One of the biggest new hits of the 2014 TV season has been The Flash. Spinning off from Arrow, the show was the CW’s biggest debut of all time, and has received positive reviews from fans and critics alike. It even earned a full-season order after the second episode aired. Whether you’re a comic book fan or just looking for good television, the consensus is The Flash is worth checking out, and now is the best time to do so.
Currently, every Flash episode that’s aired is available on the CW’s website. This is the best opportunity you’ll have to catch up online, since typically the CW only keeps five episodes around at a time. Meaning that once next week’s episode, titled “The Flash Is Born,” goes up, the pilot will likely be removed from the website. So even if you’re not keen on binge-watching all five at once, we suggest checking out the pilot before it’s gone, as it's free and currently easy to access.
Barry Allen has dealt with a lot during the past five episodes. After being struck by lightning after the Central City particle accelerator exploded, Barry woke up from a nine-month coma to discover that he has superhuman speed. With the help of his new friends at S.T.A.R. Labs, he is using his new powers to protect the citizens of Central City as The Flash, while still also going to his day job as a forensic scientist for the Central City Police Department. As Barry soon learns though, he wasn’t the only one who gained powers, and much of his duties as The Flash revolve around stopping rogue metahumans like Weather Wizard and The Mist. He’s also dealt with non-powered enemies who are just as dangerous, like Captain Cold and General Wade Eiling.
The show’s supporting cast includes S.T.A.R. Labs scientists Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon, Barry’s longtime friend and love interest Iris West, her father Detective Joe West and his partner Eddie Thawne. However, the show’s biggest mystery comes from Harrison Wells, the man who led the particle accelerator project. Confined to a wheelchair and made a pariah after the failed experiment, viewers have learned that Harrison is hiding dark secrets, and his intentions for Barry are dubious at best. The show is also including many non-Flash characters from the DC universe, and Arrow fans can look forward to a crossover with the series next month. So if you’re looking to jump onto a show that’s appealing to longtime comic book fans and newcomers, head over to the CW’s website and catch up on the Scarlet Speedster’s exploits.
