Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Flash: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 27, 2015

“Smallville” was the canary in a coal mine. The 2001 show about Superman’s early years before the suit and cape arrived during the infancy of the superhero cinema explosion as we know it today, with WB execs hoping that a comic book property could thrive on the small screen in a manner that bested similar attempts throughout the years. “Smallville” ended up running for a decade, establishing a youth-demo formula the CW would routinely recycle to kickstart potential new franchises (including failures “Birds of Prey” and “Aquaman”). They found their way back to DC Comics-branded dominance with “Arrow” in 2012, which soon crossed over to the debut of 2014’s “The Flash,” with producers making sure that everything fans found appealing about the original program is going to be embedded in the new series. While the shows are joined at the hip, “The Flash” works to define its own identity, taking on the challenge of humanizing a hero with super-speed, using comic inspiration to create a community of nuanced supporting characters and a setting dense enough to support 23 episodes. Against all odds, the program manages its minutiae with satisfactory enthusiasm.

“The Flash” tells the story of Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), a CSI investigator working intimately with Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin), who also happens to be his adoptive father after Barry lost his mother in a mysterious murder when he was a child -- a crime that put his innocent father behind bars and informed the boy’s sense of justice. Living in Central City, Barry is in love with Iris (Candace Patton), Joe’s daughter, and remains infatuated with S.T.A.R. Laboratories, which is the site of a particle accelerator explosion that gifts the power of Speed Force to Barry, while transforming select members of the community into Meta-Humans, with powers often used for evil purposes. At S.T.A.R. Labs is Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), a brilliant scientist who’s determined to help Barry, backed by assistants Dr. Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes). Barry, learning to use his speed to bring peace to Central City, suits up in red to become The Flash, but he quickly learns that he can’t outrun his personal demons, determined to confront the life he wasn’t allowed to live.

“The Flash” eschews most opportunities for gloom and doom to portray Barry’s gifts with a certain level of lightness. The show enjoys the potential of Speed Force almost as much as the lead character, with surprisingly sharp and inventive visual effects selling Barry’s blur as a yellow streak of lightning burns through city streets, while the rogues’ gallery is chock full of monsters and ghouls with specialized power, including a telepathic gorilla named Grodd who provides a strange threat in later episodes. While television limitations remain, “The Flash” handles itself with confidence, selling velocity and oddity with a decent concept of spectacle, trying to make a weekly series play like an extended feature film, supported by Blake Neely’s superbly effective score, which truly sells the comic book nature of the material.

While Barry’s air-slicing swiftness is engaging, “The Flash” isn’t solely an action show, hoping to stimulate emotions through personal problems shared by all characters, who deal with loss, secrets, love, and betrayals, imagined with an acceptable degree of vulnerability. Obviously, “The Flash” is aimed at a young demographic, dragging out the will they/won’t they relationship between Barry and Iris to an agonizing degree without ever truly settling the union, and tuneless pop songs litter the soundtrack. Of course, there’s the physical appeal of the lead characters as well, but the collection of clean-cut actors manage to make something out of their roles, keeping personalities shaded to satisfaction, while supporting players such as Martin and Victor Garber bring veteran gravitas to the production. The only real sore spot is Cavanagh, who’s painfully miscast as Dr. Wells, finding his baby-coo voice and CPA-strong screen presence all wrong for the show. Thankfully, Gustin is capable of holding everything together with his boyish charms and commitment to Barry’s sense of wonder.

“The Flash” is mostly consistent with formula and villainy. The only real misstep is a fixation on time travel and alternate realities the show gleefully pinches from “Back to the Future,” which bogs down the momentum of the program as it devolves into numbing comic book science explanation. Spirit is maintained through acts of heroism and numerous connections to “Arrow,” with characters popping in for extended visits without warning. DC Universe references are plentiful, and the show even welcomes actors from 1990’s “The Flash” to the new take, including Mark Hamill (reprising his role as the Trickster), who’s always a joy to watch in scenery-chewing mode.

Episodes

Disc 1

“Pilot” (44:25)

Forensic tech Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) is a science nerd with a troubled history connected to the mysterious death of his mother, with father Henry (John Wesley Shipp) punished for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. Excited to spend an evening at S.T.A.R. Laboratories to witness the debut of their particle accelerator, overseen by Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), Barry is instead injured by the machine’s failure, hit with a special bolt of lightning that gifts him the power of speed. Turning to Wells and his assistants, Dr. Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), for help, Barry begins to sharpen his skills, realizing that crime-fighting is his future. Out to free Henry from prison, Barry retains a father figure in Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin), a protective cop and father of Iris (Candice Patton), Barry’s longtime crush.

