The CW has become quite the home for genre television. Everything from ‘The Vampire Diaries’ to ‘Supernatural’, shows that wouldn’t make the cut on bigger networks, such as CBS or ABC, not only survive, but thrive on the CW.

Although the ratings might not be as large as ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘NCIS,’ CW shows tend to attract a lot of online and social media attraction. It’s because of this that ‘The Flash’, one of the new series premiering this fall, will probably be around for a while.

The concept of “The Flash” has been in place since the middle of the second season of “Arrow.” Barry Allen, Grant Gustin, appeared in Starling City after a robbery that seemed almost supernatural in nature. Allen built up an easy rapport with Team Arrow in his two-episode arc, which ended with him being struck by lighting.

The pilot of ‘The Flash’ shows the audience a little bit about Allen’s life before his fateful trip to Starling City. His mother was killed when he was young, and the prime suspect was his father, Henry, played by John Wesley Shipp, who appeared in the 1990 series of “The Flash” as Barry Allen. Now, Allen works for the police department as a forensic investor alongside his surrogate father Joe West, played by Jesse L. Martin. Allen also enjoys a close friendship with Joe’s daughter Iris, actress Candice Patton, that has the potential to go down a more romantic avenue. After all, this is a superhero show.

After a repeat scene of the lightning strike, Allen wakes up six months later to find out that he now has super speed and abs. Unlike “Arrow’s” Oliver Queen, Stephen Amell, Allen immediately shares his new talents with S.T.A.R. Labs employees Harrison Wells ,Tom Cavanagh, and Cisco Ramon, Carlos Valdes, and Caitlin Snow, Danielle Panabaker, both of whom also made brief appearances on “Arrow” last season as well.

Although the two shows exist in the same universe and share the same creative team, ‘The Flash’ and “Arrow” are full of differences. While “Arrow” mostly grounds itself in reality with not a superpower to be found, ‘The Flash’ does not shy away from embracing its superhero roots. Oliver Queen’s broodiness is a sharp contrast to Allen’s almost childlike whimsy, part of which could be Gustin bringing so much joy to his role. One could almost say the two shows are as different as night and day, which is true, considering “Arrow’s” action takes place at night, while “The Flash” is on duty mostly during daylight hours.

The shows are independent enough that one does not need to necessarily watch “Arrow” to check out ‘The Flash.” However, there are Easter eggs for fans of “Arrow” implanted in the pilot of “The Flash,” and crossovers have already been planned throughout the season. Marvel might rule the cinemas, but on television, DC Comics reigns supreme.

Bottom Line: Check out “The Flash” as soon as possible.

4.5/5