Opinions are like fingerprints; everyone’s got their own unique set. When it comes to Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton) from The Flash, the range of opinions is vast. As a key part of Barry Allen’s life, Iris is a character who divides viewers—loved by some, loathed by others.
Sure, Iris’ journey from a journalist to running Team Flash (and later, Team Citizen) seems like a ride worthy of a superhero in itself. Yet, fans on Reddit aren’t exactly impressed with the character. What’s the beef, you ask? For starters, Patton’s portrayal of Iris often ends up in the crosshairs of both admiration and scrutiny. And her romance with Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen has been a particular bone of contention.
The Flash: Iris West-Allen and Grant Gustin’s Romance Upset Some Fans
If you’ve been following the chatter on Reddit, you’ll know that Iris West’s character in CW’s series The Flash has been under the microscope, with fans throwing around some hefty criticisms. So, let’s jump into the thick of it and sort out what’s getting everyone riled up.
According to several critics, Iris’ character arc lacks depth and consistency. They feel her role was poorly written, making her appear flat and underdeveloped. And when it comes to her romance with Barry Allen, fans feel the chemistry is missing.
Instead of a passionate and engaging relationship, the romantic scenes between Iris and Barry felt bland and unconvincing. Their arguments often seemed pointless, adding unnecessary drama without advancing the plot.
To add fuel to the fire, critics argue that Iris was shoved into leadership roles, whether heading Team Flash or Team Citizen. They feel she was placed in positions she wasn’t suited for, and these roles seemed forced and out of place. As one fan pointed:
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Despite these gripes, the fan’s frustration isn’t aimed at Candice Patton’s acting chops. They believe the actress gave it her all, but the writing didn’t do her any favors, leaving her to make the best of a weak script.
But wait, one fan has a theory that Iris’ character woes aren’t just The Flash problem but a recurring CW trope. They argue that when a love interest gets too much focus, it often leads to poor storytelling.
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They point to Felicity Smoak from Arrow as another example where the love interest overshadows the main plot. Let’s see what other fans are saying:
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The recurring critique points to a larger issue with how romantic entanglements are handled across the CW network, suggesting that these relationships often overshadow the main plot and leave viewers yearning for a bit more finesse in storytelling.
The Flash’s Nine Seasons: A Rocky Ride with a Happy Ending
The Flash made its debut on The CW on October 7, 2014, and sped through nine seasons before wrapping up on May 24, 2023. Throughout its run, the show had its fair share of near-cancellations and production burdens, making its journey anything but easy.
Eric Wallace, the co-showrunner, had a clear vision for how the series should conclude, but things didn’t go according to plan. He originally intended for the series to wrap up in Season 8. However, with the show’s renewal up in the air, he decided to make sure the finale wouldn’t leave fans in suspense.
In an interview with TVLine, Wallace shared that they had to “rewrite it three different times” to fit the evolving circumstances:
We had to rewrite it three different times, because when it was a series finale, we had to have a much more deep conversation with Barry and Iris, dealing with the fact that they were going to have kids soon.
This last-minute adjustment aimed to give a satisfying and fitting conclusion to the characters. Throughout its run, The Flash was anchored by Grant Gustin, who zipped into fans’ hearts as the Scarlet Speedster.
The show’s first season also received praise from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a strong 92% approval rating. Despite facing numerous hurdles, the series ended on a high note, leaving fans happy and fulfilled. It’s clear that even though the journey was rocky, the final result was worth the effort!
All seasons of The Flash are currently streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
