The CW brings out our inner teen. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re running through the CW’s catalog to see which ones stand among the best.
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00:00We got work to do."
00:02Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're running through the CW's catalog to see which ones
00:07stand among the best.
00:09We're including shows that began on other networks before making the CW their home.
00:14"'Angel, you've got wings, baby."
00:1820.
00:19Heart of Dixie
00:20An ensemble cast led by a female doctor sounds very Grey's Anatomy.
00:24However, Heart of Dixie leans more into relationship dynamics, appealing to the CW's slightly
00:29younger demographic.
00:30"'This is the answer to everything, isn't it?
00:32Why Harley left me the practice?
00:34Why Dad stopped loving me?
00:38Because I wasn't his to love."
00:39Along with audience-favorite elements like love triangles and a coming-of-age story,
00:43we have the very likable protagonist Zoe at its center.
00:46Zoe's struggles in her career and personal life are easily relatable.
00:50"'And I know that you are not weak, and you don't run away from things.
00:54And now, thanks to my Aunt Maureen, and Harley, and you, I know that I don't either."
00:59While it can get heavy, the show frequently sprinkles heartwarming moments to balance
01:03things out.
01:04At its core, Zoe and her friends are there to remind us to stick close to the people
01:08who matter.
01:09A comfort watch for many, Heart of Dixie's wholesome portrayal of real-life issues lets
01:13us know that things will always look up, one way or another.
01:17"'Love with a soul that knows what it wants, that peace you can find, that heart is a home,
01:28it never lets go.'"
01:3019.
01:31Reign
01:32Before Bridgerton took the TV landscape by storm, The CW already had Reign to keep viewers
01:37busy.
01:38Focusing on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, Reign tackles important subjects like the
01:42issue of power and standing up against class conflicts.
01:45"'All I'm asking you to do is wait.
01:47See how things go.'
01:48"'See how things go for France?
01:49I guess it is simple after all.
01:53But you aren't the only one with a country to think of.'"
01:56It may not be one for history buffs looking for accuracy, but few shows are as aesthetically
02:01pleasing.
02:02Thematically rich and brimming with romantic overtones, the show keeps fans hooked by going
02:06deeper than many of the network's other offerings.
02:09"'It's terrifying and nearly impossible.
02:16Especially if we think we can save each other.'"
02:18With a proper beginning and end to the story, the characters evolve in wonderfully complex
02:23ways.
02:24Whether you're in for that gorgeous set and costume design, or you're a sucker for all
02:27that sweet, sweet period romance, this show will have you by the reins in more ways than
02:33one.
02:3418.
02:35Nikita
02:36Remakes can be hit and miss.
02:37This adaptation of Luc Besson's 1990 film proves doubters wrong and then some.
02:42Although it retains the general outline, the CW series dares to be different.
02:47Thanks to a solid blend of standalone and story-heavy episodes, the show remains endless
02:51in its replay value.
02:53Maggie Q's electric performance makes her character's adventures as thrilling as can
02:56be.
02:57"'But there may be time to save others.
03:00Right now, I'd be wondering about who's gonna save you.'"
03:08The heroine's vendetta-fueled mission is just the catalyst for more adventures to follow.
03:13Rather than a standard revenge series, Nikita takes us along a sprawling ride with dozens
03:18of twists and turns.
03:19With a host of characters, sense of style, and snappy dialogue, fans have all the edge-of-the-seat
03:24entertainment they need from this sexy spy thriller.
03:27"'There is no plan for this.
03:32Only a question that you need to resolve.
03:33And you can't do it with me here.'"
03:3717.
03:38Veronica Mars
03:39When it comes to tenacious characters with a strong sense of justice, Veronica Mars'
03:42name is pretty high up.
03:44It's not every day you see a high school student moonlight as a private detective, but Veronica
03:49owns her role.
03:50Future A-lister Kristen Bell displayed her acting chops to a wider audience as the protagonist
03:55solves crimes with all the snark you could want from a high schooler.
