The Flash: The Complete Original Series [DVD] [1990]

I was born the year after it ended its run on television so I didn’t grow up watching reruns. I only know about it because mark hamill posted throwback photos and clips from it as he portrayed the trickster in it:

A great tv series for the time a real shame we never got season 2 and team ups from Batman, Superman

This is definitely a colector's item. We have a very classy (somewhat campy) tv show. With an atmosphere inspired by Tim Burton's 1989 'Batman' (Danny Elfman also composed this tv show's main theme). We have a variety of comic classic characters related to Barry Allen, the original Flash (which in comics had passed away in a 1985 mega-comic book event). The effects, in general, are outdated but definitely not in a bad way. It's a true walk down the memory lane. :-) The only down side is, this DVD doesn't come with any extras: solely all the episodes of this tv show.

Long before the current television version of Dc's comics Superhero the Flash, there was a previous effort to do the character on TV. This came in 1990, one year after the first Batman movie featuring Michael Keaton had left a lasting impression on the genre.Back thirty years ago, shows like this could vanish into the realms of satellite tv which was a minority privilege. Whilst five episodes did get to VHS, the rest remain something many didn't get to see.But now, thanks to this eight disc dvd box set, you finally can.It's tv from another time. The first of the twenty two episodes, being a pilot episode, runs double the normal length.All the other ones are fifty mins [approx].John Wesley Shipp plays Barry Allen. Police forensics scientist in central city. An accident in the lab leaves him with the ability to run very fast. The only person in on his secret who helps him come to grips with it is scientist Dr. Tina McGee [Amanda Pays].Barry deals with everything from regular crimes to costumed criminals, all the time learning how to be a hero.Tv in these days didn't really do ongoing story arcs. Or character development. There's a small cast of supporting characters. But every episode is pretty much self contained with a story that is done across the course of it.In the early episodes, the network wouldn't allow the producers to use costumed criminals. So the first eight or so episodes do see him against ordinary criminals. They are good but don't stick in the mind. Although forensics comes into it, so it's interesting to see that in the days long before CSI.After this they do start to get a bit more fantastical and comic booky, and it really does lift the show up a notch when that happens.Tina doesn't really get much to do in some also, often early on having no more than two to three scenes. In later ones, they do let her and Barry work together as a team more, and this also helps it start to click. A tendency in the third quarter of the season to bring in a potential other love interest each week has it's moments, but you can never see any of them lasting.It takes some influence from that Batman movie, with it's cityscapes and the score.There are some villains taken from Flash comics. Mark Hamill in particular making a great impression as the Trickster.And in many ways, it's very true to the comic as it was at the time.This only lasted one season, so it's a shame it didn't go further as it really does find it's feel across the course of this one year.It's great to get the chance to see it all after so long. A fun bit of escapist superheroing, which made for entertaining tv. It's great that the current Flash didn't ever forget it, either.The dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English, Castilian Spanish, GermanSubtitles: English, Castilian Spanish, German.There are no extras at all.Be aware that, since this is a slightly old dvd, the first disc begins with the 'you wouldn't steal a car' anti piracy ad. You can't skip it, either. The things you forget....

I like this series and when this version of The Flash showed up in the CW arrowverse Crisis event it made it cool

Despite the lack of special features, it was fantastic just to see that classic series from the 90's. It's a shame it was cancelled as there was so much potential from the source material, that being the comics of course. Perhaps a rerelease might now be in order with special features, to tie in with the new series.

had some episodes on VHS back in the day. Great to have on DVD. The best thing is 22 episodes for ten pounds.!

With nothing much else to do at the moment, I binged the season in under a week.The good:It's as fun as I remember it from when I saw it back in the 1990s. The scenery and soundtrack give you the feeling that Michael Keaton's Batman is going to turn up any minute, but no such luck.Quite a few familiar faces in the guest stars, including 2 episodes with Mark Hamill hamming it up as the Trickster.And with the tie-in to the Arrowverse, this gives kids who have only ever seen the CW Flash a chance to see the origin for the Flash of Earth-90.The not-so good: As others have said, there are no extras. Nothing at all.Delivery was quick, condition of the set was perfect, and for under £10 it was a welcome addition to my collection.