The Flash strikes television

In 2012, The CW released Arrow, centered around classic comic book character Green Arrow. This fall, DC Comics fans will have another beloved superhero come to life in their own TV screens every Tuesday night at 8 p.m.
The Flash, scheduled to air on Oct. 7, is a spin-off of the series Arrow, created by the same developers: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns.
Berlanti, Kreisberg, and Johns originally intended for The Flash to make an appearance in three episodes of season two of Arrow, with the third acting as a “backdoor pilot.” This was supposed to give the creators a good idea of how The Flash would be received by audiences while still broadcasting the story as an episode of Arrow. However, the studio opted for a traditional pilot when it became clear that the show could stand on its own.
With the original production format, writers were able to incorporate more of the classic Flash comic characters and storyline without needing to incorporate characters from Arrow. Producing a standalone series also gave the show a bigger budget to work with.
The main character of The Flash is Barry Allen, a scientific assistant for the police department with a fascination for the unexplained (such as mysterious robberies involving the elusive Green Arrow: hero of the series). This curiosity stems from an obsessive desire to prove his father innocent of murdering his mother in an incident from his childhood.
Barry ends up entangled in Green Arrow’s crime-fighting plans, and eventually saves Green Arrow’s life. This solidifies the trust of Oliver Queen, the man behind Green Arrow’s mask.
Along the way, Barry forms a bond with Felicity Smoak, the brains of Oliver’s team. This connection will be expanded on further in The Flash.
After leaving Oliver a real mask instead of his original green face paint, Barry is caught in an electrical explosion back in his own city. This is the event that makes Barry into the Flash, and is where the new series branches off from Arrow.
The Flash has received mostly positive reviews after a press screening of the pilot. Critic Jesse Scheeden expressed concern that Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry came off as too awkward and clumsy in his episodes of Arrow, but improved when the show focused in on his intelligence. Other critics mentioned that The Flash is already far ahead of Arrow’s season one quality.
The CW has even granted the show three more scripts in addition to the thirteen approved for this season- a big step for any series, especially one still weeks away from airing.
Overall, The Flash is shaping up to make an electric debut into the TV realm, particularly as another part of The CW’s growing comic book adaptation empire. Viewers can tune into the premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.