It wasn't too long ago that you could count on the fingers of a single hand how many television shows based on comic books there were on your screen at any given time. Today however, there are so many that it's getting kind of hard to keep track. Around 2012, when Marvel Studios reached a height of popularity that had never been seen before, the world of superheroes got bigger. That year, both Marvel and DC debuted their own superhero universes on the small screen with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow, respectively. Both saw big launches, and as the popularity of superheroes kept on growing, both on the big and small screen, these shows would prove to only be the pillars of something that would get a whole lot bigger.
On The CW, seeds would be planted for the network to spin-off more and more characters into their own shows. As for Marvel, the television side of the studio would do something different, by introducing various shows on different networks -- and that's only the beginning. Now, DC is set to have its own streaming service that will launch four different live action superhero shows. It's come to a point where you can be forgiven for losing count of how many comic book shows there are on television right now. Now that we've reached the Golden Age of superhero television, it's time to take a good long look at the current shows that should come to an end, and the ones that should have the chance to grow.
15 GROW: LEGION
Over on FX, Legion quickly set itself apart for its inventive storytelling and manic visuals. When it launched, it instantly became clear that it was unlike anything we had ever seen, and Season 2 only pushed the envelope further. Although some may have been ultimately disappointed with the second season, Legion is still a very young show.
The series takes place inside the X-Men universe, and it has immense amounts of potential. So far, Legion has mostly kept to the telepathic side of the mythos, but it could easily delve into any other corner of the X-Men comics. If allowed, the series could even go full Phoenix.
14 END: AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had a rough start, given that it had to go on almost a full year without revealing the shocking twist of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The series then found its footing, and told various stories in its seasons, broken down like chapters. Now that the show is reaching Season 6, this would be a good time for the series to conclude.
Why? It's simple really. The show first launched as a spin-off of 2012's The Avengers movie. However, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing towards a conclusion with May 2019's Avengers 4. Since Season 6 is set to follow the movie, a final chapter that works as an epilogue of the MCU would be a fitting end for this show.
13 GROW: KRYPTON
On Syfy, Krypton originally began as a Superman prequel origin series, which told the story of Superman's grandfather. While that is very much the case, elements of time travel and nods to the wider DC Universe from the comic books have made Krypton an epic series that is only destined to grow bigger.
Season 1 already featured Brainiac, Adam Strange, Zod and even Doomsday in a certain capacity, and Season 2 was recently confirmed to feature Lobo. We have no doubt that even more surprises will follow, and it's our wish to see Krypton grow so much that it can become a true showcase of the cosmic side of the DCU.
12 END: DAREDEVIL
Daredevil has been filming Season 3 for quite a while. But even then, it took so long for a new season to get produced that we'd be inclined to say the series should end its trilogy with Season 3. After all, there has been a steady story evolution between the first and second seasons, and the third could very well be a conclusion.
If that is the case, then actor Charlie Cox will be free to make appearances in other Netflix shows. It was recently said that the streaming service is considering more Marvel spin-offs, which means that one starring Daredevil is a definite possibility. Plus, without his own series, Matt Murdock would be free to appear on the big screen.
11 GROW: THE GIFTED
The Gifted is an X-Men show that may or may not take place in the universe of Fox's movies. The simple truth is that the show references enough that it could be, while charting its own path and its own mythology that it could always be its own thing – and it has only begun to get bigger.
After focusing on a core group of characters, Season 2 of The Gifted looks set to expand the world of the mutants. We already know that the Morlocks are coming, and that the Hellfire Club will take on a central role. The Gifted has only begun to scratch the surface of the X-Men comic books and it should be allowed to grow exponentially from there.
10 END: JESSICA JONES
Not long after Season 2 of Jessica Jones launched on Netflix, the streaming service already confirmed that the series would be coming back for a Season 3, which is currently filming. However, a third outing might be the right place to end things, especially considering that Daredevil, which launched the Marvel Netflix universe, isn't even at Season 3 yet.
All other Marvel shows on Netflix are mostly on two. Luke Cage just finished its second season, and Iron Fist and The Punisher both have Season 2 coming up. However, the right way to view things would be in terms of trilogies, which means that Jessica Jones would have a good opportunity to tell a concluding chapter to the character's story.
9 GROW: BLACK LIGHTNING
Like Supergirl, Black Lightning airs on The CW, but it isn't technically an Arrowverse show. While it more than likely takes place on another Earth, this allows Black Lightning to tell its more self-contained stories that don't involve the larger, shared universe aspect of The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.
