Hailed as one of DC’s best projects, CW’s The Flash was also disappointing, to say the least. What raced onto screens with the premise of captivating the audience with its thrilling superhero antics quickly became a show that was defined by predictability and repetitive plot twists.
Despite Grant Gustin’s brilliance as the Scarlet Speedster, even his performance was unable to fully mask the glaring flaws in the show’s writing, leaving once a beloved show infuriating to watch.
How The Flash Went from a Complex Series to a Predictable One
Throughout its run in the Arrowverse, CW’s The Flash received impeccable ratings, reviews, and quite a few accolades, making it a definitive success. A series that stood out for its complexities and intricate storytelling, it, however, soon turned disappointing as it progressed.
While it did tackle the themes of loss, sacrifice, and heroism remarkably well, it unfortunately ended up becoming increasingly predictable with each new season. The villains, who once used to be full of depth and intrigue, became predictable with repetitive motivations and aims.
While Grant Gustin was always brilliant as the Flash, it was his character development that ended up annoying fans the most. As the series went on, in almost every episode we witnessed Barry Allen be defeated initially by a villain, and face nearly insurmountable challenges, then a sudden pep talk or Deus ex-machina moment would end up fixing everything.
This shift, from an intricately layered narrative to more of a rinse-and-repeat storytelling ended up ruining the whole draw of the series. Furthermore, Barry Allen’s powers, often adjusted to the plot, made the series even less watchable than it had already become with its lousy writing.
Grant Gustin was Brilliant but His Powers, Not So Much
Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry Allen was undeniably the heart of The Flash. His natural charm, emotional depth, and ability to embody a complex character like Allen brought a unique energy to the show. So while Gustin made the superhero more relatable and approachable for the fans, the inconsistencies with his powers as the Scarlet Speedster did little to help his overall appeal.
The main issue that fans have is the inconsistency in Barry‘s speed throughout the series. While he has displayed extraordinary feats, such as racing across the globe within seconds, in other scenes he would struggle to combat an enemy moving at regular human speed. These discrepancies stripped away the suspense and the logic of the plot, implying that his powers were relative to the plot.
Furthermore, several times while going against supposedly deadly foes, Gustin’s Flash would rather engage in conversations instead of using his powers that could have granted him pretty easy victories. This erratic nature of the plot made it increasingly difficult for many to remain interested, distancing diehard fans despite Grant Gustin’s stellar performance.
The Flash is available to be streamed on Netflix.
