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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  1. CLUTCH
    Jun 21, 2015
    6
    It's a guilty pleasure. It's ham and cheese. The writing is pretty terrible and the acting is corny, yet I keep watching...Most of the villains are hamming it up to the point where they are genuinely cringe worthy.

    There are multiple times when the Flash's abilities are just ignored so that the writers can justify their lazy writing and make things happen. Multiple times when the police    It's a guilty pleasure. It's ham and cheese. The writing is pretty terrible and the acting is corny, yet I keep watching...Most of the villains are hamming it up to the point where they are genuinely cringe worthy.

    There are multiple times when the Flash's abilities are just ignored so that the writers can justify their lazy writing and make things happen. Multiple times when the police could easily have shot and killed villains, but for some reason sat around and did nothing, I guess to give the Flash something to do.

    I haven't watched Arrow yet, but it looks even worse and I am not sure that I can tolerate it. This isn't a terrible show, but it is definitely not as good as the critic and user reviews seem to think it is.    … Expand
  2. JamesIrish68
    Mar 11, 2015
    5
    I started watching because of the episode crossover with Arrow, A show I really enjoy. Its no where near as good as Arrow..Its not terrible..Its not great..

    Doctor Wells and Iris are the only noticeable strongish characters and might make the leap to the Arrow if this show is relegated down the pecking order. Its primarily aimed at a very young audience and not at people of my age    I started watching because of the episode crossover with Arrow, A show I really enjoy. Its no where near as good as Arrow..Its not terrible..Its not great..

    Doctor Wells and Iris are the only noticeable strongish characters and might make the leap to the Arrow if this show is relegated down the pecking order. Its primarily aimed at a very young audience and not at people of my age group to be fair. And with so much more quality out there, I think at the Episode 5 crossover I'm done.    … Expand
  3. boubadiop
    Feb 19, 2015
    5
    Some strange reason I enjoy this.

    Its cheesy, predictable and the jokes in it are awful but I continue to watch the series. People who enjoy really serious series I advise don't watch this as its basically a children's show.

    In the end we all know the flash will eventually slam Iris and overcome his arch nemesis but may as well watch it anyway
  4. Viperspider
    Mar 8, 2015
    4
    It's okay.

    The episodes aren't that interesting at all, and some of the supporting cast (Cisco and that scientist girl) are pretty bad actors, but the girl is definitely the worst of the 2. She's so forgettable that I don't even remember her name and I literally just finished watching episode 9. Barry and his dad are pretty good actors though. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this.    It's okay.

    The episodes aren't that interesting at all, and some of the supporting cast (Cisco and that scientist girl) are pretty bad actors, but the girl is definitely the worst of the 2. She's so forgettable that I don't even remember her name and I literally just finished watching episode 9. Barry and his dad are pretty good actors though.

    Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this. Arrow is far more interesting and is just better in all areas.    … Expand
  5. Classwabbit
    Apr 7, 2015
    6
    A charming lead is a great beginning, and the Flash has charm - young, nerdy, awkward charm that we've seen a hundred times before, but charm nonetheless. Compare that to broody Gordon on Gotham, or the angsty McCall on Teen Wolf (thank god for Stiles, am I right?), and it just feels easier to deal with after a long day. It does seem that the trick to longevity and an active fanbase isA charming lead is a great beginning, and the Flash has charm - young, nerdy, awkward charm that we've seen a hundred times before, but charm nonetheless. Compare that to broody Gordon on Gotham, or the angsty McCall on Teen Wolf (thank god for Stiles, am I right?), and it just feels easier to deal with after a long day. It does seem that the trick to longevity and an active fanbase is tongue-in-cheek fun with emotionality mostly relegated to the serious talks peppered throughout episodes. I'd much rather curl up with an episode of Sleepy Hollow than the doomed and far too serious Dracula. If the show's premise is ridiculous do not make it without awareness of this fact.

    The Flash does have more than its share of emotional talks about what characters want, feel and have to do, but because most of the characters are young their passions are allowed to get the best of them. Barry Allen, aka The Flash, looks way too young to be apparently the only CSI for Central City, but once you force yourself to get past the in-world oddities, the show has a lot of potential.

    The characters are all sympathetic and none of them, about six episodes in, feel completely superfluous or needlessly annoying. Sure, the Flash's "gang" is excruciatingly forced, but again you have to get past the set-ups to get to the meat of the show. The central mystery is far more interesting than anticipated (but then I am biased towards time-travel related everything). The meta-human of the week (which is what the show calls those who received powers like the Flash) are mostly fleshed out enough despite the shortness of episodes. Every meta-human so far has gotten motivation and interesting powers.

