9 Years Ago, a Future Movie Star Made Their Arrowverse Debut (& Told a Heartbreaking Story)

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The Arrowverse often doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves for showcasing the talent of its actors. While The CW’s superhero shows have had some awkward moments – like Oliver Queen criticizing Felicity’s omelette – they’ve also featured genuinely impressive performances. Grant Gustin consistently delivers when dealing with emotional scenes about Barry Allen’s parents, convincingly portraying his character’s pain. Similarly, Stephen Amell shines when his character, Oliver, is confronted by Adrian Chase and forced to admit his darker impulses. Amell handles the scene with nuance, creating a surprisingly cathartic moment even while revealing something disturbing.

It’s not just the main heroes of the Arrowverse who deliver strong performances. In Season 3 of Arrow, Austin Butler, known for his role in Elvis, appears as a DJ who is secretly a member of the League of Assassins, sent to create chaos in Star City. While Butler does a good job, he’s overshadowed by another famous actor who brings a lot of emotion to their short appearance on The Flash.

The Flash Season 3 Features the Show’s Most Tragic Metahuman

Central City, the home of The Flash, tries to present itself as the opposite of the troubled Star City, but it has its own hidden problems. Frankie Kane, a young orphan played by Joey King, moves between foster homes until she finds a seemingly stable environment with John and Karen James. However, John gradually reveals a cruel side, verbally abusing both Karen and Frankie. As a way to deal with the abuse, Frankie lets a different part of herself, called Magenta, take over. The villain Doctor Alchemy from Season 3 of The Flash exploits this vulnerability, offering Magenta superpowers.

Okay, so this week’s The Flash was surprisingly emotional. We meet Magenta, and things immediately go south – she accidentally puts Detective West in the hospital! The main plot revolves around her seeking out her abusive foster father, and Team Flash desperately trying to intervene before she makes a terrible mistake. The fight was really well done, but ultimately it wasn’t about just stopping a villain; it was about helping Magenta, or Frankie, regain control of herself. The scene where she finally breaks down, overwhelmed by all the pain she’s endured, was genuinely heartbreaking. Thankfully, the episode ends on a hopeful note – Barry and the team find her a safe place to live, and it looks like her father will finally face justice. Honestly, the actress playing Magenta completely transformed what could have been a pretty standard ‘villain of the week’ story into something truly impactful. She’s quickly become someone who can elevate even the most basic material, and I’m really excited to see what she does next.

Joey King Never Does Things Halfway

Interestingly, Joey King’s work isn’t limited to The Flash within the DC universe. She also played a young Talia al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises, a character also struggling with her circumstances. In 2022, King took on another complex role in Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt. While the film features many questionable characters, King’s Prince is revealed to be the most dangerous, projecting her personal family issues onto everyone around her.

Although King doesn’t currently have any other villain roles planned, Hollywood casting directors should definitely recognize her talent. James Gunn, who’s building his DC Universe, might want to consider her – she’s already shown twice that she gets the characters and what fans expect from them, and his universe needs compelling villains.

The Flash is streaming on Netflix.

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2025-12-21 23:40