Category Archives: The CW

DC Entertainment, Entertainment, Featured, iEditorial, In Primetime, The CW

iReview | BATWOMAN – “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Part 2

Leave a comment

Facing impending doom and mourning the loss of one of their own, our heroes are introduced to the concept of the “paragons” among them. Seven heroes from across the multiverse that may be able to stop the “crisis” that’s consuming their world!

The searches for the heroic “paragons” begins as Part 2 of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover continues in Episode 9, Season 1 of Batwoman. For the latest character to inherit the cape and cowl of Gotham City’s Dark Knight, Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) is out of her natural element when it comes to battling Shadow Beings and traversing the multiverse. The able street fighter is more equipped to the trenches of darkened allies and the perilously high rooftops of her city. With The Batman missing in action, Kate has moved into her cousin Bruce Wayne’s inner sanctum and with the help of Lucas Fox (Camrus Johnson) appropriated his alter ego.

The Flash — “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three” — Image Number: FLA609d_0382b.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl and Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman — Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW — © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Audiences are now very familiar with Kate Kane’s Batwoman, especially after her significantly splashy induction into the “Arrowverse” in last year’s “Elseworlds” crossover. That storyline effectively set-up the existence of Gotham City on Earth-1 as well as confirmed the presence of “The Batman” (which had been considered an urban myth), though Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) is adamant — he is the first vigilante hero to take on the fight for justice. Debatable, perhaps, but Batwoman has proven she is a force all of her own to be reckoned with, though Kate is not comfortable with their presently cosmic predicament.

Though they may have been dealt a serious blow with the sacrifice of Oliver Queen at the conclusion of Part 1 (see Supergirl S5/E9), The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) reveals the existence throughout the multiverse of “Seven Paragons” — heroes that best embody the virtues of heroism. Borrowing a Waverider time-ship from an alternate-earth (Erath-74 to be precise) that comes packed with its own Mick Rory (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow castmate Dominic Purcell) our team learns that among them are 2 of the 7 paragons: Supergirl, Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist) is the “Paragon of Hope” and White Canary, Sara Lance  (Caity Lotz) is the “Paragon of Destiny”.

Her fellow Legend Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) is not at all surprised, but when The Monitor reveals that a missing paragon, “The Bat of the Future” supposedly The Batman of the “future-tense” Earth-99, Bruce Wayne may need to be indoctrinated into their cause, the revelation of the billionaire industrialist’s alter ego does trip Palmer’s fancy — Kate insists that they all keep that secret close and among themselves. Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) are intrigued to hunt down the next paragon, a Kryptonian — the “Paragon of Truth”. During the mission ops gathering, Harbinger (recurring Arrow guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) begins to stumble.

Spoiler Alert!

This is important because it establishes a significant plot point that is part of the “Crisis” canon. In the original 12-issue maxi-series by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez Lyla is corrupted by one of the Anti-Monitor’s shadow agents and slays The Monitor; this does not come as a surprise to him — he admits he had foreseen and anticipated her betrayal. As Part 2 opens up, Lyla reveals to Sara that she hasn’t told her husband John Diggle (David Ramsey) about Oliver’s sacrifice, even as Oliver’s daughter Mia and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) attempt to resurrect the Green Arrow by dunking his body into a Lazarus Pit. 

With the help of Legend magi John Constantine (Matt Ryan) they are able to find a working pit on Earth-18 and thinking that it’s a good idea drop, Oliver’s body in there — the predictable consequence unleashes a soulless and angry Green Arrow that nearly takes down his daughter Mia (Katherine McNamara). During this exercise, Batwoman and Supergirl travel to Earth-99 hoping to persuade Batman to help them save the multiverse, but there instead they find a crippled and battle-hardened Bruce Wayne (guest star Kevin Conroy) who warns them both, there is no hope and that it may be best to let the multiverse just die!

