The Flash
Summary
Even a decade after Grant Gustin ’s entry as The CW ’s Barry Allen inThe Flash , the series still persist as popular and impactful as it was when it began in 2014 . Set outside the mainDC Universe , Gustin debut as the Flash inArrow , the first series in the franchise that would become the " Arrowverse " . Gustin ’s spinoff , The Flash , explore crime - scene investigator Barry Allen ’s story in more detail , render him becoming a superhero after an explosion at STAR Labs invest him ability , including superhuman fastness . The Flashran for nine seasons , premiering in October 2014 and ending in May 2023 , but the serial publication still accommodate up after all this time .
The Flashconcluded with its 9th time of year , and this not only cross out the end ofThe newsflash , but also theconclusion of the entire Arrowverse . The CW ’s dealership extended over six series and two web - serial publication , get a plenteous universe of small - covert superheroes while Warner Bros. developed the DC Extended Universe in theater of operations . Grant Gustin ’s Barry Allen became the fundament of the Arrowverse , take part in every crossing event , and interact with many other heroes , as well as a smorgasbord of villains accommodate from the Page of DC Comics . Even after ending earlier in 2023,The Flashis still remembered as one of the most popularDC TV showsin history .
With The Flash serial ending its footrace after nine seasons , the hereafter of the shared Arrowverse setting after The Flash finale is in interrogative sentence .
10The Flash’s Light-Hearted Tones Lets It Be Comic-Accurate
Iconic DC Comics Stories Fits Perfectly Into The Flash’s Episodic Format
Despite cover with some emotional and intense plot line , The Flashmanaged to keep back a scant - hearted , campy belief throughout its full nine time of year discharge . The episodic format of The CW ’s series play utterly intoThe Flash’scase - of - the - hebdomad paper , and helped to set up Grant Gustin ’s Barry Allen as one of the most likable and accessiblecharacters in the Arrowverse . The Flashis wide regard as one of the best live - activity DC Comics adaptation , due in part to its mirroring of unmarried - issue funnies that told little and snappy stories while playing into the overarching storyline , and its slaphappy textures that hold onto the light tones of its author material .
9The Flash Doesn’t Fall Into Recent Superhero Tropes
Many Recent Superhero Stories Have Been Darker & Grittier
Many comic book adaptation in recent year have toy into the benighted pure tone of the original comic storylines , both in theDCEU and MCU , as well as other alive - action superhero franchises . This does supply a wealthiness of smashing cloth , butThe Flashalso make out to retain its playfulness - loving and brighter feeling throughout its campaign . That ’s not to say that Grant Gustin ’s Barry Allen did n’t embark on some dark and granular storyline , but for the most part , The Flashdelivered entertaining and vibrant storyline that tapped into component of drollery , Romance language and science fabrication , heighten the outlandish storyline of the Flash ’s risky venture perfectly .
8The Flash Embraced DC Comics' Weirder Storylines
The Flash Embraces But Updates Strange DC Comics Narratives
By retaining its easy - hearted tones , The Flashwas able to exploit into DC Comics ' most unorthodox and weird storylines without ever feel too jarring for interview . Barry Allen debut in DC Comics during the fifties , which is widely think to be one of the weirder periods of comic Christian Bible storytelling , andThe Flashnever shy forth from bringing these more absurd element to the screen . scoundrel such as the Rainbow Rider , Rag Doll , King Shark and Gorilla Grodd were adapted bright , despite perhaps being some of the heavy characters to bring to life realistically , while the Flash ’s own experiences with the strange and enigmatic Speed Force never feel out - of - place .
7The Flash Paid Attention To Its Supporting Characters
Team Flash Is Fully Fleshed Out Over The Series' Duration
Although Grant Gustin ’s Barry Allen was evidently the focus ofThe Flash , the serial also spent a huge amount of prison term developing its supporting cast . type such as Caitlin Snow , Cisco Ramon , Joe West and Wally West were built up bit by bit overThe Flash’sentire nine season run , with their backstories and character development being shown in depth . to boot , Iris West ’s evolution from best friend to married woman of Barry Allen experience her become one of the most essential characters in the series . Even the supporting villains saw huge maturation , with several going on to star in other series ' such asLegends of Tomorrow .
