One of the biggest TV series making it’s debut in 2014 was CW’s/Sky One’s The Flash, After the incredible success of the superhero show Arrow TV channels were banking on releasing superhero/comic book properties like Gotham, Constantine and MARVEL’s Agents of Shield, many were wondering how Warner Bros.’ TV department would handle adapting a much bigger superhero in TV format, noticeably challenging was it’s VFX heavy style due to having a variety of superpowers displayed on a weekly basis.
The Flash is TV Series’ plot follow the DC Justice League member of the same name, Barry Allen a forensic investigator in Central City’s Police Department is hit by lighting when during a Particle Accelerator accident which after 9 months in a coma, gives him the power of super speed. Thus making him rethink the murder of his mother when he was a child, caused by something ‘impossible.’
All this aside, The Flash truly blew audiences away with it’s witty light atmosphere, lovable fun characters and exhilarating well handled action scenes. What makes The Flash brilliant is it’s wide appeal to comic book nerds and general TV lovers. Making the sometimes time twisting plot easy to understand for all. One of the truly wonderful things about the show that manifests it’s electric feel was the brighter tone revived from the comic books the superhero comes from, this was refreshing because Warner Bros. didn’t forcefully mold The Flash into being a darker ‘gritty’ realistic show like Arrow; which stars the superhero Green Arrow (someone they decided to change into a ‘Batman’ character).
Throughout it’s entire season the series rarely drops in quality, the occasional crossovers with Arrow keep it from getting stale. Especially with the conflict between Flash and his opposite Reverse Flash accelerating in stakes, as mysteries unravel and characters grow with depth, it’s quite a jarring feeling finishing the series and realising this is it’s premiere season. The entire project is so well realised, it’s clear to see the showrunner and writers didn’t hold back for Season 1, introducing time travel, iconic Flash villains and regular ginormous to tiny crossovers with it’s sister show Arrow.
At the start the season begins to become repetitive with it’s ‘Villain of the Week’ type of episodes, I guess these are necessary but when the over arching story of the entire season is revealed, it’s easy to get through those episodes knowing you’re going to get a little something adding to the major story. Overall The Flash has easily surpassed Arrow in quality, gaining massive ground and leaving Arrow behind in the dust. The characters feel more realistic despite it’s superpowers in the forefront, performances from certain cast members such as Tom Cavanagh as Doctor Wells and Jesse L Martin as Dec. Joe West really elevate the series. Easter Eggs from the previous 90’s Flash TV series and Flash comic books run rampant right until the very last episode. The Visual Effects are certainly top notch for a TV show, even better considering it’s not from a major network like FOX. If you haven’t watched The Flash yet, what the hell man?! Go watch it now! Most TV shows are ending or have ended, so if it’s 24 episode
BEST EPISODES:
E15: ‘Out of Time’
E23: ‘Fast Enough’
E21: ‘Grodd Lives’
E8: ‘The Flash vs Arrow’
E9: ‘The Man in the Yellow Suit’
Words By Eddie Michael