The Flash Review: “The Fastest Man Alive.”

In his second adventure, the Flash faces multiple enemies– from within and without.

Title: “Fastest Man Alive”

Directed by David Nutter
Written by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns

Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash
Candice Patton Candice Patton as Iris West
Rick Cosnett as Eddie Thawne
Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow
Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon
Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells
Jesse L. Martin as Detective Joe West
Al Sapienza as Detective Fred Chyre
John Wesley Shipp as Dr. Henry Allen
Mike Christopher as Danton Black / Multiplex
William Sadler as Simon Stagg
Patrick Sabongui as Captain David Singh
Logan Williamsas Young Barry Allen

Full cast and crew information may be found at the imdb

Premise

Barry faces a metahuman who wants to kill the head of a local science-based business. Before he can vanquish the villains, he has to confront some challenges from within.

High Points

The show is doing a credible job of developing Barry Allen’s relationships with the various people in his life, while not ignoring the comic-book craziness of the Flash and his science-fantasy villains. The show has the potential to be one of the strongest superhero adaptations yet.

Low Point

Batman has always had a great Rogues’ Gallery, but his enemies gained even greater cultural currency through their depictions on the campy 1960s series. The Flash’s villains have similar potential.1 However, the show has to make them memorable. They can’t just possess cool powers and a grudge; to work on TV, they have to have developed personalities. Danton Black / Multiplex had a potentially interesting backstory, but the writing gave us nothing to remember about the man, and the performance didn’t raise him above the level of Freak of the Week.

On another note, how does Black (or even Caitlin Snow) grow duplicate clothes with his stem cells? And is there a mass grave of these guys somewhere?

The Scores:

Originality: 2/6 The Flash’s second adventure is boilerplate superhero show, circa now. It’s not bad, but it’s not in any way original.

Effects: 5/6

Acting: 5/6 The leads remain strong; the supporting cast are uneven. Gustin remains engaging as the Flash, while Cavanagh exhibits considerable prowess in his comparatively complex role.

Story: 5/6 The story held together; the flashbacks served a purpose, but they were a little too clichéd and predictable. Flashbacks are in integral part of Arrow; they don’t have to be in every episode of The Flash.

Emotional Response: 4/6

Production: 5/6

Overall: 5/6 The show continues to move forward.2

In total, “Fastest Man Alive” receives 31/42

Notes

1. In this case, a Rogues’ Gallery supplemented by a villain normally associated with another hero.

2. Did we get a glimpse of a proto-Cosmic Treadmill this week, or did they show fans an entirely unrelated device meant to bring it to mind?