The series finale of Superman & Lois aired on Monday night, marking the end of a four-season run and an entire programming philosophy at The CW. It was also the last connection to the network’s Arrowverse, which defined the 2010s and became one of the most successful multi-show franchises in TV history.
The show’s ending flashes forward several decades to show the end of its title characters’ lives, precluding any continuation of the show elsewhere. This move is part of a new regime at The CW, which has shifted away from scripted business and towards unscripted and sports programming.
DC Comics is taking its TV projects in a different direction as well, with bigger budgets, shorter seasons, and more varied tones on platforms like HBO and Max. Marvel has also started to consolidate its TV properties on Disney+, making it unlikely that another sprawling comic-book franchise will appear on network TV again.
The CW’s DC era left a significant imprint on the network, with 10 series based on DC characters airing over the course of 12 years, totaling 817 episodes. The Flash and Arrow had the longest runs, spanning nine and eight seasons, respectively. The DC shows were largely produced by Greg Berlanti’s Warner Bros. TV-based company, which is now out of the homegrown scripted business.
The show’s finale also marked a significant moment for crossovers between series, with six multi-series events aired over the years. The CW’s DC era was a defining period for the network, and its legacy will be felt for years to come.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/superman-lois-series-finale-the-cw-dc-shows-by-the-numbers-1236076383