“Fastest Man Alive” (42:25)

Tycoon Simon Stagg (William Sadler) is targeted for assassination by Danton Black (Michael Smith), a Meta-Human with the ability to self-replicate. As Barry learns to adjust to his Speed Power, he sets out to stop Black with help from S.T.A.R. Labs, while Joe begins to understand the importance of The Flash as Central City manages an unusual threat. Barry also deals with Iris, who’s now in a secretive relationship with Detective Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett).

“Things You Can’t Outrun” (42:22)

To keep up with the Meta-Human problem, S.T.A.R. Labs elects to build a special prison inside the ruins of the particle accelerator, attempting to nab their first inmate in Kyle Nimbus (Anthony Carrigan), a recently executed killer with the new ability to transform into poisonous gas. During construction, Caitlin is reminded of the sacrifice her fiancé, Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell), made during the evening of the accident. Joe makes a move to reopen Henry’s case, while Iris grows uncomfortable lying to her father about her relationship with Eddie.

“Going Rogue” (42:24)

Returning to Central City with a plan to steal a massive diamond, Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller) intends to combat heroic efforts from The Flash with a gun capable of freezing targets, using tech stolen from S.T.A.R. Labs. Visiting Barry is Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), an old friend looking to check up on her pal while taking a break from her day job working for The Arrow. While Iris is certain that Felicity has romantic intentions, Barry doesn’t believe it.

“Plastique” (42:26)

Trying to persuade Iris to give up her blog chronicling sightings of The Flash, Barry arranges an evening meeting with hope to give enough face time to the aspiring journalist to keep her off his scent. Bette Sans Souci (Kelly Frye) is the new Meta-Human in town, capable of turning anything into an explosive device. General Eiling (Clancy Brown) is eager to control her, but S.T.A.R. Labs hopes to protect the confused woman with their special skills.

“The Flash is Born” (42:26)

Tony Woodward (Greg Finley) is a small-time thief who becomes a formidable Meta-Human with powers that allow him to change his skin into steel. He also happens to be a former bully who made Barry’s childhood difficult, motivating The Flash into action. Iris digs deeper into the mystery of The Flash, with her blog bringing danger directly to her. And Joe starts to believe that the murder of Barry’s mother long go may have been committed by a Meta-Human, questioning Dr. Wells about the possibility of a connection to the particle accelerator explosion.

Disc 2

“Power Outage” (42:26)

Slipping into hero mode, Barry becomes The Flash and greets villain Farooq Gibran (Michael Reventar), who carries the ability to control electricity, managing to drain the hero of his powers, forcing him back to S.T.A.R. Labs for study. And Dr. Wells gradually begins to reveal his plan for Barry, interacting with supercomputer Gideon to help preserve a cryptic future event.

“Flash vs. Arrow” (42:23)

Meta-Human Roy Bivolo (Paul Anthony) has the ability to weaponize rage, using his powers to rob banks and send the citizens of Central City into a panic. Helping with the investigation is Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), finding The Arrow working to sharpen Barry’s instincts as The Flash, while offering him a few tips on life and love as he hunts another supervillain. While The Flash struggles with Bivolo’s influence, Barry begins to understand that his feelings for Iris will only endanger her.

“The Man in the Yellow Suit” (43:55)

It’s Christmas time in Central City, and Barry is tortured by his love for Iris, deciding whether or not to share his heart with his best friend. The yellow menace known as Reverse-Flash returns to Barry’s life, urging Dr. Wells to meeting with rival science lab owner Dr. McGee (Amanda Pays) and borrow special tachyon technology to help trap the menace. Eddie, demanding knowledge of local secrets, is slowly introduced to the Meta-Human threat.

“Revenge of the Rogues” (42:25)

Leonard Snart returns to Central City to pull off the theft of an expensive painting, bringing along a friend in Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell), a brute armed with a heat gun. Caitlin, having been reunited with an altered Ronnie, investigates his Meta-Human transformation. And Joe comes to terms with Iris’s adulthood, watching his daughter move out of the family home and into Eddie’s house.

