Welcome back to the ComicBook.com TV Power Rankings! Another great week all around for comic book TV shows makes these harder every week. Reviewers called The Walking Dead‘s episode “JSS” “Epic” “one of the series all-time best” and the ratings matched that. It’s naturally down from the premiere, but in Live+3, TWD came out as the highest rated show on television, even besting all three primetime NFL games.
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But is that enough to dethrone the current #1 after only one week? The Flash also got great reviews this week, though some critics are wary of the Earth-2 Harrison Wells, fearing a re-run (get it?) of Season 1’s big bad, but The Flash hasn’t exactly catered to predictions thus far.
What was the top-rated Comic Book show outside of TWD last week in the Live+3 ratings? If you said anything other than Gotham, you’re wrong! That may surprise some naysayers, but those who’ve been watching this season probably understand. A pair of critics on THR say it’s the most-improved show on television, and it’s hard to disagree. This week’s episode opened up a whole lot of possibilities for the show and the history of Gotham City, exciting TV fans and comic book fans alike.
The other three shows in the top 50 of the Live+3 that are on our list? The aforementioned The Flash, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Heroes Reborn, the last of which is living comfortably by the delayed viewing opportunities right now, despite big dips in the live ratings week to week. That show has proved stronger than NBC’s last try with Constantine, which was sitting at a 1.29 in live+3 in its late stages, where Heroes is holding at a 1.97, outperforming Arrow, iZombie, and of course many non-comic book and even non-genre shows. It also garnered mostly-positive reviews in Masi Oka’s first episode of the new series, returning as Hiro.
Focusing on the criteria of ratings, fan feedback, and critical response, plus a bit of our own expert knowledge of intangibles from interviews, set visits, and more, we present to you the ComicBook.com Comic Book TV Power Rankings. We’ll be updating these throughout the season. Bear in mind a couple of caveats: 1, we’re only including shows on the air in Fall 2015 in this initial set. That means that while there are some really incredible comic book shows coming back this spring, they’re not on this list. This isn’t the NFL, and not all the teams start (or play) at the same time. The good news is, once this gets working, it’ll eventually add on those spring returning and new series, and be a year-round ranking of all things comic book TV. Check back each Sunday for a new edition.
1) The Walking Dead – Up 1
Your king has returned. As we said in the intro, this was the highest-rated show on TV this week, and also had overwhelmingly excellent reviews. The Walking Dead may look like it’s shambling along at times when it’s building tension, but this week showed it can still shock and awe with the best of them. Ever unafraid to take another crazy chance, the biggest thing to fear on this show is your favorite character dying.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
2) Gotham – Up 1
What a turnaround. After being critically lambasted for much of season one, and given up on largely by DC Comics fans, Gotham has found its voice and its identity. A much more delicate balance of DC winking and nodding to, you know, actual character building has shown that the showrunners here have figured out the formula, and it’s paying off in ratings and reviews alike.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
3) The Flash – Down 2
It’s not you, The Flash. You didn’t do anything wrong. A solid episode that served to build some relationships, make us love Captain Cold’s character, get Cisco a little sugar, and brought Harrison Wells back into the equation. It was a good episode with lots of set-up for the rest of the season plus some Legends of Tomorrow teases (more on that later). So we did it drop two spots into third? Because TWD and Gotham simply outdid themselves, while The Flash “merely” continued to be awesome.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
4) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Even
Why can’t this show seem to go up? It’s been a great season, following a great season, following – half of a great season. The only problem here is that the Inhumans/Secret Warriors storyline isn’t shocking us right now, and shock value goes a long way with viewers, especially with critics. The Lost-esque “I have to go back” run for Simmons could be the shock they need to push things into another level, but for now, it’s staying comfortably in the #4 slot.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
5) Heroes Reborn – Up 4
We are not slaves to the ratings, but yes, the top five are all in order this week as the top five best rated shows in Live+3. Heroes Reborn has the biggest jump in the power rankings this week, largely on the back of Hiro’s return. The series is at just about its halfway point, and introducing time travel into the story is dangerous. it’s make or break time – the show made a huge jump up this week, but could just as easily make a huge leap down next week. Does Hiro have it in him once more time?
What did you think of the series so far? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
6) Arrow – Down 1
(That’s Felicity, seeing this week’s Power Rankings – sorry, Felicity)
Yes, Arrow actually fell out of the top five. Like little brother series The Flash it’s not really its fault. The Original Team Arrow-heavy episode was a a lot of fun, though some critics thought the sudden clean-up of the Diggle/Oliver relationship was a little too easy. This show’s Legends of Tomorrow set-up, with the resurrection of Sara Lance, was not viewed as fun as Captain Cold being a little heroic in Flash, and that prevented it from keeping its position or going up.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Rate it in the box above with just one click!
7) Jessica Jones – Even
How bout that trailer? Man, if people weren’t excited about this show before, they certainly are now, with a lot of buzz, especially about the terrifying portrayal of “The Purple Man” by David Tennant. If there were just a few more views of the trailer, it could’ve moved as high as the top 5. When it premieres, that top five better look out.
8) iZombie – Down 2
A great episode, a nice return, a “super hot” (according to her co-stars in Hulu preview clips) looking Liv, lots of laughs, major character progression – so why the drop? Once again, like the other CW shows on the list, this one was a victim of circumstance, mostly. The Major storyline took some hits from critics, and yes, ratings do matter, and the ratings on this show are the lowest of the comic book shows currently airing, though it’s still in a good place relative to The CW’s lineup.
9) Supergirl – Down 1
For a show whose premiere is a day away, it seems like people are talking less about it than they were a week ago. That will obviously change tomorrow, and while most critics have already seen (and largely enjoyed) the pilot, it’ll be interesting to see how fans react. Kara Zor-El will almost definitely rise considerably in the rankings next week, but this week, she’s holding them up from the bottom.
Notes and Housekeeping
Spring Shows to keep an eye on: Lucifer,ย Marvel’s Agent Carter, Legends of Tomorrow, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Powers, Other notable future shows (no timeline): Outcast, Preacher, many more.
Biggest Jump: Heroes Reborn up 4 spots!
Next Week’s One to Watch: Supergirl – it’s the premiere, and a big possible wrench-thrower in next week’s Power Rankings, for sure!
