Though pilot episodes are intended to set the tones for their respective series, it’s not always the case they be regarded as a debut season’s best offering. But in some instances, they stand the test of time as a show stretches on. In my view, Smallville and Supernatural succeeded in that regard, but a strong case could be made for The Flash as well.
If we were to look back on the Scarlet Speedster’s first outing, we’d be generously acquainted with his origin and backstory, glimpse his spectacular powers, meet the major players in Central City, and get the first inkling that something just wasn’t right about Harrison Wells. In other words, it checked off every box that a pilot should.
Similarly, subsequent season premieres should strive to achieve similar goals because, after all, they’re there to lay the groundwork for 20 or so episodes to follow. And if lead actor Grant Gustin is to be believed, we’ll soon bear witness to something as magical as what graced airwaves back in fall of 2014.
Here’s what he had to say to media at San Diego Comic-Con:
“I’ve been comparing it to our pilot. I think it’s our best [season premiere] since our pilot. We’ve got an action sequence in it that’s something straight out of the comics, that when I read in 2013 while I was shooting Arrow and dreaming of stuff we could do someday on Flash — we’re doing something i never though we’d be able to do….I don’t want to speak too soon, but I think it could be our best season. It’ll be what Flash should be.”
Naturally, there’s no way of knowing which comic Gustin’s picturing in his head, but there’s so much that can be set up come the day of premiere. For one, I imagine that Nora West-Allen will factor heavily into things, in addition to Cicada beginning his reign of terror.
Beyond that, I think it’s best the producers save something for the chapters to follow because it wouldn’t be too wise to shoehorn too much content into the first episode, so that’s why I think Killer Frost fans will have to wait slightly longer to learn the truth about her. Still, it’s possible we could see a new costume to be worn by Barry early on, so there’s that.
The Flash returns for its fourth season on Tuesday, October 9 on The CW.