Iris West-Allan (Candice Patton) has joined Lois and Clark on their pursuit of the Superman that is the proper paragon, and warns the super-couple that Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) is determined to destroy all the Supermen of every earth! Lex is using the Book of Destiny to alter their fate, and after meeting with a powerless Clark Kent (Smallville’s Tom Welling) that rightly puts Lex in his place, they stumble upon an alternate earth’s Clark Kent, the Editor of the Daily Planet, who has a bit of gray in his temple and sadly has suffered his share of loss. The trio successfully recruits this Superman (Brandon Routh in a super-suit tailored after Kingdom Come) to help them, but Lex has other plans!

Batwoman — “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” — Image Number: BWN108b_0224.jpg — Pictured: Brandon Routh as Superman — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW — © 2019 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Manipulating the ancient prophecies inside the Book of Destiny, Lex turns Superman against Superman! As the two take the skies above Metropolis in a showdown of might, the two intrepid reporters, Lois and Iris are left to contend with Lex’s mess. Knocking him unconscious they are able to wrestle the Book of Destiny and figure out how to free Superman (Routh) from its magical grip! Eventually, they all return to the Waverider orbiting Earth-1 and bring with them the “Paragon of Truth” and perhaps a means closer to defeating the Anti-Monitor. Unfortunately, Kate and Kara are not as successful in their mission to bring the “Bat of the Future” on board.

More comfortable fighting mobs of underworld criminals in the back alleys of Gotham, the city’s latest caped avenger finds herself in the middle of a cosmic quest and out of her depths, in Part 2 of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event.

Still More Spoiler Alert!

Meanwhile, Ray has appeared to have succeeded in putting together his “Paragon Detector” but when he fires it up, he is disappointed with the results. The device instead of seeking outwards places the next paragon within the Waverider. In a stunning turn, the Monitor reveals that Kate and Kara were indeed successful in their mission to locate the next paragon and names Batwoman the “Paragon of Courage”! Along with the Superman of Earth-96, the heroes have now assembled four of the paragons in order to help save the multiverse, but even as they come closet to achieving their goal, stepping out from the shadows is the real villain of the story!

Using the Harbinger as a conduit to keep tabs on his adversary, The Anti-Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) sets in motion his own plan to thwart the heroes and bring about the destruction of the multiverse, leaving in its wake an anti-matter universe at his disposal!

Still not comfortable with a role in this cosmic odyssey or the fact that now she has been tasked with carrying the mantle of a paragon, Kate confides in Kara her concerns. In true form, Kara informs the newer heroine that her place among them is properly earned and that as the Batwoman, she has demonstrated her courage and worthiness. Supergirl then hands her a picture, a souvenir she took from Bruce Manor of Earth-99 — it is a picture of that earth’s Kate and her twin sister in happier, hopeful times. Kate doesn’t reveal to the Maid of Might that she has taken a souvenir of her own — Bruce Wayne’s piece of kryptonite which he used to kill the Superman of Earth-99.

What’s the Endgame?

Part 2 of our crossover epic, is perhaps a little tougher to get through than its previous installment, and certainly a lot clunkier to navigate than Part 3, The Flash episode rounding out the first arc of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” storyline. The “middle story” in an extended piece is often difficult because it relies on setting more details up that gets our protagonists over the hump and closer toward their resolution. This episode of “Crisis” relied on the Batwoman writing team and showrunners to deliver a very complex piece of the puzzle, while also integrating various cameos and featured roles that were dependent on carrying a certain amount of emotion.

The inclusion of Kevin Conroy, the voice behind the Emmy® Award-Winning Batman: The Animated Series as the hopelessly fatigued and bitter Bruce Wayne was a particularly genius move and allowed for the episode’s star, Ruby Rose to really heft her weight even though she is still new to the “Arrowverse” of characters. It was also important to place her alongside Melissa Benoist’s Supergirl and solidifying the obvious chemistry the two actors share, giving the audience an opportunity to admire the “World’s Finest” team-up potential the two put on full display. For fans, the most significant moment still was the appearance of Tom Welling’s Clark Kent giving Smallville fans a nostalgic nod.

