# Crisis on Infinite Earths - CW Arrowverse crossover 2019-20 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930 "2019-10-18T01:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/1 "2019-10-18T01:36:13Z")
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/showthread.php?t=879074](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/2 "2019-10-18T02:04:31Z")
**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** 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** 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. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/3 "2019-10-18T19:46:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2019, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/4 "2019-10-19T00:36:08Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/5 "2019-10-24T04:19:57Z")
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_: Barry fully briefed Team Flash on what he saw in the future, including his demise saving the multiverse. On _Arrow_: 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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/6 "2019-10-30T13:47:25Z")
Still nothing about the Crisis on _Supergirl_ or _Batwoman_. _The Flash_ The new Harrison Wells, who calls himself “Nash”, has been revealed to be tracking the Monitor. _Arrow_ 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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/7 "2019-11-06T13:39:00Z")
_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_ “Nash” Wells claimed he may have a way to save Barry Allen. _Arrow_ 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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/8 "2019-11-11T11:53:35Z")
The first official teaser for the Crisis is out: [DCTV Crisis on Infinite Earths Teaser (HD) The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Batwoman, Legends - YouTube](https://youtu.be/b1KV1MU3BQw) If you freeze frame the really, really quick group shot ending with the Flash and Supergirl, you’ll see: [ul] [li]Martian Manhunter[/li][li]White Canary[/li][li]The Flash[/li][li]Supergirl[/li][li]Lex Luthor (!!!)[/li][li]unknown[/li][li]Batwoman[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/9 "2019-11-11T19:08:56Z")
I heard that _Lucifer_ might make a cameo. Have you heard anything? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/10 "2019-11-12T01:36:20Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I heard that _Lucifer_ might make a cameo. Have you heard anything? [Tom Ellis shot down those rumors.](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/apos-lucifer-apos-star-tom-170001858.html) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/11 "2019-11-12T12:16:39Z")
Both The Flash and Arrow are re-runs tonight (Nov 12, 2019) Brian ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/12 "2019-11-12T12:32:05Z")
A youtube video I watched thinks the unknown guy might be Ryan Choi (Atom) [Atom (Ryan Choi) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_(Ryan_Choi)) Also, The Monitor is missing his beard (if Star Trek taught me anything, goatee = evil) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/13 "2019-11-13T04:11:41Z")
Unknown guy doesn’t look like Ryan Choi. He’s got facial hair while Ryan Choi is clean-shaven in the [Waverider group shot](https://tvline.com/2019/10/11/crisis-on-infinite-earths-group-photo-arrowverse-crossover/). ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/14 "2019-11-14T01:09:31Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/15 "2019-11-14T01:18:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/16 "2019-11-14T02:30:33Z")
> [@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](https://tvline.com/2019/10/11/crisis-on-infinite-earths-group-photo-arrowverse-crossover/). Could he be Zari’s brother? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/17 "2019-11-15T03:16:59Z")
> [@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](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879074) 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). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/18 "2019-11-15T17:14:11Z")
> [@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](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879074) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/19 "2019-11-16T01:11:37Z")
The first official set photos from Entertainment Weekly: [https://ew.com/tv/2019/11/15/crisis-on-infinite-earths-arrowverse-supergirl-photos/](https://ew.com/tv/2019/11/15/crisis-on-infinite-earths-arrowverse-supergirl-photos/) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930/20 "2019-11-16T12:12:14Z")
The CW just dropped a whole bunch of teasers. You can see all five of them, as well as the first one here: [DCTV Crisis on Infinite Earths Crossover Teaser (HD) - YouTube](https://youtu.be/Pg3xmtvEijI) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crisis-on-infinite-earths-cw-arrowverse-crossover-2019-20/841930.md?page=2)