The Ultimate Ranking of The Flash Seasons: Unveiling the Greatest to the Weakest

Summary

The Flash season 7 was the show's worst due to the loss of key cast members and a convoluted story with underwhelming special effects.

Season 8 made an effort to address the flaws of the previous season but ultimately failed due to underutilized characters and a dissatisfying conclusion to the Reverse-Flash storyline.

While The Flash season 9 had its highlights, such as the reappearance of beloved villains, it was hindered by episodes that didn't contribute significantly to the plot and an overall lackluster final season.

The Flash aired for nine seasons, and although each season had its entertaining moments, some were clearly superior. It was the second show to debut in the TV DC Universe, also known as the Arrowverse, two years after Arrow. From 2014 to 2023, Grant Gustin portrayed Barry Allen, also known as The Flash, in the Arrowverse series. Gustin also made appearances as Barry in various other DC TV shows for crossover events or smaller crossovers. While the actor consistently delivered strong performances, the same cannot be said for the overall quality of The Flash.

Despite its appeal, The Flash experienced fluctuations in quality throughout its nine seasons. Each season showcased exciting characters and storylines, but the show did not always reach its full potential. The differing levels of excellence can be attributed to various factors such as the choice of main villains, declining visual effects, decisions to split seasons into multiple arcs, shortened seasons, and the cast, among other reasons. Considering all these factors, it becomes clear which seasons of The Flash deserve higher rankings.

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9 Season 7

The Flash season 7 is deemed the weakest installment of the show. It marked a significant change after the departure of Hartley Sawyer, who portrayed the comedic character of Elongated Man. As a consequence, the show lost the dynamic of Ralph Dibny and Sue Dearbon's relationship, which had been carefully built up. Additionally, the season witnessed the exit of two original cast members: Carlos Valdes, who portrayed Cisco, and Tom Cavanagh, known for his role as Harrison Wells/Reverse-Flash. Their departure left a void in the series. The storyline of season 7 became convoluted due to the introduction of various "Forces," and the show clearly lacked the visual effects budget to provide a grand finale for its Godspeed arc.

8 Season 8

The Flash season 8 sought to redeem itself after a lackluster season 7, venturing into bold creative territory. Though an improvement, season 8 ultimately falls in the lower echelon of the show's seasons. The Armageddon crossover event, the resurgence of the Reverse-Flash, and Robbie Amell's portrayal of Deathstorm were all promising concepts. However, the shortcomings of season 8 come to light with the stark underutilization of Candice Patton's Iris West-Allen, who primarily grapples with time sickness and is notably absent from several episodes. Additionally, the lackluster resolution to the Reverse-Flash's return and Cecile's limited role within Team Flash contribute to season 8 being a letdown.

7 Season 9

Season 9 of The Flash marked the conclusion of the series and the Arrowverse as a whole. While it had some exciting moments, such as the return of The Flash's most beloved villains, it also had some disappointing storylines. Unfortunately, Batwoman's Javicia Leslie couldn't save Red Death from falling short of its portrayal in the comics. Additionally, The Flash season 9 consisted of too many filler episodes, which was detrimental considering its limited 13-episode run. Ultimately, the season ended up being a decent addition to the Arrowverse, but a disappointing final season.

6 Season 5

Cicada appeared promising at first glance as a villain with the intention of eradicating all meta-humans. However, the character ultimately fell short of expectations. Throughout most episodes of Season 5 of The Flash, the storyline seemed to follow a repetitive pattern in which Team Flash would defeat Cicada, engage in needless conversations amongst themselves while he was incapacitated, only for the villain to somehow escape. Cicada was undoubtedly one of the least impressive adversaries The Flash has faced, even in his second iteration. To further compound matters, Season 5 perplexingly saw Team Flash make the ill-advised decision to administer the meta-human cure solely with the consent of the villains, resulting in a significant loss of innocent lives. On a positive note, the presence of Nora, Barry and Iris' daughter from the future, provided a refreshing dynamic.

5 Season 6

The Flash season 6 proved to be a mixed bag. It commenced on an impressive note, presenting each episode with a gripping anticipation and a looming sense of dread surrounding Barry Allen's imminent demise, a concept that had been tantalizingly teased since the show's inception. The initial half of the season expertly exploits Barry's apprehensions by pitting him against Bloodwork, a formidable villain who forces him to confront his own mortality and contemplate the impact of his potential demise on Central City. However, following the momentous crossover event, the show loses its momentum and embarks on a lackluster narrative involving the introduction of the new Mirror Master.

4 Season 4

Season 4 proved to be a pivotal year for The Flash, as it took a refreshing departure from the traditional speedster villain archetype. The introduction of Clifford DeVoe, also known as The Thinker, brought an intriguing twist to the series. This brilliant and cunning adversary embarked on a merciless killing spree that proved challenging for Barry to thwart. Complicating matters for our hero, DeVoe cleverly framed Barry for murder. The relentless quest of Harry Wells to outsmart the villain added further depth to the captivating storyline. In addition, the inclusion of the Elongated Man injected a breath of fresh air into The Flash's fourth season. The narrative reached its pinnacle with the joyous moment of Barry and Iris exchanging vows and ultimately being visited by their future daughter in the season's epic conclusion.

3 Season 3

The third season of The Flash delves into its darkest territory yet as Team Flash uncovers the chilling revelation that Savitar has a predetermined date and time for killing Iris. Determined to alter this grim fate, the team embarks on a race against the clock to prevent Iris's demise. Furthermore, this season pays homage to the beloved "Flashpoint" storyline from the comics, although the show's adaptation understandably cannot rival the epic scale of its source material. Nevertheless, the repercussions of Barry's daring endeavor to save his mother reverberate throughout the entire season, leading to a jaw-dropping twist with the shocking revelation that Savitar is actually a twisted version of Barry himself.

2 Season 1

The Flash's first season effectively established the world of the show, serving as an excellent series opener. Season 1 follows Barry Allen, portrayed by Gustin, as he discovers and learns to control his newfound superhuman abilities with the guidance of Cisco, Caitlin, and Harrison Wells. It is later revealed that Wells is secretly Eobard Thawne, the man responsible for Barry's mother's death. The audience's knowledge of Wells' true identity as the Reverse-Flash creates immense suspense, even the smallest movement from the villain in his wheelchair. With the introduction of iconic Flash adversaries such as Gorilla Grodd, Captain Cold, and Weather Wizard, season 1 thrives.

1 Season 2

The Flash season 2 greatly expanded on the successes of the show's first season in the Arrowverse. It included an exciting crossover with Arrow, which laid the groundwork for the spin-off series DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Additionally, the season delved into the concept of the multiverse, showcasing the emergence of Earth-2 and the introduction of doppelgangers. Memorable new characters like Wally West and Killer Frost were also introduced. However, the standout feature of the season was its captivating villain. Teddy Sears delivered a remarkable performance as Jay Garrick, the Flash of Earth-3, who was tragically killed by the enigmatic Zoom. Later, it was revealed that Zoom had been impersonating Jay all along, making for a captivating twist. These intriguing plot developments, along with other elements, unquestionably elevated the second season of The Flash to its highest level of excellence.