Grant Gustin could come back as nine seasons of The Flash, from hilarious moments with his impeccable comedic timing to deeply emotional scenes, Gustin's specialty.
I was sad to see The Flash season 9 end the DC project would need the following:
10 The Original Team Flash Has To Come Back
Barry Allen Thrived With His Friends By His Side
I understand that many of those who watched The CW's Flash series grew bored with the team aspect of it as seasons went by. I also share that sentiment, but the show was never as great as it was in that first batch of seasons. The chemistry the original Team Flash had was electrifying, and their friendship helped build the show into such a major success that it would go on for several years.
After The Last 12 Years Of The Flash's On-Screen History, DC Needs To Let Grant Gustin Return As The Hero At Least One More Time
Grant Gustin recently shared positive comments about returning as the Flash, and that would be the perfect way to make Barry Allen a star again.
If Gustin were to come back as Barry Allen for the possible The Flash sequel series, Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon would both need to come back. Starting a new version of the franchise without the two would just make the project feel incomplete. It would allow the series to feature the most beloved version of Team Flash and show what they have been up to in the years since they last appeared.
9 A New Reverse-Flash Battle
The Flash Series Had Two Great Actors For The Villain
One of the original of Team Flash was Harrison Wells. However, the character was actually Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse-Flash, pretending to be Wells. He had killed him and impersonated the genius. Tom Cavanagh's Reverse-Flash is the greatest rival Gustin's Barry Allen has. They battled several times throughout the original series, and due to that established relationship, the villain would need to come back for any new iteration of Gustin's Flash show.
While Cavanagh was the actor who played Reverse-Flash the most in the Arrowverse, the character was also played by Matt Letscher, who was responsible for being Thawne's real face. Having both actors back for The Flash sequel series would be very exciting. Something I would love to see is them playing different universe versions of Reverse-Flash, allowing both to team up against Gustin's speedster.
8 An Update On Barry And Iris’ Marriage
The Flash's Core Relationship
Barry Allen dated a few characters during The Flash's nine seasons. However, Barry's one true love was known from the start of the show, with him and Candice Patton's Iris West eventually getting together, marrying, and having kids. In The Flash series finale, Barry and Iris welcomed their first child, Nora, who had appeared as an adult in previous seasons due to time travel. Another child is on the way.
In The Flash, Nora claimed she was seven years older than Bart, so his inclusion in the possible sequel series would depend on its timeline.
If Gustin is game to return for a sequel to The Flash, then so must be Patton. Barry and Iris' relationship was key to the Arrowverse series, and catching back up with them to see how their lives have evolved since they were last seen is a must. Having Barry save the world while he and Iris balance being parents to the young Nora and Bart would make for plenty of heartwarming moments.
7 The Flash As The Leader Of The Justice League
The Arrowverse Team Never Got Its Chance To Shine
One of the most exciting moments in the Arrowverse came at the end of the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. The Justice League came together in what would have been the Arrowverse's Hall of Justice, with heroes like Gustin's Flash, Tyler Hoechlin's Superman, Melissa Benoist's Supergirl, and more. However, the team never appeared together in a mission after that, and The Flash ending with season 9 is to blame.
The Justice League was planned for The Flash season 10. However, since that did not happen and the other Arrowverse series also ended, the team never really came together. I need The Flash sequel if Gustin returns to rectify that mistake. Barry is the perfect hero, based on his experience, comion, and leadership skills, to lead the major superhero team. This would elevate the Flash's public image and allow DC to bring back other fan-favorite heroes.
6 Another Green Arrow Reunion
Oliver Queen And Barry Allen's Friendship Was Crucial To The Arrowverse
On the topic of heroes returning, there is one that is a must for The Flash sequel series. Gustin's Barry Allen and Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen are the two characters who helped make the Arrowverse the hit it became. Their characters have some clear differences in personality, which is why they bounce off each other so well. The friendship built between the heroes made for one of the franchise's best.
Arrowverse Netflix Viewership Data (2023) |
||
|---|---|---|
Show |
Viewership (Hours) |
Seasons |
The Flash |
311,000,000 |
9 |
Arrow |
159,700,000 |
8 |
Supergirl |
60,600,000 |
6 |
Legends of Tomorrow |
37,100,000 |
7 |
Black Lightning |
64,600,000 |
4 |
Arrowverse Total |
603,000,000 |
5 shows, 34 seasons |
Even though Green Arrow died during Crisis on Infinite Earths, The Flash season 9 found a way to bring him back one more time to interact with Barry before the Arrowverse ended. During that appearance, Amell's Oliver Queen was able to appear as a physical manifestation of the Spectre because the multiverse was in danger. I need such a loophole to be found again for Oliver and Barry to interact in The Flash sequel series, as it would be a missed opportunity not to have them together again.
