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[Terminus Est]

This season's Arrowverse crossover, as announced at the end of last year's "Elseworlds" crossover, is "Crisis on Infinite Earths". Ordinarily, you could just watch the crossover without much regard for anything else. But given what's already happened this season in The Flash and especially the events of the Arrow premiere I would say that the Crisis is already HERE. Seriously, go watch Arrow. The CW aren't fooling around this time.

The DC comic version, published in 1985, was a twelve issue limited series along with tie-ins in some issues of their regular imprints. In the comics, a being known as the Anti-Monitor was destroying universes one by one. Another being called the Monitor assembled a group of superheroes from various universes to fight the Anti-Monitor and prevent the destruction of the multiverse.


What We Know About the Crossover

The crossover is going to involve all five (or is it six?) of the CW Arrowverse shows. As has become traditional, it will commence airing in early December. However, after the crossover episodes of Supergirl, Batwoman, and The Flash, everything goes on a five-week winter hiatus. The crossover then concludes with Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.

Supergirl: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.
Batwoman: Monday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m.
The Flash: Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.

[Winter hiatus]

Arrow: Tuesday, Jan 14 at 8 p.m.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: Tuesday, Jan 14. at 9 p.m.

Note that Legends isn't even going to premiere until next year. They will have their crossover episode before their official season premiere.

There's a separate thread that has casting news for the crossover. Since it lists who's playing what, it may constitute spoilers for some. You can find it here: https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...d.php?t=879074


What's Gone Before

The writers and producers have been setting up the Crisis almost since the Arrowverse began.

Arrow Season 1

Lyla Michaels, codename "Harbinger", was introduced way back in the first season of Arrow. She, or possibly her doppelganger, will play an important role in the Crisis.

The Flash Season 1

The front page of Central City Citizen with the headline "FLASH MISSING - VANISHES IN CRISIS" has been a staple of The Flash since its first season. It was stored by Gideon in the Time Vault. Depending on the timeline, it is usually bylined by Iris West-Allen. Regardless of the timeline, until the current one, it's always been dated to 2024 (see "Season Finales" below).

Elseworlds - Arrowverse crossover 2018

Last year's crossover event only involved three shows - Supergirl, Arrow, and The Flash. It also introduced Gotham City and Batwoman to the Arrowverse. The Monitor appeared before John Deegan to give him the Book of Destiny and told him to rewrite as he saw fit. This was in fact a test by the Monitor, to find heroes for the coming Crisis. During the climactic battle, Oliver made a deal to serve the Monitor in return for him sparing lives of Kara and Barry. At the end of the show, Deegan is locked up in Arkham Asylum together with Roger Hayden, a.k.a. Psycho Pirate, who intoned, "Worlds will live. Worlds will die. And the universe will never be the same." Finally, a title card announced "Crisis on Infinite Earths".

Season Finales

Setup for the Crisis continued in each show's season finale.

Arrow - Oliver said good-bye to Felicity leaves with the Monitor to fulfil his end of the deal. In a flash forward, future Felicity also goes away with the Monitor.

The Flash - The iconic newspaper changed its date from 2024 to 2019. The headline remained the same: "FLASH MISSING - VANISHES IN CRISIS".

Legends of Tomorrow - Even though they weren't part of Elseworlds, the Monitor appeared during their season finale. He simply munched popcorn while watching the Legends sing and dance their way to defeating the Big Bad.

Supergirl - The Monitor arrived on Earth-38, bringing with him another Green Martian who has some hatred for J'onn J'onzz. Then he apparently revived Lex Luthor. 1

[Terminus Est]

What's Going On With the Crisis

The previous post was getting rather long so I decided to put current events on their own post. Here I'll summarize Crisis-related events in the various shows. I'll box spoilers since not everyone may have watched everything yet.

Batwoman

Batwoman is still focused on her origin story and is set in the past, so there's nothing about the Crisis yet.

Supergirl

The Green Martian brought in by the Monitor last season has started to fight J'onn J'onzz but the Monitor has not shown up yet nor does there appear to be anything directly related to the Crisis.

The Flash

SPOILER:

In the season premiere, the Monitor appeared before Barry and Iris to warn them of the Flash's role in the coming Crisis: "In order for billions to survive this coming Crisis, the Flash must die." He also said that this will happen on December 10, 2019 (conveniently when the show airs its episode of the crossover, before the hiatus). The next episode, Barry tried to time travel to the next day, December 11, to find out what happens. He was stopped by a wall of anti-matter. Enlisting the aid of Jay Garrick of Earth-3, Barry was able to visualize what will happen should he not sacrifice himself - the utter destruction of everyone and everything in the universe.