03:58"'I've got too many questions swirling around in my head to wait until he's willing to share.
04:03These questions need answers.
04:05That's what I do.'"
04:06The show's noir style serves as a throwback to classic detective comics, keeping fans
04:10guessing about what's to come.
04:11With a case-of-the-week format interwoven with a larger mystery at play, it has its
04:15foot on the throttle and never lets go.
04:18Among the CW's most critically successful series, Veronica Mars went a long way towards
04:23proving that a teen show can appeal to adults, too.
04:26"'Don't forget about me, Veronica.
04:32I could never.'
04:3616.
04:37Legends of Tomorrow
04:38The Arrowverse's expansion unveiled a world of possibilities.
04:41Legends of Tomorrow is like a marriage between this version of the DC Universe's best elements.
04:46"'We're gonna change time, erase Savage's future, and earn our rightful place in history.'
04:50"'Dr. Palmer is correct.
04:51We may not be legends in your time, Captain, but we are going to decide our own fates.'"
04:57Along with its time travel premise, we get a large roster of entertaining characters,
05:01each with distinct quirks and personalities.
05:04It never undercuts its crossover potential, either, with plenty of other Arrowverse characters
05:08arriving to shake things up.
05:10Even with its grand scope, Legends of Tomorrow has the best entertainment value for casual
05:14viewers.
05:15After the first season, the show rarely takes itself too seriously and embraces its meta
05:19sense of humor, no matter how absurd.
05:22"'Check it out.
05:23Oh my.
05:24Okay.
05:25Okay.
05:26Now we're gonna show up in style.
05:27I want a pony.'
05:28"'Ugh, seriously, kid.'"
05:32Watching the characters navigate different points in history never loses its novelty,
05:37giving us a fun, light-hearted romp through time.
05:4015.
05:41All-American
05:42At a time when the CW became synonymous with superhero and fantasy genres, All-American
05:47took the network back to its roots.
05:49This sports drama follows Spencer James, whose wildly different upbringing clashes with his
05:53new team.
05:54"'You got one of two choices, son.
05:56You can either be on this side of the line or that side of the line.
06:01If you choose, what's it gonna be?"
06:04Running at a slower, character-driven pace, the show tackles thought-provoking themes
06:08with a gentle touch.
06:09The level of diversity in All-American wonderfully connects its cast to its fanbase, enabling
06:14many different viewers to see themselves in the characters.
06:17From culture shock to peer pressure, the show rings true for depicting struggles so many
06:22resonate with.
06:23"'I thought the whole show was great.'
06:24"'Yeah.
06:25Me too.
06:26Thank you for letting me and my boys be a part of it.
06:29I'll holler at y'all.'"
06:31Number 14.
06:32Supergirl
06:33An incredibly super-powered alien sounds hard to relate to.
06:35And yet, Kara Danvers feels just like one of us.
06:39Supergirl humanizes its heroine by showing Kara facing everyday challenges, from navigating
06:43romance to climbing the career ladder.
06:45Still, it doesn't skimp on any of these superhero butt-kicking sequences, either.
06:50"'People of this city will die because of something I did.
06:55I started this.
06:56You have to let me stop it."
06:59"'Make sure you win.'"
07:01Frequent Arrowverse tie-ins ensure we're not too far away from the DC universe.
07:05But what sets Supergirl apart is how the show portrays heroes and villains as people rather
07:11than larger-than-life individuals.
07:12If you're looking for a viewing experience that hits almost as hard as Kara's punches,
07:17then get ready to fly high with everyone's favorite girl from Krypton.
07:20"'Hey, uh, I'm not sure if you're interested, but there is an armored car robbery on Sixth
07:24and Stack.'"
07:25"'Up, up.'"
07:26"'In a way.'"
07:29Number 13.
07:30Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
07:31Is it a rom-com, satire, or a musical?
07:34Well, why not all three?
07:36Rachel Bloom exploded onto the scene carrying this critical darling squarely on her back.
07:40With mainstream award show recognition, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend validated the CW as more than
07:45just a landscape for young adult shows.