“The Sound and the Fury” (42:26)

Receiving the opportunity of a lifetime, Iris accepts a position with the local newspaper, forced to prove herself amongst the seasoned vets. Dr. Wells is targeted for revenge by Hartley Rathaway (Andy Mientus), a former employee of S.T.A.R. labs who wants to destroy the business, though his ease of capture raises questions of safety within the lab.

“Crazy for You” (42:15)

Meta-Human Shawna Baez (Britne Oldford) uses powers of teleportation to help spring her boyfriend, Clay Parker (Micha Parker), from prison. Attempting to be of service, Henry joins the investigation, coming to the aid of his son. Cisco spends time with Hartley, looking for answers concerning Ronnie’s current chaotic state, learning more about the S.T.A.R. Labs accident and the history of Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber).

Disc 3

“The Nuclear Man” (42:25)

Trying to move forward with his love life, Barry begins dating a sports reporter, but his focus on work and heroism threatens the union. Cisco and Joe return to Barry’s old house to investigate the 15-year-old murder of his mother, only to find shocking new evidence. And Dr. Stein (inside Ronnie’s body), finally relents and allows himself to be treated by S.T.A.R. Labs, with his burning internals promising to go nuclear if the team doesn’t figure out a way to separate the two men.

“Fallout” (42:24)

General Eiling is determined to capture the entity known as Firestorm, but its two halves, Ronnie and Dr. Stein, have split, with the dazed men trying to return to their average lives. Iris, motivated by a fellow reporter, begins to grow curious about the situation inside S.T.A.R. Labs, commencing an investigation that targets her friends. And Barry learns troubling news about his past, which also may be his future.

“Out of Time” (42:05)

A Meta-Human out for revenge after the death of his brother, Mark Mardon (Liam McIntyre) has the ability to control the weather, using his powers to punish Joe and pull Barry into the fight. Cisco begins to suspect Dr. Wells of unscrupulous behavior within S.T.A.R. Labs, only to be confronted with a great menace in Reverse-Flash, who’s returned to finish his work. Barry and Iris finally confess their true feelings, but time for romance is shortened by Mardon, who pushes The Flash to his limits, tearing a hole through time.

“Rogue Time” (42:21)

Realizing that he’s repeating a terrible day of loss, Barry uses his powers to right a few wrongs, putting Mardon away quickly. While Dr. Wells warns of trouble due to this unique situation, Barry is immediately confronted with evil when Snart and Rory return to Central City, joined by Lisa Snart (Peyton List). Determined to take over the local mafia, Snart kidnaps Cisco and his brother, threatening them with death unless the S.T.A.R. Labs tech creates new doomsday guns for the group. Barry, laboring to realign his two lives, pays a careful game with his enemy, trying to save his friend.

“Tricksters” (42:32)

Axel Walker (Devon Graye) is hungry to cause chaos throughout Central City, dropping bombs on the populace as the Trickster, positioning himself as the new face of terror. Hunting for leads, Barry and Joe visit James Jesse (Mark Hamill) in prison, hoping the original Trickster might be able to shed some light on the urgent situation. And Dr. Wells’s past comes into focus as the origin story of S.T.A.R. Labs is recalled, founded on devastating loss and strange events with powerful strangers.

“All Star Team Up” (42:25)

Felicity returns to Central City with boyfriend Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), a billionaire working to become a superhero known as The Atom. Their arrival comes during a tense time, as Brie Larvan (Emily Kinney) emerges from the shadows with an army of killer bees, out to exact revenge on Mercury Labs and Dr. McGee. And Eddie is burdened by his knowledge of Barry as The Flash, which tests his relationship with Iris, who’s determined to discover exactly what’s going on with the community’s lack of crime.

Disc 4

“Who Is Harrison Wells?” (42:31)

A shape-shifter is on the loose, wreaking havoc in Central City as crimes are committed and confusion builds. It’s the work of Hannibal Bates (Martin Novotny), who eventually becomes Eddie, dragging a good cop through the mud. Joe and Cisco travel to Starling City to investigate a car accident that involved Dr. Wells long ago, looking to determine what happened with new high-tech tools. And Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) pays a visit to Central City, requesting help from Cisco to update her gear.

“The Trap” (42:32)

Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin learn more about Dr. Wells, discovering a secret room that contains a glimpse into the future. Trying to track the scientist’s enigmatic ways, Cisco enters a dream state to plant a trap. And Eddie finally works up the nerve to propose to Iris, only to be denied Joe’s blessing.