    There is also the potential for real drama, mostly seen in Allen's conflict between his step-father and the daughter. While I hate the "I can't tell you because I have to keep you safe" nonsense, the demand for secrecy comes from the father, and there are actual threats so it doesn't feel as bad as other superheros' reasoning (coughspidermancough). This conflict, and its ties to the mystery, are what keep me coming back for more.

    While the "gang" needs more work on chemistry and the show needs better writing, The Flash has a lot going for it, and if the charming easy-going style can continue to be balanced with the emotional talks, I would like to see the Flash go up against some bigger foes.

    As a side-note: the effects aren't great, but if you're used to a lot of British tv like I am, you'll forgive them a lot, especially if you've just marathoned some Merlin or 2005-era Dr Who.    … Expand
  6. chidime
    Nov 15, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Flash.... A show made for kids (or people with the analytical/observational skills of a kid.). This show has one of the best storylines i have seen on TV in recent times (It actually reminded me both of Lost and X-Files). However, so many elements bring this show to its bleeding knees.
    1. Too many inconsistencies: Sometimes Flash is a superhero who can do crazy powerful things with his abilities, other times, he is a stupid wimp who can't think. Also, so many inconsistensies with the time travel stroyline (if Eobard was erased, why werent his actions erased, when Flash travelled back the first time there was still one flash, etc)

    2. Same old Routine/Predictability: The season was basically Flash fighting a Monster of the Week, losing, then regrouping and almost losing before he musters some strange force-of-willpower and defeats bad guy. There was never truly any fear that he was in any sort of danger.

    3. So many people randomly popping into places to complete sentences at just the right time. Using this once or twice when appropriate is fine and even sometimes could heighten suspense/mystique but this show overused and abused it thoroughly. Also, doesn't STAR labs have any sort of security. Seemed like people could just walk in without any hassle.

    Overall, it was hard ti take the show as seriously as I wanted to because at every turn, I felt like my cognitive capacities were being taken for granted by the writers. As they say, to whom a great story has been given, a greater show is expected. Certainly wasn't the case with these assclowns.    … Expand
  7. Gamereview
    Nov 27, 2014
    6
    not something you d be inclined to follow, it's good sometime but really watered down otherwise...it's a show you d keep at the bottom of your entertainment list - after you re done watching your favorites, and done walking the dog, and perhaps done a lap of yoga, you find yourself saying "hmm...I ve nothing to do, i ll watch The Flash, (maybe)" - it's that kind of a show, not bad, butnot something you d be inclined to follow, it's good sometime but really watered down otherwise...it's a show you d keep at the bottom of your entertainment list - after you re done watching your favorites, and done walking the dog, and perhaps done a lap of yoga, you find yourself saying "hmm...I ve nothing to do, i ll watch The Flash, (maybe)" - it's that kind of a show, not bad, but that kind of a show...… Expand
  8. dgauss
    Dec 15, 2014
    6
    Maybe its corniness of DC comics, maybe its because the flash wasn't one of my hero but this one was hard to get into for me. While I can't say the show is bad, the fight scenes can be fun, there isn't really much to keep me going in between. The characters haven't sold me, the casting wasn't spectacular. I am not sure I even care about the flash at all. It really feels like they areMaybe its corniness of DC comics, maybe its because the flash wasn't one of my hero but this one was hard to get into for me. While I can't say the show is bad, the fight scenes can be fun, there isn't really much to keep me going in between. The characters haven't sold me, the casting wasn't spectacular. I am not sure I even care about the flash at all. It really feels like they are trying to put marvel-esque real world problems on super heroes that never really had them in the past.

    With so much other stuff on right now its really hard to put this on top or even worth watching outside of something to do when bored. Not terrible just not great either.    … Expand
  9. papeadojhon
    Dec 17, 2014
    6
    The Flash hace un intento en convertirse en algo grande, pero lamentablemente solo logra convertir un grande clásico en una historia llena de clichés y predecible. Aunque si bien su intento es fallido, aún puede ser un poco entretenida.
  10. AGarcia732
    Nov 22, 2014
    6
    Unlike Gotham and other DC adaptations, The Flash has a comedic, humorous, and light atmosphere (which is nice); but it also feels very kid-oriented/dumbed-down, which isn't a good thing. The Flash is still a developing show, and shows always get better with time. But for now, The Flash suffers from some clichés, underwhelming CGI, some cheeseiness, and "meta-villain" of-the-week episodes.Unlike Gotham and other DC adaptations, The Flash has a comedic, humorous, and light atmosphere (which is nice); but it also feels very kid-oriented/dumbed-down, which isn't a good thing. The Flash is still a developing show, and shows always get better with time. But for now, The Flash suffers from some clichés, underwhelming CGI, some cheeseiness, and "meta-villain" of-the-week episodes. The Flash needs more of an immediate overall story arc.