Arrow

SPOILER:

In the season premiere, the Monitor sent Oliver to Earth-2 to pick on some dwarf star matter. After completing his mission, Oliver saw the destruction by anti-matter of Earth-2 and presumably the entire universe. Only Laurel Lance of Earth-2 apparently survived.

Legends of Tomorrow

The show hasn't premiered yet. Its first episode of the season will actually be the crossover, in 2020. 2

[LurkMeister]

I guess I'm going to have to make a note to record the Dec 8 episode of Batwoman. I gave up on it after two episodes. 3

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by LurkMeister

I guess I'm going to have to make a note to record the Dec 8 episode of Batwoman. I gave up on it after two episodes.

Batwoman moves to Dec 9 for the Crisis. Also note the Dec 8 episode of Supergirl is at 8 pm. 4

[Terminus Est]

Neither Supergirl nor Batwoman have shown anything directly related to the Crisis. Batwoman's origin story has completed, so things may begin to pick up. They did refer to Arkham, where both John Deegan and Psycho Pirate will be incarcerated, but it's Gotham so references to the insane asylum are to be expected.

On The Flash:

SPOILER:

Barry fully briefed Team Flash on what he saw in the future, including his demise saving the multiverse.

On Arrow:

SPOILER:

The Monitor sent Oliver to collect not an object but a person this time - a certain Dr Wong who has redeveloped the Alpha-Omega virus. The total destruction of Earth-2 was confirmed by Laurel-2 trying and failing to get back to her universe. The biggest revelation is that Lyla Michaels, a.k.a. Harbinger, is working for the Monitor.

5

[Terminus Est]

Still nothing about the Crisis on Supergirl or Batwoman.

The Flash

SPOILER:

The new Harrison Wells, who calls himself "Nash", has been revealed to be tracking the Monitor.

Arrow

SPOILER:

Oliver traveled to Nanda Parbat to find out more about the Monitor. He discovered an ancient text with an illustration of a being that resembles Mar Novu, referring to him as a god. It predicted that the god would bring about the end of times. At the end of the episode, a flash of white light brought Mia, William, and Conner from the future to the present-day Arrowcave, there to find Oliver, Diggle, Dinah, and Rene.

6

[Terminus Est]

Batwoman
The show's timeline has officially passed last year's Elseworlds crossover.

Supergirl
Still nothing about the Crisis. No foreshadowing, no inexplicable events, no nothing.

The Flash

SPOILER:

"Nash" Wells claimed he may have a way to save Barry Allen.

Arrow

SPOILER:

No revelation as to the reason for the future kids being brought into the present timeline, whether it be the Monitor or some other cause. In fact, the Monitor didn't show up at all until the end of the episode, when he appeared to Laurel Lance and offered her a deal. He can restore Earth-2 if she would betray Oliver Queen.

7

[Terminus Est]

The first official teaser for the Crisis is out: https://youtu.be/b1KV1MU3BQw

If you freeze frame the really, really quick group shot ending with the Flash and Supergirl, you'll see:

• Martian Manhunter
• White Canary
• The Flash
• Supergirl
• Lex Luthor (!!!)
• unknown
• Batwoman

8

[furryman]

I heard that Lucifer might make a cameo. Have you heard anything? 9

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by furryman

I heard that Lucifer might make a cameo. Have you heard anything?

Tom Ellis shot down those rumors. 10

[N9IWP]

Both The Flash and Arrow are re-runs tonight (Nov 12, 2019)

Brian 11

[N9IWP]

A youtube video I watched thinks the unknown guy might be Ryan Choi (Atom) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_(Ryan_Choi)
Also, The Monitor is missing his beard (if Star Trek taught me anything, goatee = evil)

Brian 12

[Terminus Est]

Unknown guy doesn't look like Ryan Choi. He's got facial hair while Ryan Choi is clean-shaven in the Waverider group shot. 13

[Terminus Est]

Arrow and The Flash are on break. Batwoman hasn't caught up. Supergirl still hasn't mentioned anything about the Crisis. I am beginning to think that the first inkling Kara will have of the Crisis is in the first actual episode of the crossover, when the Anti-Monitor appears to blow up Earth-38. 14

[D_Odds]

Too bad that Black Lightning isn't in the mix. It is easily the best of the CW superhero shows this season, followed by Batwoman. Supergirl and Arrow are hot messes, and Flash is just treading water until Crisis. 15

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Originally Posted by Terminus Est

Unknown guy doesn't look like Ryan Choi. He's got facial hair while Ryan Choi is clean-shaven in the Waverider group shot.