Overall, this episode feels narratively choppy and lacks cohesion, especially with the 3 separate missions going on, but it’s well character-driven and amply showcases Ruby Rose. As potentially the “new kid on the block” her Batwoman comes out on top and demonstrates sizable chemistry when paired with Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl — this will bode well as the “Crisis” comes to a conclusion. No doubt giving the writing staff opportunity for “World’s Finest” crossovers between Supergirl and Batwoman.

Batwoman | “Crisis of Infinite Earths” Part 2 | Episode 9, Season 1 | Directed by Laura Belsey and Written by Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson | Original Airdate: 12/9/2019

Batwoman airs Sunday Nights @ 8pm EST on The CW and returns with new episodes in 2020.

Advertisements
DC Entertainment, Entertainment, Featured, In Primetime, The CW

iReview | SUPERGIRL – “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Part 1

Leave a comment

Some worlds will live and some worlds will die as this season’s DCTV primetime crossover event promises to send The CW series of shows into a tailspin as the classic comic book comes to life!

Holy crimson skies of death is the understatement of the month! In the opening moments of Episode 9, Season 5 of Supergirl it looks like the DCTV multiverse had met its match! A wave of merciless anti-matter appeared to be moving across space making short work of prominent and all-too-familiar locales including Earth-89, the earth of director Tim Burton’s Batman and Earth-X, the Nazi-occupied alternate earth under the protection of The Ray (Russell Tovey). Even Earth-9 which is designated as the home of the DC Universe Original Series content including Titans and Doom Patrol is wiped out in the blink of an eye!

DC TV Heroes Assembled! The cast of the major first part of the “Crisis on Infinite Earts” arc gathered for this team pic on set.

Earth-66 also faces its own annihilation as an unassuming ward (Burt Ward, that is) of billionaire Bruce Wayne walks a particularly famous pooch through the bright streets of Gotham City as the skies turn blood-red signaling the arrival of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and Part 1 of The CW’s annual crossover event. At the conclusion of the previous year’s event, “Elseworlds” set up the introduction of “Crisis” when it appeared that an omnipotent interloper named The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) was perceived to be testing the mettle of our heroes including Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) in a contest of wills.

The Monitor has continued to interject himself into the various CW primetime series mostly teasing the fates of Oliver Queen and Barry Allen respectfully, and recently paid a visit to the Martian Manhunter, J’onn J’onzz (David Harewood) on Supergirl. Kara herself proved to be very surprised to learn that the strange visitor had a presence inside their part of the multiverse, having considered The Monitor an Earth-1 villain after facing off against the alien in a stand-off that included the appearance (and almost immediate disappearance) of The Flash of Earth-90 (John Wesley Shipp).

Just like in the 12-part maxi-series published by DC Comics that promised to redefine the entirety of the then 50-year chronology of the imprint, the Monitor’s agent Harbinger, Lyla Michaels (Arrow recurring guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) recruits the heroic first line of defense against the anti-matter wave. Harbinger brings The Flash, The Legends: White Canary (Caity Lotz) and Ray Palmer, The Atom (Brandon Routh) and Batwoman (Ruby Rose) to Earth-38, the home of Supergirl, even rescuing her cousin Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) from the path of the anti-matter wave which decimates Argo City.

After just losing another piece of Krypton to the anti-matter wave, Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) and Alex (Chyler Leigh) prepare to tempt fate as the wave moves closer to annihilating Earth-38.

The heroes are gathered and a part of the Monitor’s plan is set in motion as an all-out effort to save Earth-38 begins! They are tasked with defending a Quantum Tower that has emerged in the heart of National City; it is the only thing that is able to keep the anti-matter wave at bay, but the tower is under siege from an army of Shadow Beings sent by their as yet unseen enemy. In the meantime, Supergirl’s friends including her sister Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh) are themselves working to evacuate the planet’s population to Earth-1 using a series of alien lifeboats. Alex enlists the help of their onetime ally Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath) to create a portal and safe passage to Earth-1.

