The Flash

When a bolt of lightning crashes through a police crime lab, a mix of electrically charged substances bathes chemist Barry Allen, transforming him into the fastest man alive--The Flash.

The Flash (1990-1991) is a United States network superhero series created by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo for CBS. John Wesley Shipp plays chemist Barry Allen, who becomes the fastest man alive after a bolt of lightning and a mix of electrically charged substances transform him in a police crime lab. Amanda Pays appears as Christina Tina McGee, and Alex Désert as Julio Mendez, two colleagues who orbit his double life. The engine of the series is simple: Barry uses his new speed to help the police catch criminals while hiding his identity from the people closest to him. Each of the single season's 22 episodes is a self-contained case of the week, with a crime to stop, a villain to outrun, and a lesson to deliver. The show is a one season story with a broadly cheerful tone, a wholesome family-friendly register, and an earnest hero who wants to do good. Set in a contemporary American city, it sits in the tradition of 1990s network superhero adventures, alongside fans of The Incredible Hulk and Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, who will find the same mix of accessible action and gentle heroism. Its arc was cut short after one season, leaving the story unfinished.

The 1990 series is remembered as a earnest, low-budget superhero adaptation of the DC character with a likable lead performance, though its effects and writing were dated.

• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanshared superhero premise with a scientist gaining speed powers, lighthearted tone
• The Incredible Hulkshared 1990s network superhero adventure with episodic action and a mild tone
• Smallvilleshared comic-book superhero origin and episodic action with a scientist protagonist

Created by

Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo

Release Date

1990-09-20

Episode runtime

45 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (532)

What is The Flash about?

A crime lab chemist is transformed into the fastest man alive after a lightning strike and must use his new speed to fight crime.

What is The Flash like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Flash as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is The Flash violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Flash as mild.

What did critics think of The Flash?

The 1990 series is remembered as a earnest, low-budget superhero adaptation of the DC character with a likable lead performance, though its effects and writing were dated.

Which shows are like The Flash?

Shows with a similar feel include Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Incredible Hulk, and Smallville.

How long is The Flash?

The Flash: 1 season, 22 episodes.

Is The Flash still running?

No, The Flash was canceled.

Where can I watch The Flash?

In United States, The Flash is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home.