InsidePulse DVD Review – The Flash – The Complete Series

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InsidePulse DVD Review – The Flash – The Complete Series

Creators/Executive Producers:
Danny “Rachel’s dad” Bilson & Paul De Meo

Cast:
John Wesley Shipp ………. Barry Allen / The Flash
Amanda Pays ………. Tina McGee
Alex Desert ………. Julio Mendez
Vito D’Ambrosio ………. Officer Bellows
Mike Genovese ………. Lieutenant Warren Garfield
Biff Manard ………. Officer Michael Frances Murphy

Recurring Characters:
Richard Belzer ………. Joe Kline
Joyce Hyser ………. Megan Lockhart
Dick Miller ………. Fosnight
Michael Nader ………. Nicolas Pike
Priscilla Pointer ………. Nora Allen
Gloria Reuben ………. Sabrina

The Show:
Barry Allen is a brilliant scientist, working in Central City’s crime lab. And one night, a bolt from the blue causes a lab accident and alters his metabolism making him the fastest man alive. And he’s taken a vow to keep Central City free of criminals.

Sound somewhat familiar? Well it should. Bilson and De Meo (who oddly enough have been hired to write DC’s Flash comic post-Infinite Crisis) took the basic skeleton of the Silver Age Flash origin and crafted a show that was ahead of the curve as far as comics-based properties go.

Naturally, the “basic skeleton” is an issue to some – this Flash doesn’t follow the same continuity as the comic books. No big deal, in my mind. Bilson and De Meo essentially took parts of Barry Allen and Wally West and combined them to make a more interesting character (Interestingly, the Flash in ‘Justice League Unlimited’ seems to be similar, but with more Wally than Barry). Oh, and a bit of Spider-Man, since DC characters, in general, don’t carry as much angst as Marvel characters.

Now some people deride the show as having poor effects, but of course this was 1990, and technology hadn’t caught up to people’s imaginations yet. So you can see where people are coming from here, but it’s pretty much what you expect – tape sped up to give the illusion of speed, obvious green screen effects, etc. Like it and learn to love it, people.

The stories are actually not that bad, watched over by comic veterans Howard Chaykin and John Francis Moore and including to try and keep the franchise “true” to it’s comic book counterpart. The acting and dialogue, however, isn’t always great – I laughed pretty hard when Barry went “NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” in the pilot.

Sadly, ratings were pretty bad for the show and after just one season the show was canned. But not to worry – Warner had a new idea – a live action Justice League of America series. Hmmm, I wonder how that fared?

Episodes:

Disc One:
1-1, Pilot
Barry Allen is just your regular forensic scientist working in the Central City Crime Lab, when he’s struck by lightning and becomes the Fastest Man Alive. At first, he simply wants to be rid of his super speed, until a Marvel Universe-like tragedy occurs and he decides to use his power to keep Central City safe from villains.

Notes:
– Barry’s brother Jay is named as an obvious homage to Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash.
– Speaking of which, Star Labs is on Garrick Drive.
– Tina McGee is a character from Wally West’s history, basically doing the same thing in the comics as she does here in the show.

1-2, Out of Control
Someone is performing genetic experiments on the homeless in Skid Row, and Tina’s former colleague is the primary suspect.

Notes:
– The mutated dog was spotted at the corner of Gardner and Fox, a nod to Garnder Fox, creator of the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick.

1-3, Watching the Detectives
Thomas Castillo, a D.A. on the take, discovers the Flash’s secret identity and blackmails Barry into helping commit some crimes.

Notes:
– Arthur Simonson is surnamed as a tribute to artist/writer Walt Simonson.

Disc Two:
1-4, Honor Among Thieves
Notable Guest Star: Clarence Clemons as Darrell Hennings
The Death Mask of Rasputin is on display at the Central City museum, and it looks like 6 thieves are looking to steal it. But are they out for themselves, or are they working together towards a common cause?

Notes:
– Garrick seems to be one of the main streets in Central City.

1-5, Double Vision
It’s the Day of the Dead Festival, and the Flash is drugged and used to uncover the daughter of undercover agent Peter Paul Aguilar, who is set to blow the whistle on drug lord Reuben Calderon.

Notes:
– I suppose that Trachmann marks our first supervillain of the show, but he’s not exactly the costumed type that litters Flash’s Rogues Gallery. But by the end of the episode, it’s a moot point anyways.

1-6, Sins of the Father
An escaped convict targets Henry Allen and it’s up to Barry to stop him.

1-7, Child’s Play
Notable Guest Star: Jonathan Brandis (Seaquest DSV) as Terry Cohan and Mark Dacascos (The Chairman on Iron Chef America) as Osako

A drug icon from the ’60s returns from the dead and tries to hook Central City onto his new designer drug, Blue Paradise. Meanwhile, a runaway Barry is forced to take care of for a week may hold the key to cracking the case.

Notes:
– The movie theatre is showing a double feature of Batman and Superman.
– In case you’re wondering, we (thankfully) never see the kids again.

Disc Three:
1-8, Shroud of Death
Barry finds bits of metal at homicide scenes that connect the murders to a neofascist organization, and Garfield’s the next target. Meanwhile, DRAMA as Tina is offered a position in California

1-9, Ghost in the Machine
Notable Guest Star: Jason Bernard as Nightshade

An old criminal named The Ghost has returned, and Flash teams up with The Ghost’s nemesis – retired hero Nightshade to capture him.

Notes:
– Nightshade is an obvious homage to Wesley Dodds, the Silver Age Sandman.
– The “souvenirs” in Nightshade’s hideout is oddly similar to Batman’s Batcave
– As for the car in the hideout? Total Green Hornet.

1-10, Sight Unseen
A criminal who’s developed a cloaking device has stolen a deadly toxin that threatens Star Labs and potentially Central City.

