Spanning over nine seasons and 184 episodes, “The Flash” is the longest-running show in the Arrowverse universe, brimming with rich content throughout its run. From its debut in 2014 to its conclusion in 2023, it has told numerous tales that have left a lasting impact on viewers. However, many fans online agree that the early episodes, particularly those introducing the Eobard Thawne arc, are still considered the series’ strongest point.
This epic journey started when Barry Allen stumbled upon a time-traveling conspiracy theory, which would ultimately redefine his life. The initial episodes focused on his struggle against this mysterious force. Compared to the complex crossovers, callbacks, and intricate emotional narratives that would later emerge in subsequent seasons, these early episodes are more self-contained and often hailed as the series’ best moment.
Proceed with caution: there are spoilers ahead for the Eobard Thawne storyline.
The TV series known as “The Flash” was the second installment in the Arrowverse, originating from the show “Arrow.” A backdoor pilot for it was aired in 2013. With an abundance of backing and anticipation, the series debuted with an engaging portrayal of Barry Allen’s origin story, setting the stage for a lengthy television saga. The cast of supporting characters was also introduced, including Iris West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, and Dr. Harrison Wells. Notably, Wells was the brain behind S.T.A.R. Labs, where the technology that inadvertently granted Barry super speed was created. Over time, S.T.A.R. Labs became a significant backdrop for the show’s events.
Certainly, Wells initially serves as a surprising twist in the series. Portrayed as a kind mentor and passionate scientist, this character is actually the primary antagonist of the season, known as Eobard Thawne or Reverse-Flash. It’s fortunate that the accident which granted Barry his superspeed also spawned other superpowered adversaries for him to combat, allowing him to develop his abilities before confronting Thawne. Over the course of their time spent together, the seeds of betrayal were sown and grew to epic dimensions.
As the final curtain fell on the season, it became crystal clear just how masterfully Eobard Thawne had orchestrated his deceit and manipulation, leaving me utterly astounded. The truth about Thawne was as mind-blowing as it was perfectly timed – he hailed from a time two centuries hence, an era where The Flash was considered a legend. His ambition? To mimic the Speed Force powers wielded by The Flash. However, in his reckless pursuit of such power, he accidentally tapped into a “negative Speed Force,” a force much like Barry’s but not quite the same.
With blinding speed came the power to traverse time, and Thawne discovered that he was fated to become The Flash’s most formidable adversary. This revelation filled him with resentment due to his inability to alter his fate, leading to a deep-seated hatred towards The Flash. For years, they confronted each other until Thawne uncovered the speedster’s hidden identity. Desperate to eliminate Barry at an early age, Thawne traveled back in time only to murder Barry’s mother and falsely accuse his father of the crime instead. In this endeavor, he lost his ability to travel through time and was trapped in Barry’s era.
Later on, Thawne killed the genuine Dr. Harrison Wells and took over his persona, accomplishing many significant tasks that Wells had already done. Upon traveling back in time to prevent The Flash from coming into being, he unexpectedly found himself having to generate The Flash so as to utilize Barry’s abilities for a chance to revert to his original time. He almost achieved this, but Thawne’s forebear, detective Eddie, made the ultimate sacrifice to expunge Eobard from the timeline.
Other Contenders
Among fans and online communities, it’s commonly mentioned that the first season story arc is highly regarded in discussions about the series as a whole. Fans often commend the pace of Season 1, pointing out that the narrative had ample time to grow and flourish across almost 23 episodes, with minimal distractions. Unlike later seasons that attempted to manage multiple narratives, this one dedicated only a single episode to its crossover event with Arrow, which seamlessly integrated with the overall plot. In contrast, subsequent seasons often struggled to balance numerous stories and had to make adjustments to accommodate larger crossover events within the Arrowverse, some of which may not have been central to the season’s main themes.
It’s worth noting that other popular Flash storylines exist besides the one mentioned, but this particular one, often referred to as “Flashpoint,” received a lot of love from fans due to Barry Allen’s encounter with another speedster named Zoom. However, many felt that these storylines had unfulfilled potential compared to Thawne. Similarly, Killer Frost was also appreciated, but some fans wished she had a more extensive narrative focusing on her as the main antagonist.
While “Arrow” gave the Arrowverse its name, it was actually “The Flash” that laid much of the groundwork and paved the way for the franchise’s expansion and new opportunities. Currently, you can find both “The Flash” series and numerous other Arrowverse titles available for streaming on Netflix.
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2025-02-15 18:10