Central City has a new hero!
Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) finds his life forever changed when a mysterious tornado of red and yellow kills his mother and sends his father to jail for the murder. Now, Barry is an investigator and finds his life changing again. A lightning bolt gives Barry incredible new powers as other metahumans begin to pop-up around Central City after the explosion of the particle accelerator of Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) at S. T. A. R. Labs. Teaming with Wells and his coworkers Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), Barry Allen could be the hero that Central City needs…and in the process could discover the mystery to the murder that has haunted his life!
The Flash is racing his devil!
The Flash—Season 1 aired on the CW from October 7, 2014 to May 19, 2015. The series spun off the popular Arrow series in Season 2 and quickly gained its own cult following which actually began to surpass Arrow. The season also received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects (“Grodd Lives”).
Along with Green Lantern, the Flash has always been one of my favorite DC heroes. He doesn’t have the almost limitless powers of Superman or the grimness of Batman but instead is almost the opposite…he has powers that he must figure out how to use in a way that will work with the problems and he is generally a happy-go-lucky type guy. I’m generally a Wally West Flash fan, but any Flash is a good Flash.
Never expected Gorilla Grodd to make the jump to live action…bring on Solomon Grundy!
The Flash does succeed in pleasing fans by losing the grimness of Arrow. Unlike Arrow, The Flash goes more down the path of later seasons of Smallville and doesn’t try to skirt the superhero formula. The Flash is a superhero and the show follows suit with supervillains and superhero plots.
The overall storyline of Reverse-Flash is a pretty daring route to take for a first season since it is such a formative moment for the character. It almost feels like this should have been a later season as a result, but I applaud the Flash for taking off running. Like many of the post-modern tellings of superhero origins, this season cinches up origins by tying different origins together…and if it gets us a live action Gorilla Grodd (something I never expected), it is worth it.
Is there a Crisis on Infinite Earths on the horizon?!?
The Flash’s casting is like most CW shows. Like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the shows that came after it, the series is full of witty banter and pop-culture references (mostly provided by Cisco). Grant Gustin is a solid lead and most of the other cast falls in line with his level of acting. I do like Tom Cavanaugh’s Reverse-Flash and enjoyed his played up (while subdued) supervillain. There is also some genius casting with John Wesley Shipp (the star of the original life-action Flash series) playing Barry’s father, his former co-star Mark Hamill reprising his role as the Trickster, and the reteaming of Prison Break stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell as Captain Cold and Heat Wave.
The Flash is better than Arrow…I hope that saying that will challenge Arrow to rise above The Flash (dropping the island flashbacks which are a bit too close to Lost would help). Until then, The Flash takes the lead in the race of the best DC series…does that surprise anyone that he would win the race?
The Flash—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“Pilot”
1.1 Pilot Airdate: 10/07/14
Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) feels like he’s always behind. When he is hit by lightning on the night S.T.A.R. Labs’ experimental particle accelerator explodes, Barry is in a coma for nine months. When he wakes up Barry finds things are different. Not only is his best friend (and secret crush) Iris West (Candice Patton) dating Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett), but Barry learns he has new powers of superhuman speed. With the help of Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), Dr. Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), and Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), Barry is going to put his new powers to the test…and stop Clyde Mardon (Chad Rook) aka “The Weather Wizard” who is robbing banks all over Central City.
“The Fastest Man Alive”
1.2 Fastest Man Alive Airdate: 10/14/14
As Barry secretly works to protect Central City using his new powers, rumors of a superhumanly fast man begin to spread across the city. Simon Stagg (William Sadler) finds himself targeted by an assassin named Danton Black (Michael Christopher Smith) who has a secret ability of his own. When Barry finds being a hero is too much for him, Barry must turn to Joe ( ) for encouragement…whether Joe wants to give it or not. Iris begins tracking down the Flash for her story, and Dr. Wells reveals he has secrets of his own.
“Things You Can’t Outrun”
1.3 Things You Can’t Outrun Airdate: 10/21/14
Dr. Wells, Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry must decide what to do with the superhumans they capture and decide the particle accelerator might be the perfect location…forcing Caitlin to remember the death of her fiancé Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell). A new superhuman killer nicknamed the Mist (Anthony Carrigan) is out for revenge against the people he blames for his death, and Barry learns that Joe could be on his list.