Spoiler Alert!

Unfortunately, even our heroes’ most valiant effort is leading to failure. The anti-matter wave may have been only temporary slowed down; the Shadow Beings continue to push forward on their attack of the Quantum Tower, and The Monitor has no other choice but to rescue the heroes from themselves. He is able to get them all out of danger, with the exception of Green Arrow. Oliver Queen stays behind and sacrifices himself to give the lifeboats enough time to escape the fate of Earth-38. Thanks to Oliver’s efforts, 3 billion souls from Earth-38 are evacuated to Earth-1 and Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara) his daughter from the future inherits her father’s legacy.

Just as Oliver Queen takes his last breath, the surviving heroes are suddenly joined by a new stranger. Although he wears the face of a friend, a Wells from one of the parallel-earths of the multiverse Pariah (Tom Cavanagh) is cursed to bear witness to the tragedy; it is his penance for releasing their true enemy, the being known as The Anti-Monitor. Although it was foretold by The Monitor that Oliver Queen would meet his end during the coming “crisis”, this is not the way the hero was supposed to die, and though his sacrifice saved many lives, it has not stopped the threat of the anti-matter wave which is moving towards the focal point of Earth-1, and soon there will be nothing left!

The First Line of Defense are gathered to face to coming crisis on this season’s 5-part crossover epic “Crisis on Infinite Earths”.

With a story by Supergirl showrunner Robert Rovner and Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Part 1 is a cheerfully thrilling adaptation inspired by the original material. Launching the crossover on its breakneck path, the first hour has merit for placing the heroes inside of the proverbial blender of possibilities that bringing such an epic storyline to life entails. From the heroes gathering to the appearance of the Quantum Tower, these plot points are practically ripped from the books themselves and would make Marv Wolfman and George Pérez proud. The appearance of the Shadow Beings is also enough to make a fanboy quiver with glee!

Married (and some might say limited) to the existing show narratives, the crossover which historically marks the television winter hiatus for the series, very ably worked in to naturally fit every one of the “Arrowverse” shows, Part 1 was undoubtedly at the mercy of wrapping up storylines including Arrow which is nearly at the end of its final season, and Supergirl just rounded out an untethered Season 5 arc that pitted Kara against Lena Luthor and a mythological villain that left little impact on its audience. With the destruction of Earth-38 in Part 1, Supergirl and her friends find themselves without a proper home and all the heroes are mourning the fall of Oliver Queen.

What’s the Endgame?

Marc Guggenheim has suggested that the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event was always in the cards for the inhabitants of the “Arrowverse” but admittedly the executive producer has said, that aside from a plot note that was taking shape in The Flash and introduced in the Pilot that launched in 2014, he could never have imagined that they would be able to pull off such a huge story. With six series currently on the air and on The CW it seemed inevitable especially with the decline of event television giving way to wave of subscriber services and binging becoming more common, that something “big” would be necessary especially as “superhero fatigue” set in.

With Arrow star Stephen Amell ready to sign-off and the show that “started it all” wrapping up with its Eighth Season, the timing seemed perfect, and with Guggenheim and Greg Berlanti and their team of diehard fans running the show, this seemed like the most ideal trajectory to provide their flagship show with an epic finale as well as revitalize the standing series including The Flash, Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow which would benefit from a little retooling as the newbies Black Lightning and Batwoman carve their own identities. “Crisis” may feel like a natural means to an end and a way to clean house, making way for some fresh talent like Stargirl in the spring.

Supergirl | “Crisis of Infinite Earths” Part 1 | Episode 9, Season 5 | Directed by Jesse Warn and Written by Robert Rovner & Marc Guggenheim with a teleplay by Derek Simon & Jay Faerber | Original Airdate: 12/8/2019

Supergirl airs Sunday Nights @ 9pm EST on The CW and returns with new episodes in January.

