The Flash: The Complete First Season

The CW's The Flash is a lighter, brighter, more playful superhero series than the network's Arrow. Grant Gustin stars as police forensics scientist Barry Allen, a happy, well-adjusted young man who has overcome childhood trauma (he saw his mother killed and his father go to prison for the crime) with the help of a loving foster father, Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Marin). When an experiment at the Central City particle accelerator goes disastrously wrong, a lightning bolt from an explosion winds up giving Barry super speed. Accelerator creator Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) and his team (Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes) help Barry to understand his powers and use them to fight crime. The aforementioned accident also gave powers to others citizens of Central City: some become heroes but most turn to crime as supervillains. Developed by Arrow creator Greg Berlanti and comic book writer Geoff Johns, The Flash carries an exuberant tone that celebrates the rush of Barry's powers and the charge of being a hero—a sense of fun that also extends to the villains, especially the wisecracking Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), a cunning nemesis who enjoys toying with Flash. Also on hand are a giant telepathic gorilla, time-travel conundrums, and a twist that changes the whole balance of good vs. bad guys. Compiling all 23 episodes from the 2014-15 first season, extras include a pilot episode commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a DC Comics TV panel discussion at Comic-Con 2014, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)