The Flash: The Highlights & Lowlights of Each Season
The Flash: Analyzing the highs and lows of each season, from thrilling plot twists to lackluster villains Grant Gustin shines as the iconic live-action Flash, while some seasons struggle with character development and underutilized team members A must-read for fans of the fastest man alive
Article Overview
Tom Cavanagh's Harrison Wells as the Reverse-Flash in Season 1 was a perfectly paced and shocking twist that created an ominous atmosphere for the show.
Nora West-Allen was introduced as a significant character in Season 5, bringing forth poignant scenes and making a fantastic contribution to Team Flash.
The Season 7 finale encounter with Godspeed left much to be desired, as the visual effects were subpar, and the creative decision involving lightning swords was perplexing.
The Flash series, spanning nine seasons, captivated audiences with thrilling stories centered around its lead speedster. However, along with its many successes, each season of the Arrowverse show faced its own set of challenges. The conclusion of The Flash season 9 marked the finale for Grant Gustin's iconic Scarlet Speedster and the Arrowverse as a whole. It was revealed that the ongoing series Superman and Lois exists in its own universe, separate from the shared DC Universe on TV. From its inception in 2014, The Flash enjoyed a strong start but gradually encountered escalating issues as the years went by.
Despite its somewhat uneven trajectory, there are numerous aspects to appreciate in both the best and worst seasons of The Flash. Notably, Grant Gustin consistently delivers a powerful performance as the show's leading character across all nine seasons. The DC series boasts a talented ensemble cast that played an integral role in keeping the show afloat even when the narrative or visual effects faltered. The Flash successfully brought to life a myriad of enthralling characters from the speedster's comic book origins, featuring iconic villains like the Reverse-Flash, Zoom, and the Rogues, as well as beloved heroes such as Kid Flash and Impulse, among others. Regrettably, the show also fumbled with certain characters, resulting in some disappointing moments. Here, we explore the highlights and low points of each season of The Flash.
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18. Season 1: Harrison Wells Is The Reverse-Flash
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In the realm of The Flash, each season boasts its standout character, and vying for the top spot alongside Gustin's Barry is Tom Cavanagh's portrayal of Harrison Wells. The pinnacle of The Flash's sublime seasons is often regarded as the first, where the storyline meticulously unravels the shocking revelation that Barry's esteemed mentor is, in fact, the Reverse-Flash and the archnemesis responsible for his mother's untimely demise. Initially engrossing the audience with the bond shared between Wells and Barry, the series astoundingly transforms the character into a malevolent force. What makes this twist even more captivating is the gradual revelation, occurring several episodes later, which adds a foreboding undertone to the entire show.
Reverse-Flash was played by both Tom Cavanagh and Matt Letscher throughout The Flash.
17. Season 1: Barry Loses His Powers For The First Time
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While rewatching The Flash, it becomes apparent that season 1 is nearly flawless. However, one story arc that could have been omitted is when Barry loses his powers early on in the show. Merely seven episodes into the first season, the villain Blackout strikes Barry with his lightning powers, stripping away The Flash's speed. Not only was it far too effortless for Barry to lose his powers, but the fact that it was at the hands of a relatively insignificant villain only magnifies the disappointment.
16. Season 2: The Jay Garrick Fake Out
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Teddy Sears' Jay Garrick proved to be a valuable addition to Team Flash during The Flash season 2. His character not only formed a strong bond with Barry but also embarked on a captivating romance with Caitlin Snow. However, appearances can be deceiving. In a surprising twist, The Flash managed to upend both Team Flash and the audience by revealing that Jay, played by Sears, was actually the malevolent speedster known as Zoom all along. This revelation was executed flawlessly, showcasing the extent of Zoom's twisted villainy and solidifying his status as one of the most formidable foes to ever challenge The Flash.
15. Season 2: The Way Patty Spivot’s Story Ended
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The Flash's conclusion inevitably involved Barry and Iris, but the show could have handled Barry's best romance with Patty Spivot in a more satisfying manner. Shantel VanSanten's portrayal of Patty sparked incredible chemistry with Barry, and her character added depth by exploring his life at the CCPD due to Patty being a police officer. However, The Flash disappointingly concluded Patty's story by pressuring Barry into revealing his secret through a fabricated danger scenario, resulting in her departure on a train. This bitter ending for a fantastic character was exacerbated by the fact that Patty never reappeared.
