The Flash

The Pilot episode for the Flash TV series was the origin and was done very well. Barry Allen a scientist is working in a lab with many chemicals when lightning strikes through the window in which a small explosion occurs. What is so great about the origin is where he begins to discover how fast he is and how he learns to adapt to his new superpower. The discovering of his superspeed was done in a couple of semi-humorous situations. A scientist/physician (Amanda Pays -with big beautiful eyes) performs tests on him and helps him control his new found speed. She also gives him his costume so his clothes don't rip apart when he is running very fast. The subplot was fair to okay with The Flash catching a motorcycle gang who tries to take control of the city and killed his brother. - The rest of the series was up and down with good & bad scripts. Also the writers didn't do enough to build on the chemistry of Barry Allen and Christina McGee that was laid out in the pilot episode. John Wesley Shipp was an excellent choice to portray the Flash. The costume and the effects in the series were cool. The pilot can be found on video and the series has been occasionally shown on the SCI-FI channel.

It just ran one season, 1990, and there were 22 episodes, including the 2hr pilot. It was heavily inspired by the recent Tim Burton Batman movies, even as far as a Danny Elfman theme. But still stylish, silly, and a lot of fun. They managed to capture the Barry Allen costume and not look silly, along with lots of innovative sets and lighting, and the effects were quite good for the time. The character was a mix of Barry Allen, killed off several years earlier in the comics, and Wally West, the current comic book Flash, and played by John Wesley Shipp. Amanda Pays played a sidekick/romantic interest fairly similar to her character on Max Headroom. Mark Hamill played the Trickster in two episodes (sidekick Prank seemed like a fairly direct reference to Joker & Harley Quinn), David Cassidy played Mirror Master in another. Another episode was a nice homage to the popular team-ups of "Golden Age" WWII era Flash with the modern day Flash in the comics, here a retired hero called the Prowler, complete with a deep-frozen villain of the originals. But, it was up against The Cosby Show and the Simpsons, got bounced around all over the place schedule-wise, and interrupted several times by Gulf War I. And it must been very expensive to produce. It never really had much of a chance.

It was great to find this series again as I missed many of the original episodes when they came out. This series is great in that it has more heart than the new series. The special effects are, at times, better than the CGI intensive new episode. It is refreshing to see the Flash speed pummel an adversary, old Flash is more buff an less wimpy/whinny then new Flash. Old Flash is more action and less angsty than new Flash.

The new series does have some better villains and Cisco's humor is great. It is interesting to see that the main characters from the first series are given roles in this series. I like both, but the old one has the edge!

I thought this was a great series. The wonderful theme by Danny Elfman rivalled his other great creations. John Wesley-Shipp was not a bad cast. I knew him from his Guiding Light days.

At the time it came out, it might have been a tad confusing for comics fans who had just seen Barry Allen extinguished in the Crisis of Infinite Earths. But such is Network TV

It was a bit camp, but I didn't feel it was overdone. It had the feel of the early 70's Flash comics.

I remember a particular episode where the villain sprays a drug in the Flash's face, and he starts tripping out a bit. He uncontrollably vibrates through a wall without damaging it. His hi-speed activity have caused his body to burn off the effects of the drug and he realizes what has just happened (that he can vibrate through walls). He then goes back inside (some sort of auditorium) grabs a guitar on stage and plays a frantic hi-speed solo that makes the baddies pass out. It was hilarious.

Also, similar to the old Batman series, celebs wanted to play baddies on the show. Mark Hamill as the Trickster, David Cassidy as the Mirror Master, and others...

As the shows progressed, the creators gained to confidence to make him do the stuff he did in the comics, and it worked.

unfortunately, someone didn't think it worked.

Simply said, this series was too advanced for the simple minds watching TV when it aired back in the 90's. The sets were past, present and futuristic giving it a non-era look. The acting was very good and the costumes, sets and writing were added bonuses each week. This series ran for 22 episodes and included an incredible two parter with Mark Hamill playing the Trickster, a role he seemed destined to play. He made the Joker look like Mr. Rogers. David Cassidy, Angela Bassett, M. Emmet Walsh and even Bill(y) Mumy from the original Lost in Space series made guest appearances as NON-forgettable characters. There is positive word that this series will be making it's way to a DVD box set soon. cut & paste this to read more - http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3816

This is something you can watch with your family and be entertained by great writing and visual stimulation.