The CW is shaking up the lineup as they attempt to sell the network, but that doesn't mean it's not worth watching the shows that are on now. Particularly when so many fans are attempting to get other companies to pick up their favorites, watching the CW shows that are airing now is more important than ever.
For those just looking to add one or two shows to their must-watch list, Ranker compiled all the current CW shows and let fans vote on their favorites. Start with the top of the list or pick the synopsis that sounds best; either way, any of the top ten shows are worth the watch.
Note: Due to the nature of Ranker's lists, these are subject to change after posting. This list also focuses on the current roster of shows from 2021-2022 television season.
Dynasty
The CW's shows have frequently been compared to soap operas and Dynasty doesn't try to avoid that label. The show follows the exploits of the insanely wealthy Carrington family, full of glamor and backstabbing. The primary conflict in the first season follows Fallon Carrington's attempts to drive away her future stepmother, Cristal.
The series is full of drama, and audiences looking for an escape will surely find one. There are so many intricately woven plots going on, that it's easy to get hooked. A particular standout is Elizabeth Gillies, formerly of Victorious fame, as the catty and devious Fallon. Nobody is completely innocent in this drama, but nobody is irredeemable either, leading fans to latch onto their favorites and follow them through their worst decisions.
Nancy Drew
Based on the popular book series of the same name, Nancy Drew is focused on teenage detective Nancy Drew's attempts to solve the crimes rampant in her hometown. Here's the twist: the supernatural is a part of those cases, more often than not. She and her group of friends try to use their investigative skills to solve the town's problems: human or otherwise.
While some viewers were turned off by the many differences between the show and its source material, those who stuck around longer than the first few episodes had the opportunity to find out that different doesn't necessarily mean bad. The writing is clever, and between the mystery and the scare factor, it keeps audiences on their toes.
Riverdale
Riverdale adapts Archie comics for the modern teenager, mixing the classic comic tropes with murder mysteries and gestures toward the supernatural. The first season spends considerable time on high school problems, like whether Archie should pursue music or sports, Betty or Veronica, but later seasons focus more attention on the town's dark secrets.
The show has a reputation for being terribly written with a wonderful cast, but while it's certainly not sophisticated television, it can be fun to watch, even just to see how far they'll go. With plots involving cults, aliens, and superpowers in later seasons, it certainly plays with the more unusual sides of the comics, rarely taking itself too seriously.
Walker
In another reboot, Walker follows Cordell Walker as he returns to town a year after his wife's death. While he tries to repair relationships within his family and at his work as a Texas Ranger, he begins to suspect that his wife's death was not all it seemed, prompting him to work in and around the law to find the truth.
Though the show's first few episodes took some time to get their footing, the western/family drama is increasingly gathering a following for its interesting mysteries and character dynamics. Those looking for a strict reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger will likely be disappointed, but those willing to approach the show on its own terms will find much to appreciate.
All American: Homecoming
A spinoff from All American, All American: Homecoming follows Simone to Bringston University, an HBCU in Atlanta. Simone attempts to find her footing on the university's extremely competitive tennis team, while secondary protagonist Damon attempts to succeed on the school's baseball team.
The show succeeds in taking the world of All American to the collegiate level, with a focus on the lives of student-athletes and the unique dynamics of an HBCU. While there are certainly some unrealistic elements, the show shines a light on Black excellence, which is rarely portrayed on television and proves itself a strong next chapter for the All American universe.
Stargirl
Stargirl follows Courtney Whitmore as she adjusts to life in Blue Valley, a town where several supervillains settled down and had children. After being chosen by the Cosmic Staff, she attempts to rebuild the Justice Society of America to face the very villains who killed the original JSA.
Stargirl's greatest success is how it blends extreme darkness with hope so well. The pilot episode of Stargirl literally began with a horrific massacre, but by the end, it was one of the most fun DC shows to come out in years. The show is definitely targeted at a younger demographic than other CW superhero shows, but teens and adults alike will find a lot to love in the quirky superhero drama.
All American
When a football player from South Central is brought to Beverley Hills, the team has to learn how to work together despite being from two different worlds. The show examines deep issues of race and class, along with a healthy dose of sports drama.
The show strays from its sports roots in the third season to focus on political issues, a move that divided its fan base. Whichever side of that divide fans fall on, however, they can't deny that the acting is strong. The show does fall into cliches at times, but that doesn't take away from the strong character dynamics that have made this show so successful.
Legacies
Legacies is the most recent series in The Vampire Diaries franchise, following the twin daughters of Alaric Saltzman—Josie and Lizzie—as well as Klaus Mikaelson's daughter, Hope. Unlike its predecessors, Legacies primarily follows a monster-of-the-week format, with the students at the Salvatore School facing off against a series of mythological creatures.
Though the show has a tendency to contradict The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, it is successful at what it does best. Legacies is a coming-of-age narrative, which brings the franchise back to the network's traditional market. The show focuses on friendship and found family more than birth family and romance, and the bond between the three leads is the part currently driving fans to start Twitter trends intended to save the show from cancellation.
The Flash
The Flash is currently the longest-running Arrowverse show on the CW, nearing the end of its eighth season. The show follows Barry Allen as he figures out how to be a superhero, facing progressively greater threats, before beginning to ask how he can balance his superhero life with his desire to live a full life with his wife and children.
The Flash was notable for being uplifting and fun in contrast to Arrow when it first began, but later seasons have played with darker themes, with varying degrees of success. While many fans have commented that the show has gone downhill over time, it is still one of the best shows on the network. Overall, if you're looking for a traditional superhero show, this is one of the best.
Superman And Lois
One of the newest superhero shows on the network, Superman And Lois is more of a family drama than standard comic book fare. After Clark's mother dies, the family moves from Metropolis to Smallville, where they have to deal with threats against the town, surprise powers developing, and forces that try to pull their family apart.
This show has risen to the top of the charts because the relationships between each member of the family feel so authentic. While the family does face some of the standard Superman villains, they are not the center of this story. Instead, the show asks if a family can survive and thrive when one of its members is constantly running off to save the world. So far, the show is a breath of fresh air on the CW, which is part of why it survived the CW's recent mass cancellation.