The Flash: Pilot Review- Winning the Race

By Nolan P. Smith

(Victor Valley)– This past week, the CW premiered their latest super hero show, The Flash. A spin-off from the hit series Arrow, The Flash focuses on the fastest man alive: so did the pilot episode win the race of keeping the attention of viewers around the globe?

For me, The Flash was everything I could hope for, and more. The show stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, Crime Scene Assistant in Central City, and the man behind the crimson suit. Having first appeared on Arrow, Allen is a bit younger than many comic fans remember the scarlet speedster, but works extremely well as the new hero. Unlike Arrow, the world of Central City is a much brighter, busier city, one struck with a freak accident that triggers the storm that turns Allen into the Flash. But he’s not the only one affected, as we see in the first episode.

Clyde Mardon (Chad Rook) is one of those other people affected by accident that created The Flash, except he’s a bank robber, and known in comics as the Weather Wizard, a classic villain from the Flash’s rogue’s gallery. The pilot episode not only recounts how Allen got his powers (seen in Arrow last season as well), but also shows a battle between metahumans as the Flash goes toe to toe with Weather Wizard. Not only that, but we see a TON of Easter eggs (yellow lightning with a blurry yellow figure? Zoom! Grodd!) that hint at what’s to come.

I felt the episode delivered on all levels. We got introduced to a new world of characters, dangerous new villains, a superhero show that has actual costume wearing superheroes, and even a familiar face or two. This episode felt like an amazing start to a promising show, and I personally can’t wait to see what happens from here. I give the pilot episode of The Flash a 9 out of 10.