The CW Network for a long time was known as the home of teen and young adult dramas. As the network underwent a major transition, many shows left the network due to the change or that their time on the network had come to a natural end. However, for as long as the CW Network was primarily focused on teen and young adult shows, many of them were well known to share similar concepts and storylines. Whether it be through the expansive Arrowverse, The Vampire Diaries Universe, the growing world of All American, Riverdale, or many other network shows, these series have shared many plot lines or concepts, even if they are portrayed differently.
The Arrowverse took on the CW's superhero quota, developing its own DC Universe within the network, which was arguably better perceived than the theatrical DC Universe films. The Vampire Diaries Universe, Supernatural, and Roswell, New Mexico took on plenty of supernatural and paranormal plot lines throughout their runs. All American, One Tree Hill, Veronica Mars, and Gossip Girl exhibited an average world teen drama. Riverdale has taken on nearly all of those storylines as the show continued to grow into the madness it thrived in. The CW Network's most well-known shows, and even those which have flown under the radar, have shared a variety of plot lines or concepts.
10 Superheroes
At least six shows make up the CW's Arrowverse. All eventually blending into each other to create one universe with crossover events, the Arrowverse contains origin stories of superheroes such as the Flash, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Bat Woman, and many more. Each show expands the universe and the understanding of what is possible.
9 Supernatural
Supernatural went on for fifteen seasons, following Demon hunting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester through following a series of paranormal creatures and occurrences. They are eventually joined by the Archangel Castiel. The show's take on the supernatural world was expanded with its spinoff, The Winchesters. The Vampire Diaries Universe encompasses a variety of vampires, witches, werewolves, doppelgängers, and many other monsters. Roswell, New Mexico, takes on the supernatural with its Alien central characters, technology, and home planet Oasis. Even Riverdale dips its toe into the supernatural world when it provides its multiverse arc, which includes giving its leading characters superpowers, as well as bringing in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina lead, Sabrina Spellman.
8 Love Triangles
Who will Elena choose, Stefan or Damon? Will Archie end up with Veronica or Betty? Will Lucas pick Peyton or Brooke? Love triangles are famously known in teen dramas, and the CW Network was home to many of them. In some cases, the love triangle helps push the story along. However, it holds the show back at other times, especially if it lasts too long. Other times, fans will argue if the love triangle ended the proper way or not. The Vampire Diaries relied on its central love triangle for years, far longer than it needed to be a central plot.
On One Tree Hill, Lucas changed his mind multiple times, cheating on Brooke, and seemingly could not make a decision. On All American and All American: Homecoming, the shows demonstrate a love square as Jordan and Simone find themselves drawn to Layla and Damon, respectively, even while their relationship is ongoing, resulting in their eventual breakup as they have grown apart. Roswell, New Mexico also features a love triangle between Michael, Alex, and Maria as Michael tries to sort out his feelings between the two love interests.
7 Teen Drama
Whether it be trouble in school, love lives, friendship problems, or the supernatural antagonist of the week attempting murder, plenty of CW shows are teen dramas that focus their storylines on being coming-of-age stories. Riverdale began with Archie struggling to choose between music and football. On Gossip Girl, the Upper Eastsiders deal with their personal businesses being revealed on Gossip Girl's public blog. On All American, before graduating high school, Spencer, Jordan, and Asher strive for careers in football or coaching while Olivia works toward a future in journalism and Layla builds her music production company.
6 Family Drama
Veronica spends several seasons facing off against her father, Hiram, in his desire to take over Riverdale. Klaus holds centuries' worth of issues with his siblings in The Originals, as many of their problems stem from Klaus having daggered them and keeping them in coffins for decades or centuries. Lucas and Nathan Scott, half-brothers, initially hold numerous problems against each other due to their several differences. They each also find problems with their father, who found different ways to harm both of them.
5 Power Struggles
On The 100, there is almost always a power struggle, whether it is against the government on the Ark or the other leaders on Earth, Sanctum, or Bardo. However, season two is one of the best examples of a power struggle between Clarke and Abby, who hold very different beliefs on how to survive on the ground. Clarke, who has spent time on Earth and gotten to know the Grounders and Mount Weather, rules from personal experience of dealing with Earth. Meanwhile, Abby struggles to undermine Clarke's authority with the remaining one hundred, especially as Lexa and the other Grounders are only interested in negotiating with Clarke. In The Originals, Klaus challenges Marcel's rule of New Orleans and works to regain control of the French Quarter.
4 Financial Differences
All American shows the financial differences between Crenshaw and Beverly Hills when Billy Baker brings Spencer to Beverly Hills to play football. Spencer experiences a richer environment, and the Baker siblings, Layla, and Asher discover the environment Crenshaw is in, which gives them a better understanding of Spencer. One Tree Hill also uses this to portray the differences between Lucas and Hayley compared to Nathan, Peyton, and Brooke. It is also used to show the difference between Dan and the rest of his classmates in Gossip Girl.
3 Discussing Mental Health
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend may be the CW's best portrayal of discussing mental health, and the trials and tribulations toward gaining a diagnosis and working toward a healthier state of mind. Rebecca Bunch experiences a series of highs and lows as she strives to find the thing that will make her truly happy. During her journey, Rebecca experiences happiness and depression until she reaches her lowest point, a catalyst for Rebecca to finally get the help she needs, which leads to her discovery of being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Rebecca then went on to work toward making herself happy rather than determining that her happiness was reliant on a relationship with someone else.
In Legacies, mental health is discussed through Lizzie's Bi-Polar Disorder and how that affects her actions and behaviors. It is also well discussed through Lizzie's conversation with Aurora, which gives depth to Aurora's time as a villain on Legacies and The Originals. All American also discusses mental health through Layla and portrays her experiencing depression. Layla's mental health journey shows her shying away from her friends and then her slow reintegration into them as she grows closer to Jordan.
2 Politics
All American tackles the Black Lives Matter movement, placing Olivia in an intriguing position as a budding journalist in her strive to call out police brutality and how her choices affect her mother's career. In The 100, how to hold power in government is constantly at play. Clarke must become a diplomat when dealing with Lexa and the Grounders. Grounder society is a developed form of politics in its own right when portraying how the people rule their territories and make decisions. Riverdale showed the town holding elections for Mayor, even though a majority of the time, Riverdale's politicians are corrupt.
1 Mysteries
Throughout the first season of All American: Homecoming, JR and Simone question Damon's true identity. Is he JR's brother, who had been given away as a baby? Is he Amara's secret child? Damon questions the truth about his biological parents as well, until he finally learns the truth. In Gossip Girl, the overarching question was who the identity was behind the infamous blogger. Riverdale began as a small-town mystery surrounding the death of a local boy, Jason Blossom, and the biggest questions throughout the first season were who killed him and why.