DC Comics, DC Entertainment, Featured, iEditorial, In Primetime, The CW

iFeature | The CW’s In Full “CRISIS” Control

Leave a comment

It’s all been leading up to this moment! The CW’s DC primetime universe is about to get a full-on reboot as the countdown to “Crisis on Infinite Earths” begins and an anti-matter wave comes closer to erasing the “Arrowverse”.

And then all of a sudden…there was one! One primetime universe that is! If you watched last night’s episode of The CW series Batwoman into the final act, similarly to last year’s “Elseworlds” stinger, it was revealed that Nash Wells (Tom Cavanagh) interpreted the mysterious hieroglyphs uncovered in the tunnels beneath Central City and has unleashed something sinister upon the multiverse! We’re not exactly sure what that might be — at least not yet (but we have an idea)! The intrepid adventurer disappeared in a blast of intense white light!

Heroes united! The cast are gathered to challenge the fate of the multiverse.

If you’ve read DC Comic’s 12-part epic maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez published in 1985, and carefully deciphered the teaser trailers that have been promoting this season’s crossover event then you have an idea what role Nash has assumed in our still developing melodrama. “Some worlds will live, and some worlds will die…but nothing will ever be the same again,” was the tag line promoting the comic book run of “Crisis” and ultimately it made good on its promise. The series altered the fabric of the publishing imprint’s 50 year history.

Unless you were a Marvel Comic devotee at the time, readership was very low across the industry and new audiences coming into the genre were finding that DC’s extensive and very convoluted history was turning readers off. In order to make sense of its “Golden Age” heroes versus their contemporary “Silver Age” counterparts, DC introduced very early on the concept of a “multiverse” of earths separated by unique vibrations where its heroes like Barry Allen, The Flash of Earth-1 could join in adventures with Jay Garrick, The Flash of Earth-2.

The heroes of the DC primetime universe are preparing to meet their fate in the epic crossover “Crisis on Infinite Earths” based on the DC comics of the same name.

To Infinity and Beyond!

Somewhere along the way it became too much for anyone to follow (or even care about) and the brass at DC was eager to find a way to simplify the continuity. Enter Wolfman and Pérez who came up with the story that would solve the issue of why there were two Supermen, Batmen, etc. and streamlined the natural narrative of the DC Universe into a much more cohesive chronology that enhanced the legacy of our heroes through the ages. The idea of the multiverse came into play early on The CW network with The Flash starring Grant Gustin in Season 2.

When The Flash returned for its sophomore season in 2015 it immediately went to work to expand the worlds of the “Arrowverse” (the title given to The CW primetime series that featured DC comics properties, launched with Arrow in 2013 and produced by Greg Berlanti). By then the primetime spectrum incorporated the team ensemble series DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl starring Melissa Benoist as the Maid of Steel. The urban vigilantism of Arrow starring Stephen Amell as the Green Arrow gave way to a world of metas, magic and more!

While the intrepid cadre of “losers” on DC’s Legends (made up of several featured players that had appeared on Arrow and The Flash) navigated the time-stream, Supergirl firmly established that its storyline existed outside of The CW’s “Earth-1” — and thus a multiverse was born. Gustin and Benoist on the virtue of their personal and professional history (both were featured on FOX’s Glee) immediately engaged in teaming up. The Flash appeared in Supergirl’s National City (on “Earth-38”) during the show’s First Season.

Crossover Event Spectacular!

Since then and on an annual basis (when the series schedules work themselves into the winter hiatus) the series have found a way of crossing over in much the same fashion that the superheroes would team-up in the comic books they’re based on. For “Crisis” the latest crossover epic, a similar expectation is being lump onto it’s televised adaptation as was envisioned by the imprint when the 12-issue maxi series was released — in a dramatic 5-part televised event that at its conclusion will in some way have a lasting effect on the mythology of its characters.

