Today Marks the Vanishing Act of The Flash as Planned
With Flashpoint in October 2014, launching the runner-up project of the CW's valiant endeavor to establish its very own superhero TV empire, the pilot episode concluded with a brash declaration: this series would endure for a whole decade, evolving to tackle one of DC Comics' most legendary tales, Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Fast forward a decade, and we're now marching towards that fateful April 25, 2024 date. You know what? The Flash wasn't too far off the mark with its psychic prediction, allowances for temporal twists notwithstanding.
As The Flash ventured deeper into the labyrinthine machinations of the Speed Force, that ominous teaser from the premiere morphed and grew-the scriptwriter tweaked it, sometimes it disappeared completely, reappearing yet again before vanishing once more, before the show cinematically rewrote history and performed Crisis on Infinite Earths no less than five years ahead of schedule, sending the protagonist Barry Allen into a premature disappearance.
But this very transformation was a mirror image of The Flash's relentless quest towards that initial prophecy. Arrow may have planted the seeds, laying down the framework for DC Comics on the CW with its soapy grandeur and grounding elements. However, it was The Flash that fueled the rocket ship for the Arrowverse, embracing the supernatural elements and the experimental, cosmic weirdness that was still a taboo for superhero adaptations at the time.
Forging ahead, this pioneering approach laid the foundation for not just stories that delved into the strange, beguiling corners of comic book lore but stories that ultimately caused Arrow to redefine its own boundaries, reaching heights that were initially unimaginable. The ensuing ripple effect extended beyond Arrow, spawning a universe of shows-no Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, or Black Lightning would have emerged were it not for The Flash and its unwavering dedication to breaking new ground. And even as the Arrowverse banded together to assemble its collective might in Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was The Flash that served as the beating heart of the ensuing spectacle.
Curiously enough, by the time the series reached its conclusion in May 2023, The Flash hadn't gone on as anticipated. Alongside the much-lamented twilight of the Arrowverse, no more Barry Allen straightened the galaxy, no more interdimensional hijinx, no more Flash family reunions in the CW universe. The only exception, curiously, was Superman & Lois, a series that strove to preserve the essence of the shows before it, even as it maintained a conspicuous separation from the rest of the universe. And even as Superman & Lois nears its end, the DC universe, too, seems to be approaching a crossroads, as it adjusts to James Gunn and Peter Safran's vision for the future of the small screen and silver screen DC realm.
It’s worth noting that in The Flash's inimitable fashion, this initial bold prediction ended up experiencing both refutation and confirmation during the peculiar decade it took to get us to this point. Yet, this strange paradox may just be the best method to bid a fond farewell to such a cataclysmic era.
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Further Reading:
- The CW's Initial Interconnected Universe Moment: As Arrow and The Flash Producer Andrew Kreisberg Pulls Back the Curtain on the DC TV Universe's First Surprise Crossover
- Multiverse Exploration in the Arrowverse: The Flash Has Introduced the Arrowverse to the DC Multiverse, and It's Only Going to Get Wilder
- Character and Storyline Development in the Arrowverse: The Flash Just Gave Wally West a Major Series Upgrade, and We Have Questions
- Influence on Future Shows: The Flash's Success Paved the Way for Legends of Tomorrow
- Legacy and Future Adaptations: The Flash TV Series Had a Lasting Impact on the DC Universe
- Despite the initial psychic prediction suggesting The Flash would conclude in 2023, the show had already embarked on an early adaptation of the legendary DC Comics tale, Crisis on Infinite Earths, in 2019.
- Echoing the role of Arrow in establishing DC Comics on the CW, The Flash spearheaded the Arrowverse, breaking new ground with its supernatural elements and cosmic weirdness, which influenced future series like Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and Black Lightning.
- As The Flash ventured deeper into the Speed Force and prophetically rewrote history, it left a lasting impact on the DC universe, paving the way for James Gunn and Peter Safran's vision for its future on both small and silver screens.
- In the wake of The Flash's conclusion in 2023, Io9 continues to provide updates on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Comics Universe, and the future of Doctor Who, offering insights into the evolution of these beloved fictional worlds.
