The Flash Introduces You To The S.T.A.R. Labs Team
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Hoping to springboard off of the popularity of their Green Arrow adaptation, Arrow, The CW is set to launch The Flash this fall. We’ve already seen a handful of promotional videos, as well as a crossover arc that introduced this latest incarnation of the long-running DC Comics character. But a hero never stands alone, and the Flash is no exception. Without the team at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) wouldn’t even have survived, and this new video introduces you to the supporting cast.
This footage comes from the pilot episode, and the video starts off with Barry, a nerdy scientist gasping back to life on the lab table. Taking place months after he has been struck by lightning, he doesn’t look half bad for a guy who has been asleep for most of a year. As we’ve seen in other teasers, he also wakes up with a six-pack. He also has the ability to run really, really fast, which he puts to good use by dawning a tight red body suit and becoming a superhero.
Tom Cavanagh, who plays the mysterious wheelchair bound Dr. Harrison Wells, narrates this introduction, and fans of the comic books will notice a couple of familiar faces. Carlos Valdes plays Cisco Ramon, the one that “makes the toys.” DC aficionados will know that this is the alter ego for the superhero Vibe, and while he doesn’t look like he falls into that category here, you can bet he’ll get there if the show has a long enough life. Danielle Panabaker plays Caitlin Snow, who ultimately becomes Killer Frost. If you assume that because she has a name like Killer Frost that she’s a villain, you are correct. Again, she isn’t there yet, but will evolve into this character over time. It also looks like Wells has his own, as yet undisclosed agenda that may not be entirely beneficial for Barry.
This isn’t the first time The Flash has come to the small screen, and while this version pays homage to the comic book history, it also gives a nod to the short-lived 1990 TV show. John Wesley Shipp, who played the title role more than 20 years ago, will pop up as Harry Allen, Barry’s father.
I was skeptical of The Flash at first, but this extended five-minute trailer definitely turned this show into something I will be keeping my eye on. It basically gives you an entire episode’s worth of backstory and world building, and it also looks like a lot of fun. The network has already ordered at least 13-episodes, but if the series shows even a little bit of promise and fan support, you can bet they won’t waste any time ordering up more.
This fall, The Flash will air on The CW on Tuesday nights at 8:00 pm.
