The Flash TV series review - cast, seasons and more

Overview

The Flash is an action-heavy TV series that’s based on the popular DC Comics universe. The story takes place in the modern world, with a good number of sci-fi elements sprinkled into the mix. Since the show is set in the DC universe, The Flash takes place in the same world as other DC TV shows, such as Arrow.

The show’s fast-paced action, combined with some nice mystery and drama elements, has made The Flash one of the most successful TV series of its genre in recent years. Most notably, it was nominated in the Primetime Emmy Awards back in 2015. It’s also won the “Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series” multiple times, and that’s not even counting the nominations. The Flash has also won numerous other awards, from Nickelodeon, IGN and more.

Premise

The Flash’s protagonist, Barry Allen, is a forensic scientist who lives in Central City. Other than a mysterious incident that resulted in the murder of his mother as a child, he was living a pretty normal life – that is, until he was struck by lightning in his laboratory. The “accident” changed something inside of him, and he was granted the power of superhuman speed. He was left in a coma for 9 months and found himself inside S.T.A.R. Labs, an advanced research facility in Central City.

Alongside his trusted allies, Barry Allen, now known to the public as The Flash, aims to save the city from the evils that plague it. The seemingly straightforward plot ends up with quite a few twists every season as more characters and stories come to light.

Cast and characters

Grant Gustin – Barry Allen
Candice Patton – Iris West
Danielle Panabaker – Caitlin Snow
Carlos Valdes – Cisco Ramon
Tom Cavanagh – Dr. Harry Wells
Jesse L. Martin – Joe West
Danielle Nicolet – Cecile Horton
Hartley Sawyer – Ralph Dibny
Keiynan Lonsdale – Wally West
Patrick Sabongui Patrick Sabongui – Captain David Singh
Rick Cosnett – Detective Eddie Thawne
Jessica Parker Kennedy – Nora West-Allen

Filming locations

While the story takes place in Central City, you’ll find that this place doesn’t exist on any map. That’s because Central City is a fictional location in the DC Universe, located in the U.S. What’s interesting is that, although Central City is supposed to be located in America, most of the film locations for the Flash were located in Canada.

The Flash takes place in quite a few Canadian areas. Vancouver is arguably the most famous one, being located in British Columbia. Not too far from Vancouver lies Coquitlam, another film location. Finally, some of the scenes in The Flash were also shot in Surrey, yet another area in British Columbia.

Trailer

The Flash has six seasons as of May 2020, and they’re looking to add to that with a Season 7 pilot in January 2021. Because of this, there has been a trailer for every season, so you’re looking at a total of six different trailers for each one. The most popular and well-known trailer among the six definitely has to be the one from Season One, which was uploaded by The CW Network on May 15, 2014. The trailer has a massive 41 million views.

In the trailer, you’re greeted to a birds-eye view of Central City, and a little bit of dialogue that explains what happened to Barry Allen and his mother as a child. The trailer then skips to the present day, which shows Barry Allen working as a forensic scientist. He is then struck by a bolt of lightning that results in him becoming The Flash. He’s seen waking up in S.T.A.R. Labs, 9 months after the accident. There, he learns to control his powers with the help of fellow scientists. He also learns of the existence of others like him, known as metahumans.

At the end of the trailer, Barry Allen is seen meeting Arrow, the protagonist of the DC-based TV series with the same name.

Production

The CW has been the home of The Flash on television. If you weren’t able to watch The Flash episodes during their premieres, you have two options – firstly, you can look for a TV channel that re-airs episodes of The Flash, and catch up there. Unfortunately, unless you’re living outside the U.S., where reruns are a lot more common, you’re unlikely to find a rerun of the previous seasons of The Flash, let alone the first season.

Alternatively, you can also watch The Flash through media subscriptions such as Netflix. This gives you more freedom when watching the show, as you can decide exactly when to watch it. Other than Netflix, there’s also the CW App, a free app owned by the network behind The Flash. It’s a free app too, so you won’t have to spend money on a subscription to watch recent episodes, unlike Netflix.

Episodes and reception

Even before the first season’s pilot episode aired, fans were already excited for The Flash. This is mostly thanks to the already enormous DC fanbase. The Flash is a popular character in the comics, and it’s no wonder that plenty of people wanted to see a live-action adaptation of the superhero. During the airing of the first episode, the CW Network recorded a whopping 4.8 million viewers, which made it the most-viewed series premiere since hit series The Vampire Diaries.

