The Flash: Season 1 [DVD] [2015]

Description

From the Arrow creative team of executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and director David Nutter, The Flash is a fast-paced super hero drama that follows the high-speed adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. The action drama follows Central City Police scientist Barry Allen, an everyday guy with the heart of a hero and the genuine desire to help others. Standing still emotionally since the day his mother was murdered (and his father unjustly jailed for the crime), Barry was taken in as a child by the investigating Detective West and raised in a cop's home alongside West's supersmart daughter (and Barry's dream girl) Iris. But when an unexpected and devastating accident at the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator facility strikes Barry, he finds himself suddenly charged with the incredible power to move at super speeds. While Barry has always been a hero in his soul, his newfound powers have finally given him the ability to act like one. With the help of the research team at S.T.A.R. Labs -- including billionaire visionary Harrison Wells, biogenetics expert Caitlin Snow and the eternally upbeat Cisco Ramon -- Barry begins testing the limits of his evolving powers and using them to stop crime, ensuring that no one suffers a similar tragedy to his own family history. Working with his adopted father Detective West; West's conceited partner Detective Eddie Thawne and Iris West, who's earning her degree in Criminal Psychology, Barry uses his superhuman abilities to help the people of Central City and stop the rogues' gallery of villains -- many of whom have also been altered by the particle accelerator explosion. Concealing his identity behind his incredible velocity, Barry can not only accomplish feats faster than human comprehension, but also taps into an energy that allows him to access moments out of time -- both past and future. With a winning personality and a smile on his face, Barry Allen -- aka The Flash -- is finally moving forward in life ... very, very fast! Review: A Fast-Paced and Entertaining Superhero Origin - The Flash: Season 1 delivers an electrifying mix of action, heart, and humor, making it a must-watch for fans of superhero stories. From its engaging storytelling to its impressive special effects, this season is a strong introduction to the Scarlet Speedster's world. The show does a great job of exploring Barry Allen's transformation into The Flash, blending emotional depth with comic book excitement. Grant Gustin is perfectly cast as Barry, bringing a mix of vulnerability, charm, and heroism to the role. The supporting cast, including Candice Patton as Iris West and Tom Cavanagh as the mysterious Harrison Wells, adds depth and intrigue to the series. The storyline strikes a good balance between episodic "villain of the week" adventures and an overarching narrative centered around Barry's quest to solve his mother's murder. The episodes are well-paced, with plenty of twists and emotional moments to keep you invested. The Reverse-Flash storyline, in particular, is gripping and sets the stage for some truly epic confrontations. Visually, the show impresses with its portrayal of Barry's super-speed. The special effects are surprisingly good for a TV budget, and the action sequences are exciting and inventive. The series also embraces its comic book roots, delivering fun nods and Easter eggs for longtime fans. That said, the season does have a few predictable moments, and some of the dialogue can be a bit cliché. However, these minor flaws are easily outweighed by the show's charm and energy. Overall, The Flash: Season 1 is an enjoyable and accessible entry into the DC Universe. Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to superhero tales, this series is a fun ride that’s well worth your time. Review: A great first season - 'The Flash' is the first spinoff from the very entertaining 'Arrow' and, although the tone is somewhat lighter than that of its parent series, 'The Flash' is just as good if not slightly better. The series runs concurrently with the third season of 'Arrow' and there are quite a few crossovers between the two series so there are a number of spoilers for those not up to date with its parent series. 'The Flash' itself is a very entertaining show that, despite being somewhat episodic for the most part, has various things that tie each episode together and build to a very good final few episodes. Highlights of the series for me include the episodes that deal the series story arc and the Reverse-Flash (such as 'The Man in the Yellow Suit' and 'The Trap'), as well as those that involve my favourite character from the series Captain Cold ('Going Rogue', 'Revenge of the Rogues', 'Rogue Time' and 'Rogue Air'). As for the episodes I like least; in some of the early episodes (such as 'Things you can’t Outrun' and 'Plastique'), the show is still finding its feet and aren’t nearly as good as some of the later episodes. The acting of the people in the series is mostly very good with all the main cast seeming to thoroughly enjoy the roles that they play. Grant Gustin is very good as Barry Allen/The Flash with Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin and Carlos Valdes also being particularly good as Dr Wells, Joe West and Cisco Remon respectively. As for the villains, Wentworth Miller who plays Leonard Snart/Captain Cold is by far my favourite giving a beautifully hammy performance. A special mention must go to Mark Hamill as well who reprises his role as James Jesse/The Trickster from the 1990 Flash TV show in the hilarious episode 'Tricksters'. The special effects used in the series are generally very good throughout, although it does use the old trick of setting CGI heavy scenes in the dark in an attempt to hide any problems. Special features for the five disc DVD set include deleted scenes, commentaries, outtakes and four featurettes about various aspects of the show (such as behind the scenes on the episode 'Tricksters' and one on the VFX used in the show). 'The Flash' is a very entraining show once it gets going and I would probably rate it slightly better than either season one or two of 'Arrow' at a low five stars and I will be very much looking forward to the second series.