Could he be Zari’s brother? 16

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by D_Odds

Too bad that Black Lightning isn't in the mix. It is easily the best of the CW superhero shows this season, followed by Batwoman. Supergirl and Arrow are hot messes, and Flash is just treading water until Crisis.

Black Lightning (the character) will be making an appearance. I don't know what that means for the show's inclusion in the Arrowverse. See the casting thread for more spoilerrific information on who we can expect to see.

I'll agree with you about Batwoman and Supergirl, but take issue with your characterization of the other two shows. Arrow has been hyperfocused on the Crisis and the mysterious Monitor, while making that an excuse to revisit characters and locales from the past seven seasons. The flash-forwards, which many of us have been grousing about for the past season and more, suddenly gained relevance when the future kids were brought back into the present (by the Monitor?). The Flash meanwhile maybe has been treading water, but that hasn't stopped them from developing an excellent, non-speedster Big Bad while simultaneously advancing the plot lines of the secondary members of Team Flash, in a manner that isn't as scattered as Supergirl (i.e., you actually care about what happens). 17

[D_Odds]

Originally Posted by Terminus Est

Black Lightning (the character) will be making an appearance. I don't know what that means for the show's inclusion in the Arrowverse. See the casting thread for more spoilerrific information on who we can expect to see.

I'll agree with you about Batwoman and Supergirl, but take issue with your characterization of the other two shows. Arrow has been hyperfocused on the Crisis and the mysterious Monitor, while making that an excuse to revisit characters and locales from the past seven seasons. The flash-forwards, which many of us have been grousing about for the past season and more, suddenly gained relevance when the future kids were brought back into the present (by the Monitor?). The Flash meanwhile maybe has been treading water, but that hasn't stopped them from developing an excellent, non-speedster Big Bad while simultaneously advancing the plot lines of the secondary members of Team Flash, in a manner that isn't as scattered as Supergirl (i.e., you actually care about what happens).

I feel, when watching Arrow, like I'm watching a repeat. As for Flash, the only characters whose story I'm vested in are Killer Frost and Ralph Dibny. That's good, because prior to this Kaitlyn was at best hit-or-miss most of the time. And while I've read and re-read Crisis on Infinite Earths many times, going back to the monthlies when it was first released, I'm avoiding (as much as I can) spoilers, especially as we know going in that two of the most iconic moments won't happen, at the very least in the way they happened in the comics. 18

[Terminus Est]

The first official set photos from Entertainment Weekly: https://ew.com/tv/2019/11/15/crisis-...ergirl-photos/ 19

[Terminus Est]

The CW just dropped a whole bunch of teasers. You can see all five of them, as well as the first one here: https://youtu.be/Pg3xmtvEijI 20

[cochrane]

Kevin Conroy is playing Kingdom Come Batman.

https://screenrant.com/crisis-infini...m-come-batman/ 21

[Terminus Est]

Still nothing on Batwoman or Supergirl, although maybe Leviathan will play a role in the Crisis.

The Flash

SPOILER:

"Nash" Wells claimed that the Monitor is a fraud and that he wants to take him down, thereby saving Barry. He showed to Team Flash's the Monitor's alleged hideout leading to an interdimensional portal in the sewers under Central City. The wall was impenetrable, even to the Flash's phasing, due to being infused with eternium. Any physical disturbance would cause it to explode. He recruited Allegra to illuminate the eternium so that he could dig around it.

Arrow

SPOILER:

Oliver, Laurel, and the kids went to Russia to get the plans for a weapon that could kill the Monitor. Before leaving, the Monitor through Lyla asked Laurel to prevent this and in return he would restore Earth-2. Laurel didn't go through with this plan and returned to confront Lyla, bringing along Oliver and Diggle, at which point all three of them were shot with tranquilizer darts.

22

[Terminus Est]

Well, this is an interesting development. The Stargirl series, developed for the DC Universe streaming service, will also air on the CW. In addition her character will be introduced in the Crisis crossover. There was a Stargirl character who was a member of the Justice Society of America introduced in Legends of Tomorrow, played by a different actress. I don't know how these two characters will be related. 23

[Terminus Est]

Official poster is out.

I guess Black Lightning is officially part of the Arrowverse now. Does this mean I'll have to make another series thread? 24

[What Exit?]

