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As a longtime superhero fan, I’ve fully enjoyed the excellent work that Marvel’s brought to the screen with its “cinematic universe,” but as someone who always leaned a bit more toward DC characters—especially those not named after nocturnal flying mammals—it’s been a rougher go. Three years ago, producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg brought their version of Green Arrow to the CW network on TV, a successful adaptation that leaned heavily on the character’s long-running similarities to the aforementioned Batman. Spinning out of that series, The Flash shows that not only can the more traditional and lighthearted DC superheroes succeed on the screen, but they can be part of a larger universe that welcomes a wide cast of characters and stories.
Picking up where his guest appearance on Arrow left off, forensic scientist Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) gets struck by a bolt of lightning due to a particle accelerator accident at S.T.A.R. Labs overseen by Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanaugh). Upon awakening from a months-long coma, Barry discovers that he can move at superhuman speed. With Dr. Wells’s help, he begins to explore his new abilities while dealing with a number of other new metahumans created by the accident, as well as a hidden threat that connects to his past and his future.
The first thing you’ll notice about The Flash, and what sets it apart from so many of DC’s recent offerings on screen, is how much fun everyone seems to be having. Unlike most superheroes, Barry Allen views his abilities as a blessing rather than a burden, and he decides to become a hero for that most clichéd and welcome of reasons: just because it’s the right thing to do. This is a welcome change in tone from the grimmer Arrow and the recent cinematic adventures of the Dark Knight and Man of Steel.
That’s a lot more difficult than it sounds, though, and a large part of The Flash’s success comes from a strong ensemble cast and a focus on how their characters interact with each other and develop throughout the season. Gustin gives Barry Allen an inherent likeability that centers the show, while more established actors like Cavanaugh and Jesse L. Martin as Barry’s foster father, detective Joe West, add some depth and gravitas. If there’s a weak link, it’s Iris West (Candice Patton), the love of Barry’s life and, in an unfortunate bit of plotting, his foster sister. Given that background, their relationship just seems a bit off, and the character’s tendency to be the least informed of the main cast stands out against how smoothly the rest of the pieces fit together.
Even when the occasional storyline doesn’t pan out or leans a bit too far into cheesiness, the show moves fast enough that it’s not a problem. Throw in an expanding gallery of allies and rogues drawn straight from the comics—including a surprisingly convincing evil telepathic giant gorilla (yes, that was as much fun to watch as it was to write here)—and you’ve got an onscreen world that can handle whatever weirdness comes its way. More than any superhero TV series before it, The Flash hit the ground running and never lost a step. I for one can’t wait to see where both it and the DC television universe go next.
Blu-ray Review:
The Flash: The Complete First Season includes all 23 episodes, along with deleted scenes and a commentary on the pilot by Berlanti, Kreisberg, and DC Chief Creative Officer and former Flash comics writer, Geoff Johns. Special features include a lengthy gag reel, screen tests, and pair of featurettes that should satisfy any behind-the-scenes longing. The visual FX featurette is especially worth watching, as it dives deep into how you create cinematic special effects on a TV schedule and budget. The final addition, a combined DC TV panel from Comic-Con 2014, has shown up before on other DC show sets, but it’s also worth a look if you haven’t seen it before.
