On Day 11 of the 16-day biannual Television Critic’s Association Summer 2014 Press Tour, the CW and Showtime introduced their new programming and revisited one of their returning shows. The following is a snapshot-look at their presentations.
THE FLASH
“The Flash” is one of the most wildly anticipated shows of the Fall 2014 season and it has every reason to be — the pilot lives up to the hype. “Arrow” fans who watched the 2-episodes in which the character Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) guest-starred in Season 2 will be better prepared for the introduction of Barry in his own world and will appreciate the fun cameo by Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) in the first episode of “The Flash.” But new fans can also jump right into “The Flash” as it does a fine job reintroducing Barry and the world his lives in back in Central City. Barry is struck by lightning and when he awakes from a coma, he discovers he has the supernatural ability of super-speed. Guided by his own strong sense of morality and inspired by Oliver Queen’s heroic actions, Barry whole-heartedly embraces his new destiny to help people in jeopardy and help fight crime in his own unique way. The show radiates good-humor with heart-felt characters and a hero whose passion to help people encourages everyone to live better lives. One of the notable differences between “Arrow” and “The Flash” is that Barry Allen is not instilled with the darkness and pain that Oliver Queen brought back from his experiences on the Island. So “The Flash” feels light a more light-hearted show due to Barry’s own joy and effervescence for life. This will be a show you are adding to your “must watch” list for Fall and it deserves to be. First point of interest: John Wesley Shipp, who starred in an earlier version of “The Flash” back in the 1990’s, co-stars in this series as Barry Allen’s father. Second point of interest: Robbie Amell (“The Tomorrow People”) guest-stars in episode 3 as Firestorm. Third point of interest: “The Flash” pilot/first episode was directed by David Nutter, who has directed some of the CW’s best pilots for such shows like “Roswell,” “Smallville,” “Supernatural,” “Arrow.” (Premieres Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 8:00 pm on the CW.) [Read more…]