WARNING: The following contains spoilers for "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 1," which premiered Sunday on The CW.
The first episode of the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover has already brought doom to various worlds in the multiverse. One particularly notable victim of the Anti-Monitor's wrath was the Earth-38, where Supergirl takes place. Thankfully, three billion of that Earth's occupants were evacuated from the planet before its untimely end.
However, this does present a new, even more taxing problem. With the inhabitants of Earth-38 now residing on the CW's Earth-1, how on Earths do they all fit and what does this mean for the planet's resources? The issue illustrates, as warped as it may be, the viewpoint of Marvel villain Thanos, and how his genocidal cullings aimed to eliminate potential issues like this.
Overcrowded Earth-1
Logistically, it wouldn't be entirely impossible to fit the inhabitants of an entire other Earth on Earth-1, especially with some of the science and technology at the heroes disposal. It does, however, have the issue of any planet's finite resources suddenly being competed for more than ever. Even just among this "small" group of Earth-38's former population, the need for food, water and living space will soon become apparent. The equally inevitable feuds for these necessities could also devolve into antagonistic, even violent battles for these very things.
Speaking of inevitable, this is the exact type of situation which Marvel's Thanos sought to avoid in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though his massacres, which eliminated half of a planet's population, were inarguably genocidal, their goal was to ultimately prevent overcrowding from large populations, or the battles which would be greedily fought over limited natural resources. This, in theory, would also keep (or return) the planets to a more natural, refined and arboreal state. Meanwhile, just plopping 3 billion people on a new planet will have the opposite effect, draining Earth of resources faster than ever.
Also, there's the chance that people may meet and interact with the Earth-1 counterparts. This could become even more unsettling if said counterpart is evil, good, or even dead on this Earth. Also, how do these people get jobs, and in general become a part of this new society? For all intent and purposes, this is an entire world full of people that shouldn't exist on one Earth. How would the various governments accommodate them, and would they want to? As enticing as these possible story decisions sound, viewers may not get the chance to see them answered, at least not in Crisis.
RELATED: Crisis: Supergirl Reveals What Gives Her Hope In Powerful Speech
No More Multiverse
Given the mere five episodes of its runtime, the event is unlikely to deal with any of these societal implications. Instead, it will more than likely focus its aim in both dealing with stopping the Anti-Monitor from destroying any other Earths, as well as mourn other, more personal, losses to the ranks of its heroes. One place that it definitely could show up in, however, is the remaining season of Supergirl. This would definitely fit, as the episode also dealt with the loss of Argo City. Thus, Kara could become equally as protective of the populace of Earth-38 as "her people."
The plot could actually very well be entirely swept under the rug, if Crisis ends anything like its comic book source material. The original Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline came about because DC editorial found its multiverse too cumbersome and confusing and decided to unite the various Earths. The Crisis TV event will likely have the same aims, especially given how strange it is that Supergirl and Black Lightning have heretofore taken place on entirely different Earths than the main world of the Arrowverse. Thus, a slate cleaning coalescing of Earths, uniting character histories and effectively eliminating any inconsistencies and continuity plot holes, would be the simplest and best way to finally bring these heroes together on a permanent basis. This would also supposedly merge divergent characters into one, as if that was how they were always meant to be. It would also cut Earth-1's population back down in a snap.
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" continues in The Flash on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. After the winter hiatus, the crossover will conclude on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Arrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT and in DC's Legends of Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET/PT.