10 DC Storylines That Absolutely Shouldn’t Have Worked On TV (But Completely Did)

Comic books are part of a medium that lends itself to strange and creative storytelling, something that is especially true of the DC Universe. With a huge cast of colorful heroes and villains, DC is home to some of the weirdest, wackiest, and most wild storylines in all of comics. As a result, translating those kinds of plots and characters to the screen can yield varying outcomes. Moreover, allowing the DC world to be as comedic, dark, and/or disturbing on television as it can get in the comics is a tall order.

Regardless, some DC projects have met this challenge with truly memorable variations on the world, characters, and lore of the franchise. While not all of them are accurate to the comics, shows like Smallville, Gotham, Doom Patrol, and The Flash all managed to pull off their own twists on the DCU, including story beats that may sound ill-thought-out on paper, due to being too dark, too silly, or too high concept. Here are 10 storylines from DC television that somehow worked:

10 Doom Patrol's Season 4 Ending Was Bizarre & Beautiful

The Final Moments Of Doom Patrol Are Strangely Cathartic

Doom Patrolis easily one of the most outlandish shows in DC's repertoire, which tracks because the team is similarly outlandish. Starting in 2019, the series aired for four seasons, first on DC Universe then on Max, and it starred Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, Jovian Wade, April Bowlby, Diane Guerrero, Timothy Dalton, and Timothy Dalton, among others. This group of outcasts are sort of a subversion of what one might expect from a superhero team, as all of them are imperfect people who have suffered traumatizing accidents that made them metahumans.

The Doom Patrol is formed by Dr. Niles Caulder (Dalton), who treated them post-accident and offered them a place in his home. Long story short, all the members had been experimented on and given "longevity" as part of Caulder's Immortus Project, but they lost their lengthened lifespans in the final season. Though some characters regain their longevity through eating Immortus' toenails (yes, really), not all of them are so lucky. The series gives each character an emotional send-off, with the team disbanding after the death of Rita Farr (Bowlby).

The most impactful yet strange part of the ending sees Robotman/Cliff Steele (Fraser) seeing into the future of his grandson, Rory, and watching him make the same life mistakes he made - namely abandoning his family - before breaking the cycle of abandonment both Cliff and his father had participated in. After that montage, Robotman says "I made it home" and powers down, losing his battle with Parkinson's. While the moment is undoubtedly weird, it is also incredibly heartfelt and caps off Cliff's arc in a satisfying way.

9 Gotham's Professor Pyg Storyline Adapted Him Perfectly (& Disturbingly)

Gotham Wasn't Afraid To Get Weird With One Of Batman's Strangest Rogues

Gotham is another DC show that didn't shy away from being weird. From bazooka blasts to stapled-on faces to men in pig masks parodying Chicago, the 2014 series seemed to almost prioritize strangeness. Its first season started off following a young Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as an idealistic detective in the mafia-dominated city of Gotham, with pre-Batman Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Alfred Pennyworth, Oswald Cobblepot, and others rounding out the cast.

Subsequent seasons shifted into a more villain-focused format with Batman supporting characters such as the Riddler, the Mad Hatter, Azrael, Hugo Strange, and Solomon Grundy, among others, receiving arcs. One such villain was Lazlo Valentin/Professor Pyg, a contract killer hired by Sofia Falcone to turn Gotham against the current mayor, the Penguin.

While this iteration of the character only takes on the Professor Pyg persona as a ruse, the show commits to showcasing the character's eccentricities to their fullest. This is most evident in season 4 episode 9, "Let Them Eat Pie," which shows Professor Pyg performing a parody of "Cell Block Tango" as he forces Gotham's leaders to become cannibals. While the scene is morbid, it's also campy and comical in a way that is difficult to pull off in a live-action format.

8 Kite Man: Hell Yeah!'s Opening Perfectly Set Up A Show That Seemed Impossible To Pull Off

Selling A Comedy About A D-List DC Villain Isn't Easy

On a more comedic note, Kite Man: Hell Yeah! focuses on Charles Brown/Kite Man after his initial debut as Poison Ivy's fiance on Harley Quinn. In his spin-off, Kite Man buys a bar along with his new girlfriend, Lisa Snart/Golden Glider, while Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom struggle to use and maintain control of the Anti-Life Equation. The premise itself is already bizarrely comedic, with Superman's two biggest foes, Lex and Darkseid, being included in a show about one of DC's lowest-tier villains. Even so, Kite Man: Hell Yeah! balances these tones well by leaning into the absurdity.