Notes:
– How technology has improved. The toxins on ’24’ can react instantly. In 1990, they took hours to kill someone.

1-11, Beat the Clock
Notable Guest Star: Angela Bassett as Linda Lake

Julio is convinced that a Jazz legend on Death Row is innocent, but his execution is scheduled for midnight, and he, Barry and Tina only have an hour to prove it.

Notes:
– Eleven episodes in, and they’ve already managed to forget that high speed over extended distances tends to shred clothes.

Disc Four:
1-12, The Trickster
Notable Guest Star: Mark Hamill as The Trickster

Ever wonder what Mark Hamill as a live-action Joker might be like? Well, look no further, as he plays James Jesse, a crazed magician who is looking to make Megan Lockheart his sidekick Prank (a neo-Harley Quinn, so to speak).

Notes:
– In a nice touch, Mark Hamill got to voice the Trickster on an episode of ‘Justice League Unlimited’.
– The Flash statue is one of those “Winged Mercury” deals, which also resembles the Golden Age Flash.
– Someone else is playing Joe Kline this episode.

1-13, Tina, Is That You?
When a biofeedback treatment Tina devises for Barry goes wrong, she turns EEEEEEEEVIL and becomes the leader of a The Black Rose ang, devoted to killing The Flash.

Notes:
– Based on the “girl gang” comment in The Trickster, this was originally meant to air first.
– Barry’s forced to chang in a maintenance closet, similar to Clark Kent.

1-14, Be My Baby
Notable Guest Star: Career “That Guy” Robert Z’Dar as Bodey Nuff

Barry undergoes his toughest test yet – taking care of a baby.

1-15, Fast Forward
Notable Guest Star: Robert O’Reilly (Gowron from Star Trek) as Victor Kelso

“Legal technicalities” have overturned the murder conviction of Nicholas Pike (looking mulletastic), and the Flash (via explosion) gets sent to the very scary year 2001 where he seems powerless and Pike rules Central City.

Notes:
– Ah, time travel. You can’t have the Flash without time travel. Sadly ten years isn’t exactly travelling to the 30th century, but it’s a nice touch. Want to know more? Ask Mathan!!
– The Flash Museum is yet another nod to the comics.
– Small little touches of continuity are always nice. In this case, there’s a reference to Ghost in the Machine where Nightshade tells Flash that he’d probably be forgotten a couple of years after he calls it quits.

Disc Five:
1-16, Deadly Nightshade
Notable Guest Stars: Jason Bernard as Nightshade, Jeri Ryan as Felisha Kane and Denise Crosby as Dr. Rebecca Frost

There’s a new Nightshade in town, and he’s a bit more lethal than the original. So Nightshade and the Flash team up to discover just who this new guy is.

1-17, Captain Cold
A hitman with a freeze gun has a new task – put the Flash on ice.

1-18, Twin Streaks
Outlaw scientists have managed to create a clonereplicant of Barry, and now there are two Flashes running around, but one has the mentality of a child.

1-19, Done With Mirrors
Notable Guest Star: David Cassidy as Mirror Master

A criminal who uses holographic technology is in Central City, hunting for a woman who double crossed him. So Barry has to go undercover as “Professor Zoom” in order to bring him in. Meanwhile, Tina faces a huge challenge – her mother.

Notes:
– Barry makes a humourous reference to Professor Zoom – Reverse Flash in the comics.
– Another creator reference. This time, artist Carmine Infantino is honoured.

Disc Six:
1-20, Goodnight, Central City
Notable Guest Star: Bill Mumy as Roger Braintree

A scientist has created a sleep-inducing machine which he and his cousin are putting to good use – sending Central City into a slumber while they robs banks and jewelry stores. Meanwhile, Barry is under investigation by Internal Affairs, doing what they do best – pissing off the police department.

1-21, Alpha
An assasin android created by the military has escaped to Central City, and they’re trying to track her down.

1-22, Trial of the Trickster
Notable Guest Star: Mark Hamill as The Trickster
The Trickster has escaped with the help of a new Prank, and he’s brainwashed the Flash to boot. And now he’s putting Central City on trial, and it’s up to Tina and Megan to stop them.

Score: 7/10

The DVD:

Video:
(Presented in Fullscreen format)
Show is your typical television to DVD transfer. Blacks are actually pretty good and the colours, although Schumacher-ish, have a nice bright look to them.

Score: 8/10

Audio:
(English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
Sounds are pretty crisp. The theme song is awesome, as Danny Elfman essentially rips off his Batman score.

Score: 7/10

Special Features:
Nothing. Although Bilson and De Meo have apparently recorded a podcast commentary for Trial of the Trickster in iTunes format. It ain’t here though, and I don’t own an iPod.

Score: 0/10

Packaging:
Standard Warner gatefold packaging in a slipcase. The discs are stored two to a “page”, and each disc has a different image on it – Flash, Trickster, Tina McGee, Trachmann (?), Barry Allen, and Iris West, I guess as a nod to the comics (seeing as she’s in all of one episode). Photos and drawings of the Flash are interspersed throughout the packaging.

Links:
Flash: Those Who Ride The Lightning – A comprehensive resource about The Flash in all his incarnations. And I do mean all. Kelson Vibber is the guy running the site, and he’s done an awesome job.

Mathan and Tim, of course, are at your disposal when it comes to Who’s Who in the DCU.

Kevin has been an Insider since 2003, writing on a variety of topics ranging from The Amazing Race to Mixed Martial Arts. His current hobbies include Fantasy Football, Sporcle, travelling, making liberal use of his DVR and wondering what the heck he's gonna do when his two daughters are old enough to date. You can follow Kevin on Twitter (@starvenger).