created by Green Arrow during the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. Stargirl was intended to eventually cross over with the Arrowverse, but it never did as Arrowverse shows came to an end. Instead, it crossed over with HBO Max’s Titans, which is also not canon to the Arrowverse.

The short-lived Naomi may have aired on the CW and mentioned the likes of Superman, but it also existed within its own standalone canon.

Perhaps the most fascinating and confusing canon status among series in the lineup is Superman and Lois. It’s sort of the reverse of Supergirl or Black Lightning. It was made with the intention of being a part of the Arrowverse and even stars the same Superman and Lois Lane actors who appeared in various Arrowverse shows. Arrow’s John Diggle even made appearances in it. However, after the other Arrowverse shows came to an end, it was announced that the whole show takes place in a timeline separate from the Arrowverse. There’s even a line stating that Superman is the only hero in this world. Because of this, Arrowverse fans jumped into this series with the assumption that it was connected to what they already know and love only to have the rug pulled out from under them.

So, with all this in mind, the only series that are actually canon to the Arrowverse are Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, Batwoman, Vixen, and Freedom Fighters: The Ray. It’s just really odd that some of the canon is up for debate and other adjacent series are just plain misleading or confusing. Hopefully if something like this is attempted in the future, things are a bit more clear regarding the canon.

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