--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't…" description: "\"When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't really a lot of superhero shows in general. And it was a burden on us because it was, 'Are you going to fail or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/greg-berlanti-17396_arrow_when-we-started-arrow-there-weren-t-real_1664578.jpg" --- # When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't really a lot of… ![“When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't really a lot of superhero shows in general. And it was a burden on us because it was, 'Are you going to fail or succeed?' And now they're everywhere.” quote by Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/greg-berlanti-17396_arrow_when-we-started-arrow-there-weren-t-real_1664578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/greg-berlanti-17396_arrow_when-we-started-arrow-there-weren-t-real_1664578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a42/greg-berlanti-17396_arrow_when-we-started-arrow-there-weren-t-real_1664578.jpg) > “When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't really a lot of superhero shows in general. And it was a burden on us because it was, 'Are you going to fail or succeed?' And now they're everywhere.” [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early superhero shows faced high stakes; now the genre is saturated. **In simple terms:** Early shows were risky. Key Takeaway Innovate to stand out in crowded markets. Themes television superhero genre media trends Mood cautious optimistic Type industry advice When to use this quote - pilot development - network pitching - marketing strategy Key Concepts creative risk industry saturation Questions to Reflect On - How can new shows differentiate? - What pressures do creators face? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout for creators. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrow/) [Arrow Weren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrow-weren-794709/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Going Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-fail/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-arrow-794710/) [Superhero Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superhero-shows-794708/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [In most superhero shows, the superhero is pretty young. He's in his 20s; he's single. 'Black Lightning' is a man who's middle-aged, going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/in-most-superhero-shows-the-superhero-is-pretty-young-he-s-in-his-20s/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I believe what makes Black Lightning different from other superhero shows and other superheroes is that he's really, really family-oriented. You get to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-believe-what-makes-black-lightning-different-from-other-superhero/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Greg Berlanti is in charge of a lot of superhero shows on television. He is a literal superhero. He is absolutely brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/greg-berlanti-is-in-charge-of-a-lot-of-superhero-shows-on-television/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [Ive always loved the power of stories to transport me to another world, to imagine extraordinary possibilities, to experience things I may not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandyse-mcclure/ive-always-loved-the-power-of-stories-to-transport-me-to-another/) [Kandyse McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandyse-mcclure/) > [Most superhero characters we see these days are from foreign countries. I would like to play a superhero that shows off Korean power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-bo-gum/most-superhero-characters-we-see-these-days-are-from-foreign/) [Park Bo-gum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-bo-gum/) > [The thing that I love about The Flash and about superhero shows, in general, is that it's not about having superpowers that makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-patton/the-thing-that-i-love-about-the-flash-and-about-superhero-shows-in/) [Candice Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-patton/) > [The superhero shows and movies are always having the spotlight on the superheroes themselves. It's never about the people who are living in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/the-superhero-shows-and-movies-are-always-having-the-spotlight-on-the/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe. 'Black Lightning' is literally in the hood. He's going inside of the ghetto and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/most-superhero-shows-are-set-in-an-alternative-universe-black/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > ['Flash' has a family drama element, 'Arrow' has a epic saga/crime element, 'Supergirl' has a young-woman-in-the-city and a workplace element, and 'Legends' is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/flash-has-a-family-drama-element-arrow-has-a-epic-saga-crime-element/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I don't believe in a price on carbon, because the government is going to control it and they're going to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-boone-pickens/i-don-t-believe-in-a-price-on-carbon-because-the-government-is-going/) [T. Boone Pickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-boone-pickens/) > [Without the right attitude, a business with everything going for it will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-heller/without-the-right-attitude-a-business-with-everything-going-for-it/) [Robert Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-heller/) > [I'm just not willing to give up on myself. If I'm going to fail, then I want to fail to the limits of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gray/i-m-just-not-willing-to-give-up-on-myself-if-i-m-going-to-fail-then-i/) [James Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gray/) > [I always feel like I have to prove myself as an actor, otherwise you get lazy if you're not slightly terrified that you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-always-feel-like-i-have-to-prove-myself-as-an-actor-otherwise-you/) [Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/) > [It isn't that every company is going to be successful. The law of averages shows that 80% of companies are going to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-carter/it-isn-t-that-every-company-is-going-to-be-successful-the-law-of/) [Troy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-carter/) > [If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/if-you-know-you-are-going-to-fail-then-fail-gloriously/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) ## More by Greg Berlanti > [I would be Jesse Martin ..., but not to be his character, just so I could be Jesse Martin and sing like Jesse Martin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-would-be-jesse-martin-but-not-to-be-his-character-just-so-i-could/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [We did 'Jack & Bobby' in the middle of the Kerry/Bush election. It hurt it a little bit. No matter what we did, everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/we-did-jack-bobby-in-the-middle-of-the-kerry-bush-election-it-hurt-it/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I read some Marvel, but I was more of a DC guy. Particularly the Flash, Barry Allen. I latched on to him because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-read-some-marvel-but-i-was-more-of-a-dc-guy-particularly-the-flash/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [To me, there's still nothing more thrilling than, every week, people getting to see another chapter in this story that you're telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/to-me-there-s-still-nothing-more-thrilling-than-every-week-people/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [You have to always try to think about them like real people first, and not just heroes. They have to be real characters. