The Flash (2014)

:

Season 1
Season #: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 806 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 650 out of 806
  2. Mixed: 79 out of 806
  3. Negative: 77 out of 806
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User Reviews

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  1. Trufflehog
    Dec 5, 2014
    2
    The writers have done a poor job of making the characters believeable. Barry can move people out of harms way when a bullet is flying at them but can't dodge a punch! Wtf is going on here?
  2. MustangMatt07
    Mar 29, 2016
    3
    I was excited to watch this show, it got great reviews and i've always been a fan of the flash comics. suffice to say i'm pretty disappointed. If i didn't know any better I'd swear this show was made for the Disney Channel. Just one cheesy line after another and with glaring plot holes so big you almost have to been in 5th grade to enjoy this show. At least we have Daredevil for us adults.
  3. jakedubbleya
    Nov 12, 2014
    1
    I'll give it a 1 instead of a zero because The Flash is a cool superhero.

    Timeline of every episode (spoiler): 1. Cheesy life lessons. 2. Discover a new villain. 3. First fight against villain, forgets he is the Flash, just stands there, gets beat up. 4. Dramatic scene involving girlfriend/work/sadness. Essentially stops time to do whatever he wants and reflect on things, mostly teenage    I'll give it a 1 instead of a zero because The Flash is a cool superhero.

    Timeline of every episode (spoiler): 1. Cheesy life lessons. 2. Discover a new villain. 3. First fight against villain, forgets he is the Flash, just stands there, gets beat up. 4. Dramatic scene involving girlfriend/work/sadness. Essentially stops time to do whatever he wants and reflect on things, mostly teenage angst. Takes him almost no effort. 5. Second fight against villain. Remembers he is the Flash, still doesn't use his powers anywhere near even 1% of their potential but cranks it up to almost 1% using all the willpower he can muster by the end of the fight and easily beats the villain. 6. Cheesy life lessons. 7. (Spoiler) gets out of his wheelchair and does something devious.

    Suffice it to say that the overwhelmingly positive reviews for this show have sucked any hope for humanity right out of my soul.    … Expand
  4. neeter29
    Oct 30, 2014
    2
    I am beyond stunned this show got such a high rating. There is not ONE original or thought provoking element to this show at all. Even the writers must think so b/c they plugged in the character of felicity whom I love to give the show some life and she came across all "like me, like me Berry!"

    It's just churning out the same outline that Smallville possessed. STOP UNDERESTIMATING THE    I am beyond stunned this show got such a high rating. There is not ONE original or thought provoking element to this show at all. Even the writers must think so b/c they plugged in the character of felicity whom I love to give the show some life and she came across all "like me, like me Berry!"

    It's just churning out the same outline that Smallville possessed. STOP UNDERESTIMATING THE AUDIENCE WE'RE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK    … Expand
  5. william3010
    Dec 22, 2014
    0
    i usually like stories of supernatural power but this one is the awful show ever , i don't know how it gets 8 in IMDb very poor acting and storytelling, also effects are average like you watch a show from the 90s ,really its waste of time ,
  6. akovia
    Dec 4, 2014
    2
    Disappointing. Really wanted to like this but is squandered potential cashing in on a built in Superhero/Flash audience. Should probably be on Saturday mornings instead. Breaking the laws of physics one moment and get punched by a "normal speed" Meta-Human the next. Even a 10yo would be saying WTF? What ever happened to smart and clever writers? Everything is a cop out to create forcedDisappointing. Really wanted to like this but is squandered potential cashing in on a built in Superhero/Flash audience. Should probably be on Saturday mornings instead. Breaking the laws of physics one moment and get punched by a "normal speed" Meta-Human the next. Even a 10yo would be saying WTF? What ever happened to smart and clever writers? Everything is a cop out to create forced drama. Superpowers are hard to write for and I am willing to suspend disbelief, but you gotta meet me half way at least. I love Jesse L. Martin and I know he must be throwing up in his mouth a little when delivering some of his lines. If they replace the entire writing staff, I might try season 2. Until then I'll be giving Arrow a try instead.

