The pilot episode for The CW‘s upcoming The Flash TV series leaked online, which is probably because someone at the network wants to test out its quality on audiences who are used to just not watching TV. It’s no secret that Jordan and I are massive fans of The CW’s other DC Entertainment property, Arrow, which stars stuntman-turned-actor Stephen Amell as a low-rent Batman knockoff and, you guys, that show is basically The Best and Mr. Amell is our hero. So how does their Flash spinoff starring Grant Gustin shake up? We illegally downloaded stumbled upon the pilot to watch it and tell you.
Grant Gustin as The Flash
Nas: Where do we even begin? The Flash is my favorite fucking superhero in the whole DC Universe, man. Not the Barry Allen version of The Flash, mind you, but the Wally West one (it’s a long story, kids). Of course DC Entertainment is well aware of that and so they’ve created a version of Barry who behaves like Wally. And he’s pretty fun to watch.
Jordan: I’ve really liked the casting since Gustin showed up on Arrow. He is light and fun. God knows we need a light super hero.
Nas: I know that’s not popular sentiment but yes, exactly. We have a very serious Batman and a very serious Superma–<mic screech> now. The Flash, like Spider-Man, is one character who’s supposed to be fun.
Jordan: Poor old Peter Parker is beaten within an inch of happiness almost every iteration but they seem to have captured the joy of Flash with Gustin, someone who enjoys his powers and is going to try and be optimistic about it rather than see it as some sort of curse.
Nas: Another thing that is vital. We all sat through the same Superma–<mic screech> movie where the most powerful being on the planet meandered around in a stolen shirt, listening to Eddie Vedder and looking like every chance he got to use his powers (except for flying) was an absolute pain, right? Yes this show has a bit of that drama when Gustin is testing his speed and remembers the death of his mother, but for the most part he’s all smiles. The bit where he discovers his super-speed and immediately goes running down an alley cheering? Best ever.
Jordan: Also I love me some CW love triangles and you can see Gustin is gonna make it way more goofy, kinda like Adam Brody’s Seth from the OC.
Nas: Flash Fact: Adam Brody was cast as Barry Allen/The Flash in the Justice League movie that never got made back in ’09. You know, the one that George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet) was going to direct? Again, the casting intentionally cribs Wally West’s personality for the Barry Allen character, but it works. The Flash should be fun and light-hearted and, yes, goofy. Barry Allen’s whole deal in 60s comics was that he was always late for dates and work despite having super speed. You need a level of goofiness to sell that kind of gag.
The Cast
Jordan: So far so good hey. I love the West family! ‘Specially Joe West, Iris’ dad. It feels like he is totally going to be Flash’s mentor, heck he is already the secondary father figure.
Nas: Oh yeah, I’d actually love to see him show up in the comics. For Arrow they made up Diggle to be the wise mentor character who helps Ollie out but also kicks ass. Joe West looks like he’s gonna be that for Barry. Although because this show is already sooooo ‘Spider-Man’, Joe’s head is pretty much on the chopping block here. What did you think of Iris?
Jordan: Iris is great too. She’s set up nicely and comes across better than I thought she would. I really didn’t want another Laurel Lance, god she is the worst part of Arrow, playing second fiddle only to Ollie’s useless sister Speedy.
Nas: God, I wish they would just kill Speedy off already. She made sense when that show thought it was gonna be way more like Dawson’s Creek and they needed a troubled young woman. Now they’ve moved on to fights with Australian Deathstroke and his Occupy Movement army or whatever, they need to clear her the hell out. Iris was likable enough but she still feels like she’s just there for the love triangle. We need more characterization like Barry and Joe got in this episode.
Jordan: Iris seems to be able to be a much stronger character than them. The cast of Star Labs is gonna be interesting to watch as well, especially Cisco. How long till they all start developing there powers?
Nas: Oh yeah, Cisco Ramone is a pretty awful character in the comics called Vibe. And Caitlin Snow, the other scientist is Killer Frost. It’ll be interesting to see if they fully develop the way every Arrow supporting cast member has become some kind of super-vigilante over the course of the show.
The Origin
Jordan: If the CW has got anything right, it’s origin stories. Okay maybe they tweaked the villains like Deathstroke and Count Vertigo (who needs to be updated to the more recent comic book version… please) but they got Green Arrow down so is it a surprise that they straight up nailed Flash?
Nas: Yeah, when they first introduced the concept of Ollie Queen as a murdering vigilante, I thought they’d flubbed it. But they’ve course-corrected perfectly to make him more of the hero we know from the comics. Or Batman, I guess. The best thing about The Flash’s origin in this is that it’s handled in one episode, and even then it feels super-brisk. They want to get to the part where the drama kicks in, not fixate on this stuff about learning to run.