07:48Rebecca Bunch's decision to pursue an ex-boyfriend across the country begins as hilariously as
07:53you'd imagine.
07:54"'If you're ever out West, look me up, okay?'
07:57"'Okay.'"
07:58"'See you around.'"
07:59"'Okay, bye.'"
08:00"'So weird, right?
08:01Right?''
08:02However, the show swerves into a complex look into the main character's emotional frailties,
08:07peeling back the mask Rebecca uses to hide her sense of isolation.
08:11"'List out the side effects and worries be gone, cause finally I'll know this, my diagnosis.'"
08:21It's an incredible use of humor as a framing device for deeper material.
08:25Through Rebecca's antics, we learn that finding happiness at any cost isn't healthy, and acknowledging
08:30our problems is part of what makes us human.
08:33"'Cause romantic love is not an ending.
08:38Not for me or for anyone else here.
08:42It's just a part of your story.'"
08:4512.
08:46The Originals
08:47Klaus McCarthen showed us how being bad can be so good in The Vampire Diaries.
08:51The Originals retains its core personality, but transforms him from villain to anti-hero.
08:56The spinoff has all of the ingredients that made The Vampire Diaries a success.
09:00However, told from the monster's perspective this time around, this show becomes uniquely
09:04its own.
09:05"'My birth father was the werewolf whose pack killed my little brother.
09:09Of course, when Michael found out, he murdered my real father.'"
09:14As insightful as it is brutal, The Originals is unflinching in illustrating its backdrop.
09:19With its stylistic presentation and penchant for one-liners, The Originals is among the
09:23coolest shows ever made on the CW.
09:26Vampires of the franchise also get their deep dive into the universe's lore, as Klaus
09:30and his gang uncover secrets untold.
09:32And let's face it, who doesn't love hot vampires doing hot vampire things?
09:37"'I've burdened you enough.
09:38Your daughter needs you, Lee Klaus.
09:40It's not gonna kill you!'
09:4111.
09:42Arrow
09:43At its peak, The Arrowverse represented the best that TV superhero shows had to offer.
09:47We have Arrow to thank for starting it all.
09:49Oliver Queen and his team's battle against the forces of evil is one for the ages.
09:53This initial street-level presentation inspires the hero in all of us before going big and
09:58beyond.
09:59"'There are many more names on the list.
10:02Those who rule my city through intimidation and fear.'"
10:05Few shows carry worldbuilding as perfectly as Arrow, which oh-so-smoothly eases viewers
10:10into the iteration of the DC universe.
10:13Everything from season-long arcs, character dynamics, and even costume design set the
10:17template for future successes like The Flash and Supergirl to follow.
10:22As it wove between linear and non-linear storytelling and small-to-grand-scale threats,
10:26calling Arrow a narrative masterclass would still be putting it lightly.
10:30"'No more than I'm going to apologize for the tough training, but I understand that
10:35you all need to trust me.
10:38This is as far as I know how to go.'"
10:4110.
10:42iZombie
10:43If you're looking for a zombie-themed show that doesn't take itself too seriously but
10:46still has all the flesh-eating madness of The Walking Dead, then iZombie is for you.
10:50"'There were parts of me that were dead even before I became a zombie.
10:54So maybe that means it's possible for parts of me to spring to life, even now that I'm
11:00dead.'"
11:01It is loosely based on a comic book series of the same name, and stars Rose McIver as
11:06Olivia Liv Moore, which is a bit of a misnomer considering she's an undead zombie who works
11:12at the morgue to feed her insatiable need for brains.
11:15Oh, and each brain she eats allows her to see how that particular person died.
11:20Hookchet?
11:21"'All I needed was some hope that there's a future that I fit into somehow.
11:26At last, sweet, blissful sleep.'"
11:329.
11:33The 100
11:34Nearly a century after a nuclear catastrophe, a hundred juvenile detainees are sent to a
11:39ravaged Earth.
11:40It all goes as well as you'd think.