Unfortunately, as is the case with most TV series, The Flash has seen a steady decline in viewers over the years. Notably, the Season 6 viewer count is less than a third of its peak viewership during Season 1. It is worth noting, however, that The Flash has so far never had an episode with less than 1 million views, which is an impressive feat considering that the show’s been running for six seasons (with a seventh coming up) since 2014.

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Netflix has been around for so long that it was in existence before streaming boxes and devices. For example, the original Roku was built with Netflix in its consideration, and as platforms have been released, Netflix has ensured a top quality app complements it. If you want to keep it simple, you can watch Netflix on your browser, but it’s also handy for shows and movies on a range of smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and more.

If you want to read one of the most in-depth Netflix reviews on the market, you’ve come to the right place. Everyone watches TV series on Netflix, so we’ve drawn up a guide to the various plans, offered an introduction to the user interface and more. This Netflix streaming review will educate you on the best streaming services platform you love to use.

Pros and cons

Pros

No commercials. There’s nothing worse than watching TV shows or a movie you love and having an advert interrupt you part way through. With Netflix, you pay the monthly subscription and get immediate access to the content library with all rights reserved.
Downloadable content. If you’re going on a long journey or commute on public transport which doesn’t have access to WiFi, it can be handy to have a collection of your favorite films or series you like downloaded onto your phone.
Various membership plans. Netflix understands that streaming isn’t ‘one size fits all’, so you can go with basic, standard or premium. If you’re on a modest budget, you will like the basic plan. If you have a family and want to give them all access, you can stream Netflix on four screens at once with the Premium plan.

Cons

Content library varies according to location. You may be excited to read a news article or new reviews revealing your favorite TV shows and movies are now available on Netflix, only to discover it’s only accessible for subscribers living in a different part of the world.
Rotating content. Because licensing deals expire with Netflix, people run the risk of getting into TV shows and movies they love, then being disappointed to find that it’s been removed from the content library.
Data cap. If you don’t have unlimited data on your mobile phone or tablet while you’re using Netflix, you won’t like that the streaming service uses it all up rapidly.

Types of content available

Everyone will like to watch TV series – to view the top series available on Netflix, navigate to the Series tab on the menu bar. There’s a whole host of genres you can choose from: action & adventure, anime, British, classic & cult, comedies, crime, docuseries, drama, horror, international, K-drama, kid-friendly, LGBT, mysteries, reality, romance, sci-fi & fantasy, science & nature, Spanish-language, stand-up & chat shows, teen shows, thrillers and more. Alternatively, click on the shows tab to read our reviews of titles you will love.

You can view the best series on Netflix, or pick up where you left off with shows you’re already in love with. Alternatively, you can look at what’s trending now, or see which shows you like on My List to watch later. Additional sub-menus include award-winning TV programs, Netflix Originals, women who rule the screen, top picks for you and more. To get further guidance, read our reviews.

If you want to settle in for a night of movies, Netflix is a selection you will love. There’s such a huge range of options, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Navigate to the Films tab on the menu bar, and pick a genre. Alternatively, enter a title or actor into the search bar if you’re looking for something specific. Genres available for movies include: action, anime, comedies, crime, documentaries, family features, musicals, rom-coms, sci-fi and sports. Reviews of movies can prove particularly useful, and small descriptions are included on the site.

You can continue watching the best Netflix movies you haven’t finished yet, see Netflix best series or what you’ve earmarked to view at a later date. Alternatively, more sub menus on your screen from this company could include crime dramas, hidden gems, romantic independent films and critically-acclaimed films.

Top Netflix TV shows and movies

Stranger Things

Set in a small Indiana town in 1983, this Netflix series begins with Joyce Byers’ son, Will, going missing. A terrifying investigation is launched into his disappearance, and this leads to the discovery of secret government company experiments, supernatural creatures and an incredibly unusual girl.

Black Mirror

This unique TV show from Netflix features dramas which are completely stand-alone and discuss paranoia about technology and a collective unease about the world as it exists today.

The Crown

This popular royal drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II, starting from when she was a princess and moving through her journey to become the British monarch with husband Prince Philip at her side. The cast includes Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies.

The Irishman

Set in the 1950s, this movie sees truck driver Frank Sheeran get involved in crime as a hitman with Russell Bufalino and his crime family based in Pennsylvania. He gets more and more entangled, going to work for the powerful Jimmy Hoffa.

Grace and Frankie

After spending a lot of time as rivals, Grace and Frankie have their worlds turned upside down when they find out their husbands are in love with each other. Instead of continuing to compete against one another, the two ladies learn to rely on each other instead.