Since it mostly stands on its own, Black Lightning has a different identity and a different vibe that makes it an electric show. As Season 2 approaches, we hope that the scope of the show will get bigger and, since the character is closely associated with the Outsiders, we hope that future seasons will expand the cast of superheroes.
8 END: THE WALKING DEAD
The Walking Dead may not be a superhero show, but it's still a series based on a comic book. The series launched in 2010, and grew to become one of the biggest shows on television. But while it grew bigger for six years, the series began to lose viewers when Season 7 rolled around. Now, more people have stopped following the series.
This October will see the arrival of Season 9 of the show, a season which will see the departure of leading man Andrew Lincoln. With Rick Grimes leaving the show, now would be the right time to allow the series to reach a conclusion. It's been a long journey, and what characters remain deserve their happy endings.
7 GROW: LUCIFER
There was a massive public outcry when Fox decided to cancel its DC Comics/Vertigo series Lucifer after the conclusion of its third season. Thankfully, Netflix swooped in at the last minute and rescued the series, bringing it back for a 10-episode fourth season that should be coming sometime next year.
Lucifer always told an engrossing story of demons, Hell, Heaven, angels and divine power, mixed in with your more standalone episodes that focused on murder mysteries. However, with a shorter episode count, the series is now free to let go of its filler episodes and embrace a bigger budget that should bring Lucifer to unholy new heights... or rather, lows.
6 END: ARROW
Arrow is the series that started it all on The CW. But after a strong start, the series isn't exactly the ratings hit that it once was. Now entering into its seventh season, it is the perfect time for Arrow to come to an end. The series looks set to start a promising new season, and it should have the chance to go out on top.
What's more, with the oncoming arrival of Batwoman and her potential spin-off, now would be the right time for the series that began the Arrowverse to pass the torch to another vigilante. What's more, this doesn't mean that Green Arrow and Black Canary couldn't appear on other spin-off shows.
5 GROW: THE PUNISHER
The Punisher was first introduced in Season 2 of Daredevil. The character, as played by Jon Bernthal, proved such a hit that Frank Castle got his own solo series. In it, Castle went up against government conspiracies and his best friend, setting events in motion that could easily unfold over many years.
Season 1 of the series only ended with the birth of the Punisher's biggest villain – but Jigsaw is far from being the only member of Castle's rogues gallery. The story of the Punisher has really just begun, and we hope that the series will only grow from there (and maybe even feature a guest stint from Daredevil, while we're at it).
4 END: LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
Legends of Tomorrow is a series that took a while to find its footing. After a trial first season, the series found its stride in its second year, where it became a goofy show where the misfits of the Arrowverse can help save the day. However, now that the series is heading into Season 4, now would be the time to start fresh.
The current iteration of the Arrowverse has been going on for a while, and a big shakeup is in order. For that reason, Legends of Tomorrow should be allowed to end so that its most popular characters are given the chance to grow and leave the Waverider. After all, there are only so many time-travel missions that the team can go on.
3 GROW: SUPERGIRL
Supergirl has had an odd life. It started out as a CBS show, before moving to The CW where it became a part of the Arrowverse. But unlike Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl takes place on a parallel Earth, where it doesn't have to follow the strict mythology of its sister series.
As the show has continued to grow and find its own voice, it's become clear that Supergirl is different than all the other superhero shows. It highlights the Superman mythos like few series ever could, by mining all eras of the character. Supergirl may be going into its fourth season, but it sill feels fresh, and it looks like it has a lot of stories left to tell.
2 END: THE FLASH
Barry Allen spun directly out of the second season of Arrow to star in his own show, one that would manage to outshine its sister series. But like Arrow, The Flash is also running out of steam. Now going into its fifth season, fans have begun to feel that the series is running in circles while avoiding some big aspects of the Flash mythology.
Now would be the right time for The CW to retire The Flash, and allow a few fan-favorites from the show to appear elsewhere instead. If The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow all end up reaching their end, then The CW could focus their budget and energy on creating a true Justice League series, spearheaded by Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin.
1 GROW: THE DEFENDERS
The Defenders was meant to be an event series that brought together all four main characters from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. With only eight episodes, the series had to move rapidly to get these characters together, introduce a large threat, and have them share the screen in epic fight scenes. If anything, the series wasn't long enough.
If Netflix were to choose to end Daredevil and Jessica Jones, it could easily focus on giving us a second, full-length season of The Defenders. What's more, this type of series could even become a showcase for new characters, who could then be spun-off into their own solo television shows.