24 Must-Watch CW Shows That Will Keep You Hooked
If you are also a fan of TV shows, movies, and series like me, then you cannot stay without watching these shows in which you will get everything – good drama, adventure, romance, love life, superpowers, and much more. I have tried to curate a list of the must-watch CW shows across various genres. Do check them out and let me know if you have watched them or not.
CW Shows
24. The Carrie Diaries
Creator-Amy Harris
Stars-AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler, Ellen Wong
This CW Show “ The Carrie Diaries ” is a coming-of-age drama that serves as a prequel to Sex and the City. Set in the 1980s, it follows a young Carrie Bradshaw as she navigates high school, love, and loss in suburban Connecticut.
When Carrie lands an internship in Manhattan, she falls in love with the city’s vibrant fashion and culture. Balancing her small-town life, friendships, and her dreams of becoming a writer, the show explores Carrie’s journey toward self-discovery and her iconic future.
23. Black Lightning
Creator-Salim Akil
Stars-Nafessa Williams, Cress Williams, Christine Adams
This CW show “ Black Lightning ” is a superhero drama centered on Jefferson Pierce, a retired vigilante with the power to harness and control electricity. As a high school principal, he works to protect his community from crime and corruption in Freeland.
When a gang called The 100 threatens his city and family, Jefferson returns as Black Lightning. Joined by his super-powered daughters, Anissa (Thunder) and Jennifer (Lightning), he battles villains, confronts societal issues, and strives to be a hero both in and out of the suit.
22. Hart of Dixie
Creator-Leila Gerstein
Stars-Rachel Bilson, Jaime King, Cress Williams
This CW show “ Hart of Dixie ” is a charming dramedy about Dr. Zoe Hart, a fast-talking New York City doctor who relocates to the small town of Bluebell, Alabama, after inheriting half of a medical practice.
Struggling to fit into Southern life, Zoe navigates quirky townsfolk, love triangles, and career challenges while forging unlikely friendships with locals like Wade Kinsella, George Tucker, and Lemon Breeland. With humor and heart, the series explores themes of self-discovery, community, and finding a home where you least expect it.
21. Beauty and the Beast
Creator-Sherri Cooper-Landsman, Ron Koslow, Jennifer Levin
Stars-Kristin Kreuk, Jay Ryan, Nina Lisandrello
This CW show “ Beauty and the Beast ” is a modern romantic drama following Catherine Chandler, a NYPD detective who crosses paths with Vincent Keller, a former soldier genetically altered into a beast with superhuman abilities.
While solving crimes, Catherine and Vincent uncover a conspiracy tied to his condition. Their bond grows as they navigate love, danger, and Vincent’s struggle to control his inner beast. The series blends romance, action, and mystery as they fight to protect each other and expose the truth.
20. The Secret Circle
Creator-Andrew Miller
Stars-Britt Robertson, Thomas Dekker, Phoebe Tonkin
This CW show “ The Secret Circle ” is a supernatural drama about Cassie Blake, a teenager who discovers she is a powerful witch after moving to the town of Chance Harbor.
Joining a secret coven of young witches, including Diana, Adam, Faye, Melissa, and Nick, Cassie uncovers her family’s dark magical history and their connection to the Circle. As the group learns to harness their powers, they face threats from vengeful dark magic, mysterious enemies, and dangerous secrets that could destroy them and their town.
19. Legacies
Creator-Julie Plec
Stars-Danielle Rose Russell, Aria Shahghasemi, Quincy Fouse
This CW show “ Legacies ” is a supernatural drama set in the Vampire Diaries universe, focusing on Hope Mikaelson, a tribrid (vampire, werewolf, and witch) and daughter of Klaus Mikaelson.
The series is set at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted, where supernatural teens like witches, werewolves, and vampires learn to control their powers. Hope and her friends face mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and personal struggles as they try to protect their school and the world while finding their place in it.
