So What's the General Feeling About The Flash (CW)?

[Something Amyss]

Yeah yeah, I'm a bit late to the party. But I've been watching The Flash for about a week now, and thought it was particularly relevant in contrast with the DCEU and the arguments over whether ornot it's the worst Superman stuff ever, or just the worst ever committed to film.

And I know it's generally well received, because I have access to Google and IMDb and stuff. But with the arguments that have cycled around here about the DCEU, I'm curious what people specifically here think about it.

Mostly because I think it makes a point a lot of people complaining about the DCEU have been making: that a show can be darker without being grim or bitter or joyless. Now, admittedly, I'm only a few episodes in (well, I'm up to episode 8, it turns out), so maybe everything changes later in the series. Also, it's darker than I think I'd prefer, but I expected that going in, based on both Arrow and Smallville. The major thing is it's not so dark it comes off as brooding or head-up-its-own-ass.

And it does this without being Marvel levels of silly and absurd. Actually, I get a bit of a Raimi Spider-Man vibe from this--and I mean that in a good way. Yup. I just made a positive comparison to Raimi's Spider-Man movies. Run.

So yeah. I'd kind of like a tonally brighter Wally West Flash, but this is enjoyable. And that's the thing. It doesn't have to be exactly what I want to be watchable.

So yeah. Are people enjoying it? Would you like to see the "Arrowverse" expanded further? Are you just here to post the obligatory "I'm sick of superhero shows and wish they would go away" stuff? Are you the goddamn Batman? How fast do I have to run to get the time I spent writing this back?

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

I like the Raimi Spiderman movies heck even the third one looking back. (It just needed some trimming like get rid of Sandman for example)

Also regarding the developments of the DCAU Zack and Geoff Johns have been trying to fix the problems that BvS had for their future movies and they are even hiring the critics that were most harsh to the movie.

And Justice League is gonna be one movie so that 2 parter plan is scarpped.

 

[DoPo]

So yeah. Are people enjoying it?

I actually quite enjoyed the first season. It had its problems but overall it was just fun to watch.

The second season made less sense to me, though. OK, I'll spoil a tiny little bit of the first season (nothing major) only to be able to contrast it:

You know how Barry's mom was killed by a speedster? Well, in an investigation later on, they managed to extract some images using technobollocks. That's like technobabble but makes even less sense. What happened was that apparently, there was a silver mirror in the room - since silver has also been used for photography (wa-a-ay back), the idea was that they could extract images burnt into the mirror from 10+ years ago. And they'd be burnt in because of the energy around speedsters. So, that's technobollocksy enough, but then they managed to extract multiple images from the mirror. And then use further technobollocks to interpolate those images into 3D images.

And I thought that was fine. The show wasn't really trying that hard to be "scientific" and it worked mostly on arbitrary physics anyway. This was one of the worst offenders in arbitrary physics, though, so, while bad, it wasn't that much out of the ordinary.

In Season 2, though, that kind of stuff happens more often. I still watched it but it left a bit of a bad aftertaste in my mouth. I'll see how Season 3 goes, when it comes around.

Would you like to see the "Arrowverse" expanded further?

Yeah, actually. For their faults, I find these superhero shows to be more up my alley than...well, most of the others. Even though I didn't really like Arrow itself. I watched the first couple of episodes and...ugh, it just came off as if the Arrow wanted really hard to be Batman. So I dropped that series. I've been told things improved in the later series but...well, Arrow looks way less interesting to begin with.

Are you just here to post the obligatory "I'm sick of superhero shows and wish they would go away" stuff?

I'm not even that much into superhero shows. Or media in general. I'm aware of most due to them being very popular but I hardly go out of my way to consume the media. I've read pretty much no comics and, while not avoiding movies, I don't tend to go and watch them, either. I watched Man of Steel because my housemate was going to anyway. I've not watched Batman vs Superman at all. The X-Men movies, I'd say, I actually like. Deadpool was also fun. Out of shows, The Flash I liked, as I described above and...that's pretty much the only one I watched. I guess I could also add Heroes since it was pretty much X-Men but reskinned. Even then, only the first season was good - the rest managed to devolve into some barely connected insanity.

Are you the goddamn Batman?

No.

How fast do I have to run to get the time I spent writing this back?

I'm not sure - try 2 miles per hour. I may be just slightly off - adjust if needed.

 

[anthony87]

I like it but fuck me is some of the dialogue in it bad.

Cheese central.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Are people enjoying it?

