13 Things We Want From The Flash Season 2

I am extremely excited to join the talented Tell-Tale TV and cannot wait to start discussing new episodes of The Flash with you fellow fans. However, there’s plenty of things to discuss before The Flash premieres October 6th.

This is a perfect time to review what worked and what didn’t in Season 1. I compiled a list of “13 things We Want From The Flash Season 2.”

Let’s dig in…

1. Less procedural. More over-arching story lines.

The first season of The Flash, especially early on, had a procedural, “villain of the week” focus. It’s a good format when setting up a hero’s story like Barry’s. It allows the audience to get to know the cast of characters, the pacing, and the overall tone of the show while keeping the action moving. For a little while. However, a procedural format on a show like The Flash runs the risk of becoming a Yawn Festival. A different hamster, but same wheel.

The Flash started cooking around the mid season finale. Its most successful storylines were the overarching ones such as Dr. Harrison Wells as the season Big Bad or Barry’s ongoing crusade to free his father and save his mother. The Flash needs to back off the “villain of the week” format and embrace the richness of the slow burn in storytelling. That’s where the writers hit their stride and where The Flash was most compelling.

2. Focus on the core.

No, I’m not talking about Barry Allen’s abs (although yours are lovely, Grant. Keep up the good work buddy). I’m talking about the Scooby Gang of Star Labs: Barry, Cisco and Caitlin. The Flash is finished with its first season of required set up. The majority of the audience knows the cast of characters and how the show works. There’s a deep bench in terms of talent and characters.

Rather than focusing on new “villains of the week,” focus on the core cast. Season 2 is where we dive deep into the characters we love and are invested in. The Star Labs team of Barry, Cisco and Caitlin is one of the show’s strongest elements. The writers need to continue developing the trio and the individual pairings (Barry & Caitlin, Cisco & Barry, Cisco & Caitlin). Season 2 is the time to make the trio (or quartet – see #3) the backbone of The Flash.

*I’m not ignoring Harrison Wells as part of the core team, because obviously he was last season. Harrison gets his own number on this countdown.

3. An integrated and independent Iris West.

Iris West knows Barry Allen is The Flash. Thank goodness. Let’s move on from that tired trope. Finally. Season 2 needs to shift Iris into the A storyline. How? By fully integrating Iris into Team Flash. She needs to develop relationships outside of Barry Allen, primarily with Cisco and Caitlin.

My Season 2 theme for Iris is, “THY NAME IS AGENCY.” The Flash men need to stop making decisions for Iris and lying to her. The writers need to treat Iris West like the intelligent reporter she is and let her figure things out at a rapidly increased pace. She needs to become a fully functioning and contributing member of Team Flash. Autonomy is the name of the game for Iris West in Season 2.

This means independence from romance. Iris lost Eddie, a man she desperately loved and wanted to marry. Eddie was Iris’ choice even after she learned Barry was The Flash. Iris needs to grieve Eddie. For WestAllen shippers to have a chance at a series long relationship, there needs to be a respectful amount of time between Eddie and Barry. How much time? I’m thinking a full season. At the bare minimum, nothing until after mid season.

4. More female friendships.

Like Arrow, The Flash is a heavily male dominated show. One of the mistakes Arrow made was not focusing on female friendships until much later in the series, well into mid Season 3. It was a wealth of storytelling left untapped. Based on Season 1, The Flash is headed down a similar path. Iris and Caitlin, the two main female characters, had little to no interaction. Any other female character brought in was as romantic competition.

Let’s shake things up in Season 2. Iris and Caitlin should get to know one another outside of Barry Allen. Their relationship, whatever it will be, should develop organically but that requires screen time together. Additional female characters like Joe’s new partner Patty Spivot and Iris’ coworker Linda Park should also be added to the mix, but without the romantic competitive undertones. In the same vein, I’d like Iris’ relationship with her MIA mother explored. That storyline is ripe with mystery and drama potential.

5. Eddie’s death must reverberate.

When Eddie died, I immediately said, “We’ve just been Tommy’d. AGAIN.” The reference is to Oliver Queen’s best friend Tommy Merlyn, who died in Season 1 of Arrow. To this day, the effects of Tommy’s death can still be felt on Arrow. Tommy’s death was another catalyst in Oliver’s story. It propelled him to the next step in his hero’s journey.

Eddie’s death needs to do the same for Barry. While Barry and Eddie were not as close as Oliver and Tommy, there was a friendship. Eddie selflessly sacrificed himself to ensure that Barry, The Flash, would live. This needs to weigh heavily on Barry.

I’m not advocating a dark Barry, but I am advocating a more serious Barry. A Barry who understands death is a very real risk in the hero game, not just for him but for those he cares about. Eddie’s death is something Barry will and should carry with him for the rest of his life. Eddie’s death should propel Barry to the next phase of his hero’s journey. Because that’s how you honor a character like Eddie Thawne.

6. Less Oliver Queen condemnation.

One of my least favorite aspects of The Flash was how hard certain characters came down on Oliver Queen (Yeah, I’m looking at you JOE). Oliver Queen and Barry Allen are two vastly different characters who are developing as superheroes in vastly different ways. However, there seemed to be a focus on The Flash of consistently stating Oliver was somehow “less” than Barry because of those differences.