18. 90210
Creator-Jeff Judah, Gabe Sachs, Darren Star
Stars-Shenae Grimes-Beech, Tristan Mack Wilds, AnnaLynne McCord
This CW show “ 90210 ” is a modern teen drama and spin-off of the classic Beverly Hills, 90210. It follows the lives of a group of teenagers living in affluent Beverly Hills, navigating high school at West Beverly High.
This CW show explores themes of love, friendship, betrayal, and family as characters like Annie Wilson, Dixon Wilson, Naomi Clark, Silver, Adrianna Tate-Duncan, and Liam Court experience the highs and lows of life in a glamorous yet pressure-filled world. Secrets, scandals, and personal growth define their journeys.
17. Smallville
Creator-Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Stars-Allison Mack, Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum
This CW show “ Smallville ” is a superhero drama series that chronicles the early life of Clark Kent before becoming Superman. Set in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, the show explores Clark’s journey of self-discovery as he grapples with his emerging superpowers, navigates high school life, and forms relationships with Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan, and Lex Luthor.
Over its ten seasons, Clark faces meteor-infected villains, uncovers his Kryptonian origins, and embraces his destiny as Earth’s greatest hero, blending human struggles with epic, heroic adventures.
16. Gilmore Girls
Creator-Amy Sherman-Palladino
Stars-Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Keiko Agena
This CW show “ Gilmore Girls ” is a heartwarming dramedy that follows the close-knit relationship between Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory, living in the charming town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Lorelai, a single mother, works hard to provide for Rory, who dreams of attending Harvard.
This CW show explores their witty, fast-paced conversations, family dynamics, and the challenges of navigating life, love, and career. It also delves into the contrasting relationships with Lorelai’s wealthy parents and Rory’s journey toward adulthood.
15. One Tree Hill
Creator-Mark Schwahn
Stars-Hilarie Burton Morgan, James Lafferty, Chad Michael Murray
This CW show “ One Tree Hill ” is a coming-of-age drama set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, focusing on the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott, who share a complicated relationship.
The show follows their struggles with family, friendships, love, and ambition as they navigate high school and adulthood. Alongside the brothers, the series highlights the lives of their friends, Brooke, Peyton, and Haley, tackling themes of personal growth, romance, rivalry, and overcoming adversity.
14. Reign
Creator-Laurie McCarthy, Stephanie Sengupta
Stars-Adelaide Kane, Megan Follows, Celina Sinden
This CW show “ Reign ” is a historical drama that follows the early life of Mary, Queen of Scots, as she navigates political intrigue, romance, and power struggles in 16th-century France.
Mary is sent to the French court at the age of 15, where she becomes entangled in a complex web of alliances, betrayals, and love triangles. As she fights to secure her throne, Mary faces challenges from her family, enemies, and her own heart, all while striving to rule a kingdom.
13. iZombie
Creator-Diane Ruggiero-Wright, Rob Thomas
Stars-Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli
This CW show “ iZombie ” follows Liv Moore, a medical resident turned zombie, who works as a coroner in Seattle. After becoming a zombie, she discovers that eating brains grants her memories and traits of the deceased.
Using this ability, she helps solve crimes by working with Detective Clive Babineaux. As Liv balances her zombie existence with her desire to help, she faces challenges from both human and zombie enemies. The series blends crime-solving, humor, and supernatural drama with themes of identity and morality.
12. Dynasty
Creator-Sallie Patrick, Stephanie Savage, Josh Schwartz
Stars-Robert Christopher, RileyRafael de la Fuente, Elizabeth Gillies
This CW show “ Dynasty ” is a reboot of the classic soap opera, centering on the wealthy and powerful Carrington family. The story follows business magnate Blake Carrington and his ambitious second wife, Cristal, as they navigate family drama, power struggles, and rivalries within their corporate empire.
Tensions arise between Blake’s children, Fallon and Steven, and Cristal’s own troubled past complicates matters. This CW show is filled with luxurious settings, scandalous twists, romance, and high-stakes conflicts among the elite.