    I think that villains/plot threads shouldn't always be resolved in 43 minute long episodes; it's kind of unrealistic. Episodes are sometimes too predictable. It's nice that the show is setting up certain things like a Arrow/Flash crossover, potential villains, and some adaptation of "Crisis on Infinite Earths", but fans need more than teases at what's to come to stick with a show. The CGI could be better, though I like the Flash's slow-motion CGI sequences (ones that are similar to Quicksilver's slow-mo scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past). I think that a slow motion style would've looked better when adapting Flash's speed powers, than the red blur that the show relies on to show his abilities. "Team Flash" seems kind of cliché, and many of the characters feel cliché and weak, yet I believe that they'll become more developed with time. Austin Grant at first didn't seem capable of being main-character material, yet I'm warming up to him. (I also happen to not be the only one who thinks that he's very similar to Andrew Garfield and his iteration of Spider-Man.) One thing I really don't like is how the villains on the show are so simple, cliché, and underdeveloped. They're such stereotypes!

    Overall, there's plenty of room for improvement. The Flash has lots of flaws but it's still enjoyable, though it's mistakes keep it from reaching it's true potential.

    Score: 6.9

    I have reviewed 32 other movies, including the 2014 films: Dracula Untold, The Maze Runner, The Expendables 3, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Giver, Sharknado 2, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Edge of Tomorrow, X-Men Days of Future Past, Godzilla, Blended, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Divergent, Transcendence, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Lego Movie, and more. I also review TV shows, such as Arrow (Season 3), Gotham, The Last Ship, Sleepy Hollow, Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, The 100, I Wanna Marry Harry, Crisis, Gang Related, and more. I also have reviewed the mobile Andriod games Minecraft Pocket Edition, Clash of Clans, and 5 Night's at Freddy's.    … Expand
  11. JohnKristofer
    May 23, 2015
    6
    Not a great show but I'd enjoyed it.The flash has it's moments but sometimes it can get corny and cheesy yet I enjoy it. The show for me is generic in my opinion but it is great for the whole family to watch and I think the show is targeted to young children cause my little cousins love it.
  12. Mazmorrero47
    Oct 7, 2014
    4
    Overall, I thought the pilot was bland at best. It suffered from one-note acting (the villain and the male scientist sidekick were especially annoying), contrived and pandering humor (a twerking joke? really?), dodgy special effects, and cringe-worthy dialog ("Run Barry, run!"). Grant Gustin brings charm to the show, but the guy looks like he barely graduated high school, so I have a hardOverall, I thought the pilot was bland at best. It suffered from one-note acting (the villain and the male scientist sidekick were especially annoying), contrived and pandering humor (a twerking joke? really?), dodgy special effects, and cringe-worthy dialog ("Run Barry, run!"). Grant Gustin brings charm to the show, but the guy looks like he barely graduated high school, so I have a hard time buying him as an experienced forensic scientist.
    With that said, Arrow also started pretty weak, but got consistently better as it went on, so it might be the same case for The Flash (they share the same creators after all), but I'm not getting my hopes too high.    … Expand
  13. Erazor
    Nov 23, 2014
    5
    I changed my mind and lowered my score from 8 to 5, this series thrives on one off episodes and bad guys. The what little deepr story line there is, isn't all that great. It's very similar to smallville, simple and cheesy come to mind.
  14. ElseWorth
    Feb 11, 2015
    5
    I have watched about 30 min of the first episode, so mabyeit's not a complete review. But for me the whole story was already over at that point. Not like in "superman serie", a build-up in power, where did he came from, ect. . I guess the flash is fast in everything, even in story telling. A lot of things get spoiled in the first episode, There is no build-up or whatsoever. It's WAM-BAM,I have watched about 30 min of the first episode, so mabyeit's not a complete review. But for me the whole story was already over at that point. Not like in "superman serie", a build-up in power, where did he came from, ect. . I guess the flash is fast in everything, even in story telling. A lot of things get spoiled in the first episode, There is no build-up or whatsoever. It's WAM-BAM, He is the flash chasing bad guys.
    Next is the acting. It is (caps) terrible. so terrible that i wanted to shut down my screen after 10 seconds. i don't understand why people have graded this serie so high, maybe because of low standards or mabye they don't mind.
    For me this serie is, one in a dozen. Poor script, poor acting, poor serie. Everything is just a cliché.    … Expand
  15. MrJackatoo
    Nov 14, 2016