    I couldn't agree more with jakedubbleya's closing statement. I really used the value the metacritic score and it has served me well in the past. Having so many good reviews for this show will make me skeptical of any score here in the future. Sad.    … Expand
  7. brion
    Nov 26, 2014
    2
    A completely cliche-ridden group of actors, who, except for Iris' father, are all flat in their delivery. The writing is less polished than a 12-old could write, full of glaring flaws (the Flash should move faster than light, yet takes minutes to get across town; is constantly being hit, tossed, thrown or struck by lightning (or fists)). One wonders how he survives to the next episode. TheA completely cliche-ridden group of actors, who, except for Iris' father, are all flat in their delivery. The writing is less polished than a 12-old could write, full of glaring flaws (the Flash should move faster than light, yet takes minutes to get across town; is constantly being hit, tossed, thrown or struck by lightning (or fists)). One wonders how he survives to the next episode. The actor playing the flash is so bad I don't even know his real name. Emotionally dead 20-somethings who say 'awesome' or 'amazing' or, like Iris, deliver speeches with a smile, minis the conviction.
    The CW strikes again. Every hero is 19 (and never actually grows up) and adults play the side parts. The fact that the Flash was an adult when he was struck by chemicals and lightning means nothing when you can re-write comic book story lines. The first Flash show might not have been a hit, but the hero (Barry Allen's father in this show) had some nobility, class and manliness. The theme of CW? "Teenage boys save the world!" A sad show, which will likely last forever (that's the gimmick).    … Expand
  8. Mvrak
    Nov 10, 2015
    0
    Anyone with any education in physics or fitness will find this script for this show horribly bad. Anyone interested in any engineering profession or ever planning a physics education will be doing themselves an extreme disservice by watching this show. None of the scientific concepts in this show are even remotely plausible. The numbers that are thrown out to attempt to explain what isAnyone with any education in physics or fitness will find this script for this show horribly bad. Anyone interested in any engineering profession or ever planning a physics education will be doing themselves an extreme disservice by watching this show. None of the scientific concepts in this show are even remotely plausible. The numbers that are thrown out to attempt to explain what is going on are completely ludicrous. The worst part is all they would have needed to do is consult with a scientist, or even a college student, about basic physics equations to at least say something plausible. The flash is routinely shown zipping around at 10000 mph, but they constantly also say that he is only moving at 600 mph, which is a 6 second mile. How it happens doesn't even need to matter, but when the numbers they throw out are in direct contradiction with what they are showing you, it makes absolutely no sense. If they explained more of it just by saying the "speed force" is responsible, that would have been fine, but instead they liberally use words like "supercapacitor" as if something like that doesn't exist in our current reality.

    The teen drama is overblown and absurd. Character development is poor with constant departures from personality. The Flash NEVER uses weapons. Speed characters are constantly found standing still so a punch can land on their face. The show is simply not internally consistent. The Arrow, for example, despite its shortcoming, is phenomenally better than this show. Like many of the other critics of this show, I was shocked that a show could even be made this poorly with such a large budget.    … Expand
  9. marc5477
    Jun 24, 2015
    1
    Oh my god what did they do? This is terrible. Watching it makes my stomach turn. Barry has been turned into a emo sissy with a brain the size of an ants testicle and his supporting cast... wow. Where did they find these actors? There are no redeeming qualities to this show. Extremely badly executed plots that made no sense, dialog was worse than the cheesiest comic you can find, the actingOh my god what did they do? This is terrible. Watching it makes my stomach turn. Barry has been turned into a emo sissy with a brain the size of an ants testicle and his supporting cast... wow. Where did they find these actors? There are no redeeming qualities to this show. Extremely badly executed plots that made no sense, dialog was worse than the cheesiest comic you can find, the acting is horrible and no one is believable (except maybe Barrys foster father). I hate everyone in the show but Barry is the worst. All the kids in the show cannot act. Period. Tom Welling... who is not a great actor, looks like f*ing Marlon Brando when compared to the actors in this show.

