See all of our Best TV of 2015here.
As we prepare to bid adieu to 2015 and look ahead to the television landscape of 2016, there’s one thing you can safely bet on: There will be plenty of superhero TV shows. While superhero properties bound for the big screen continue to grab big names and big headlines, the costumed crime-fighters of the small screen are getting it done week in and week out with much more room to develop their heroic qualities along the way. And even though many of the entries on this list entered the weekly TV guide well before 2015, this was the year that saw every major broadcast network vying for a piece of the superhero pie, one they had to share with Netflix, Starz, and even PlayStation Network.
Superhero TV may not reign supreme forever, but for the time being, the genre is certainly here to stay. Some of the shows on this list debuted in 2015, others enjoyed second and third seasons, and one saw a resurrection of an earlier superhero series as a new “event miniseries.” It’s a sign of the current popularity of superhero TV that only one of the properties that was ordered to a full series ended up being cancelled. Oddly enough, that show’s protagonist ended up with a cameo role on a sister series due in part to fan demand. If you missed any of these superhero shows, use our handy list to get caught up before the new year is upon you.
Some spoilers may follow, so make sure you’re up to date on your TV watching!
Marvel’s Agent Carter
Since we’re about to be entertained by the second season ofMarvel’s Agent Carter, let’s pause a moment to remember that the inaugural season of theHayley Atwell-starring series kicked off 2015 for us. The eight-episode run on ABC took viewers back to 1940s America, during which time our title heroine attempted to balance her mild-mannered life with that of her secret agent responsibilities. Much likeAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.did forClark Gregg, this series allowed Atwell to further develop her character who was seen in bothCaptain Americamovies and the Marvel one-shot.
The period setting of season one ofAgent Carterwas a great way for the Marvel creatives to keep Atwell’s character alive while also filling in some backstory for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Putting Peggy alongside Howard Stark and Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy) allowed for that connective tissue to take hold, but giving her agency in how the season’s conflict played out is a rare thing in superhero stories, whatever the medium. Be sure to tune in when Agent Carter moves from New York City to Los Angeles in season two.
Best Surprise Moment:The reveal of Dr. Faustus.
The CW didn’t wait too long after the finale ofSmallvilleto go into production onArrow,a hit show that is based on DC Comics' vigilante archer, Green Arrow. Currently in the middle of its fourth season, the success ofArrowpaved the way for another DC property adaptation:The Flash. The critical acclaim and super fandoms that support these shows have allowed the network to move forward with a mid-season premiere of a new spin-off series,Legends of Tomorrow.
But it all started withArrow. Thanks toStephen Amellin the lead as a billionaire playboy turned tormented vigilante, a solid supporting cast, and a rotating arsenal of villains pulled from the comic book pages,Arrowremains one of the best examples of superhero TV on the air today. Though it’s best when left to shoot first and ask questions later in its own dark and dismal world, the success ofArrowhas allowed The CW to branch out into other, arguablymoresuccessful territory. The CW and its creative team are running a clinic, and other networks should be paying more attention.
Best Surprise Moment:The cameoMatt Ryanhas as his own superhero counterpart, John Constantine, and his subtle dig at NBC (the one with the peacock feather) in response to cancelling his show.
The CW’s sister series toArrowthat’s full of father/son feels,The Flashhas raisedGrant Gustin’sstar status to new heights, following his stints onGleeand90210. He’s proven to be perfectly cast and has an incredible group of supporting actors to round out the show. WhereArrowsucceeds in pulling off incredible stunts and finding ways for seeminglyeveryoneto cheat death,The Flashexcels at emotional beats between fathers and sons, and doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to comic-book craziness.
The Flashintroduced the concept of super-powered beings (dubbed metahumans), time travel, and paralell worlds to the DC TV universe. That’s huge.Arrowstarted as a world constrained by “reality” and practical villains;The Flashstarted with a fantastical concept and literally ran with it. (“Run, Barry! Run!") The bold decision to go full-on with these otherworldly comic book villains and plotlines really opens up the world forThe Flash,ArrowandLegends of Tomorrow, along with any future series to come.
Best Surprise Moment:The arrival of King Shark. Hands down.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Stepping away from The CW in order to go back to ABC for a moment, Marvel’sAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.has managed to hold their own in the superhero TV department. What started off as a reason to keep fan-favorite actor/characterClark Gregg/Agent Phil Coulson alive as a player within the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe (and for Disney/Marvel to snap up some of the TV market, if we’re being honest) has turned into a worthwhile complement to the company’s related movies. Let’s give credit where credit is due: Disney/Marvel was the first to blend their TV and movie properties - something that WB/DC has yet to do - even if that marriage got off to a rough start.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.took its time embracing the fantastical even though the superheroes and supervillains from their stable of movies already broke through that barrier rather explicitly inThe Avengers. OnceAgentsstarted to incorporate some less mundane elements - the T.A.H.I.T.I. Protocol, cybernetic limbs, Inhumans - the quality really picked up. Characters from the Marvel comics and films were folded in, plot twists rivaled the pages of the comics themselves, and more spin-off series found their footing. In addition to the return ofMarvel’s Agent Carter, keep an eye out forNick BloodandAdrianne Palickiin the TV movie,Marvel’s Most Wantedin 2016.
Best Surprise Moment:The reveal of Lash’s identity.
Constantine
NBC’s attempt to conjure up a winner in the ratings department ultimately fell flat withConstantine, an adaptation of the DC Comics/Vertigo property “Hellblazer.” However, they managed to cultivate a strong fan following for the series and its title character, the aforementioned Matt Ryan. Apparently NBC hadn’t learned from mistakes of their past since, even though the rabid fanbase attempted to drum up support over social media, the network canned the series after 13 episodes. Ryan got to don the signature trench coat and mystical tattoos once more (at least) in a special appearance onArrow, but fans were left wondering what could have been.