Taking advantage of the primetime multiverse The CW network has benefited from since the debut of Arrow eight seasons ago Marc Guggenheim, one of the architects behind the success of that series and many of the “Arrowverse” spin-offs that followed, has been the executive producer pulling the strings behind the curtain to bring “Crisis” to primetime. The groundwork had been laid down since last season’s “Elseworlds” event, which had been scaled down to 3-parts and centered mostly around the TV Trinity of heroes: Green Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl.

That crossover event immediately established the significance of a perpetually long-established “multiverse” and was illustrated with the appearance of John Wesley Shipp (a series recurring guest star on The Flash) reprising his titular role as The Flash as the hero appeared in the CBS 1990 series, facing off against the mysterious “Monitor” (guest star LaMonica Garrett) an omnipotent character warning the heroes of an impending “Crisis”. The “Elseworlds” crossover also introduced Ruby Rose as Batwoman and Gotham City, which has since gone to series.

Stephen Amell as the Emerald Archer from “Arrow”.

With Arrow coming to a close this season, and its star Stephen Amell accepting the fate of Oliver Queen’s Emerald Archer (whom it has been established would be meeting his demise at the end of the “Crisis” event) The Flash will inherit the mantle as the lead series, with Supergirl running closely alongside, helping to shepherd in the returning DC’s Legends (entering into its Fifth Season) and welcoming Black Lightning starring Cress Williams into the mix, while Batwoman carves her own path across the primetime fabric of DCTV storyline.

Setting an extremely high bar for itself, the writing staff for each of these series have the unsurmountable task of defying expectations for literally a story narrative that was so expertly crafted more than 30 years ago and is still held up as the benchmark of epic comic book storytelling. In any event, it’s an incredible feat in of itself and undoubtedly fans will have their own take on “Crisis” — Some will tune-in, others will tune-out, but the DCTV universe…

…well you get where this is going.

Crisis on Infinite Earths the 5-part crossover event begins Sunday, Dec 8 on The CW and concludes on Tuesday, January 14.

Coming Soon, DC Entertainment, Featured, In Primetime, The CW

On The Set | ELSEWORLDS New Dynamic Duo

Leave a comment

Behind the scenes of The CW epic crossover event hits a fever pitch when a supergirl reveals a caped crusader that is braver and bolder than anything fans have seen!

As if this week couldn’t get anymore exciting for fans of The CW hit shows The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl with the revelations that the cast of this season’s epic CW crossover event “Elseworlds” added recurring guest star John Wesley Shipp into the mix wearing a very familiar costume suggesting a “Flash” from the past will be suiting-up for the adventure, Supergirl headliner Melissa Benoist took to social networking to introduce what looks a braver and bolder pairing, guest star Ruby Rose in fall Batwoman gear!

Though the audience has known since it was announced late this summer at San Diego Comic-Con that the DC TV trinity would be heading out of the comfort zones of their respective home turfs and visiting neighboring Gotham City to introduce the newest caped wonder, little else has been exposed of the “Elseworlds” theme surrounding this year’s event. Along with the pics of John Wesley Shipp apparently in his classic 1990 Flash suit, fans have also glimpsed Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin wearing each other’s battle fatigues, and a black-clad Superman!

The anticipation surrounding this year’s crossover has never been more exciting, and given that it appears to have scaled down the story arc by excluding the crew from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and perhaps even avoided working in the cast of the newest series Black Lightning it appears the showrunners are taking this opportunity to introduce through the proverbial “backdoor” the continuing adventures of Batwoman especially since FOX announced this would be the final season for their Batman prequel Gotham.

Check out the image of this World’s Finest pairing from behind the scenes here:

Coming Soon, DC Entertainment, Featured, In Primetime, The CW

ICYMI | The CW’s ELSEWORLDS 1990?!

Leave a comment

The roster of guest stars appearing in this year’s “Elseworlds” crossover event expands and includes a Flash from the past — 1990 to be precise!