    Please cancel it and start over... I love the Flash in the comic. Get the folks from Gotham to help.    … Expand
  10. Cinematocrit
    Dec 6, 2014
    3
    I have memories, as a kid, of the old tv show that really was exciting, each episode. I was like 6 years old and I believe that show was e better than this, in the 80 's...
    It is really poor in the acting and the script is even worse than it's "associate" show"The Arrow". I would like to save the overall rating for the spiecial effects, but these especially are graphically dated and    I have memories, as a kid, of the old tv show that really was exciting, each episode. I was like 6 years old and I believe that show was e better than this, in the 80 's...
    It is really poor in the acting and the script is even worse than it's "associate" show"The Arrow". I would like to save the overall rating for the spiecial effects, but these especially are graphically dated and non-realistic at all.
    I realize when people claim to enjoy this type of television that they don't know what is "the next level"...either that or they are 6....    … Expand
  11. Damager56
    Sep 25, 2015
    1
    Thanks to this show I now have an account at metacritic and they even have my facebook info (I never login with my facebook, but I am in a hurry to write this).

    I travel a lot, and while I commute I like to kill time with some TV series. I made it to episode 6 of season 1 and said to myself "this is unbelievably bad..." and the only reason it gave it a rating of 1 is because it    Thanks to this show I now have an account at metacritic and they even have my facebook info (I never login with my facebook, but I am in a hurry to write this).

    I travel a lot, and while I commute I like to kill time with some TV series.

    I made it to episode 6 of season 1 and said to myself "this is unbelievably bad..." and the only reason it gave it a rating of 1 is because it helped me killed some time.

    There are a obviously a myriad of problems with this show, but the last straw that did it for me was when he was fighting iron man... The Flash, a man who can easily dodge bullets, a man that he could move around the room and pour his heart out to Iris while time just stood still, COULDN'T EVEN DODGE A PUNCH AT NORMAL SPEED! SERIOUSLY? At we are suppose to sit there and nod in agreement "This makes sense." And there are numerous moments like this in the mere 6 episode that I have watched.

    Are you kidding me?!?!?!? That level of inconsistency is atrocious!

    I can't take this any more and neither should you.

    How can the majority honestly give this show a positive rating is beyond me.    … Expand
  12. YorkMan
    Dec 29, 2015
    3
    It's a sad indictment of television when any 'serial' becomes such a slave to bad CGI that there's not even any real attempt to make the show about the characters... But serves only as a means to move the main protagonists/antagonists from one big CGI mess to the next.
    There's no point in trying to explain what the show is about, in the same way you couldn't really explain the storylines    It's a sad indictment of television when any 'serial' becomes such a slave to bad CGI that there's not even any real attempt to make the show about the characters... But serves only as a means to move the main protagonists/antagonists from one big CGI mess to the next.
    There's no point in trying to explain what the show is about, in the same way you couldn't really explain the storylines in a comic-book serial either. Good guys do good things, bad guys do bad things. You aren't really given much backstory (beyond the bare minimum), and ultimately you are only watching for the spectacle.
    The acting is piss-poor, and although the female leads are all unfeasibly gorgeous they are so lacking in depth and emotion you might as well be watching a revolving billboard monotonously changing from one advert to another.
    I can understand why it's popular with the 'yoof' of today, there's explosions and action aplenty and it's popcorn television... But any superhero show can, and should, be more about the characters and their own motivations. The background story arc in a show should be the 'superhero' stuff, not the other way around.    … Expand
  13. Suzana98
    Jun 5, 2016
    3
    Extremely boring and slow with a terrible cast. The first episode seemed interesting but by the third episode, I was done with the show. Not worth 1 hour of my time.
  14. Jchisaca
    Nov 12, 2017
    0
    Flash is a good series in the different episodes I stayed connected and the integration more and more comics elements was amazing, and in the history travels around the time present different context and permit that the spectator feel different emotions and think in different possibilities that can to do in the future.

