Arrowverse Crossovers Cemented Grant Gustin’s Flash

The Flash finale in 2023 didn’t just bring Barry Allen’s story to a close — it also marked the final chapter of The CW’s ambitious superhero experiment known as the Arrowverse. For many fans, Grant Gustin’s Arrowverse crossovers remain some of the most cherished moments from this decade-long TV universe.

From Arrow’s gritty beginnings in 2012 to The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Black Lightning, the Arrowverse became a staple of superhero television. But for both fans and cast members, the annual Arrowverse crossovers were the crown jewels — massive, multi-episode events that brought heroes together for epic battles and heartfelt team-ups.

Remembering the On-Set Energy

Recently, during a Q&A session at GalaxyCon Raleigh 2025, The Flash star Grant Gustin reflected on those crossover experiences. He spoke fondly about the friendships and creative energy that came from working with Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) and Stephen Amell (Arrow), noting how their very different personalities made filming together both fun and memorable.

“You’d go from Stephen’s super-intense focus to Melissa’s lighthearted charm, and somehow it just worked,” Gustin recalled. “That’s what made those weeks so special.”

The End of an Era: The Arrowverse’s Rise and Conclusion

The Arrowverse began modestly with Arrow, starring Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen. In 2012, a shared superhero TV universe wasn’t a given — and Arrow initially kept things grounded. But by the time The Flash premiered in 2014, The CW was ready to take the leap into a fully interconnected world.

The gamble paid off. Soon, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Black Lightning joined the lineup, creating a sprawling superhero landscape. At its peak, six shows ran concurrently, with characters crossing paths on a regular basis.

The Crossover Events Fans Waited All Year For

If there was one thing that set the Arrowverse apart from other superhero TV, it was the yearly crossover. Events like Crisis on Earth-X, Elseworlds, and the monumental Crisis on Infinite Earths gave viewers the thrill of seeing dozens of heroes and villains collide.

For fans, these were appointment television — complete with multiverse-hopping plotlines, shocking cameos, and emotional reunions. For the actors, they were weeks of grueling schedules, elaborate stunt work, and long nights on set. But they were also a chance to feel like part of something bigger than their own show.

Gustin compared them to “summer camp for superheroes,” saying, “You’d be exhausted, but you never wanted it to end.”

Why the Crossovers Mattered

Beyond the spectacle, the crossovers reinforced the shared history and relationships between characters. Barry Allen’s friendship with Kara Danvers (Supergirl), for example, became one of the Arrowverse’s most beloved dynamics. Likewise, Oliver Queen’s mentorship of Barry gave The Flash a deeper emotional anchor.

The crossovers also allowed for risks — killing off characters, introducing alternate versions, or testing new heroes before they got their own series. In many ways, they kept the Arrowverse feeling fresh, even as individual shows went through ups and downs.

The Flash Finale and a Bittersweet Goodbye

When The Flash finale aired in May 2023, it wasn’t just Barry’s story ending — it was the Arrowverse itself taking its final bow. While shows like Superman & Lois and Stargirl existed on the fringes, they weren’t formally tied into the same continuity in the same way.

For longtime viewers, it was a bittersweet moment. The Arrowverse had its flaws — uneven seasons, canceled spinoffs, and behind-the-scenes shakeups — but it also represented a rare kind of long-term storytelling on network television.

The Arrowverse Lives On

Even though The CW is no longer producing Arrowverse series, the shows remain widely available. On Netflix, fans can binge entire runs of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow. DVD, Blu-ray, and digital collections make it easy to revisit the crossovers in order — something fans often recommend to newcomers.

For Gustin, the legacy is in the relationships forged both on and off-screen. “It was a special time,” he told fans. “We didn’t just make TV — we built a universe together.”