I'm very annoyed that a 5 episode cross-over event is spread out over a month. I really feel this is a mistake. A weak season from the Flash is not helping me.

They should have had all five episodes run in a 1 week period. 25

[Terminus Est]

First trailer is out: https://youtu.be/HBLrm7xxxlM 26

[Drunky Smurf]

Thank you for this thread Terminus Est. I'm excited for Crisis. 27

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by Drunky Smurf

Thank you for this thread Terminus Est. I'm excited for Crisis.

You're welcome!

More photos from Entertainment Weekly. Check out that one of Batwoman vs Lex Luthor on the Waverider. 28

[Terminus Est]

Batwoman and Supergirl are on break. They will return next week.

The Flash

SPOILER:

Bloodwork infected Barry and learned all about the Flash and the coming Crisis. He seemed rather nonplussed to learn that he played absolutely no role in the Crisis. He offered Barry a way that he could survive the Crisis, by joining with him. The Speedforce, in the form of Nora Allen, tried to get Barry to resist temptation but the latter went full Reverse Flash by phasing his hand into Nora's chest and decided to accept Bloodwork's "gift".

Arrow

SPOILER:

Oliver and Laurel were caught in what appeared to be a time loop in an alternate reality where Quentin Lance was still alive. They thought that they had to prevent Quentin's death in order to break the loop. However, it was for Oliver a lesson from the Monitor that some things can't be changed and hence to accept his fate in the Crisis. (Also to stop trying to kill the Monitor.) For Laurel, it was chance for her to say good-bye to Quentin, a reward for passing the test of NOT betraying Oliver last episode. Diggle, who was also tranqed last episode, was not part of the loop for some reason; perhaps he didn't require any testing, lesson, or reward.

29

[Drunky Smurf]

Originally Posted by Terminus Est

Batwoman and Supergirl are on break. They will return next week.

The Flash

SPOILER:

Bloodwork infected Barry and learned all about the Flash and the coming Crisis. He seemed rather nonplussed to learn that he played absolutely no role in the Crisis. He offered Barry a way that he could survive the Crisis, by joining with him. The Speedforce, in the form of Nora Allen, tried to get Barry to resist temptation but the latter went full Reverse Flash by phasing his hand into Nora's chest and decided to accept Bloodwork's "gift".

Spoilers!

SPOILER:

Yeah, when Barry plunged his hand into the Speedforce and then flash-backed to The Reverse Flash doing that to Barry's mom, I was like, "Oh holy moses!" I was really happy that Barry gave into Bloodwork, because, "drama" and I a, excited to see how they pull him out of Bloodwork's control and how Barry deals with the Crisis.

And more spoilers:

SPOILER:

I am kind of thinking that, The Monitors, meaning of "The Flash must die" is that Cisco has to pump more of the "anti-super hero ability serum into Barry to stop him from being controlled by Ramsey. And so to save Barry and the Crisis, Barry has to stop being a super and the Flash, by the serum, and that he doesn;t die. He just becomes a normal human again.

But those are just my own thoughts on this tv character and how they are going to end the show. The Flash ends so the show can end because of whatever reason they are ending it. 30

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by Drunky Smurf

But those are just my own thoughts on this tv character and how they are going to end the show. The Flash ends so the show can end because of whatever reason they are ending it.

It's Arrow that's ending, mainly because Stephen Amell thought it was time. The Flash isn't going away any time soon. 31

[Terminus Est]

This is it, the home stretch, a week until Crisis. Batwoman and especially Supergirl had better fracking notice Crisis now. I predict that Harbinger will show up in the closing minutes of each show, to recruit their respective heroes like we saw in the teasers. 32

[N9IWP]

Great, we get to see Nash Wells open the door 4 separate times

Brian 33

[The Other Waldo Pepper]

Originally Posted by Terminus Est

This is it, the home stretch, a week until Crisis. Batwoman and especially Supergirl had better fracking notice Crisis now. I predict that Harbinger will show up in the closing minutes of each show, to recruit their respective heroes like we saw in the teasers.

My kid is amazed that Dreamer didn’t get, like, ten seconds of exposition about how Something Big Is Coming. I mean, that’s kind of her whole thing: if the writers want to sideline her, fine, have her get overwhelmed and fall into a deep sleep for as long as the plot needs — but then end an episode by having her eyes pop open as she sits bolt upright to announce something, right? 34

[cochrane]

New photos: Brandon Routh's Kingdom Come Superman has Superman Tyler Hoechlin in a chokehold.

https://comicbook.com/dc/amp/2019/12...earths-photos/ 35

[Terminus Est]

The Crisis is upon us!