It was the sonic boom heard round the world this week! As fans hungry for more information on the upcoming #DCTV crossover event that will once again bring together the casts of The CW hit series The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl over 3-nights beginning December 9 got more revealing pics from the set. This year’s theme is “Elseworlds” and as early indicators denote, the shows will be taking a page ripped right from the DC Comics imprint that relates alternative narratives depicting the brand’s most iconic characters.

In essence, “Elseworlds” breaks all the rules!

Fans have known for some time that this season’s story arc would finally take our heroes beyond the limits of their comfortable surroundings; with the introduction of Ruby Rose, the actress tapped to bring to life Batwoman, one of Gotham City’s own most popular defenders. Giving rise to much speculation that the Arrowverse would be adding to its canon of characters. With Tyler Hoechlin reprising his role as Superman it certainly appears like the DC TV landscape is quickly expanding its landscape to encompass the comic worlds biggest names.

What Da What?!

Another curveball was dealt to the enthusiast audience when the official “Elseworlds” teaser poster was released which shows our heroes Oliver Queen and Barry Allen have apparently borrowed one another’s secret identities. Stephen Amell who has long worn the mantle of Star City’s Green Arrow has assumed the scarlet suit most familiarly associated with Grant Gustin who stars as The Flash. Gustin was given a new ensemble this season which is the most streamlined version of his outfit, but most significantly, it springs forward from his newly acquired Flash ring!

Though it hasn’t been explained why the heroes have swapped places, one explanation more reside in the presence of another character that has been confirmed to be a part of the “Elseworlds” drama — fans familiar with The Monitor (who will be played by LaMonica Garrett) will recognize the name from the titular Crisis on Infinite Earths event which is perhaps the most defining publishing stunt ever undertaken by a comic book company. Effectively the 12-issue maxi series, released in the 1980s streamlined the then-50 year old DC Comics multiverse.

The addition of The Monitor to the “Elseworlds” storyline has definitely raised the stakes as the “Crisis” storyline has been teased as potential television continuity first glimpsed in The Flash pilot. The “disappearance” of Barry Allen has resurfaced as a major component of the new 5th Season of the series with the mysterious arrival of Barry and Iris’ (Candice Patton) daughter Nora from the future. Whether this is another indicator of The Monitor interfering in the affairs of our heroes has yet to be revealed!

On set of a pivotal moment from the upcoming CW crossover “Elseworlds”, Melissa Benoist as “Supergirl”, Stephen Amell dressed as “The Flash”, John Wesley Shipp in his 1990 “The Flash” suit and Grant Gustin in the hood of the “Green Arrow” are ready for battle.

And Then This Happened!

As if the crossover wasn’t already shaping up to feature the most anticipated moments of the season, this week it was revealed that The Flash recurring guest star John Wesley Shipp would be reprising his role, though not the role that fans of the show have come to associate him with. Shipp was spotted on set and first revealed publicly in an Instagram post released by Stephen Amell which showed the actor standing alongside the TV trinity suited up as The Flash from Shipp’s own 1990 where the 2-time Emmy Award winner headlined as the Scarlet Speedster!

The news has stunned social networking which is now eager to learn more about the 1990 hero’s appearance, and more importantly how The Flash (1990) will play into the narrative of “Elseworlds”. Both Amell and Grant Gustin (as well as Shipp himself) have since released more behind-the-scenes photos , including another still from Marc Guggenheim that shows The Flash (1990) appearing inside of ARGUS, suggesting that his presence in more than just a random cameo for fan-service.

A comic-con convention favorite Shipp has often elaborated on stories with his fans of the challenges of shooting the series in the 90s and especially how cumbersome the suit was, especially in comparison to his new uniform as Earth-3’s “Golden Age” Flash, Jay Garrick. The Flash’s team of costumers and wardrobe experts headed by Kate Main are responsible for rebuilding the iconic suit from the 1990s show (that’s right) which had to be reconstructed from scratch since few of the original components of the outfit were up to shoot standards.

John Wesley Shipp shared this photo on Instagram of himself in the recreated suit from The Flash (1990) along with designer Kate Main who was tasked along with her team to bring it into the present for the upcoming crossover event.

