Thread:ZeVikingSif/@comment-16747922-20150405201628

So we were out like the whole of yesterday and on the car ride back I took a nap. When we got home it was like 9 PM and I wasn't the least bit sleepy. So after playing with FL Studio for a bit, at like 12 AM I watched the first two episodes of the Flash.

And I must say... HOLY SHIT. That was incredible!! There's just so much to love about the series already. It's got this balanced tone that really pepped me up and got me excited during the happier scenes, and kept me focused and engaged in the darker parts. And the sweeter, more touching bits really were quite moving. I'm very impressed as to how likable every character is - I don't even mind the guy who's dating Iris! I dunno if he was supposed to be painted as an asshole, but even when he just makes out with Iris in front of Barry I didn't really HATE hate him. As for the central characters, Grant Gustin is excellent as Barry and his interactions with the supporting cast are a blast to watch. Joe is not what I expected and I really, really like him for not being the "cliche mean dad of protag's crush" character. The scene in episode 2 where Barry accepts how fatherly Joe has been was truly phenomenal. As for the action scenes, the sheer kinetic energy driving everything is such an endearing experience, and the special effects are quite impressive.

Now, I did have a few issues, though they didn't detract too much from the overall feel. In the pilot, Wells' line delivery was a bit off at times, and his lack of pauses in long sentences sounded more uneven rather than "slick" like they were trying to achieve (at least I assume so). Cisco and Caitlin became more likable in episode 2, and so did Wells, actually. His work rapidly improved in episode 2 and he did feel a lot "cooler", with his lines finally getting that badass smoothness. And I must say, Wells is one dangerous bastard! But the one thing I didn't really like was Barry's childhood scenes. I get what they were trying to do and they were nice at some points, but that kid who plays young Barry is a little annoying, and by the middle of episode 2, they just about hammered home the point of how much Barry cares for his dad. So it became a little tiresome when Barry's sprinting kept being interjected with flashbacks. But I was amazed at how they got John Wesley Shipp (the original 1990's Flash) to play Barry's dad. His scene with Barry at the end of the pilot was amazing.

Oh, and the scene with Arrow! How could I forget! That was cool. And yeah, I've only seen the pilot to Arrow, but OIiver's scenes were a bit too Batman-ish. Still, the cinematography around Starling City was great, even if it was seen for only like 3 minutes.

All in all, I'm hooked, dude! Thanks for being so adamant in me watching it - I decided I'd finally give it a try and I have zero regrets. It's also pretty inspirational for HoE as well, and it's a highly engaging, pumping series that I look forward to continuing.

- TJ

EDIT: Just now realized how much of an Amazing Spider-Man vibe the show has. I loved both those movies and seeing that tone come to life in a TV series gives me ever the more reason to keep watching.

EDIT 2: Jesus Christ, did I actually forget to mention the music? It's amazing! Blake Neely's work in The Mentalist was lot more "stripped down" and simplistic, so I'm amazed how much orchestral depth the score in The Flash has. Really feels "massive" and cinematic. I think I heard that one soundtrack you showed me that ripped off Batman, but it goes well with Barry's sprinting scenes. Oh, and THE SUIT!!! Goddammit there's so much! We didn't get that much spotlight time with the suit, but the small showcases we did see were really good. The suit's design is fantastic. 