    'The Flash' is a series of heroes and villains, but not with that    Flash is a good series in the different episodes I stayed connected and the integration more and more comics elements was amazing, and in the history travels around the time present different context and permit that the spectator feel different emotions and think in different possibilities that can to do in the future.

    'The Flash' is a series of heroes and villains, but not with that dark aura that we see in the other series that are currently broadcast,. This series has a fresh touch, something more youthful, jokes, unusual situations and the same discover of the character make it a series of those that inevitably hook. They are 42 minutes of fun, action and good gags, all made through a solid set of actors and actresses, although sometimes they get lost in a script something current and very seen, they are essential in each episode.    … Expand
  15. 5harkie
    Oct 8, 2014
    0
    I was looking forward to this series but it was plainly obvious in the first 5 minutes just how dumbed down this series was. The first thing that popped into my mind was "Vampire Diaries", the realistic world where everyone is young & stunningly perfect.
    The acting is bland, the script is rubbish, the effects are average...In fact I switched it off right after the point where he jumped    I was looking forward to this series but it was plainly obvious in the first 5 minutes just how dumbed down this series was. The first thing that popped into my mind was "Vampire Diaries", the realistic world where everyone is young & stunningly perfect.
    The acting is bland, the script is rubbish, the effects are average...In fact I switched it off right after the point where he jumped through the window of the speeding mustang, the villain created a fog & the cliche police car ramps over the crashed mustang in a ball of flames.....oh my....seriously, can I point to a movie called "Idiocracy" to point out what the worlds coming to in regards to entertainment. Completely dumbed down for the masses who gleefully sit and watch this trash as they clap their hands together. I have better things to do with my time & my life than watch this series....like cleaning my belly button out.    … Expand
  16. Eric_DeVr33z
    Oct 9, 2014
    2
    Absolute **** I don't know how anyone could like a show with such god-awful dialogue and cliched storytelling. Also, why do so many characters spill their life story within a few minutes of being introduced? It leaves no mystery whatsoever, and makes the show boring to watch. 2/10
  17. mbig
    Apr 17, 2015
    2
    I like to watch at least half a season's worth of episodes before giving my opinion. I will admit that i found the first couple of episodes intriguing and fun but got concerned when i saw that this show was going to be a ''villain of the week'' format. In essence what we are being told here is that this explosion that gave Barry his powers also created a slough of other ''meta humans''I like to watch at least half a season's worth of episodes before giving my opinion. I will admit that i found the first couple of episodes intriguing and fun but got concerned when i saw that this show was going to be a ''villain of the week'' format. In essence what we are being told here is that this explosion that gave Barry his powers also created a slough of other ''meta humans'' who, strangely, are all bad guys (majority).
    What also bothers me is the general acceptance by all concerned that a major explosion occurred causing extreme destruction, not to mention its creation of super powered beings who, for some reason, all get a different power. Would have been more credible in my view to see the army, FBI, Homeland Security etc. get in there to calm things down and investigate what happened,
    Maybe I'm asking too much. It is a superhero show after all so i guess i should just kick back and let it
    slide.    … Expand
  18. Abhi1987
    May 20, 2015
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I saw all the episodes of The Flash and to be honest it reminds me of Smallville. It is so easy to predict. The special effects is so basic. Moreover, the last episode makes The Flash so naive and stupid. Come on, going back in time to save the mother? Is that the best they could come up with? What infuriates me is that he believes the villain and goes with that decision? I was hoping this one would be way different from the other super hero series but nope.. you have proved me wrong… Expand
  19. Snoply
    Feb 7, 2015
    2
    This is depressing. I tolerated this show only cause I want to see if this'll actually go anywhere. This show is chock full of cliches, awful villains, and 0 character development. Awkward wonderbread character fights crime with 2 companions (who are only slightly more interesting than him) and has a bad love ploy who's in love with a more attractive, even blander character who only showsThis is depressing. I tolerated this show only cause I want to see if this'll actually go anywhere. This show is chock full of cliches, awful villains, and 0 character development. Awkward wonderbread character fights crime with 2 companions (who are only slightly more interesting than him) and has a bad love ploy who's in love with a more attractive, even blander character who only shows up to stress the fact that Iris (crap love interest) is taken to make us feel bad for Barry (wonderbread character). The only interesting thing to me is the Professor, but even then that's not that great. Would not recommend this show to anyone.… Expand
  20. Qgal5kap
    Apr 16, 2017
    0
    Way to go! The Flash was a cool superhero, now, not so much. This feels really low budget. Acting is poor, effects are MEHHH as hell. The series is really dumbed down, but they toss "advanced" terminology in your face, like it is meant to sound clever. This crap is offensive to most senses.
  21. marcus113
    Jul 20, 2015
    0
    Horrible in every way. Plots were complete nonsense and inconsistent with each other. Characters, both main and side, are very poorly developed and completely void of "character" due to very bad acting. Dialog feels like it is being read directly from a prompter rather than memorized and there is no effort at all to make it feel natural. The entire season played out like a filler episodeHorrible in every way. Plots were complete nonsense and inconsistent with each other. Characters, both main and side, are very poorly developed and completely void of "character" due to very bad acting. Dialog feels like it is being read directly from a prompter rather than memorized and there is no effort at all to make it feel natural. The entire season played out like a filler episode and Arrow only made things worse because was the worst character on TV until this Flash took his place. Save yourself some time and skip this.