Nothing exemplifies this more than the opening scene of the show, which features Lex and the Legion of Doom fighting over how to use the equation. Obviously, he wants to wipe out Superman, but Cheetah and Black Manta want to take out their respective heroes. Watching them bicker like children is already amusing; however, seeing the Legion of Doom fighting within itself while Bane desperately tries to talk about potato chips is even funnier. Though the scene reads almost like a Saturday Night Live skit, it appropriately sets the tone for the irreverent series.

7 Gotham's Penguin Is Temporarily Reformed

Gotham Justified A Strange Twist With A Grotesque Pay-Off

Gotham season 2 took a strange turn when the Penguin is declared sane after a stint in Arkham. Having recently lost his mother, Oswald reconnects with his wealthy father, played by Paul Reubens, in a fun nod to the star appearing as the Penguin's father in Batman Returns. Though Oswald clicks with his father, his stepmother and stepsiblings take an instant dislike to him. His stepmother attempts to kill him via poison, but his father dies instead.

Upon uncovering this plot, the Penguin kills his stepsiblings and cooks them into a meal for his stepmother. As she eats, he reveals the horrible truth and then kills her. The disgusting yet compelling scene lives and dies by Robin Lord Taylor's acting, which sells the Penguin's mental breakdown and anguish. Gotham somehow did the impossible in making the audience actually root for Oswald's gross actions and descent into villainy.

6 Lex Luthor Steals Green Arrow's Backstory In Smallville

Superman's Arch Nemesis Takes An Unplanned Island Detour

At the beginning of Smallville season 3, the writers made the interesting choice to rip an element of Oliver Queen's backstory to instead characterize Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) by having him stranded on an island. Though Oliver - played by Justin Hartley - would not join the cast until season 6, Lex undergoing this story seems strange on the surface. However, as season 3 unfolds, Lex's mental health and instability become a major element of the plot. After he uncovers the crimes upon which his father Lionel built LuthorCorp, the elder Luthor hatches an elaborate scheme to gaslight and discredit his son.

While this storyline could have worked without the island plot, it factors well into how Lionel frames Lex's mental decline. He uses Lex's time on the island as an explanation for his erratic behavior, and the audience is frequently left guessing whether or not Lex is actually crazy. Because of this, it's less jarring when Oliver is introduced, and his version of the "stranded" story later in the series serves a totally different function by linking his story with that of Tess Mercer.

5 Harley Quinn Pledges Loyalty To Darkseid

Harley Quinn Uses A Comedic Concept For Characterization

Harley Quinn is the DC equivalent of an animated adult sitcom. Season 1 follows Harley's journey to become a bona fide villain independent of her ex, the Joker. The later seasons tend to focus more on her relationship with Poison Ivy, but her villainous, or anti-heroic, actions still drive the plot forward. The show's sophomore outing features a spiraling Harley rallying against Commissioner Gordon and recovering from cheating with Poison Ivy. Her method of choice is... requesting control of one of Darkseid's armies.

While the concept of Harley Quinn leading a legion of parademons is inherently comedic, the series also uses it to further her character development. After she proves herself worthy to Darkseid by fighting Granny Goodness, Harley brings her army to Gotham City. Despite successfully waging war against Gordon, Ivy helps Harley recognize the destruction she caused, and Harley realizes she didn't want to be responsible for that kind of carnage. It's an interesting and effective way to use comedy to support character development.

4 The Flash And Supergirl's Musical Crossover

The Arrowverse Has A Gleeful Musical Special

The Arrowverse has a wide array of tones across its many shows. While Arrow tended to be darker, both The Flash and Supergirl were more optimistic and tended to skew more towards the campy side of DC content. As a result, the shows feature a crossover episode in which Barry Allen/The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) get pulled into a musical. This concept is partially built around the metanarrative of Gustin and Benoist being former Glee stars, and the villain of the episode, the Music Meister, is played by Darren Criss, who also starred in that series.

A musical superhero show may sound like a hard sell, but the Music Mesiter is actually a classic DC villain. Using him as the catalyst to show off the musical talents of the Arrowverse cast was an excellent way of utilizing DC lore, and the episode is incredibly fun. In addition to Gustin and Benoist, actors Carlos Valdez, Jesse L. Martin, Jeremy Jordan, Victor Garber, and John Barrowman all performed songs for the special.