5 A Door Open For Him To James Gunn’s DC Universe
Ezra Miller's Flash Is Not Coming Back
Since The Flash ended, chatter about Gustin returning to the role in a different universe has gained strength. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has even revealed that he would love to work with Gustin in the future, though he did not say if that would mean a Flash return in the DCU. If Gustin is to come back as Barry Allen for a The Flash sequel series, then I need a door to be open for his DCU arrival.
As I see it, The Flash sequel show would most likely end up being somewhat limited. While that does not mean it would necessarily have to be contained to a single season, I doubt Gustin and the returning cast would sign on for another 10-season run. However, the challenge of playing the Flash in the DCU, appearing in multiple movies as the speedster, seems like an exciting proposition for Gustin. Maybe at the end of the show, the multiverse could come calling for Barry, or we see a different variant of him continue on in the DCU.
4 Fewer Episodes Per Season
The Arrowverse Series Had To Deal With A Lot Of Filler
One of the biggest issues The Flash had was the huge amount of filler episodes in the show. That was especially clear in a few seasons, with the Cicada storyline being particularly drawn out when it could have been resolved way earlier. Airing on The CW, most seasons of The Flash had over 20 episodes, which simply made it unfeasible not to include bottle episodes every season.
That is something that I need to end for The Flash sequel. If we're going back to that world, the focus needs to be on a solid story that explains why it was needed to pick these characters back up again. 10 to 13 episodes per season can get the job done. That amount gives a little room for one bottle episode and the rest to be focused on the main plot.
3 A Significant CGI Budget
The Flash's Later Seasons Started To Face Issues
The Flash mostly did a great job when it came to showing the speedster in action. There were also some truly great fully CGI characters, such as King Shark and Gorilla Grodd. However, as we got to the last few seasons, it became clear that the show was going downhill with its CGI. Certain moments looked off, like the "lightsaber" lightning fight with Godspeed, or downright awful, like anything with Fuerza.
That is something that simply cannot be part of the possible The Flash sequel series. Gustin's legacy as Barry Allen deserves better. With fewer episodes and a move to streaming on Max, the CGI budget could be higher and there would not be a rush to get the episodes done like happens with network TV. Good CGI for a hero like the Flash is a must, and it can help the sequel to be seen as a prestige series.
2 More Of Barry Allen As A Mentor
The Character Is Perfect For That Role
At the start of The Flash, Barry is mentored by the fake Harrison Wells. That dynamic led to him understanding his powers and becoming a hero. As the show progressed, he would learn from different characters, such as Joe West, Oliver Queen, and more, becoming a better man and hero. By the end of the series, Barry had proven himself a fantastic leader and a great mentor to others.
I want to see that continue if Gustin really ends up coming back as the Flash. His mentor relationship with Wally West was great to watch. Aside from Wally's return, I think having a younger generation of heroes rise would be an interesting way to show how the Arrowverse has grown since we last saw it. Gustin's Barry Allen can guide this new generation of heroes.
1 No DC Character Should Be Off-Limits
The Arrowverse Was Not Allowed To Use Major DC Heroes
Finally, one of the most infuriating parts of the Arrowverse shows was how DC would not let them use certain characters. I would love to see The Flash sequel series explore Barry meeting many of the characters he never could in the original show. No DC character the show wants to use should be off-limits. Yes, I mean two parts of DC's Trinity.
While Tyler Hoechlin's Superman fought by the Flash's side, Gustin's speedster never got to meet Batman or Wonder Woman, both of whom The CW could not use. Seeing how Batman and Wonder Woman are depicted by the Arrowverse would be more than enough to get many interested in The Flash's return. That said, the focus needs to be firmly on Gustin's character, with any possible DC additions helping make the show as epic as The Flash sequel should be.
- Directors
- Stefan Pleszczynski, David McWhirter, Dermott Downs, Alexandra La Roche, Ralph Hemecker, Phil Chipera, Rachel Talalay, Marcus Stokes, Chris Peppe, Kevin Smith, Brent Crowell, Eric Dean Seaton
- Writers
- Lauren Certo, Judalina Neira, Kelly Wheeler, Alison Schapker, Zack Stentz, Joe Peracchio, Julian Meiojas, Lilah Vandenburgh, Keto Shimizu, Gabe Snyder, Mike Alber, Gabrielle Stanton, Jaime Paglia, Carina Adly MacKenzie, Emily Silver, Bryan Q. Miller, Ray Utarnachitt
- Franchise(s)
- Arrowverse
- Creator(s)
- Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg
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