It doesn’t need to be a competition. Barry can be Barry. Oliver can be Oliver. But The Flash needs to kill the judgmental commentary on Oliver. For one, Arrow doesn’t make judgmental comments about Barry. Two, it shows a lack of empathy towards Oliver Queen, a character who survived actual hell. Three, it makes one of the most beloved Flash characters, Joe, seem sort of mean. Four, it shows a lack of respect for the predecessor who launched The Flash. There is no Flash without Arrow. There is no Barry Allen without Oliver Queen. Let’s play nice kids. There’s plenty of room in the superhero club for both.

7. More shipper goodness, but lane adjacent.

For whatever reason, I have not fallen in love with a particular romance on The Flash. One episode I’m proclaiming my undying loyalty to Barry and Iris. The very next episode, I’m falling in love with Barry and Caitlin. Then Robbie Amell does a guest spot and I’m even more confused by my immense Snowstorm feels.

Bottom line? I ship all the ships on The Flash. Snowbarry, Westallen, Snowstorm…whatever! These characters are a cast of puppies. Put two puppies together it adds up to more cute. That’s math that can’t fail. It’s a good problem to have. The Flash cast has an abundance of chemistry and permutations of relationships that can work.

Some fans have fallen in love with a specific romance on the show. However, there are just plenty like me who haven’t. Nor can we say any ship on The Flash has “endgame” sewn up. The writers have diligently made equal cases for multiple pairings.

Still, there comes a time in every hero’s journey where the writers must pick a lane. Superman and Lois Lane, Spiderman and Mary Jane Watson, Oliver and Felicity…even Batman eventually settled down with Cat Woman (Thank you Christopher Nolan for making the decision. Somebody had to do it). All this shipper goodness is wonderful, but eventually, The Flash will have to pick a lane. The writers will have to choose Barry Allen’s great love.

Season 2 was when Arrow settled who Oliver Queen’s great love is. So, it’s not unreasonable to think The Flash writers should follow suit. They did a great job of not putting all their eggs in one basket in Season 1. However, Season 2 can be a deeper exploration of each romance potential so we can settle on a basket. The writers shifted easily from romance lane to romance lane in the first season, but now is the time to choose a lane. Or at the very least be lane adjacent. In short, I need stronger endgame evidence for ONE PAIRING. Otherwise, I may go mad.

8. Barry and his dads.

Maybe one of the reasons I’m less focused on the romantic plot on The Flash is because I believe Barry’s relationships with both his dads is the real love story of The Flash. (Not all love stories are romantic.) The Flash is an origin story and Barry’s development as a hero is guided by the father figures in his life — Joe, Henry and even Dr. Wells.

Some of the most emotional scenes on the show were between Barry and Joe or Barry and Henry. Grant Gustin, Jessie L. Martin and John Wesley Ship took the material and ran with it every single time. The writers need to keep serving up the fast pitches so Grant, Jessie, and John can hit it out of the park.

9. Bring back the real Dr. Harrison Wells.

Yes, Dr. Harrison Wells was a key part of Star Labs last season and core team. He played a vital role in Barry’s development into The Flash. Unfortunately, he was also super evil.

But Tom Cavanagh is the best, and I can’t lose him. Since, he was really Eobard Thawne it leaves room to bring back the real Dr. Harrison Wells. This could one of those times where The Flash’s time travel works in our favor. I don’t know how they do it. I just want them to do it.

10. More Robbie Amell.

Robbie Amell is not joining Legends of Tomorrow, but Victor Garber is. Yeah, I’m going to need an explanation on that one, writers. I like Ronnie Raymond and he’d bring an interesting dynamic to Team Flash. I enjoy his relationship with Caitlin Snow and since they are married a more permanent status on the show makes sense. Hopefully, Robbie is promoted to a series regular at some point in Season 2.

11. More Flarrow crossovers.

The Flarrow episodes were some of the strongest for both Arrow and The Flash respectively. Putting these two wildly talented casts together for any reason is like Christmas in July. It’s just nifty. More please.

12. Expansion of superpowers…but slowly.

Obviously, Barry’s superpowers as The Flash will continue to expand. However, The Flash has certainly dropped anvil sized hints that Barry will not be the only superhero in Central City. Cisco Ramon’s comic book counterpart is Vibe and Caitlin Snow is Killer Frost. I think exploring both Caitlin and Cisco’s evolution into Vibe and Killer Frost is exciting and necessary, but should be done slowly. We don’t need The Flash to turn into the cast of The Super Friends. Let’s keep the focus on Barry while Vibe and Killer Frost simmer on a slow burn.

13. Use time travel wisely.

Time travel is a part of The Flash universe. Time travel can be an exciting way to explore multiple story options and go to some pretty fantastical places. On the flip side, time travel can become a crutch in which storylines are easily changed or erased, so there are little to no consequences to events. When the writers use time travel it should be used wisely and sparingly.

And make it easy to understand, because I’m writing the episode reviews for The Flash. I don’t want to ask my Doctor Who friends for tutorials in time travel so I can understand that week’s episode. Do a me a solid writers. Make it simple.

 

There you have it! Agree or disagree, I think at the very least there’s plenty of story potential on The Flash. If done right, Season 2 has the potential to far exceed a stellar first season. Thanks for reading my two cents, and I look forward to meeting again in a couple weeks to discuss the Season 2 premiere.

What are your hopes for Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Flash returns Tuesday , October 6th at 8/7c on The CW.