    5
    Its Guilty Pleasure. It's like junk food. It tastes good but in reality its pure **** The plots in every episode are overused as hell, its the same thing. Barry finds out about a new meta human, he gets his ass handed to him, he goes back to his friends, they find a solution and Barry eventually wins the day along with parent issues and unnecessary relationships thrown in there. TheIts Guilty Pleasure. It's like junk food. It tastes good but in reality its pure **** The plots in every episode are overused as hell, its the same thing. Barry finds out about a new meta human, he gets his ass handed to him, he goes back to his friends, they find a solution and Barry eventually wins the day along with parent issues and unnecessary relationships thrown in there. The dialogues are cliche as **** the the characters are god awful and the physics of the show, oh god. Barry can dodge a bullet but he can't even dodge a punch.… Expand
  16. Thebuzz
    Dec 1, 2014
    6
    I like it because it remind me of Smallville a better series...
    That was played by good actors, scripts were well written in the past...
    Now days they use hacks to write scripts... That are clones of clones of other series...
  17. fakename105
    Oct 8, 2014
    5
    i think the show could have been good,and can still be,but the pilot gave too much that you would probably expect from earlier episodes.Also,how does he sometimes go slow mo and sometimes just go fast.You don't fall when you walk normal so why would you fall in slow mo.And how does he know green arrow,that never gets explained.over all it can be good, but the pilot is not very great andi think the show could have been good,and can still be,but the pilot gave too much that you would probably expect from earlier episodes.Also,how does he sometimes go slow mo and sometimes just go fast.You don't fall when you walk normal so why would you fall in slow mo.And how does he know green arrow,that never gets explained.over all it can be good, but the pilot is not very great and over all confusing.He doesn't seem that freaked out about super speed either.oh, hey, i can run fast,yaaahh!!!!!!!!!any way, has potiential, but the pilot isn't living up to it.… Expand
  18. StatlerWaldorf
    Oct 29, 2015
    6
    “The Flash” is the plucky little brother that watches its reckless older brother crash the station wagon, still loves the **** brother, but silently resolves to be the first member of the family to show basic competency. That’s right, “Arrow”, you are the glowering, teenage, Hot Topic brother in this scenario. You act tough. You act like you want to be Batman. Are you Batman, “Arrow”?“The Flash” is the plucky little brother that watches its reckless older brother crash the station wagon, still loves the **** brother, but silently resolves to be the first member of the family to show basic competency. That’s right, “Arrow”, you are the glowering, teenage, Hot Topic brother in this scenario. You act tough. You act like you want to be Batman. Are you Batman, “Arrow”? Maybe George Clooney Batman. Maybe Batman on ice. You grit your teeth and playact the dark anti-hero, but underneath your inexplicably green hood you are a sensitive family drama just too full of masculine pride and market research to be true 2 U. “The Flash” just wants to be good and nice, and is good and nice. The kind of honesty makes “The Flash” the opposite of Hot Topic. What more could one ask to achieve? I mean… it still has the emotional depth of overexcited fan fiction, but “The Flash” knows that it is creating a warm hearth of escapism, so it focuses on things it knows it can make you care about, like Barry’s relationship with his adopted family. It knows that everything else is silly and toothless, so the action stays upbeat and intentionally cartoony. It is a kid’s show, but it is a very well developed and thoughtfully paced kid’s show full of likable people and their little adventures. Maybe “Arrow” will take a hint from its little brother and stop trying to take itself seriously. Maybe it’ll just get angry and jealous, slam the bedroom door, and go back to playing “Assassin’s Creed”. Maybe “Super Girl” will make them both irrelevant. Maybe “The Flash” will find one of “Arrow”’s old pot brownies, freak out, and transfer to art school. We live in an amazing world.… Expand
  19. DCAllison
    Aug 7, 2016
    4
    Watching this for the first time through Netflix streaming, while I've enjoyed the episodes, I am sick of Iris. The person who plays this character is an over-actor. I am sick of the way she breathes in and out really hard every time she sees the Flash. She gets that stupid smile on her face and acts all girly flirtatious. UGH. After 4 episodes, I'm quitting.
  20. Kire_92
    Feb 17, 2019
    4
    Cheesy, predicable, full of clichés and uninteresting characters. With that said it’s actually still somewhat watchable for some unexplainable reason. Maybe it’s so bad that it becomes kind of ok in some weird way. But it’s not a show that I would recommend.

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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