    Side note: I dont know how this thing gets a 7 in any score. I have yet to meat anyone who likes it. The pro-reviews must have been bribed and I think they have paid reviewers going on these sites and giving the show high scores. At best this is maybe a 2/10 making it slightly better than Under the Dome, which is the worst show in the last 3 decades.    … Expand
  22. BuckarooSamurai
    Oct 20, 2015
    3
    Here comes the 3rd DC CW Show and its just as good as the rest and that isn't saying much. Much like Smallville this show features bad writing, and bad direction. The show has random glimmers of brightness in some competently directed action sequences but more often then not the writers make the Flash willfully stupid or use his powers in the dumbest way possible.

    Excuses for gaping    Here comes the 3rd DC CW Show and its just as good as the rest and that isn't saying much. Much like Smallville this show features bad writing, and bad direction. The show has random glimmers of brightness in some competently directed action sequences but more often then not the writers make the Flash willfully stupid or use his powers in the dumbest way possible.

    Excuses for gaping plot holes and terrible plotting seems to be its just a "Comic book show" but this is a lazy explanation. For example our "heroes" are in some ways worse than the villains imprisoning people with no trial, no jury, in a 4x4 box with no apparent toilet, windows, or even an apparent way to eat. This is a massive plot hole that is never explained and completely ignored outside some minor mea culpa from a a barely named character that gets readily dismissed. Then we have the terrible romantic subplots, and corny dialogue, and we get a show that is made for tweens but is still too dumb even for them.    … Expand
  23. BigSal89
    Dec 14, 2015
    0
    I've never seen a show with acting that could be as worse as this. It would have played a lot better if the whole cast was deaf and mute. Was the director on drugs while watching this?
  24. pbiscorpio
    May 3, 2018
    0
    This is my honest opinion of the show. How stupid can you make a tv show character before the viewers stop watching? Using the Flash as an example: this show should have died a long time ago.
    The people responsible for this shows script...useless in my opinion. Every time the flash attempts to resolve an altercation, he has to stop and chat with the enemy? Always running off to do battle    This is my honest opinion of the show. How stupid can you make a tv show character before the viewers stop watching? Using the Flash as an example: this show should have died a long time ago.
    The people responsible for this shows script...useless in my opinion. Every time the flash attempts to resolve an altercation, he has to stop and chat with the enemy? Always running off to do battle with no long term plan? Not taking advantage of the situation during an altercation...an advantage that would "seriously" end the battle? Come on people. This guy is so fast he cant be seen. I would have the bad guy unconscious, locked up, and wondering what happened inside 10 seconds. And on to the next bad guy. Every opportunity that would resolve an issue, is not taken. the writers could make an amazing show if they were willing to put some common sense into the characters actions...If they used actual strategy in his altercations...if all the characters actually worked together...if the flash was willing to do what was necessary to resolve the problem, instead of whining like child. There is so much more opportunity here to build on this and make it a great show....If you are faster than a bullet, then you can easily hit a bad guy 500 times in less than a minute. Never give them a moments rest. Take them down, and do it hard and fast. Never stop until the job is "finished!" What is wrong with these writers and producers?    … Expand
  25. sombunny
    Jun 14, 2018
    3