“Going Rogue”
1.4 Going Rogue Airdate: 10/28/14
Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) has come to Central City just as Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller) decides to steal a giant diamond from a museum display. When “Captain Cold” arms himself with a freeze gun created by Cisco and stolen from S.T.A.R. Labs, the Flash finds he’s facing an enemy who could actually kill him. Joe deals with learning that Eddie and Iris are dating.
“Plastique”
1.5 Plastique Airdate: 11/11/14
When a girl named Bette Sans Souci (Kelly Frye) is revealed to have explosive powers, Barry learns that she’s become the target of General Wade Eiling (Clancy Brown) who wants to build his own superhuman army…and Barry must get to her first! Joe learns about the new obsession of Iris with “the Blur” and orders Barry to shut it down.
“The Flash Is Born”
1.6 The Flash Is Born Airdate: 11/18/14
When Barry encounters a superhuman who turns out to be his old school bully Tony Woodward (Greg Finley), he realizes he has come up against someone he might not be able to beat. Joe sets his sights on Wells as a potential suspect in the murder of Barry’s mother. Iris’s blog about the Blur begins to attract the wrong type of attention…but could lead to a big creation!
“Power Outage”
1.7 Power Outage Airdate: 11/25/14
Affected by the accident with the particle accelerator, Farooq Gibran (Michael Reventar) now finds himself an energy-syphon, and Barry is his latest victim. Barry finds himself powerless as “Blackout” continues to seek new energy. Barry’s lack of power could cost Iris, Joe, and Eddie their lives when William Tockman (Robert Knepper) takes the police station hostage.
“Flash vs. Arrow”
1.8 Flash vs. Arrow Airdate: 12/02/14
A man named Roy G. Bivolo (Paul Anthony) reveals he has the power to turn people evil through his eyes. As Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) investigates a lead in Star City, Flash discovers the “Rainbow Raider” might have turned him in an unexpected way…leading to a showdown with Eddie over Iris. Caitlin continues to mourn Ronnie but is unaware that Ronnie might not be dead.
“The Man in the Yellow Suit”
1.9 The Man in the Yellow Suit Airdate: 12/19/14
Mercury Labs is targeted by the man in the yellow suit, and Barry learns that the person that killed his mother has returned. Nicknamed the “Reverse-Flash”, the Reverse-Flash attempts to get tachyon particles…leading to the perfect trap for Wells, Barry, and the police. With Christmas approaching and Iris moving in with Eddie, Barry makes a big leap in his relationship with Iris. Cisco and Caitlin make a discovery about Ronnie.
“Revenge of the Rogues”
1.10 Revenge of the Rogues Airdate: 01/20/15
Snart is back and he’s brought his friend Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell) to join him. As “Captain Cold” and “Heat Wave” tear up the city to bait the Flash, Barry ways his responsibilities to S. T. A. R. Labs and Dr. Wells. Iris moves in with Eddie leading Barry to make a big decision about his own living status.
“The Sound and the Fury”
1.11 The Sound and the Fury Airdate: 01/27/15
Wells’ past has returned in the form of Hartley Rathaway (Andy Mientus) who reveals he knows Wells’ secret. Iris takes a new jump as a reporter but learns her job comes with stipulations. The “Pied Piper” has an endgame and Flash, Wells, Frost, and Cisco are playing right into his hand…and Hartley has an ace up his sleeve.
“Crazy for You”
1.12 Crazy for You Airdate: 02/03/15
Barry and Caitlin wonder if their lives have stalled while pining for people they can’t be with. Cisco takes a dangerous path with Hartley to find out what he knows about Firestorm and what it means for Ronnie. The escape of Clay Parker (Micah Parker) with the help of his superhuman girlfriend Shawna “Peek-a-Boo” Baez (Britne Oldford) leads Flash into battle with someone who is actually faster than he is. As Iris tries to adjust to her new job, Barry meets one of her coworkers: Linda Park (Malese Jow).
“The Nuclear Man”
1.13 The Nuclear Man Airdate: 02/10/15
Ronnie is Professor Stein…or Professor Stein is Robbie? Caitlin and Wells set out to find Firestorm with Barry’s help, but discover that Firestorm could be headed for a meltdown. Barry finds trying to balance his career and the Flash could be a problem as he starts dating Linda. Joe looks to Cisco for help with the investigation into the death of Barry’s mother, but Joe and Cisco uncover the unexpected.
