Remembering "The Flash" and the "Arrowverse"

10 years ago this month, “The Flash” starring Grant Gustin premiered.  It was October 7, 2014.  The entire first season was off the charts, but I want to talk about the pilot today.  One of the memorable moments in this pilot episode is when Barry runs to Oliver Queen for help after a setback.  This was a compelling moment because “The Flash” was the first of several spin offs from the TV show “Arrow” resulting in the so-called “Arrowverse”.  In the course of their conversation, Barry says, “I’m just not sure I’m like you, Oliver.  I don’t know if I can be some vigilante.”  “You can be better,” Oliver replies.  “Because you can inspire people in a way that I never could.  Watching over your city like a guardian angel, making a difference, saving people in a flash.”

At the time, I had not gotten into “Arrow”, but eventually – thanks to the ability to see it on Netflix – I did.  Because of this, today I know that when Oliver spoke of Barry being able to inspire better than he ever could, he was being modest.  The truth of the matter is, Oliver Queen’s example of selflessness, loyalty, and heroism is inspirational.  Not only did he inspire Barry, but many others as well; in fact, several years later, in season 8 the final season of “Arrow”, Oliver sacrificed his life to save the world.

There’s another interesting note on the pilot episode of “The Flash”: this was the first time we saw a newspaper headline hinting of an upcoming event called Crisis.  The headline read, “Flash missing vanishes in Crisis”.  The date on the newspaper was actually April 25, 2024.  While this newspaper headline was a recurring storyline, ultimately, this development was averted. The Flash didn’t vanish in Crisis, at least not Grant’s Flash.  After a “time flux” changed Crisis from occurring in 2024 to 2019.  We learn in Part 3 of the epic crossover event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” Grant’s Flash was ready and willing to die, but The Flash from another Earth (played by John Wesley Shipp) heroically stepped up and gave his life to save Grant’s Flash, and save countless other lives.

Someone wants to ask, “So what?  So it’s been 10 years.  What is your point?”  I have three points.  I’ll call them takeaways.  Takeaway 1: Doc Brown, from “Back to the Future” said it best in Part 3 of the trilogy: “Your future hasn’t been written yet, no one’s has, so make it a good one.”  The concept of time travel in “The Flash” is similar: the future is not written in stone; it can be changed.  Of course, travelling through time is not real, but it teaches me that if I could communicate with my future self, undoubtedly, he (or I) would say that choices have consequences, so always choose to do the right thing, the God-honoring thing.

Takeaway 2: Superman once asked, “What better role for any to aspire to than hero?” (from “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse”).  While I’m not suggesting that “The Flash” is perfect by any means (there are obvious times the show dipped in quality; I’m looking at season 7 in particular), whatever craziness he was facing, Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry Allen/The Flash oozes nobility and heroism.  Incidentally, the show “Arrow” also had its ups and downs; furthermore, I contend that Stephen Amell is the best incarnation of Oliver Queen.  While I could write a whole blog on the unsavory and truly repugnant aspects of the so-called “Arrowverse”, I still submit that this era of superhero stories was absolutely a golden age, with Amell’s Oliver Queen the leading figure.

Takeaway 3: Jesus Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this than to lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  Oliver selflessly gave his life – technically he did so twice in Crisis.  And The John Wesley Shipp Flash gave his life so others could live.  I could go on and on with examples, but the point is these selfless sacrifices are shadows or pictures of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for you and me.  He did this out of pure love.  Now, through His subsequent resurrection and ascension to Heaven, through simple faith and trust in Him, we can have the gift of eternal life.  This is the message that I will tell until my dying breath.

God bless,

Kevin

"Upon further review..."

Last month, I referenced that a pastor rightly stated where you put your faith is only as important as the object.  I then used the example of quarterback Bo Nix, and the Denver Broncos.  They had started 0-2.  I explained that everyone in Bronco-land had put their trust in Nix to lead Denver out of the mediocrity they have been in since winning Super Bowl 50, but it wasn't going to happen this year.  The fact is, I should have used a different example; because, since writing those words, the Broncos crawled out of the hole of their slow start and made their way to a 3-2 record.  Yesterday, the Broncos notched an impressive 34-18 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.  Bo Nix threw three touchdown passes (it should have been four, a receiver was wide open in the end zone, and his receiver dropped it), and with no interceptions.

Now, I’m not suggesting that the Broncos are going to the Super Bowl, or that Bo Nix is the next John Elway.  The jury is still out on the 2024 Broncos and on Nix.  I’m simply saying I used an example that I shouldn’t have in that blog last month.  The sermon I was referencing that day was from a pastor of a church I was visiting back in 2019; after he proclaimed that faith is only as good as the object you believe in, he used a better example than I did: having faith that the Colorado Rockies were going to win the World Series in 2019; you couldn’t with any confidence trust in this happening.  Of course, the Rockies are the perpetually terrible baseball franchise; they just finished the 2024 season with a record of 61-101, wrapping up another unimpressive year.

My decision to use an example of stating that an NFL season’s was effectively over after just two weeks was premature, but it does give a good illustration of how sometimes I can make bad decisions.  I’m far from perfect and sinless; in fact, the Bible says someone who claims he is perfect and sinless is actually deceived and the truth is not in him (1 John 1:8).  But God continues to shape me, and change me, into who He wants me to be.  As a boy, I felt God telling me to put my faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ to save me.  I did so, and I am so grateful that I did.  The old hymn “In the garden” by C. Austin Miles, says it well, “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I’m his own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”  Today, I feel like the Psalmist who wrote these words in Psalm 40:

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, and the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps, He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God, many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.  Blessed is that man [or woman as well] who makes the Lord his [her] trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (verses 2-5; NKJV).

God bless,

Kevin