11. Jane the Virgin
Creator-Jennie Snyder Urman
Stars- Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas
This CW show “ Jane the Virgin ” is a comedic drama that follows Jane Villanueva, a devout young woman who is accidentally artificially inseminated during a routine gynecological visit, despite being a virgin.
This unexpected event leads to a whirlwind of life changes, including her complicated relationships with her family, her romantic interests, and the biological father of her child. The show blends humor, romance, and telenovela-style drama while exploring themes of love, family, and identity.
10. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
Creator- Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Phil Klemmer
Stars-Caity Lotz, Amy Louise Pemberton, Dominic Purcell
This CW show “ DC’s Legends of Tomorrow ” is a superhero television series that brings together a team of misfit heroes and anti-heroes from across the DC Universe to prevent time-traveling threats and protect the timeline.
This CW show begins with Rip Hunter, a former Time Master, who assembles a diverse group of individuals-including The Atom (Ray Palmer), White Canary (Sara Lance), Firestorm (Jax and Martin Stein), Heat Wave (Mick Rory), Captain Cold (Leonard Snart), and others to travel through time and stop various villains from altering history.
The team faces challenges ranging from historical events being manipulated to battles against powerful enemies like Vandal Savage and the Legion of Doom. The series mixes action, humor, and character-driven drama, as the team members, who often have personal issues and conflicts, learn to work together to save the world.
Throughout the show, the Legends are often forced to make tough choices, facing consequences that challenge their morals, while dealing with time paradoxes, unexpected twists, and the ever-evolving dangers of time travel.
9. Gossip Girl
Creator-Stephanie Savage, Josh Schwartz
Stars-Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley
This CW show “ Gossip Girl ” is a teen drama set in the elite Upper East Side of New York City, revolving around the lives of wealthy high school students as they navigate love, friendship, betrayal, and scandal. The series is centered on a mysterious, anonymous blogger known as “Gossip Girl,” who shares the characters’ most private secrets and exposes their drama to the public.
The main characters include Serena van der Woodsen, a glamorous socialite returning to NYC after a period of absence; Blair Waldorf, Serena’s best friend, and rival, known for her ambition and manipulative nature; Dan Humphrey, a more modest outsider who finds himself drawn into the world of the rich and powerful; and Nate Archibald, a charming but troubled heir to a family fortune.
As the characters deal with their personal and social lives, they must also cope with the impact of their secrets being exposed by Gossip Girl. This CW show explores themes of power, love, jealousy, and revenge, with a focus on the complexities of growing up in a privileged and high-stakes world.
8. Supergirl
Creator-Ali Adler, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg
Stars-Melissa Benoist, David Harewood, Chyler Leigh
This CW show “ Supergirl ” is a superhero television series that follows Kara Zor-El, Superman’s older cousin, who embraces her powers and becomes the hero known as Supergirl. After arriving on Earth as a young girl, Kara spent years in the shadows, hiding her abilities and living as a regular person.
However, when her adoptive sister Alex Danvers, who works for a secret government organization, is put in danger, Kara decides to step into the spotlight and protect the world as Supergirl. The series chronicles Kara’s journey of self-discovery, as she learns to balance her personal life with her superhero responsibilities.
Along the way, she faces various threats, from supervillains to alien invaders, while building alliances with heroes like the Martian Manhunter and the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations). Themes of hope, courage, identity, and standing up for justice are central to the series, and it also explores Kara’s relationships with family, friends, and her struggle to accept her destiny as Earth’s protector.
7. The Originals
Creator-Julie Plec
Stars-Claire Holt, Daniel Gillies, Joseph
This CW show “ The Originals” is a supernatural drama that serves as a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries, focusing on the first family of vampires, the Mikaelsons. The series follows the complex and often destructive relationships between the three original siblings, Klaus Mikaelson, Elijah Mikaelson, and Rebekah Mikaelson as they return to New Orleans, a city that Klaus once ruled.
This CW show explores their power struggles, family dynamics, and conflicts with other supernatural factions, including witches, vampires, and werewolves, as they fight to maintain control over the city. At the heart of the series is Klaus’s quest for redemption and acceptance, as he battles his inner demons, his family’s betrayal, and enemies seeking to exploit his dark nature.