I'm behind (Netflixing it, so I'm still on season 1), but yes, I'm absolutely loving it. The Flash has energy that I love, the characters are charismatic so I actually give two shits, and Barry Allen is just a joy to behold - He's got a tragic past and problems and gets moppy, but the absolute joy he has at being the Flash overwhelms all that, and you can actually cheer the guy on.

Would you like to see the "Arrowverse" expanded further?

Yes, though I'd like it if they stepped it back a bit on the power level. They started with the Arrow, then the Flash, and now Super Girl (That I haven't been able to watch that yet). Might be time for another baseline human hero.

Or, barring that, Zatanna.

Are you just here to post the obligatory "I'm sick of superhero shows and wish they would go away" stuff?

Nope. Gimme more.

Are you the goddamn Batman?

Yes.

How fast do I have to run to get the time I spent writing this back?

Depends on your emotional state, along with various other factors.

 

[Parasondox]

I love it. Its comic book cheesiness that is needed. It knows what it is and isnt trying to be something its not. At the end of it all, comic books are mostly silly and outrageous anyways thats meant to fun as well as challenge emotions from time to time. Flash does it well.

However I do have one fear. This Flash will be "killed off" or retire once the movie version comes out. A stupid thing WB/DC does.

 

[Adamantium93]

I watched it until halfway through the second season.

It was...well, it was more good than bad. Or at least its bad was more tolerable than others. It has the typical TV-show problems: shoe-horned love plots, episodes that just spun the wheels, never spending enough time on the coolest stuff, some VERY wonky physics/computer stuff that are implausible even under the suspension of disbelief.

But it also had a great villain in the first season, good performances by most of the actors (Joe, Cisco, and Dr. Wells are stand-outs), and cool versions of some of the characters they adapted from the comics (especially Captain Cold and Reverse Flash). And, it does have great dexterity shifting between fun superhero antics and darker fare (Reverse Flash can be downright disturbing and the mid-season finale was one heck of a ride).

So, it's better than Arrow, SHIELD, or Supergirl, but not as good as Daredevil (haven't seen season 2) or even Jessica Jones. When it is good, it can be really good. But it also has its rough spots. Ultimately, there are better things on TV (especially if you have a Netflix or HBO subscription), but if you like superheroes and you have some free time, binge the first four episodes and then decide if you want to keep with it or not. I enjoyed it, mostly.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Like all the other DC TV stuff, I enjoy it.

I think Legends Of Tomorrow is my favourite though. It's Doctor Who with superheroes and it's daft shite and I love it.

 

[Hawki]

I'm curious what people specifically here think about it.

For me, it's "okay." I've said this many times, so this may come off as a broken record, but for me, taking it in isolation, it's fine. I'm not that much of a superhero fan, but if I view it through the lens of pulp sci-fi, then yes, I can enjoy it. Not a "good" show IMO, but not a bad one. I prefer the first two seasons of Arrow, but come season 3, bleh.

Yup. I just made a positive comparison to Raimi's Spider-Man movies. Run.

That's something you have to run from? I quite like the Rami Spider-Man movies. All three of them.

Would you like to see the "Arrowverse" expanded further?

Short answer, no. Long answer - it doesn't matter, because the Arrowverse has become something that no longer appeals to my tastes.

At the start of it, we just had Arrow. Realistic, down to earth, dark, gritty. I actually like that, even if I don't like BvS for numerous reasons (like MoS though). Then we have The Flash, which tonally clashes with Arrow, and makes its titular show feel redundant. Of what use is a guy with a bow and arrow in a world of metahumans and time travel? This leaked over into season 3, and it felt like the series was undergoing an identity crisis. Since then, as I understand, the Arrowverse now includes Vixen (totem animals), Legends of Tomorrow (time travel), Constantine (demons), and for all intents and purposes, Supergirl (alternate dimensions and aliens). This coming from a series where, in its first outing, only stretched credulity once (an earthquake machine), and even the mirakuru didn't shatter my suspension of disbelief.

In all honesty, I'd probably enjoy The Flash more if it was in its own setting. Only seen the first season, but it's this sort of cognitive dissonance that affects me whenever I see something from the Arrowverse that's more or less got me to give up on it.

Are you the goddamn Batman?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOoUteabhgc

More like J.D.

"It's better than Arrow"

As of season 3, that isn't saying much. ;p

However I do have one fear. This Flash will be "killed off" or retire once the movie version comes out. A stupid thing WB/DC does.

Do you really think so? I can understand offing the Suicide Squad, because as bone-headed as that was, Arrow didn't depend on their existence to function. If The Flash can't have...well, The Flash, then how would the show even work? Or is this a Barry Allen vs. Wally West vs. how the heck should I know who these people are? kind of thing?

