The Flash,
Fox 8, Wednesday, 7.30pm
THE superhero genre is hot – it’s the genre of the moment, replacing the hospital shows of the ’90s and the endless law enforcement shows of the ’00s (and hopefully the current option – reality shows – if we are really, really lucky).
We have Gotham, Arrow and Agents of Shield already and both the DC and Marvel comic franchises (through Warner and Disney) have released long, long lists of when and what their next movies will be (stretching years into the future).
And now, on the small screen, we have Flash!
If you aren’t into the comics, cartoons or Arrow, your only experience with Flash might be through the Big Bang Theory and Dr Sheldon Cooper’s obsession with the fastest man on earth.
Even just that much recognition was probably enough for someone to think this was a good idea. And, for the most part, it is – if you like escapist television.
It is more than a touch derivative though. A young boy watches his mother killed (cough cough, Batman) in really strange circumstances and then when he grows up he is struck by lightning during a lab experiment (shades of Spiderman).
Actually you could be forgiven for thinking this was Spiderman, both in tone and feel – lead actor Grant Gustin even has more than a passing resemblance to Andrew Garfield (the current big screen incarnation of the webslinger).
And when the Flash’s on-screen boss and surrogate father tells him “to keep his daughter out of things” I was suddenly flashing back to Spiderman again and thinking oh no, not another Gwen Stacey!
Don’t get me wrong, The Flash, which is a loose spin-off from Arrow (though the quick scene between Arrow and Flash in the first ep left me a little dazed and confused), is full of action and a lot of fun.
It also features an interesting support cast including Canadian Tom Cavanagh (best-known for his title role in the TV show Ed) and Law and Order’s Jesse L. Martin.
Will it be a big hit? Well it’s hidden away on pay TV and screening during summer so, mmm probably not.
However as we reach the season of summer dross it might just be something cool and slightly intriguing to watch.
– Tania Phillips