For Shipp, who had publicly proclaimed he’d never “get back in a super suit” this will now be the second time he’s had to eat his words, though it’s clear from the reaction on set as well as from fans across social networking, the reemergence of The Flash (1990) has inspired a new wave of nostalgia, as audiences welcome Shipp (1990) back especially just in time as the 30th anniversary of his own series in fast approaching! 

Coming Soon, DC Entertainment, Featured, In Primetime, The CW

The CW Crossover Event is bound for ELSEWORLDS

Leave a comment

Expect the unexpected this season when The CW DC TV crossover event takes its heroes to the edges of uncharted new frontiers when the limitless ELSEWORLDS of possibilities opens the flood gates to an all-new adventure.

The final frontier of superhero storytelling has just been breached! Cisco Ramon may be able to navigate the multiverse, but even he isn’t prepared to surf the wave of what’s about to hit! This season when the epic 3-night crossover event plays out on The CW it will take the primetime heroes to the farthest reaches and beyond of the multiverse as The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl venture into the depths of the “Elseworlds”. For fans familiar with the DC Comics publishing stunt, you know, all bets are off!

The “Elseworlds” storylines often explored in the books have included some of the most surprising and dynamic new spins on well established favorites. From steampunk universes, to vampiric legions of superheroes, under the “Elseworlds” banner DC creatives turned the multiverse on its ear and introduced unbelievable new possibilities. So how is that going to translate now that it has been revealed that when the primetime heroes unite for their annual crossover event they’ll be entering into the realm of “Elseworlds”?

It can mean anything! Since the debut of The Flash in 2014, the crossover stunt, then with its sister series Arrow, has become undoubtedly the most anticipated broadcast event of the season. Since then the DC primetime universe has expanded to include Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. The series have crossover and joined forces to face an immortal foe, repel an alien invasion, battle an alternate-earth’s Nazi regime in cinematic blockbuster style. And with the exception of the newest hero in the primetime lineup Black Lightning has featured an all-star cast!

Gotham Knights!

It was first mentioned as far back as this summer, during San Diego Comic-Con that this year’s crossover would introduce a new hero onto the scene and expand on the world of the Arrowverse. With Batwoman played by Ruby Rose featuring as a major player and Gotham City, the home of the Caped Crusader himself Batman, the backdrop onto which the crossover will play out, and it was also confirmed that this year’s event would focus solely on the primetime trinity, centered on The Flash (Grant Gustin), Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist).

It has also been revealed that another antagonist from the DC Comics multiverse will be intervening on events when The Monitor makes his primetime debut. The character was of course instrumental to and at the center of the publishing company’s biggest comics event, 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths. The classic 12-part limited series was written by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez and marked a significant reboot (the first of many to come) in the DC Comics universe. What will that mean to the events about the spool out in the “Elseworlds” crossover?

LaMonica Garrett has been cast as “The Monitor” in this season’s crossover epic.

Entertainment Weekly reported LaMonica Garrett from ABC’s Designated Survivor has been cast in the role of and will be playing The Monitor, Mar Novu. How this character’s presence will impact the primetime series narrative going forward is yet to be determined, but the race of Monitors, tasked with keeping the multiverse intact, may be an indicator of what DCTV fans have always hoped, and that is the inevitability of the “Crisis” storyline playing out as was suggested in “The Pilot” episode of The Flash.

Former Lost alum Jeremy Davies will be playing the crossover’s main villain, Dr. John Deegan who is a dangerously unscrupulous physician in attendance in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum For the Criminally Insane. Deegan in some way sets in motion a series of events that will bring our heroes to Gotham City and in the crosshairs of one of the city’s ardent defenders. The “Elseworlds” event will also incorporate some additional heavy lifting that will come in the form of Supergirl’s famous cousin, as the Man of Steel, Superman is reportedly joining the team!

“Elseworlds” The CW’s DC crossover event will air Dec 9.