 

[RedDeadFred]

And it does this without being Marvel levels of silly and absurd. Actually, I get a bit of a Raimi Spider-Man vibe from this--and I mean that in a good way. Yup. I just made a positive comparison to Raimi's Spider-Man movies. Run.

This is actually one of the better comparisons I've heard. It's not dark and brooding, but it has that emotional core that Raimi's Spider-Man movies had. It's a pretty good mixture. Sure the plot of each episode usually is nothing to write home about, but the core cast is likeable enough that I usually find it entertaining. I will say that I liked the first season more than the second though. The second's villain is a lot worse and has some astoundingly dumb moments while also packing in way more cliches.

 

[The Enquirer]

Arrow season 4 was horrible. I actually stopped watching after they revealed who died, not because of who it was but because it was a pointless death and wasn't even well done. After that the Flash's interest started wanning for me as did Legends of Tomorrow. Season 1 of the Flash was really, really good though and the first two seasons of Arrow were the same way. Season 3 was passable.

Overall the writing just degraded and the action scenes got worse and worse. You can tell where they made cuts because they were slowing down.

I'm not sick of superhero shows, just the bad ones.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I like the show. It's not without it's flaws, but they are enjoyable flaws that aren't detrimental the the shows progression. I very much enjoy the Arrow crossover episodes, Seeing Flash and Arrow side by side for the first time gave me the happy buzz when Cap and Iron Man were side by side in Avengers. The t.v shows are doing what the DC movies should have done from the start.

 

[Souplex]

I watched the first season a thoroughly enjoyed it because it embraced the comic book insanity of super-intelligent psychic gorillas and the like.
I'm disappointed it's not Wally.
The fact that Iris is basically Barry's step-sister is kind of creepy to me. He literally calls her dad (Whose name escapes me) "Dad" a couple of times. I like the actress who plays her though, and she is smoking.
The show takes a little while to find its feet, but when it gets going it really works.
Waiting for the second season to come to Netflix.

Spoiler: Biiiiiig plot spoilers

It bugged me that Iris' boyfriend (Whose name escapes me) had to kill himself to unmake Dr. Zoom from time. (He's his ancestor) He could have easily just shot himself in the junk or declared "When this is over I'm getting a vasectomy!"

 

[Captain Marvelous_v1legacy]

Are people enjoying it?

I love it. It's a fun, cheesy show. I'm actually surprised with the show. Usually I end up hating half the cast, like I did with Arrow. But I only hate one character in The Flash, and that's Iris. The show is pretty great. I think Daredevil is better, but I still love it.

Would you like to see the "Arrowverse" expanded further?

Absolutely! It'd be great to see more DC characters join the Arrowverse. Zatanna. Nightwing. GASP! The Question!

Are you just here to post the obligatory "I'm sick of superhero shows and wish they would go away" stuff?

Yes. Superhero shows suck. Every episode is like a kick in the nads. Terrible plot, dreadful acting, and boring melodrama, I don't understand why anyone would tune in once a week to watch this drivel. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find out when season 3 is airing.

Are you the goddamn Batman?

How fast do I have to run to get the time I spent writing this back?

That depends. How fast does time move per second?

They already teased that by having the Flash killed while Wally and Jesse get hit by the particle accelerator

of course, it was a massive cop out as neither character actually got powers

Yet! There's no way we're not getting Kid Flash, if they're even going to call him that. I'm much more interested in what the season 2 ending will mean for Barry and the eventual heart breaking moment that will follow.

 

[Hawki]

I like the show. It's not without it's flaws, but they are enjoyable flaws that aren't detrimental the the shows progression. I very much enjoy the Arrow crossover episodes, Seeing Flash and Arrow side by side for the first time gave me the happy buzz when Cap and Iron Man were side by side in Avengers. The t.v shows are doing what the DC movies should have done from the start.

The crossover actually kind of validated my feelings about the Arrowverse, to be honest.. The only reason Ollie can hold his own against Barry (this being The Flash, who can just strip enemies of their weapons in a second), is that he had the whole 'red eye rage' thing going on, and the second part of that episode showed just how redundant Ollie was in comparison. For instance, Barry needed to defuse the bombs, but he could have defeated Captain Boomerang in just as short amount of time and still had time to get the team members to the sites. It's a case of the titular Arrow being made redundant in the setting that bears his namesake.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

I like it.

The quality always depends on who ever is directing/writing. Sometimes romance is done well, sometimes it feels like Arrow. Sometimes the action is great, sometimes there is no action at all.

But it is pretty much the best superpower-y superhero TV show out there.