Go Flash Go!

One new TV show this year that I have be super loving has been The Flash on the CW.  For me, comic book adaptations are sort of a mixed bag.  I don't really enjoy the super dark ones (i.e. Batman Begins) but I really like the ones with the lighter touch (like last year's Guardians of the Galaxy which was one of my favorite movies).  I have tried watching the show that The Flash was spun-off from, Arrow with mixed success.  I got about half-way through the first season and then I stopped watching it, I may have another run at it this summer.  So I wasn't sure I was going to like The Flash.  However, I wanted to try it out mostly because my beloved Jesse L. Martin is in it (and I've liked some of the stuff from the executive producer Greg Berlanti).  I was pleasantly surprised with the pilot which seemed to have a light touch but was still able to have some really emotional (and earned moments).  It is one of the few shows that I watched in real-time (meaning day of airing, not on Hulu) because the first season throughout has been really solid. The writers did a great job of pushing the various story lines forward without letting any story spin its wheels for too long or not getting attention (left dangling).  The casting is really solid, no one it really out of their element talent-wise (the lead, Grant Gustin is really great, and his dad is played by the actor what was The Flash in the earlier TV adaptation in the 90s, so that is fun)  And the first season finale was really good (again there were some great emotional moments that felt earned and realistic).  I am still loving Jesse L. Martin in it and they upped the ante in back half of the show by adding Victor Garber (never a bad idea to add Jack Bristow!).  The other thing the show has done in their favor (in my opinion), is really good use of CGI effects.  In general, it never seems like they are trying to do too much with the CGI that makes it crazy unbelieveable/fakey looking.  So good on you The Flash, can't wait to see you next season (maybe I'll catch some summer reruns).