3 Peacemaker Fights His Racist Father

Peacemaker Finally Stands Up For Himself

Peacemaker is another unique entry in the DC canon because of how it combines comedy, action, and heart. Christopher Smith/Peacemaker (John Cena) is a flawed person with a warped view of right and wrong shaped by his upbringing. Case in point: Christopher's motto is to fight for peace, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it. His abusive father, Auggie Smith/White Dragon, holds damaging racist and misogynistic views that he tries to instill in his son. A climactic part of the series sees Auggie hunting down Peacemaker for what he views as his son betraying him.

Cena's acting is effective, and though the strangeness of the fight is front and center, so is the emotion.

Leading members of the Aryan Empire, an infamous white supremacist organization, Auggie engages in battle with Christopher, Adrian Chase/Vigilante, and John Economos. The action is absurd, especially given the over-the-top outfit Auggie wears as White Dragon, but it doesn't undercut the emotionality of the scene. During this conflict, Peacemaker finally stands up for himself - by killing his father. The scene surprisingly hits hard, with Christopher breaking down into tears afterward. Cena's acting is effective, and though the strangeness of the fight is front and center, so is the emotion.

2 Teen Titans Told A Sanitized Version Of Terra's Story

Slade And Terra's Relationship Is Given A PG Update

During season 2 of Teen Titans, the animated series adapts the legendary New Teen Titans arc, "The Judas Contract." In that story, Tara Markov/Terra betrays the Titans by working as a double agent for Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, who was, at that time, Dick Grayson/Nightwing's nemesis. While this arc notably establishes Slade's backstory, it is more infamous for depicting a middle-aged Deathstroke having an affair with a teenage Terra. Naturally, the Cartoon Network show does not include this aspect of their relationship.

However, Teen Titans does convey a sense of unease and a power imbalance between the two. Terra is made more sympathetic in that her regret and her longing for a purpose are emphasized, which makes it very clear that Slade is taking advantage of her. Choosing to adapt such a dark story for a show aimed at children is a risk, but Teen Titans managed to keep the emotional essence of the story while changing it to suit a younger audience.

Teen Titans

Created by: Glen Murakami
Cast: Scott Menville, Hynden Walch, Khary Payton, Tara Strong, Greg Cipes, Ron Perlman, Ashley Johnson, Dee Bradley Baker
First Film: Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans
Latest Film: Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans
First TV Show: Teen Titans
Latest TV Show: Teen Titans Go!

Teen Titans is a superhero animated TV series based on the DC Comics team of the same name. Airing from 2003 to 2006, the show follows five young heroes—Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy—as they battle villains while navigating adolescence. The series was widely praised for its blend of action, humor, and character development, and it spawned a popular spin-off, Teen Titans Go!.

1 The Arrowverse's Crisis On Infinite Earths Was An Imperfect-Yet-Fun Adaptation

Brandon Routh Shines In The Arrowverse's Ambitious Crossover

The Arrowverse annual crossover was one of the franchise's most exciting aspects. As a result, fan anticipation was at an all-time high when it was announced the franchise would adapt the iconic "Crisis On Infinite Earths" comic storyline. Naturally, the television version had to shift a lot of characters and settings to make this plot work with the existing cast of the Arrowverse. Full of cameos and surprises, the 5-episode crossover paid tribute to decades of DC content, including Smallville, Batman: the Animated Series, and most notably, Superman Returns.

While some aspects - namely the underwhelming cameos of Smallville stars Tom Welling and Erica Durance - did not quite work, the special is a fun watch. Undoubtedly, the highlight is Brandon Routh reprising his role as Clark Kent/Superman. In this version, his Clark has lost Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and his son, and he's evolved into a more Kingdom Come-esque Superman.

Over the episodes he's featured in, Routh's Superman regains his optimism, providing a melancholic yet satisfying ending to the Donnerverse Superman films. Aside from Superman, the episodes also serve as franchise mainstay Stephen Amell's swan song as Oliver Queen. The crossover is not perfect, but it is a delight for any long-term DC Universe fan and largely lives up to the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" comic event.

DC Universe

Created by: Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
First Film: Man of Steel
First TV Show: Peacemaker
Cast: Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
Movie(s): Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
Character(s): Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam

The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

Superman
Release Date
July 11, 2025
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Supergirl
Release Date
June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
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October 1, 2027
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