14. Season 3: Team Flash Racing Against Time To Save Iris
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The Flash season 3 was characterized as the darkest of the show. Alongside confronting a villain with super speed, season 3 heightened the urgency by revealing that Savitar had a specific time and date to kill Iris, which became the focal point for Team Flash. Throughout the season, Barry and his companions tirelessly searched for ways to prevent Savitar from carrying out his plans. This creative decision infused the entire season with a pervasive sense of dread. The shocking revelation that Savitar was, in fact, a version of Barry Allen further intensified the weight of the storyline.
13. Season 3: Many Team Flash Members Had Little To Do
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During season 3, while Team Flash was focused on saving Iris' life, some characters were left with limited personal storylines. Due to the presence of a speedster villain and the primary hero, The Flash season 3 didn't have enough room to delve deeply into the arcs of fellow speedsters Jesse Wells and Wally West. Despite both characters receiving superhero alter egos and costumes, Jesse was swiftly sent off to Earth-3, and Kid Flash never quite reached the same level of prowess as Barry. Additionally, their budding romance was abruptly cut short.
12. Season 4: Barry Allen Gets Framed For Murder
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Season 4 of The Flash introduced a major shakeup by deviating from its usual focus on speedster villains. Instead, it introduced the Thinker as the primary antagonist, presenting a new kind of threat to Central City. The Thinker, also known as Clifford DeVoe, aimed to steal the powers of other meta-humans and impose his Enlightenment upon the world. To accomplish this, he transferred his consciousness to a different body using a knife found in Barry and Iris' house, thereby framing Barry for his apparent demise. The unexpected turn of events unfolded with Barry Allen being put on trial for murder, adding an astonishing twist to The Flash storyline.
11. Season 4: The Thinker Was Mostly Boring
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Although season 4 of The Flash brought about a much-needed change of location, the character of DeVoe ultimately fell flat. Granted, his plans were grand in scale, including framing Barry for murder and the Thinker's killing spree, which certainly made him a formidable adversary. However, DeVoe lacked the captivating essence present in previous villains of The Flash. His monotonous speech delivery often hindered the engagement level of many of his scenes. Despite the attempt to introduce something new, the presence of a dull main villain caused season 4 to pale in comparison to previous seasons with more dynamic speedster foes.
10. Season 5: Nora West-Allen Is A Nice Addition
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One of the most prominent elements utilized in The Flash's nine seasons was the concept of time travel. In the season 4 finale, Nora West-Allen, who revealed herself as Barry and Iris' daughter from the future, played a significant role throughout The Flash season 5. Despite the generally underwhelming nature of the season, Nora stood out as one of the highlights. Her return to the past to develop a heartfelt connection with Barry, who had vanished in the future, evoked a poignant emotional response. Additionally, Nora's inclusion as the extraordinary hero XS proved to be a fantastic enhancement to Team Flash.
9. Season 5: Cicada Is The Flash’s Worst Main Villain
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Season 5 suffered greatly due to its primary antagonist, Cicada, who repeatedly posed a significant challenge for the Flash and his team. However, a monotonous pattern emerged where the heroes would momentarily overpower Cicada, indulge in pointless conversations instead of subduing him, and consequently allowing the villain to escape. This repetitive plotline emphasized that Cicada would have been more fitting as an intriguing adversary for perhaps a limited 6-episode arc, rather than an extended storyline. As the season progressed, a slightly improved version of Cicada, known as Cicada 2, appeared, but failed to leave a lasting impact.
8. Season 6: Bloodwork Is A Terrifying Villain
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After two seasons with uneven villains, The Flash season 6 introduced Bloodwork as Barry's most formidable non-speedster adversary. True to his name, this character possessed the ability to manipulate blood, allowing him to absorb the blood of others to enhance his own strength, create "zombies," regenerate his wounds, and more. With Bloodwork's introduction, season 5 took on a thrilling horror aspect, and the moment when he infected Barry, turning the once-heroic speedster against Team Flash, left an indelible mark on viewers' memories.
7. Season 6: The Season Fell Flat After Crisis On Infinite Earths
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The Flash season 6 can be divided into two parts. The first half, which occurs before the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths event, is considered the best. From the very first episode, The Flash had been leading up to Crisis, and the initial episodes of season 6 were full of anticipation as Team Flash prepared for Barry's disappearance. However, once the show returned and Barry was safely back, season 6 took a decline in terms of quality. The introduction of Eva McCulloch as the new main villain, Mirror Monarch, was not as thrilling as Bloodwork, resulting in a less exciting storyline.