While other shows were catching onto the idea that audiences actually wanted to see super-powered characters and otherworldly elements,Constantineobliged with an exploration of the supernatural and the mystical. John Constantine’s central conflict in the first and only season stemmed from a magical ritual that went horribly wrong, ending with the soul of a young girl being trapped in Hell. This horrific conceit led to the dissolution of Constantine’s gang of cohorts, whom he ultimately made amends to throughout the course of the season. Sadly,Constantinewas just scratching the surface of the occult world when NBC pulled the plug.
Best Surprise Moment:Honestly, the appearance of the Helmet of Fate and all the other DC Comics Easter eggs that promised a richer world to explore.
I don’t know if Marvel’s network TV properties are ever going to cross paths with their Netflix series, but they both clearly reference the universe they share with the movies. That being said, Netflix’sDaredevilkicked the tar out of ABC’s shows in terms of character development, production quality, and pretty much any other element you can think of.Charlie Coxburst onto the scene in binge-worthy fashion as “The Man without Fear” in April of 2015, and the first member ofThe Defenderswill return this upcoming April for a second season.
While audiences absolutely gobbled upDaredeviland its origin story for the blind lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen who masquerades as a costumed crime-fighter by night, the series really excelled in an area that other Marvel properties seem to struggle with: villains.Vincent D’Onofrio’sWilson Fisk/Kingpin not only physically towered over Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil, the exploration of his tortured and traumatic character really brought this one home for me. At the moment that Fisk stepped out of the darkness and into the spotlight - the very thing Murdock and his allies were planning to do to expose Fisk - I knew that this show was something special.
Best Surprise Moment:Daredevil’s hallway fight scene.
Jessica Jones
While Netflix’sDaredevilwas a pleasant surprise, the streaming giant’s follow-upJessica Jonesstarted off as more of a curiosity. The character was a relative unknown outside of comic circles (at leastDaredevilhad a feature film before the series roll-out),Krysten Ritterwas untested as a action star, and owing to the incredibly dark source material, many doubted that lightning could strike twice. Any doubts were quickly cast aside asJessica Jonesdebuted to rave reviews from critics and audiences, and aCritics' Choice Award for Ritter’s performance.
Jessica Jonessucceeded in distancing itself fromDaredevilbut also managed to exist in the same world by going dark … likereallydark. WhileDaredevildealt with the criminal underworld,Jessica Jonestackled the very personal demons of rape, domestic abuse, and other forms of trauma that came with irresistible manipulation at the hands of the supernaturally talented mind-controller, Killgrave (David Tennant). This villain has arguably been Marvel’s most successful creation yet, but Ritter’s tough-talking, tougher-fighting and psychologically damaged private eye was equal to the task. As an added bonus, the third character ofThe Defendersteam was introduced in spectacular fashion, so we can bet that theLuke Cageseries will continue Netflix’s success. ThatIron Fistthough…
Best Surprise Moment:Jessica and Luke’s bar fight.
Back to broadcast land. CBS surprisingly got in on the superhero action with a bid forSupergirl, a comicbook series of a very different sort that starsMelissa Benoistas the title character. Critics and fans have been a little harsh on the network’s sole superhero series, but I think that might have more to do with the fact thatSupergirldoes not fall into CBS' demographic. Since it follows the exploits of Superman’s cousin Kara Danvers as she attempts to navigate the life of a young adult woman in the high-stress arena of news writing along with the complications of saving the world (or at least her corner of it) without relying on Superman himself, it feels likeSupergirlwould domuchbetter on a network like The CW. Benoist is charming and convincing as both Kara and Supergirl, and the cast that surrounds her is equally capable and charismatic (and also belongs on The CW).
However, it often feels like the creative team behind the scenes doesn’t quite know what to do with Supergirl and her antagonists. I know this isn’t 100% true since the brain trust ofGreg BerlantiandAndrew Kreisberg, who are also two of the minds behindArrow,The Flash, andLegends of Tomorrow, are co-creators ofSupergirl, so perhaps this series just needs time to find its footing. Oh, and fix Red Tornado, because that mess was just embarrassing.
Best Surprise Moment:The reveal of the Martian Manhunter.
The other problems with the first season, beyond audience reach, were that the series departed so drastically fromBrian Michael Bendis’comic of the same name (even though he was an executive producer on the project), and the budget drastically limited the show’s creative range. Consider the next season a reboot of sorts, one that seeks to draw new viewers in and give previous audiences a reason to return.
Best Surprise Moment:The fact that Sony okay’d a second season,but has promised big changes. You can watch the full pilot episode below:
Fox’s sole player in the superhero TV game simply refuses to admit that there are superheroes in the world, even as DC Comics villains rise to flood the streets ofGotham. While Batman’s villains are certainly a bit more down-to-Earth than the antagonists of other members of the Justice League (most of them are essentially mad scientists obsessed with a particular fixation), when you remove the Batman from the proceedings, you have to ratchet down the villainy to accommodate the hero,James Gordon.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get the dedication to this show. I suffered through the first season of episode recaps and avoided the second season like the plague, at least until enough of you swore thatGothamhad gotten better in the second season. That shouldn’t have been that difficult since the first season featured a villainous abomination known as the Balloon Man, but the inclusion of newly created characters such as Theo Galavan do nothing for me. The Joker wasn’t the Joker; the Riddler is still solving the puzzle of his identity; the Penguin has become a psychopath devoid of any semblance of strategy; and James Gordon is unable to do anything to keep these lunatics in check. Time to bring in the Batman! Wait, what? He’s still 14 years old? Then let’s have Season Three jump forward about 10 years, shall we?
