Superheroes have really come back in a big way in the past few years. In fact, I think they’re bigger than ever as far as the movie screen goes. There for a while, though, they were not much more than a has-been, at least as far as live-action. I guess cartoons like Batman were doing pretty well (I’m going off memory here so don’t hold my feet to the fire), but that was pretty much it. "Batman" the movie had sparked some resurgence of live-action super-heroes, but it was more of an exception than the rule. It would be years before heroes would become the hot screen property they are now with so many high-profile movies and TV shows.

 

"The Flash" was a stab at putting a hero in the prime time spotlight again. I was excited to have a superhero on screen again, and a new one to boot. I don't mean brand new since he had been on Superfriends and such, but Flash had previously been nothing more than a supporting character and never live. I never got deep into the Flash comics, but I liked him enough to be pumped up about a series of his own. Unfortunately, as soon as I got hooked it was over.

 

It’s hard to say why "The Flash" didn’t work out better than it did. Perhaps I’m less critical of it than the masses, but I think it got a bum wrap. Rumor is that expense killed it more than anything, so I don’t think it was that nobody liked it, just maybe not enough to justify its high price tag. Did it not follow the established story enough to capture the hardcore audience? The origins of the Flash here do not adhere to comic lore (he's kind of a combination of 3 different Flash incarnations, and yes, for you folks that didn't read many comics there was more than one person that went by the superhero name “Flash” over the years), but I can understand the need for adaptation in order to have an ongoing series.

 

Barry Allen is basically a CSI (hmmm, ahead of it’s time there it seems). An accident involving lightning and a chemical cocktail speeds up his metabolism impossibly fast. He can break the sound barrier just by running, and he can vibrate fast enough to pass through walls. He sets out for a cure until he realizes the need for a hero in the city. It begins with protecting his family and becomes a feeling of duty to protect others as well.

 

Tina McGee helps him deal with the physical changes and provides useful technology. She’s his friend and constant confidant (and a plot device for romantic tension which would be why she’s a young, beautiful, single woman). She tries to keep him grounded and on track.

 

The first thing they did right was Barry’s profession. We’ve done rich playboy, reporter, photographer, and such. But how many superheroes can you think of that are in legitimate law enforcement?  Let’s face it, just because you have super speed doesn’t mean you can do squat to catch criminals. If Barry had been a random guy zapped by lightning one day and putting on the hero suit the next it wouldn't have been as believable. In this position he has crime-solving to his name already, and the Flash becomes a tool in his criminal-catching belt not the belt itself.

 

One great big plus for the show is the practical use for the super-hero stuff. The suit is the only thing that can hold up under Barry’s high speeds so it’s a necessity rather than a vanity and, at first, just something to aid in the testing and treatment of Barry’s condition. As he decides to use his abilities to stop criminals it’s a natural progression to gloves and a mask. Even the lightning bolt he wears has a purpose. It’s a response to a gang logo.

 

I think the show nails all these elements quite well. It’s a far stronger real-world approach than most shows before it even if it's not the same level of realism we get these days. Granted Batman had some practical logic behind his cape and cowl, but it still couldn’t match what was done here (older Batman, the new one doesn't count). He has side effects like extreme hunger and some power boosts like fast healing.

 

There’s one downfall there. Not everything has a believable explanation. For example, in some episodes Flash is able to stop bullets. Despite his speed he’s still otherwise normal flesh and bone as far as we know from the series. Even if his speed allows him to alter the velocity of a bullet it should still be painfully hot. Besides having no story rationalization, I would also think this to be a very big deal to him, yet he never says a word about it.

 

One hindrance to any super hero show, and evidently part of Flash’s doom, is the special effects needed to graphically portray the use of the super powers. "The Flash" uses all manner of tricks that work pretty well. For the most part everything is convincing, but perhaps not quite catchy enough compared to the more advanced technology of recent shows.

 

One problem with the show is that it can walk the line of campy melodrama. Part of it comes from the subject of superheroes fighting supervillains (well, somewhat, Flash fights a lot of normal, or nearly so, bad guys, perhaps a few more classic super villains would have been beneficial). While this can be done with emotional realism Flash keeps a certain levity to it all which leads into some campy moments.

 

Another issue is the romantic element. On the one hand there is a romantic tension between Barry and Tina and a jealousy that peeks out every now and again. On the other hand Barry has a new girlfriend in almost every other episode including a great big crush on one lady in particular. If there were more consistent internal conflict over what he wants it might be interesting, but instead when one particular attitude serves the plot the other is completely ignored.

 

Acting also contributes. I like Amanda Pays, but there are some scenes she just doesn’t pull off. Many of the guest actors aren’t all that great which doesn’t help. It tends to keep the viewer from being able to take storylines seriously when they need to. Fortunately, this is not across the board. There is some good acting in there, too. John W. Shipp does a nice job although his fighting style seems almost silly sometimes (keep in mind this is the opinion of a Martial Artist and Jackie Chan fan). Alex Desert, the only other person to be in every episode, does well overall. On the rare episode that he has a substantial role he carries it as well as the lead actors.

 

Bellows and Murphy (actors’ names I can’t quite remember and am too lazy to look up, but not too lazy to write a long sentence on being lazy, hmmm…) are amusing. I thought they might get old and silly after a while, but they tend to provide the best comic relief without adding too much to the camp factor. I have found myself disappointed when they don’t appear in an episode. And some of the guests like Bill Mumy, Michael Champion, and especially Mark Hamill are excellent.

 

I guess the strengths of the show weren’t enough to overcome the weaknesses for too many people. Perhaps if superheroes in general had been more popular at the time then "The Flash" would have lasted longer. They could have tried going a little more somber than they did. I’ve always thought they put in the right amount of humor, but perhaps the dark could have been darker for more contrast. Then again, maybe "The Flash" just wasn’t meant to see another season no matter what.

 

I think any superhero fan should at least check it out. If you like Spider-Man, Justice League, and other such not-so-brooding comic incarnations you may also like the Flash.