    The Flash started out as a very well done TV adaptation of the DC comic series. However, it has degenerated into the usual morass of filth and mindless repeat programming that all networks seem to thrive on. The show, after the first couple of seasons, which were original and well done, now features adulterous sexual scenes for our youth to emulate, superfluous homosexuality which isThe Flash started out as a very well done TV adaptation of the DC comic series. However, it has degenerated into the usual morass of filth and mindless repeat programming that all networks seem to thrive on. The show, after the first couple of seasons, which were original and well done, now features adulterous sexual scenes for our youth to emulate, superfluous homosexuality which is injected into a scene but which has nothing to do with the object of the show, and show plots that are no more than mirror images of previous plots showing the poor and limited imagination of the writers and directors. This superhero, like those before him, is not faithful to the original intent of the DC comic series. The writers ought to be ashamed of themselves and the cast has lowered their standards by emulating yet another soap opera with all of it's drama and bleeding heart personality quirks in true modern super hero style. Has judgment day arrived on planet earth?… Expand
  26. Gyrusho
    Jun 25, 2017
    2
    It started building up really nice into a sort of climax with his nemesis. After the "Climax" the series completely lost my interest.. The plot is horrible and the character development is mediocre. What could have been a real good plot, ended up being, in my eyes, a script thrown in the garbage. Really a big disappointment for me..
  27. ToshiroUchiha
    Oct 18, 2018
    2
    Let me tell you think after the let say second season the show declines hugely as they beat up the "Speedster villain to a bloody pulp with a baseball bat" or the ohh is Barry gonna get with Iris? like i get it its hard writing scripts sometimes but come tf on we all knew from season freaking 1 Barry and Iris were getting together you legit showed the people a newspaper about it stopLet me tell you think after the let say second season the show declines hugely as they beat up the "Speedster villain to a bloody pulp with a baseball bat" or the ohh is Barry gonna get with Iris? like i get it its hard writing scripts sometimes but come tf on we all knew from season freaking 1 Barry and Iris were getting together you legit showed the people a newspaper about it stop wasting time i honestly dont even know why they gave her a boyfriend in the first damn place. another thing wrong with the show it repeats the same formula most great shows change it up sometimes but sadly Flash doesnt let me sum up a episode Flash enters the show happy oh no a problem arise flash attacks head on no plan fails then after no training or anything comes back and wins the battle this basically summons up every episode basically the Savatar revel was so stupid that you wouldnt think they would do something so obvious but no Flash does. a lot of lazing writing characters come off like crybabies Wally is probably one of the most annoying characters ive seen in a minute oh Barry wants me to actually train with my power before i go out and fight meta humans that even give this experince flash a problem that cliche BS like stop please all the viewers of this show are women, or teenagers i cant see any big comic book reader enjoying this their lil comic book references but mostly they dont go anywhere best episodes were the one with Arrow and Flash when they used to team up since it brought a element that was missing but mostly the shows just a disappointment and multiple of my friends are dropping the show cause of it… Expand

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best TV Season of 2014
9
#9 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
19
#19 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Daniel Rasmus
    Nov 10, 2014
    70
    The Flash sports a great cast, visually well-designed sets and effects, and the pace and atmosphere reflect the deft hands of directors and crew. But a superhero show can’t live on those elements alone.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jeff Jensen
    Oct 16, 2014
    83
    It vibrates with big-picture vision and has smart fun with its premise.
    Read full review
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Oct 7, 2014
    80
    First, the series is completely on point with what the network is doing elsewhere (Arrow, etc.). Second, it's actually very well done. And third, it's wholly entertaining.
    Read full review
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