“Fallout”
1.14 Fallout Airdate: 02/17/15
Ronnie and Stein have been separated, but they discover they might not be as separate as they believe. Joe shares Cisco’s discovery that Barry was the second Speedster at his mother’s death, and Barry questions if that means he is destine to fail. Ronnie and Stein’s life apart might be short lived when General Eiling targets Firestorm and tries to capture him for his own.
“Out of Time”
1.15 Out of Time Airdate: 03/17/15
After seeing a strange image of himself, Barry finds himself up against Clyde Mardon’s brother Mark (Liam McIntyre)…and the new Weather Wizard is targeting Joe for killing his brother. Iris finds tension with Linda and Eddie after an awkward double date. A proposed tell-all article by Iris’ advisor Mason Bridge (Roger Howarth) leads Caitlin and Cisco into a dangerous investigation of Wells. The Weather Wizard’s endgame puts Barry to the test and leads to a shocking revelations.
“Rogue Time”
1.16 Rogue Time Airdate: 03/24/15
Barry has traveled back in time a day and has a chance to change thing…against the warnings of Wells. With the Weather Wizard out of the way, Barry finds Joe is safe, Captain Singh (Patrick Sabongui) is uninjured, Iris doesn’t know his identity, and remains unaware that Wells killed Cisco in the alternate timeline, but Barry has new problems when Cisco and his brother Dante (Nicholas Gonzalez) are kidnapped by Captain Cold, Heatwave, and Cold’s sister Lisa (Peyton List). Plus, he the situation with Iris and Eddie leads to a break-up, and Barry is about to find out that changing the past could be dangerous.
“Tricksters”
1.17 Tricksters Airdate: 03/31/15
There is a new Tricker (Devon Graye) in town and the old Trickster (Mark Hamill) isn’t happy about it. As Joe and Barry work with the original Trickster in Iron Heights, they also begin their investigation into Dr. Wells…as the truth about Dr. Wells’ past as the Reverse-Flash is revealed!
“All-Star Team-Up”
1.18 All Star Team Up Airdate: 04/14/15
Felicity is back and she’s brought her new boyfriend Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) who needs help with his suit. While Barry, Eddie, and Joe investigate Harrison’s past, Barry questions if he can trust Cisco and Caitlin. Eddie finds that keeping secrets from Iris could cost him his relationship. When a woman who appears to control bees named Brie Larvan aka the Bug-Eyed Bandit (Emily Kinney) targets S. T. A. R.’s rival Mercury, Barry must trust those he’s investigating.
“Who Is Harrison Wells?”
1.19 Who Is Harrison Wells? Airdate: 04/21/15
Barry has revealed his findings to Cisco and Caitlin, and Cisco’s prophetic dreams could convince him of the truth. Caitlin wrestles with the idea that the man who trusted her cannot be trusted and finds she must cover for Joe and Cisco as they head to Starling City to investigate Harrison’s car accident. A shapeshifter named Hannibal Bates aka Everyman is using his ability to commit crimes…and Barry must catch him without using his abilities.
“The Trap”
1.20 The Trap Airdate: 04/28/15
Wells’s secret is out and now Barry, Eddie, Joe, Caitlin, and Cisco must find out what to do with it. Eddie prepares for the next big step with Iris but finds Joe is objecting. A plan is set to clear Barry’s father’s name…but the Reverse-Flash might be one step ahead of him!
“Grodd Lives”
1.21 Grodd Lives Airdate: 05/05/15
Eddie is a prisoner of the Reverse-Flash and now Iris knows Barry’s secret. As the Flash tries to find Eddie, a new threat arises when General Eiling arrives under the control of someone calling himself Grodd, but Barry is about to find out that Grodd isn’t a regular metahuman.
“Rogue Air”
1.22 Rogue Air Aidate: 05/12/15
Eddie is safe, but the Flash learns that Reverse-Flash intends to power the particle accelerator again. With the prisoners in danger, Flash must look for help in Captain Cold and his sister “Golden Glider” to transport them but working criminals is a dangerous undertaking. Plus, Flash finds assistance in dealing with the Reverse-Flash when friends come to town.
“Fast Enough”
1.23 Fast Enough Airdate: 05/19/15
Reverse-Flash has been captured and now Barry must face a choice. He can return to the past and save his mother…giving up Joe, Iris, and everyone he knows or he can continue to live his life as the Flash. With the only means to send Reverse-Flash back to the future in creating a wormhole in Central City, Flash must run for his life!
Related Links:
Arrow—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Arrow—Season 2 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Supergirl—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Legends of Tomorrow—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
