Arrow Vs The Flash: Which TV Show Is Better?

5. Tone

When Arrow debuted, it was very much of the dark trend that had overtaken the superhero genre (at least on the DC side of things) in the wake of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. That served it well for a couple of years, especially as that darkness was balanced with moments of levity, and used it to propel some intense, ferocious, and personal storylines. Over the next couple of years, though, there was a noticeable shift from dark to depressing, and it became a slog to get through because of that (in part, at least). Season 5 re-balanced it to an extent, getting back to the basics of Season 1, with darkness still prevailing.

The Flash, at launch, couldn't have been more different. The show in its early days was an absolute blast, with a whole lot of fun to be had. Crucially, though, it wasn't just cookie-cutter stuff, as the writers and actors also managed to imbue the series with a lot of emotional heft (mostly driven by the death of Barry's mother). That's continued to be a juggling act across the subsequent two seasons, though one they've had less success with. The show has become too mired in angst and lost some of what made it so great in the first place. But when both shows are on top form, and looking at the core of what they are, The Flash is (just about) the more enjoyable watch.

Winner: The Flash