6The Flash Uses Plenty Of Villains From DC Comics
The Flash’s Villains Are Used In Clever Ways
Some superhero TV show can pass into the trap of focusing too conspicuously on only one baddie for an entire season , butThe Flashnever suffer from this problem . The show ’s case - of - the - workweek format admit many exciting scoundrel from DC Comics to be brought into unrecorded - action , include many members ofthe Flash ’s rogue gallerysuch as Captain Cold , Heat Wave , the Pied Piper and Mirror Master . Even though these smaller villains were used extensively , each time of year also feature a main opponent , bringing iconic enemy such as the Anti - Monitor , Savitar , Godspeed and the Reverse - Flash to sprightliness in terrific detail , something that many other superhero franchises have fallen flat on .
5The CW Handled The Multiverse Perfectly
The Multiverse Is Key To The Flash’s DC Comics Storylines
The concept of the multiverse has become a pop vehicle for storytelling in late superhero medium , with the DCEU’sThe Flashdealing with Ezra Miller ’s Barry Allen messing with the multiverse , and Marvel Studios now deeply within the MCU ’s Multiverse Saga . However , The Flashon The CW began paddle with the multiverse long before either of these major cinematic franchise , and arguably manage the conception stronger . The Arrowverse ’s major crosswalk event , many of which put the Flash front - and - center , used the multiverse to bring hero such as Supergirl and Superman into the narrative . The Flash’smultiverse was explicate amply and understandably , leaving very few gaps for confusion .
4The Flash Has Clear Character Development
Major Events Have Long-Lasting Effects On The Flash’s Characters
Over the duration of its nine seasons , The Flash’scharacters grew and changed drastically , with each major event having a domino - effect on the future narrative of the series . Between 2014 and 2023 , audience watchedBarry Allen and Iris West ’s loveblossom , saw Barry uncover the whodunit of his mother ’s end , and watched as allies transformed into enemies . The Flashbased every decision it made on the chemistry between actors and the huge steps storylines made in the series ' early days , showing a innate onward motion that makesThe Flashone of the easiest superhero boob tube testify to become fully invested in .
3The Flash’s Visual Effects Are Crisp & Clean
The Flash Had Surprisingly Strong VFX For A TV Series
The CW ’s Arrowverse shows obviously were n’t made with a budget big enough to rival the theatrical going of the DCEU , but they still put their money where it weigh . InThe Flash’scase , a series focalise on a speeding zep who produces lightning when he move could have face sappy and lusterless . Despite this possibility , The Flash’svisual effects were always frizzly and clean , delivering some of the strongest VFXthat were even more consistent than thedodgy visual essence used in DC Studios’The Flashas part of the DCEU . Fantastic slo - mo sequence , strong choreographed fight and naturalistic CGI theatrical role immersed hearing fully in the world ofThe Flash .
2The Flash’s Main Villain Is Truly Terrifying
The Reverse-Flash Persists As A Villain Through The Entire Series
WhileThe Flashfeatured a huge array of DC Comics villain , one prevailed over any other throughout the entire run of the series : Eobard Thawne ’s Reverse - Flash . Initially depicted as Harrison Wells , a member of Team Flash , Tom Cavanagh ’s Eobard Thawne discover himself to be the Flash ’s archenemy from the future , and their blood feud unfolded during every single season ofThe ostentation . This allow Cavanagh to perfect his depiction of the Reverse - Flash , find nuances in his eccentric that made him in truth terrifying , and gave Grant Gustin a splendid villain to bounce off of from origin to terminate .
1Grant Gustin Is The Perfect Barry Allen
Grant Gustin Has Portrayed The Flash Since 2013
Several actors have portrayed Barry Allen in live - action over the days , yetGrant Gustin is wide regarded as the most comic - precise characterization , and the most attached to the part . Gustin devoted an intact decade to portraying Barry Allen , bringing a huge number of DC Comics storylines to living in vivid detail , even when some narrative may have been silly and outlandish , he was fully invested . WhileEzra Miller portrayed Barry Allen in the DCEU , controversies border the worker tainted the character and the performance of 2023’sThe Flash , but Grant Gustin ’s depiction of the Scarlet Speedster delivered a magnetic , charming and loveable version of the type inThe Flash .