11:43With several twists in the making, The 100 is as captivating as it is intense.
11:47"'Here, there are no laws.
11:50Here, we do whatever the hell we want.'"
11:53Although the show sucks you in from its opening moments, maintaining this energy throughout
11:57its run is its winning quality.
11:58Over-the-top and subtle in equal measures, there's no telling what might happen until
12:03a massive bombshell stares us in the face.
12:06Spread across its impressively stacked cast, it paints a tapestry of themes like betrayal,
12:11power, and faith.
12:12"'Transcendence' is a choice.
12:15You can choose to come back."
12:16"'Of course.
12:17Though until now, no one ever had.'"
12:21Things go completely off the rails the further it goes, but the series never fails to deliver
12:25the intended shock value.
12:278.
12:28The Flash
12:29The Flash is a superhero drama based on one of DC Comics' most popular and enduring characters,
12:35Barry Allen, aka Flash.
12:37In this version, Allen is a crime scene investigator operating in fictional Central City, who gains
12:43superhuman speed after being struck by lightning.
12:46With his newfound powers, Allen becomes the superhero known as the Flash and uses his
12:50skills to fight crime.
12:52"'I don't know if I can be some vigilante."
12:55"'You can be better.
12:58Because you can inspire people.'"
13:01The show was an instant hit with fans and critics alike, with the pilot episode garnering
13:06the second-most views of any premiere in CW history.
13:09If you're a superhero junkie, then this show is definitely for you.
13:13"'That's it.
13:14I know how to stop the cannon.
13:17This is what the Monitor meant that day in the Timebowl.
13:19This is what I've been running towards all these years.'"
13:217.
13:22One Tree Hill
13:23"'Take a ride with me, Peyton Sawyer?'
13:24"'Don't you mean Peyton Scott?''
13:28Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, this show began as a straightforward teen drama,
13:33but as the characters aged, it began to deal with more complex and mature storylines.
13:37Stacked from top to bottom with a cast of talented, not to mention attractive, stars,
13:41the show would endure for nine seasons.
13:43Like many of the shows on this list, One Tree Hill joined the CW when The WB and UPN merged
13:49back in 2006.
13:50It would go on to become one of the network's most popular and longest-running series.
13:55"'This is where it all happened for the first time.
13:58The heartache and the happiness.
14:02All of it.'"
14:04It was also nominated for many Teen Choice Awards during its run, and took home the statue
14:08for Choice Throwback TV Show in 2017.
14:126.
14:13Smallville
14:14One of the first and longest-running superhero dramas on television, Smallville burst onto
14:18the scene in 2001, and stuck around for an impressive ten seasons.
14:22The show focused on a teenage Clark Kent, as he struggled to come to terms with his
14:26superhuman powers while growing up in the not-so-quiet town of Smallville, Kansas.
14:31"'I have no reason to stay in Smallville.'
14:33"'You have me.'
14:34"'Thanks for being my friend.'"
14:41Throughout its run, the show averaged approximately 4.34 million viewers per episode, and took
14:47home a number of awards, including three Emmys.
14:50The show was so well-received that even former Superman Christopher Reeve agreed to make
14:54a couple of guest appearances.
14:56"'There must be a reason why I was sent to this planet.
15:00You won't find the answers by looking to the stars.
15:04It's a journey you'll have to take by looking inside yourself.'"
15:065.
15:07Jane the Virgin
15:08"'The reason the test came back positive is I accidentally inseminated you two weeks
15:14ago.'"
15:15"'You what?!''
15:16Hold onto your hats, because the plot of this CW show is straight-up bonkers.
15:21A religious young woman who's vowed to remain a virgin until marriage has her life turned
15:25upside down when her doctor artificially inseminates her by mistake during a gynecologist appointment.
15:31The show turned out to be a massive critical and commercial success thanks in large part
15:35to lead actress Gina Rodriguez's performance, something that earned her a Golden Globe for
15:40Best Actress in 2015.
15:42The show's first two seasons actually have perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes as of October
15:472024.