This week, immediately before Crisis, all four shows had the same tag taken from that of The Flash:

SPOILER:

Nash Wells, having finally broken through the wall of the sewer, is confronted by a portal with seven mystic symbols. He says that, having chased the Monitor through the multiverse, all he wanted to do was to kill him. But now the Monitor has saved his life. The disembodied voice of the Monitor intones, "Submit, and begin your life anew!" whereuon the symbols glow. Nash presses the symbols in a particular sequence, opening the portal. He is bathed in a golden light and is suddenly transported elsewhere.

"To be continued on Crisis on Infinite Earths"

For Batwoman, this was the only thing related to Crisis.

Supergirl had an additional segment immediately preceding:

SPOILER:

J'onn and M'alefic have reconciled and the Martian Manhunter sends his brother back to Mars. The Monitor appears before J'onn and explains that he has passed the test. He has learned that his vulnerabilities are his strengths and now he is ready for the Crisis.

Cut to Lex Luthor playing chess with himself in some interdimensional realm. Apparently he's been cooling his heels there all these months. The Monitor appears before him carrying the Book of Destiny. He tells Lex that the universe needs a mind like his and the time has come to fulfill his destiny.

The Flash:

SPOILER:

We see Nash standing before the portal in the sewer.

"You seek the truth. If you wish to know all, show your allegiance and all will be revealed. Bow down to me and all have desired will be yours."

Suddenly the power cuts out and Nash is attacked by a Bloodwork-infected zombie. He fights it off but more keep coming.

Much, much later, Nash has been overcome by the zombies when they are hit by a wave of UV light from the particle accelerator. This immediately cures them and Nash is saved.

Meanwhile Team Flash has cured all the zombies and go on to defeat Bloodwork. They are now just waiting for Crisis. At the stroke of midnight, the skies turn red. Cut to Nash standing before the portal in the sewer and we see events unfold as outline above.

Arrow:

SPOILER:

The parts (and people!) that Oliver collected throughout the season have been brought together on Lian Yu. Oliver believes it to be a weapon. It is, in fact, a device that can only be activated by Lyla Michaels and in turn transforms her into a "harbinger of things to come." Whereupon the skies turn red over Lian Yu.

Crisis on Infinite Earths final trailer: https://youtu.be/pSLAd-G42w8

OPEN SPOILERS AFTER THIS POST. 36

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by N9IWP

Great, we get to see Nash Wells open the door 4 separate times

Brian

So I was wrong about the Crisis tag. I was so very, very wrong. It was seriously underwhelming, wasn't it? Especially compared to the awesomeness of last year's Elseworlds tag. It was incomprehensible if you haven't been watching The Flash. Even in context, it made little sense. Nash Wells thought that the Monitor saved him from the Bloodwork zombies (when it was Team Flash that did all the work) and so went from wanting to kill him to wanting to join him.

Originally Posted by The Other Waldo Pepper

My kid is amazed that Dreamer didn’t get, like, ten seconds of exposition about how Something Big Is Coming. I mean, that’s kind of her whole thing: if the writers want to sideline her, fine, have her get overwhelmed and fall into a deep sleep for as long as the plot needs — but then end an episode by having her eyes pop open as she sits bolt upright to announce something, right?

Red skies! She should have been dreaming about red skies. Have her fall asleep in the middle of the newsroom, like she did last season. Then awake with a start and announce, "Red skies are coming." 37

[Terminus Est]

There is a rumor that Monday's episode of Black Lightning, entitled "Earth Crisis", 🤔 will be connected to the crossover. It won't technically be part of the crossover since no characters from other shows will appear, but it will involve red skies and the multiverse and will be a lead in for Black Lightning's official appearance in Crisis the next night. 38

[Lightnin']

Originally Posted by cochrane

New photos: Brandon Routh's Kingdom Come Superman has Superman Tyler Hoechlin in a chokehold.

https://comicbook.com/dc/amp/2019/12...earths-photos/

I gotta admit, that's a pretty amazing picture. 39

[Terminus Est]

Since I don't follow Black Lightning (as it's being broadcast), I completely missed this. A couple days ago, the CW released a promo for the mid-season finale which shows red skies over whatever Earth Jefferson is from: https://youtu.be/Fx3l9kEdFn0 40

[Quimby]

This summary was awesome, thank you. I think the end result of this (like the Comic series it was named after) is when it is all done, all the CW DC shows will be on the same Earth. 41