Looking for a new show to binge-watch on Netflix? You've found it. The CW show "The Flash" is everything you've been looking for in a superhero series and more. The show stars Grant Gustin, known for his role as Sebastian Smythe on "Glee," and in this role Gustin shows he can do more than sing and dance. Gustin plays Barry Allen, a particularly nerdy and awkward forensic scientist who witnesses the death of his mother at a young age, and watches helplessly as his father is wrongly arrested for her murder. In the show's pilot a particle accelerator created by Star Laboratories explodes and releases a storm cloud over Central City, spreading radiation of unpredictable consequences. A lightening bolt from this storm strikes Barry and he develops the ability to run at unbelievable speeds, and he becomes The Flash.
The series follows Barry and his friends at Star Laboratories as they use Barry's powers to protect Central City from the other metahumans (each with their own super powers) which were created from the explosion, and exonerate Barry's father by finding the metahuman that killed his mother. While the special effects and new metahumans are entertaining, what will really keep you watching is the chemistry between the characters. Whether that's the father-son relationship between Barry and the detective who took him in and raised him, or the relationship between Barry and his best friend Iris, who he has longed for his entire life, this show will give you all the feels.
My personal favorite part of the show is Barry Allen himself. Gustin portrays Barry Allen as the less-whiny Peter Parker that we've been waiting for. In the show, his love of science comes off as adorable, instead of annoying and show-offish the way that Parker's does. He gives us nerds a positive representation, which is something I personally can really appreciate.
Another reason this show is worth watching is for its take on interracial relationships. Barry is white but was taken in and raised by an African American man named Joe alongside his African American daughter, Iris. They are an unconventional family with a strong and supportive relationship, and one in which a difference in race is not addressed. This is not to say that race isn't important, it's just refreshing to see well developed lead characters who are non-white, but don't consider their race to be the central element of their identity. The only regrettable aspect is that this color-blind world seems to only be possible in a place where superheros are also possible. Where the impossible is possible, that appears to be the only place where race doesn't matter. And that's a real shame.
While "The Flash" isn't a political or groundbreaking show, it continues to surprise viewers with its wit, character development, and the pure talent of Grant Gustin. Barry Allen is a character with a nerd-ish charm which makes him relatable, while having super-human abilities. Gustin makes being a nerd look cool, and it's not displeasing to watch him running around in that scarlet suit while he does it. While I usually consider myself a Marvel girl, this DC Comics production gives even Captain America a run for its money.
