Ever since 2012, the Arrowverse has been the premiere programming block on the CW. These DC adaptations have increased over the years, with Arrow and The Flash giving way to other shows involving Superman and Batman-related characters. Unfortunately, the Arrowverse is inarguably past its prime, and many of its shows are ending.
Now might be the best time for the CW to end the Arrowverse as a concept, focusing instead on the few remaining shows and treating them as individual properties. Continuity could of course be maintained, but prioritizing continuity and crossovers between the thinning shows should definitely be thrown out of the window.
The End of the Arrowverse
Next month, Supergirl will come to an end, and it's one of several Arrowverse shows that have ended in one way or another between 2020 and 2021. Last year saw the end of Arrowverse progenitor Arrow, with its planned spinoff dead in the water. Next to end was the comparatively much shorter-lived Black Lightning, with the Maiden of Might being the next Arrowverse hero to have her show conclude.
This leaves Superman & Lois, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman, all of which are problematic in their own ways. Superman & Lois is the newest show, and it's also the one with the biggest budget. Its general quality makes it almost incompatible with how pedestrian the other shows seem, and given its complete lack of references to or cameos from Supergirl characters, it's already far more interested in telling its own story than focusing on the wider universe.
The Flash is now the longest-lived Arrowverse show, but even the Fastest Man Alive can't run forever. Thus, it'll likely be entering into its final season(s) in the coming year, especially with the theatrical Flash movie finally planned to release. Legends of Tomorrow is already quite removed from the Arrowverse given its time travel antics, and if The Flash's days are numbered, the same definitely goes for Legends. Then there's the trouble-laden Batwoman series, which has never really found its footing, with its second season almost being a reboot by bringing in a new heroine. Even if these shows continue for much longer, the Arrowverse would be wise in just focusing on their individual stories for the remainder of their existence.
How the Arrowverse Should Move Forward
The newest "crossover" event for the Arrowverse isn't even a true crossover, with the upcoming "Armageddon" simply featuring different heroes showing up on The Flash. It doesn't help that many of these heroes are from ended or ending shows, but it does give a glimpse at the future of the Arrowverse.
Other heroes should simply show up for an episode or so at most in another hero's show, but big crossovers should become a thing of the past. This will allow the shows to have their own narratives and identities and without having to worry about scheduling their seasons around a massive event. The opposite situation, wherein shows or movies are simply watched to get to the next crossover, devalues the productions into mere content, with viewers being less than interested in their individual stories.
It's worth noting that the lack of real connection between Superman & Lois and the other Arrowverse shows has been one of its many well-received elements, with viewers commenting that it doesn't even feel like a CW show. This less than flattering comparison for the other shows would be lessened if they didn't otherwise try so hard to crossover and feel connected to each other. The shows going their own ways so to speak could allow them to also feel more unique and less like an assembly line of CW superhero shows.
On top of all of this, there's not nearly as much momentum as there used to be for the shared universe to spawn new shows featuring DC superheroes. Instead, fans are more interested in seeing such productions hit the HBO Max app like the upcoming Green Lantern show, which of course will provide an experience that's completely impossible for the CW in terms of scope and budget. The only new Arrowverse show currently being planned is Naomi, and that show is about a character who was just introduced in the comics and has essentially no fanbase compared to Green Arrow, the Flash or Supergirl.
The Arrowverse has had a great run in terms of building up a multiverse of heroes and finally uniting them in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. Sadly, this heyday seems to have passed, with the developmental hype no longer around. The remaining shows would thus be better off staying more independent for future seasons, ending the Arrowverse concept before it's stretched too thin.