This season of The Flash has, by all accounts, exceeded expectations on just about every count. It was exciting, sweet, compelling, and kept us wanting more. Let’s look back on some of the more memorable moments of the season, and feel free to comment on anything I missed!
Great Leading Role: Barry Allen (Grant Gustin)
The reason I am only focusing on the leading roles is that, for the most part, every supporting character was excellent. Caitlin, Wells, Joe, Eddie, Cisco – all of them were superb in their roles, becoming one of the strongest ensembles on TV. But all of that would be rendered moot if the star wasn’t on point, and Grant Gustin proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is the right man to be playing Barry Allen on television (and, arguably, in movies, too).
From the youthful energy he brings to his powers to the somber moments he handles with grace, Gustin provides the show with a spark and an emotional center that allows the rest of the cast to work in their respective roles. Cisco would be insufferable if he didn’t have Barry as a foil nearly as nerdy and excitable as he is; Caitlin would seem like a stick in the mud if her grief over Ronnie wasn’t matched with Barry’s over his mother’s death and his father’s incarceration. Barry is a good son, a good friend, and a great superhero.
Not So Great Leading Role: Iris West (Candice Patton)
I’m not really into slamming people for their hard work, but there is very little about Iris West that works well right now. Candice Patton is clearly trying hard, but there is very little chemistry between her and Gustin and, without that chemistry, the character is rendered a bit useless. It isn’t a case of Patton not being a good actress, as she has had a number of quite convincing scenes this season, but there is something about her and Gustin together that just doesn’t click.
I think it might come down to Barry’s sincerity being so on his sleeve that you need to have someone alongside him that is either as equally open, or is the polar opposite. That’s why the brief flirtation with Caitlin worked so well – she’s so cold (no pun intended) and he’s so warm, that they just worked well together. The best that Barry and Iris were was when she was starry-eyed at the Flash on the rooftop – because she was meeting his enthusiasm more than half way.
In the second season, the way they handle Iris will go a long way towards whether or not it can top the stellar first season.
Great Villain: Grodd
This was a toss up between Grodd and the Reverse Flash, but I had to give the edge to Grodd only because HOLY SHIT GRODD WAS JUST ON TELEVISION AND LOOKED SCARY. If you had told me a year ago how well the show would’ve pulled off Grodd, I’d have called you an idiot. Well, I’ve been made the fool, yet again, by the CW. Damn you, syndication/network hybrid!
Not So Great Villain: Bug Eyed Bandit
This was so weird – they hid a bankable guest star (The Walking Dead‘s Emily Kinney) in a tiny role, hiding all her natural charm and sucking all the fun from a certifiably goofy Silver Age character. Blah.
Great Episode: Fast Enough
The season finale was the most ‘comic book’ thing I’ve ever seen on a screen – television or theater – in my thirty two years on this planet. It was so near perfect that it seems almost like a dream – it teased so many incredible possibilities for season 2 and beyond, while wrapping up many of the season one storylines, while furthering just about every character in the process – man, it was great. I don’t know if the show can ever top the feel of this episode – but I hope they try each and every week.
Continued belowNot So Great Episode: All-Star Team Up
A lame villain (the already discussed Bug Eyed Bandit) and a ton of annoying Iris/Eddie drama couldn’t even be saved by some charming Brandon Routh goodness. What is amazing is that this is still an above average episode of most superhero TV, but this show set the bar so high that this feels like a failure. By far, the most Smallville episode of the show thus far.
Great Goofy Moment: Karaoke Jam
I could watch drunken Caitlin karaoke all day long. Barry proves himself to be a stud to a very particular kind of woman, Caitlin proves herself to be an incredibly cheap date, and the show found a way to use Gustin’s Glee background for good, rather than evil. Well played.
Not So Great Goofy Moment: The Golden Glider
Flawed logic, a rushed origin, and a total dismissal of many of the core aspects of the comics-version of the character led to a huge missed opportunity for the sister Snart. Just having Cisco create a gun that shoots gold might be the laziest and cheesiest moment in the entire series.
Great Moment: Eddie’s Sacrifice
The feels. All the feels.
Not So Great Moment: All the Dead Rogues
There is something really pure about the relationship the Flash has with his rogues, and the show has gotten better at making that tangible, but there is still a hefty body count left on the table. Let’s make use of the super prison more next season, and focus less on the need to kill off any minor villain, deal? Deal!
Bonus Awesomeness:
(Hat tip to regular commenter Masked Man Issue 1 for that amazing find)