The Originals blends elements of romance, politics, betrayal, and supernatural intrigue, with themes of loyalty, power, and the consequences of immortality.
6. Supernatural
Creator-Eric Kripke
Stars-Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Jim Beaver
This CW show “ Supernatural ” is a long-running TV series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunt monsters, demons, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures. After their mother is killed by a mysterious supernatural entity when they were children, the brothers are raised by their father to become hunters, tracking down and killing dangerous creatures.
As they grow older, Sam and Dean face increasingly powerful and malevolent beings, including angels, demons, and gods, while also dealing with personal struggles, their family history, and the complex relationship between good and evil. Throughout the series, they encounter various supernatural threats, uncover hidden truths about their past, and face apocalyptic scenarios, all while struggling to maintain their bond as brothers. This CW show blends horror, drama, and humor, and it has become known for its devoted fanbase and mythological storytelling.
5. The Vampire Diaries
Creator- Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson
Stars-Nina Dobrev, Paul WesleyIan, Ian Somerhalder
” The Vampire Diaries ” centers on Elena Gilbert, a high school student who becomes entangled in the supernatural world after meeting two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. As Elena navigates love, loss, and danger, she discovers dark secrets about her own heritage and the town of Mystic Falls. The series follows the complex relationships between humans, vampires, witches, and other supernatural beings, as they face numerous threats, including ancient enemies and personal demons.
4. Arrow
Creator-Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Stars-Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey
” Arrow ” follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, who returns to Starling City after being stranded on a deserted island for five years. Using his archery skills and combat training, Oliver becomes the masked vigilante known as “The Arrow” to fight crime and corruption. As he balances his personal life with his mission, Oliver faces powerful foes, including criminals, assassins, and even fellow vigilantes, all while uncovering dark secrets about his family’s legacy and his city’s troubled past.
3. The Flash
Creator- Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg
Stars-Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker
“The Flash” follows Barry Allen, a forensic scientist who gains super-speed abilities after a particle accelerator explosion. As the Scarlet Speedster, he fights criminals, including other metahumans, while protecting Central City. With the help of his team, including Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow, Barry uncovers secrets about his past, confronts powerful foes like Reverse-Flash and Zoom, and explores the consequences of time travel and alternate realities, all while striving to be a hero.
2. Riverdale
Creator-Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Stars-Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse
“Riverdale” is a teen drama series that aired on the show, inspired by the characters from Archie Comics. ThIs CW show centers around Archie Andrews and his friends in the small, mysterious town of Riverdale. The series explores their complex relationships, coming-of-age struggles, and the dark secrets hidden within their seemingly idyllic town.
The storylines involve a blend of high school drama, murder mysteries, family issues, and romance, with Archie, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, and others at the center. Over time, the group becomes entangled in various criminal and supernatural elements, uncovering corruption, conspiracies, and tragic histories in Riverdale.
The show has a dramatic tone and often combines suspenseful mystery with emotional, personal conflicts. As the series progresses, the characters grow and face increasingly dangerous and surreal challenges, all while trying to navigate their complicated lives and relationships.
1. The 100
Creator-Jason Rothenberg
Stars-Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos
“The 100” is a post-apocalyptic science fiction TV show based on the book series by Kass Morgan. Set nearly a century after a nuclear apocalypse wipes out civilization, the story follows a group of 100 juvenile delinquents from a space station
called “The Ark,” which is humanity’s last known refuge. The young people are sent back to Earth to see if it’s habitable again. Upon arrival, they discover that the planet is far from empty-it’s populated by various groups of survivors, each with their own ways of living.
As the series progresses, the characters struggle to survive, form alliances, and make tough moral decisions. The show explores themes of leadership, survival, and the cost of making difficult choices in a world where the old rules no longer apply. It delves into the complexities of human nature when faced with extreme circumstances.
These CW shows offer a mix of romance, mystery, action, and humor to suit any viewer.