After two seasons of Arrow, The CW has already built up a pretty respectable take on the DC Universe - one that includes not just Oliver Queen's world of costumed vigilantes but elements like the League of Assassins, A.R.G.U.S., and other hints at a larger world of superhumans. The Flash is the network's first attempt at expanding this DCU with another show. Right out of the gate, The Flash establishes itself as a very different kind of superhero drama. It manages to tell a more classically comic book-y story while still remaining true to the general tone and vibe of Arrow.

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Probably the biggest advantage this new series had starting out is the fact that so much of the groundwork was already laid in Arrow's second season. Grant Gustin debuted as a pre-speedster Barry Allen in two episodes last December, where he interacted with Ollie's team and found himself caught in the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator accident. This pilot rehashes that origin story a bit in its early moments. The intent is obviously to appeal to new viewers who haven't been following Arrow without boring those who do. The result is a quick, efficient origin story before the episode dives into Barry's recovery and his reaction to becoming a superhero.Having a solid foundation to build on really helped this pilot build momentum. The problem with watching almost any new TV series is that the producers, writers, and actors all have to settle in and really hone and perfect the show's voice in the early episodes. The Flash never really struggles with that. With Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns steering the ship, there's a certain sense of confidence and forward drive. Rather than take weeks to set up the supporting cast and the hero's ongoing mission, all the pieces are laid out in this first hour. Barry experiences a full, satisfying character arc. It's almost like a mini-movie rather than a TV episode in that regard.When I reviewed the Barry-centric episodes of Arrow, I wasn't entirely sold on Gustin's Barry. He seemed a little too young and awkward alongside the likes of Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen and David Ramsey's John Diggle. But Gustin has definitely grown on me since then. It's probably a combination of Gustin having had a little time to settle into the role and the fact that he's now the star of the show. Gustin delivers a winning blend of charm and dorkiness in this first episode that makes him endearing. There are elements of both Clark Kent and Peter Parker to this Barry Allen. The fact that he's gotten into superhero shape in the past year doesn't hurt either. His abs may not put Amell's to shame, but he does have the physique now to convincingly play a speedster superhero.Another element working in The Flash's favor is that it has a sense of identity and purpose. This is something Arrow really struggled with early on as it tried to escape the shadow of Chris Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. There may be echoes of the Spider-Man films in terms of Barry coming to terms with his new super-powers; there are even one or two instances that specifically recall the first Sam Raimi film. But never does the show feel slavishly devoted to any particular superhero adaptation. It pays homage to Arrow (both directly and indirectly), but even in that sense the show is clearly keen to carve its own territory. The tone is generally lighter, and the very nature of this hero allows for villains and conflicts that could never appear on Arrow.This pilot lays out a full supporting cast for Barry in the span of an hour. Jesse L. Martin plays Barry's boss/father figure Detective Joe West (an inversion of sorts of Arrow's Det. Lance), while Candice Patton plays West's daughter and Barry's best friend Iris. While I wasn't entirely sold on Iris (she's played a little ditzy for some one supposedly working on her dissertation), the father/son dynamic between Barry and Joe is solid. We also meet Barry's STAR Labs support network. Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Dr. Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) already debuted on Arrow last season, but it's nice to see them get a more proper introduction. They're joined Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), a formerly respected scientist who has fallen out of favor thanks to the particle accelerator disaster. Of the three, I was most intrigued by Snow, who comes across as the anti-Felicity Smoak in her gruff and even haunted demeanor.Despite his fairly limited screen time, Rick Cosnett's Eddie Thawne emerged as the most interesting supporting character in the pilot. As you'd expect from the character given his comic book namesake, he's presented as a foil of sorts to Barry. But he's not an overtly villainous character here, just a dapper, slightly self-obsessed detective who promises to be a recurring thorn in the side of our heroic forensic investigator. Speaking of which, this episode only has a brief opportunity to explore Barry's scientific methods, but there's a fun nod to Sherlock in terms of how Barry's intellect and thought processes are depicted.The one area where this pilot falters is the actual villain. This should be familiar to Arrow viewers, as that show has long struggled with the need to properly develop its villains before tossing them into battle with the Arrow. The Flash opens with a big gun by introducing Weather Wizard. Unfortunately, while the spectacle of seeing Barry race against a giant tornado is cool, Weather Wizard himself is entirely one-dimensional. First he robs banks, then he develops a sudden god complex, then the climactic battle unfolds. Granted, there's only so much space to work with in this first episode, but it's disappointing to see The Flash repeating at least one mistake Arrow has made so often.

The Flash Producers Discuss the Twist Ending

That will be one of the challenges this show faces going forward. My fear is that this show could easily fall into Smallville's "Monster of the Week" approach to storytelling. The notion that other Central City residents may have been affected by the particle accelerator allows for any number of new villains to emerge, and that can either lead to endless storytelling possibilities or lazy supervillain showdowns. Hopefully it's just a question of time as the writers continue to build their world and work their way towards a Malcolm Merlyn or Slade Wilson-caliber villain for Barry.Another problem this show will need to contend with is avoiding predictability. The fact that nearly every major and supporting character in this pilot is based on a pre-existing DC character is cool. But does that telegraph all the major plot twists ahead of time? Will there still be surprises for fans familiar with the source material? It's a pressing question given how much this episode emphasizes the mystery behind Barry's childhood trauma. Arrow has done a great job of adding to the traditional Green Arrow mythology and building a very different take on Oliver Queen. Hopefully Flash can do the same over the coming months. I'd hate for this to develop into a show that rewards newcomers more than it does seasoned DC fans.