6. Season 7: Nora Returns And Brings Bart With Her
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After being erased from existence in season 5, Nora returned to the present in the new multiverse post-Crisis alongside her younger brother, Bart West-Allen, also known as Impulse. In the comics, Impulse is a significant member of the Flash family, so it was exciting to see his introduction in the series. The dynamic between Bart and Nora was fantastic, and it was heartwarming to witness Nora reconnecting with her parents while observing Barry and Iris' reactions to meeting Bart.
5. Season 7: The Final Fight With Godspeed Was Bad
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The quality of The Flash's VFX significantly declined as the seasons progressed, which, combined with a perplexing creative decision, resulted in an abysmal final fight between Godspeed and the characters in season 7. The prospect of The Flash and Reverse-Flash joining forces to defeat Godspeed should have been thrilling, but the show opted for a lackluster climax by incorporating lightning swords. Rather than showcasing their powers in a innovative manner, the three speedsters engaged in a lightsaber-esque battle that was particularly disappointing, especially considering the subpar VFX for Godspeed throughout the entire season.
4. Season 8: The Armageddon Crossover Brought Back Good Arrowverse Memories
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The Arrowverse flourished through its crossovers, and that's precisely why Armageddon marked a spectacular addition to Gustin's series. Season 8 of The Flash commenced with a five-part event that not only served as the final mini crossover within the universe but also compensated for the absence of a major event following Crisis on Infinite Earths. Introducing adored characters from the Arrowverse such as Ray Palmer, Alex Danvers, Batwoman, Black Lightning, Mia Queen, and many others, The Flash season 8 united forces to aid Barry in his battle against Despero. As a result, Armageddon proved to be a thrilling kickoff to the eighth season.
3. Season 8: Iris Was Sidelined
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2. Season 9: Oliver Queen And The Multiverse Return
The absence of Cisco Ramon, Ralph Dibny, and the various iterations of Harrison Wells, who were significant characters in The Flash, left the show heavily reliant on its core cast. Thus, it was puzzling to see Iris sidelined in season 8, as she was absent for four consecutive episodes. Actress Candice Patton explained that this decision was due to a clause in her contract.
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1. Season 9: Red Death Falls Flat
The conclusion of The Flash season 9 provided Oliver Queen with a more satisfying resolution. Not only did the show allow for a proper farewell between the character and John Diggle, but it also utilized Green Arrow to restore the multiverse within The Flash. Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Barry and his companions believed that the multiverse had ceased to exist. However, Oliver's return brought back the founder of the Arrowverse and the universe's beloved storytelling element, resulting in one last thrilling adventure.
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Despite being an intriguing character in the comics, Red Death failed to captivate as one of the thrilling adversaries that Barry encountered throughout The Flash's nine seasons. Although Javicia Leslie's portrayal of Batwoman was consistently fantastic, she was unable to bring out the intimidating aura that the series intended for Red Death. The character's poorly crafted dialogue, including awkward attempts at incorporating iconic Batman lines that didn't harmonize well with the show's narrative, further hindered Leslie's performance. Ultimately, Red Death emerged as an unremarkable villain in The Flash's final season, which is truly unfortunate.
Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of The Flash, I have witnessed the show's evolution over nine seasons, with its fair share of triumphs and tribulations. One of the standout moments for me was the introduction of Tom Cavanagh's Harrison Wells as the Reverse-Flash in Season 1. This perfectly paced and shocking twist created an ominous atmosphere for the show, leaving fans eagerly anticipating each episode. The reveal that Barry's esteemed mentor was, in fact, his archnemesis responsible for his mother's death was a game-changer that elevated the show's narrative to new heights. Cavanagh's portrayal of both Wells and the Reverse-Flash was exceptional, showcasing his range and versatility as an actor.
On the other hand, one low point for me was the encounter with Godspeed in the Season 7 finale. The visual effects during this confrontation left much to be desired, and the creative decision to incorporate lightning swords felt perplexing and out of place. It was disappointing to see such a significant moment in the show's mythology fall short due to subpar execution. Despite its flaws, The Flash has provided fans with countless hours of entertainment, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have followed Barry Allen's journey from start to finish.
