The Flash 

The Flash is a show based on the DC Comics character of the same name and is about a forensic scientist named Barry Allen who is one day struck by lightning, which grants him access to a mysterious power known as the Speed Force. He uses his speed to fight crime as a masked superhero known as The Flash.

I'm a big fan of DC comics and I was excited but cautious when they announced this show mainly for the fact that I wasn't sure they would pull off the effects required to make a convincing Flash with a TV budget but my worries were quelled from the first episode. Other than a few of the villains abilities, the special effects in this show are great, especially concerning The Flash himself.

Aside from the show's capabilities visually, the story and various plot devices are fun and the characters are mainly likable. Obviously some shine through more than others (Barry Allen, Cisco, Detective West & Harrison Wells to name a few) but they all have their place in The Flash's team. Speaking of which, Tom Cavanagh may well play my favourite role of any TV show as the profoundly genius Harrison Wells and most of his story contributions are among the best in the show.

The show does take a villain of the week format for the majority of the episode's which can get a little tiresome (mainly with some of the less interesting villains) but the main overarching story line of season 1 made for some absolutely brilliant viewing. If you are not aware this show does share it's universe with channel CW's other show Arrow, which is based on the DC character Green Arrow. Without spoiling anything, I thoroughly enjoyed the crossover episodes where Arrow appears on The Flash and vice versa (on a side note I have also reviewed Arrow if you wish to know more about that show!)

If I have one criticism it is that the show can seem silly at times when you see The Flash get hurt by some of the villains. For example, a guy who can multiply himself but moves at regular human speed is somehow able to hit The Flash when from the Flash's perspective people look like they are moving in slow motion (as shown in the first episode). In the most recent episode he caught a bullet out of thin air so there's really no plausible reason he should ever struggle to take down someone moving at regular speed. Also Captain Cold and his Rogues are definitely a team of villains who come off better in the comic books than on screen as you just don't buy The Flash being challenged by a team of standard humans with special guns (he could literally take the guns out of their hands before they could pull the trigger if he wanted). But hey, this is a show about a man who can run faster than the speed of light so you do have to be a little open-minded.

All of that is a very small part of the show though and is probably just my overly analytical mind doing what it does. Believe me when I say it does not detract from how enjoyable this show really is and no other show has the same amount of heart and is as much fun as The Flash.