Jordan: I can’t even think of anything wrong with it. It’s spot on really. Lighting, chemicals and AWESOME…
Nas: Ahem. Lightning, chemicals, “particle accelerator” and then AWESOME. Normally I’m not a fan of multiple characters getting their super-powers in the same convenient accident, but again, they’ve established a perfect in-story reason for why everybody suddenly can control the weather or shoot fire out their hands, so I’m in.
The Villains
Nas: It was nice that they kicked straight into setting up two villains. We’ve got the mysterious speedster who murdered Barry’s mom and the Weather Wizard, who gets shot at the end of the episode but still may not be dead-dead.
Jordan: Well, pseudo-Weather Wizard is a good start. I really long for The Flash’s Rogues and hopefully this isn’t Arrow, where villains must die at the end of each episode.
Nas: The neat thing about the Weather Wizard guy was that he was the comic book villain’s brother, not the real Weather Wizard. So if he’s dead, it’s probably only to set up the real character showing up in the story. A hallmark of The Flash’s comics are his Rogues so I hope they do keep them alive and locked up in prison.
Jordan: They certainly nodded to a lot of great Flash foes. Season One is totally gonna be all about Zoom, they are straight up doing comic writer Geoff Johns’ retelling of The Flash’s origin and I”M SO EXCITED.
Nas: I’m always torn about his version of the origin but I’m willing to admit it adds a lot of drama to the character’s backstory.
Jordan: Also Grodd! They fucken went there. Please, Season 2. Please just have him and his Apes…
Nas: For the non-fan, Grodd is a psychic man-eating gorilla from a secret gorilla city in the heart of the Congo. Why? Because comics are awesome. I hope he shows up.
The Cops
Jordan: Gah they were a bit too generic aside from Joe West. I feel they should really have Barry with a team of CSIs like they do in the current run of comics.
Nas: I assume they’ll slowly add them all in as they move forward. I do love the ridiculous CW-ness of putting his CSI lab inside a beautiful loft above the police department. It’s ridiculous enough that you kinda have to love it.
Jordan: Other than that, the cops need to be better characters. We haven’t had much on Eddie Thawne and those of us who read comics will know who he is and that he is more than just a rival for Iris’s heart. So hopefully he starts getting developed more in the episodes.
Nas: You think they’re going there? Nah, I think they’re pulling a bait and switch like they did with Merlyn in Arrow. He’s probably the descendant of the guy you’re thinking of. Not only does he need more to do though, we also need to see the cops doing a few more police-y things. I mean, that’s where the budget really strained because we had cops not ever calling backup in two situations that required it.
The General Tone
Jordan: YAY! IT’S NOT DARK AND SERIOUS! YAY! HEY ZACK SYNDER, LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT THE FLASH PILOT! I”M AWESOME AND FUN!
Nas: Exactly.
Jordan: Look, the dark tone works for Arrow, but the show has been getting lighter and lighter as the writers learn more and more about Oliver Queen and Green Arrow. With Flash they realised what the character is about and how this show needs to be. I’m sure its going to get dark when it needs to, but it will hopefully hold true to what they have made it so far. Well done, CW.
Nas: They mostly managed a balancing act between the seriousness of a child watching his mother get murdered by a super-speedster and the fun of being able to run at super speed. It was great.
The Arrow Cameo
Jordan: FUCK YOU, STEPHEN AMELL, YOU’RE SO COOL. I love actors like Stephen, guys, who just have so much fun and really love what they are doing. He doesn’t pretend to be better than what he is, and he is genuinely so happy to have this opportunity.
Nas: Yep. He’s right up there with Uncle Vin, The Rock and Bill Murray for me.
Jordan: Also he loves and gives back to his fans. And that is totally what that scene was. Maybe he is the Batman of the DC TV universe or maybe not. But one thing is for sure, he is fucken great.
Nas: He’s my hero, dude. He is the Batman of the CW universe and I love him for it.
Final Thoughts
Jordan: This show is will be great for the same reasons Arrow is. If you don’t like Arrow and think it’s all doom and gloom for super heroes? Let the door hit you on the way out. It’s fun sit back and watch TV. But hopefully its a sign of change. Super Heroes are all about the best parts of human nature. Superman is the perfect human not because of his super powers, but because of he is all of humanities best traits like kindness and forgiveness. Comics are bright and hopeful. Well they use to be. And I would sure as hell like them to go back to that. Well not Batman, you were always dark buddy.
Nas: Basically, this show excites me. It’s not the best thing ever made. It’s not True Detective but it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to be fun. While superhero movies seem to be growing increasingly more serious and self-indulgent, the TV shows seem to be moving toward the stuff I loved about superheroes when I was a kid. My nephews are going to fucking love this show. I am going to fucking love this show. Because it’s not a dry, drab affair. It’s super power is not super-seriousness.
Nas Hoosen