Lucifer

Feeling bored in his role as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer goes against his father (God) by giving up his throne and going to Los Angeles. While there, he runs a nightclub called Lux and gets tangled up in a murder case with Detective Chloe Decker.

Making A Murderer

Steven Avery spent nearly two decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and filed suit against Manitowoc County, along with several people who were involved in his arrest. However, he found himself behind bars again shortly after, accused of another murder. Columbia graduate students read Avery’s story and took it on as a documentary.

Orange Is The New Black

Piper Chapman’s past suddenly comes back to haunt her in this Netflix series when she is sentenced to time in a women’s prison in Connecticut for associating with a drug runner 10 years previously.

Jessica Jones

This series explores the life of Jessica Jones, one of the darker characters from the Marvel franchise.

The Ranch

Colt, played by Ashton Kutcher, goes home to his family’s ranch in Colorado after the failure of his football career. His plans to run the family company alongside his father prove more difficult than expected, and he also finds himself torn between two women.

Mindhunter

FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench work to understand serial killers by understanding what goes on in their heads. The two agents are at the top of their game by developing the profiling of modern serial killers.

XOXO

Six strangers experience their lives colliding together during a night featuring romance and chasing dreams when a young DJ is presented with the opportunity to perform at a festival.

The Fundamentals of Caregiving

After experiencing a personal tragedy, a writer retires and becomes a caregiver for a disabled teenager. When they go on a road trip, their coping abilities are put to the test.

TAU

A woman is trapped inside a hacker’s house and subjected to his experiments. She tries to hack the computer program running the house in order to escape.

Bird Box

A mysterious force is wiping out the population, and the only thing people know is that if you see it, you die. Survivors have to avoid facing this force, which takes the shape of their worst fears.

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

A human child is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. He learns the rules of the jungle from a bear named Baloo and a panther called Bagheera. But he soon stumbles across his human origins, plus a formidable enemy.

(Picture: Forbes)

User Interface

When you first load up Netflix, you will be asked which profile you want to use. This is where you will have access to multiple screens if you are on the premium plan.

Once you are through to the main Netflix page, you will have a bar at the top next to the Netflix logo where you can navigate to series, films, recently added titles or your list. The My List feature allows you to bookmark content for future viewing.

When you click through to the series and movies pages, there will be a drop down menu at the top where you can choose the genre you want a selection to come from. There are also rows of titles on offer, based on sub sections such as your list, a Continue Watching bar, recommendations based on recent movies you’ve watched, trending titles and more.

When you click on an individual title, you will be able to see a whole host of reviews and information. Below the title will be a percentage match based on how well it fits in with your viewing habits, so you’ll know if you’re likely to enjoy it. There is also the release date, the motion picture content rating, a short summary of the title, a fact about it, the genres it fits into, the main cast and a thumbs up or down icon. You can also add it to your list, or simply press play.

How to watch

People watch Netflix on a range of devices. You may find you wish to use this company streaming service on your tablet or smart TV, in which case there will most likely be the option to download the Netflix app. If your TV doesn’t have the app, you can purchase a streaming device to act as the middleman. Check out the best company reviews to make your choice. Alternatively, you can simply use your laptop or desktop, or even find your video game console handy.

The best streaming devices compatible with Netflix include Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV and Fire TV. Netflix can be browsed using the video game consoles PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS Vita, Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

Compatible mobile devices include Android, iOS – that is, iPhones and iPads – and Windows phones. Finally, if you want to use a smart TV or Blu-Ray player, virtually every brand is compatible, including Sony, Sharp, LG and Samsung. If you want to double check before buying a device, check out the Netflix site for information and reviews.

To stream Netflix service titles on your chosen device, you will need an internet connection with at least 0.5 megabits per second. The recommended speed is 1.5 megabits, and if you want SD quality you will need 3.0 megabits. If you want to make the most of HD quality streams with the premium plan, 5.0 megabits per second will be the most effective, while 25 megabits is what you’ll need to achieve ultra HD quality.

If you upgrade your plan to premium and want to watch your favorite shows and movies in HD, you will need to change your video quality to either auto or high. Once this setting is activated, movies and TV will play in HD with connections of 5.0 megabits per second or more.

Be aware that higher quality streams will use more bandwidth, so if you don’t have access to unlimited data as part of your broadband setup, it’s recommended that you manage your bandwidth usage by setting the video quality to low or medium. This way, you won’t use up data as quickly.

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