15:48Now, that's impressive.
15:49"'Hey, Mom.
15:50Where are you?
15:51We're all here.'
15:52"'I'm coming and I got the room.
15:53I'll text you the address of where we'll pick you all up.
15:54"'What are you driving?
15:55Is it big enough?''
15:56"'No.'"
15:574.
15:58Gilmore Girls
15:59For seven seasons, fans watched as single mother Lorelei Gilmore did her best to raise
16:03her daughter Rory in the fictional small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
16:08"'We'll figure it out, though.
16:09Rocket, rocket, rocket, rocket man, rocket man, huh?
16:12Crocodile, rock, Betty and the Jets, Candle in the Wind.'"
16:16"'Are you just naming Elton John songs?'
16:18"'He is just so talented.'"
16:20The show was widely praised for its seamless blend of drama and comedy, as well for its
16:23sharp dialogue and numerous pop culture references.
16:27While Gilmore Girls may have only appeared on the CW for one season, that's good enough
16:31for us.
16:32"'And I'm gonna give you that orange sweater.
16:33I know you've wanted it and, um, you know what?
16:35I'm finally gonna give it to you.'"
16:36"'Mom, you've given me everything I need.'"
16:40Nowadays, the show is considered one of the best of the 2000s, and in 2016, fans got to
16:45return to Stars Hollow thanks to a four-part miniseries released on Netflix.
16:503.
16:51Gossip Girl
16:52Gossip Girl's ratings might not have blown anyone away during its six-season run, but
16:56its cultural influence cannot be denied.
16:58"'From last night, right?
16:59I'm sorry about that.'"
17:00"'You remember me?''
17:04The show, which followed a group of wealthy Manhattan teens whose lives are constantly
17:08being scrutinized by a mysterious blogger known only as Gossip Girl, influenced dozens
17:13of films and TV shows, and is often credited with helping popularize mobile communication.
17:19From a fan's standpoint, Gossip Girl was an overwhelming success, taking home 18 Teen
17:24Choice Awards during its run.
17:26You can't bring up the CW without mentioning this iconic teen drama.
17:29"'Why do you all think that this is funny?
17:32Gossip Girl ruined our lives.'"
17:34"'Is your life really ruined, Blair?''
17:362.
17:37The Vampire Diaries
17:38The CW knew it had a hit on its hands from the moment the pilot episode of The Vampire
17:43Diaries hit the airwaves.
17:45The show's first episode was the largest premiere for a CW show in network history, with the
17:49first season ultimately averaging 3.6 million viewers per episode.
17:53"'I thought I'd be fine.'
17:54"'Do you ever mean it?'
17:55"'Ask me tomorrow.'"
18:01The Vampire Diaries focused on the exploits of Elena Gilbert, a teenager who enters into
18:06a love triangle with two immortal vampires.
18:09The show took home numerous awards during its run, and sparked one of the biggest questions
18:13in TV history.
18:14Are you Team Damon, or Team Stefan?
18:161.
18:43Supernatural
18:44Supernatural was, and honestly still is, one of the CW's flagship shows, and for good reason.
18:50The series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers who travel from town to town
18:55hunting evil Supernatural creatures.
18:57"'House rules, Sammy.
18:58The driver picks the music, the shotgun shuts his cake hole.'
19:01"'You know, Sammy, he's a chubby 12-year-old.
19:04It's Sam.
19:05Okay?'
19:06"'Sorry, I can't hear you.
19:07The music's too loud.'"
19:08Supernatural is the longest-running live-action fantasy series in American TV history, with
19:13a whopping 15 seasons under its belt, making it all the more surprising that there was
19:18a time when it was at risk of being canceled.
19:21The show has won numerous awards during its run and has spawned multiple spinoffs, a testament
19:26to its indelible nature.
19:28"'Cause when it all came down to it, it was always you and me.
19:32It's always been you and me.'"
19:35Which CW series will always hold a special place in your heart?
19:39Let us know in the comments.
19:41Do you agree with our picks?
19:45Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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