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/you-have-to-always-try-to-think-about-them-like-real-people-first-and/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [There were only a couple of Marvel characters I read. I read 'Iron Man.' I have a lot of those. And this was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/there-were-only-a-couple-of-marvel-characters-i-read-i-read-iron-man/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I think a lot of what I've done is about people feeling as if they are part of the world but also not part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-think-a-lot-of-what-i-ve-done-is-about-people-feeling-as-if-they/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [For me, the romantic comedies I love are the ones that pay homage to the genre, but also find their ways to twist it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/for-me-the-romantic-comedies-i-love-are-the-ones-that-pay-homage-to/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [I didn't happen to be one of those gay kids who knew definitively by the time I was 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/i-didn-t-happen-to-be-one-of-those-gay-kids-who-knew-definitively-by/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [For most of my childhood, even through college, there was a lot of feeling very alone. I loved TV, so when those very special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/for-most-of-my-childhood-even-through-college-there-was-a-lot-of/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [The most important decision you can make as a showrunner when you're doing a pilot is who's in it and who's directing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/the-most-important-decision-you-can-make-as-a-showrunner-when-you-re/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [There's even more blending of genres happening. They blend sci-fi with action, or family drama with a mystery show. People don't want to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/there-s-even-more-blending-of-genres-happening-they-blend-sci-fi-with/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [There were moments where Supergirl gets a thrashing in the pilot, where if a man in the 'Flash' or 'Arrow' pilot got beat up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/there-were-moments-where-supergirl-gets-a-thrashing-in-the-pilot/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [Fan feedback going from a box of letters once every few months to literally tweeting while the show is airing. We are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/fan-feedback-going-from-a-box-of-letters-once-every-few-months-to/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) > [Television is ultimately a business of failure. You try a lot of things, and most of it fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-berlanti/television-is-ultimately-a-business-of-failure-you-try-a-lot-of/) [Greg Berlanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) [Explore all 37 Greg Berlanti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-berlanti/) ## More Arrow quotes > [I'll get that arrow, pretty boy, and I'll do it with my shirt \*on\*. -Yao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulan/i-ll-get-that-arrow-pretty-boy-and-i-ll-do-it-with-my-shirt-on-yao/) [Mulan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulan/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) [Louaiq8](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louaiq8/) > [The main thing is to have strings to your bow. You get your badges, you see where life is, and then you see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/the-main-thing-is-to-have-strings-to-your-bow-you-get-your-badges-you/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [Game of Thrones. I'm all about it. I watch Arrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-r-mcqueen/game-of-thrones-i-m-all-about-it-i-watch-arrow/) [Steven R. McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-r-mcqueen/) > [“Took an arrow in the knee on my way through the Eld three summers ago. It gives out every now and then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/took-an-arrow-in-the-knee-on-my-way-through-the-eld-three-summers-ago/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [My Band, Pierce the Arrow, is my other passion along with acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-sandoval/my-band-pierce-the-arrow-is-my-other-passion-along-with-acting/) [Tom Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-sandoval/) > [If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high... Hooray for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-corey/if-you-shoot-an-arrow-and-it-goes-real-high-hooray-for-you/) [Dorian Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-corey/) > [You can learn from an ordinary bamboo leaf what ought to happen. It bends lower and lower under the weight of snow. Suddenly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/you-can-learn-from-an-ordinary-bamboo-leaf-what-ought-to-happen-it/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) > [“It was chosen by the archer and though it is a long way off, we cannot blame it when we fail to hit it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-was-chosen-by-the-archer-and-though-it-is-a-long-way-off-we-cannot/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Follow your arrow / Wherever it points,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/follow-your-arrow-wherever-it-points/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [If the work is high and far, You must not only aim aright, But draw the bow with all your might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-the-work-is-high-and-far-you-must-not-only-aim-aright-but-draw-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“How did you kill the Ashman in the forest last year?” “I shot him with an arrow.” “What kind of arrow?” “A sharp one.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-fine/how-did-you-kill-the-ashman-in-the-forest-last-year-i-shot-him-with/) [Chelsea Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-fine/) > [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I must only warn you of one thing. You have become a different person in the course of these years. For this is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-herrigel/i-must-only-warn-you-of-one-thing-you-have-become-a-different-person/) [Eugen Herrigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-herrigel/) [Browse all 232 Arrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrow/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we started 'Arrow,' there weren't really a lot of superhero shows in general. And it was a burden on us because it was, 'Are you going to fail or succeed?' 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