“Grodd Lives” (42:30)

A heavily armed gunman goes after a fortune in gold, with Joe and Barry out to thwart the masked criminal before he causes more chaos. When it’s revealed that the brute is a familiar adversary, the S.T.A.R. Labs gang goes to the source of all evil: telepathic monster gorilla Grodd, who’s out to disturb Central City’s peace from the comfort of his subterranean home.

“Rogue Air” (42:29)

Tracking evildoing into the bowels of S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry, Caitlin, Cisco, and Joe inadvertently unleash the villainy they’ve been containing in security cells. Now with past monsters returning for revenge, Barry turns to Snart and his sister for help, hoping the criminal mastermind with a cold fetish will be able to help take down his fellow scoundrels, securing an erasure of his prison record in the process.

“Fast Enough” (44:32)

Barry is offered a chance to restore the life that he lost when he was a boy, but the opportunity comes with a heavy price. As Central City erupts into inter-dimensional chaos, Barry recognizes his purpose as The Flash, once again called into duty as the hero he was born to be.

The Flash: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation remains in line with a modern television look, delivering a glossy, HD-shot appearance that favors textures. Detail is pleasing throughout the series, capturing pained reactions and set dressing comfortably (and perhaps necessarily, with all the inside references to spot), while exteriors are open for inspection, preserving distances. Colors is agreeable, with the program generally avoiding a bright palette to play more naturally, through Flash-suit red and urban locations manage to punch through, while costuming in general provides the most compelling hues. Skintones are always realistic. Delineation is acceptable with a few solidified moments to contend with, but nothing problematic. Banding is periodically detected.

The Flash: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix obviously benefits from a restless superhero, offering fans a chance to experience swift movement with welcome low-end gravity and use of panning effects, though nothing presented here is aggressive. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and clean, losing nothing to action sequences, while group activity is managed well. Scoring is direct with ideal instrumentation, supporting and emphasizing dramatics with respectful placement. Atmospherics are generous, capturing the feel of the city and more extravagant comic book encounters. Sound effects are sharp and strong, selling fantastical events with heft.

The Flash: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1:

• Commentary on "Pilot" includes executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, and DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.

• Deleted Scenes are provided for "Pilot" (3:55, HD), "Fastest Man Alive" (:33, HD), and "Things You Can't Outrun" (:47, HD).

Disc 2:

• Deleted Scenes are provided for "Power Outage" (1:39, HD), "The Man in the Yellow Suit" (2:57, HD), "Revenge of the Rogues" (1:54, HD), "The Sound and the Fury" (1:07, HD), and "Crazy for You" (2:00, HD).

Disc 3

• Deleted Scenes are provided for "The Nuclear Man" (2:35, HD), "Fallout" (1:00, HD), "Rogue Time" (1:56, HD), and "Tricksters" (2:30, HD).

• "Behind the Story: The Trickster Returns!" (8:39, HD) sits down with Mark Hamill and John Wesley Shipp to discuss the original "Flash" series from 1990 and how the hero has evolved for today's audiences. Clips from the previous show are included.

Disc 4

• Deleted Scenes are provided for "The Trap" (2:06, HD), "Grodd Lives" (2:38, HD), "Rogue Air" (1:32, HD), and "Fast Enough" (7:15, HD).

• "The Fastest Man Alive" (30:39, HD) is a featurette that tracks the history of the comic book and the creation of the television show, interviewing cast and crew for their thoughts on development and creative challenges faced when bringing an older superhero to a new generation.

• "Creating the Blur: The VFX of 'The Flash'" (26:25, HD) highlights the technical achievements of the show, chatting up CGI artists to understand the intricate planning involved to pull off superhero spectacle on an unforgiving T.V. schedule.

• "The Chemistry of Emily and Grant" (4:20, HD) showcases the screen test between Grant Gustin and Emily Bett Rickards.

• "DC Comics Night at Comic-Con 2014" (29:31, HD) takes the viewer into the heart of fandom to celebrate shows "Arrow," "Gotham," "The Flash" and "Constantine" with a panel featuring actors and producers.

• Gag Reel (8:24, HD) highlights all the blown lines, dance parties, and giggle fits encountered during production.

The Flash: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Flash" captures the fun of the titular character while developing his psychological depth and emotional need. The production allows the human factor to slip away at times, but, overall, the series manages to establish a true force for justice on the small screen, avoiding silly extremes to create a heightened but plausible look at comic book adventuring, sold with encouraging enthusiasm for the source material.