The
Flash: The Complete First Season + Green Arrow: The Complete Third
Season (2014
- 2015/DC Comics/Warner Blu-ray Sets)
Picture:
B+ Sound: A- Extras: B- Episodes: B+/B
The
Flash: Season One
With
many DC/Marvel properties having failed to be adequately portrayed on
television and films alike, it is always somewhat worrisome when a
new series hits the small screen.
The
newest DC series to hit TV is The
Flash
starring Grant Gustin. Taking place in Central City, The
Flash starts
off with the unassuming Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) working as a CCPD
Forensic Scientist. Highly intelligent and highly motivated, we find
that Barry was emotionally scarred as a young boy witnessing his
mother's murder by some mysterious yellow/red blur. For this murder
Barry's father Henry (John Wesley Shipp of the early-1990s Flash
TV series) was arrested; a wrong that Barry is seeking to right.
After his mother's murder, Barry was taken under the wing of
Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin); who insured that Barry grew up
to be an upstanding citizen. Secretly Barry has fallen in love with
Joe's daughter Iris (Candace Patton). Barry seems to be the only one
sure of his father's innocence, something that doesn't slow him down.
One
fateful night after a super collider at STAR Labs is turned on by Dr.
Wells (Tom Cavanaugh), something goes wrong and a flash of energy
shoots out into Central City; particularly into Barry Allen's lab.
The energy beam puts Barry into a coma for 9 months, awakening to Dr.
Wells and his team of scientists carrying for him. Dr. Wells
explains that things have changed, but before much more can be said
Barry is off and running to see Iris. Barry quickly realizes that
the world is slowing down around him, but takes Dr. Wells to explain
the world is not slowing down, but Barry is moving extraordinarily
fast.
In
that moment The Flash is born; but Barry is not alone. The energy
burst has created a class of humans all demonstrate superhuman
powers; super humans not necessarily using their powers for good.
The likes of Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell) and Captain Cold (Wentworth
Miller) arise to reap havoc on Central City. If that weren't enough
other creatures arise like that of Grodd the telepathic and strong
Gorilla; making Barry's new job as the resident hero all the more
difficult.
The
series does an excellent job of establishing The Flash mythos in an
intelligent, well written manner; while maintaining the charisma and
flare we expect from The Flash. We are also treated to a host of
cameos from other superheroes (something usually reserved for later
seasons) like that of Arrow (Stephen Amell) and The Atom (Brandon
Routh). The series keeps you on the edge of your seat with engaging
storylines and fast paced action. I was never bored and always
wanted to see more. Again writers have become savvy to the fact that
gone are the days of ''villain of the week'' and fans want
continuity, depth, and character development; all things that are
delivered here with The
Flash.
And
Speaking of cameos from heroes and villains alike, a certain
Trickster shows his face again 25 years later...
The
extra features include:
Audio
Commentary (Pilot Episode)
Deleted
Scenes
Behind
the Story: The Trickster Returns
The
Fastest man Alive
Creating
The Blur
The
Chemistry of Emily and Grant: Screen Test
DC
Comics Night at Comic Con 2014
Gag
Reel
Arrow:
Season Three
*Spoiler
Alert*
Now
in its Third
Season,
Arrow
has
truly grown on me. Just like Batman has Gotham, Superman has
Metropolis, and The Flash has Central City; Arrow has Starling City.
Now
with some major saves under his belt, Arrow is an established hero in
Starling City. He has defeated Slade Wilson, but there is no time to
rest as Oliver Queen looks to pull (hold) his family back together.
Queen Consolidated has been sold to billionaire scientist and
aspiring superhero Ray Palmer (AKA The Atom played by Brandon Routh),
but the controversy with the old Queen Consolidated [now Palmer
Industries] is far from over. An old enemy comes from the shadows as
Ra's Al Ghul (Matthew Nabel) looks to stir up some trouble for Arrow
in Starling City.
This
season sees many characters stepping into the roles of others,
looking to bring justice to the role; but controversy and trouble is
never far behind. Controversy within Starling City would be the best
way to describe Season
Three of
Arrow.
The series seems to get more engaging each season, with character
development and depth making the series certainly one to watch.
The
extras included are:
Second
Skins: Creating the Uniforms of Arrow
Nanda
Parbat: Constructing the Villains Lair
Audio
Commentaries (2 episodes)
Arrow
at Comic Con 2014
The
Man Beneath the Suit: Atom's first Flight
Gag
Reel
Deleted
Scenes
The
technical features of each set are pretty on par with one another and
are very nice. The picture of each is a 1080p 1.78 X 1 High
Definition that boasts of solid contrast, detail, and texture. The
colors on Arrow
are
improved over previous seasons (more consistent) and The
Flash in
its first season hits the ground running with a bold primary color
palette that is pleasing from beginning to end. The image on both is
crisp, clean and clear throughout; as well as demonstrating a good
bit of texture, truly bringing the superhero experience to life. The
sound on each is a lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio that is very well
done in the Flash
and
Arrow
alike,
managing
to use the entire speaker range creating an energetic atmosphere.
The dialogue projects with ease, clearly through the center speakers
as the surrounds light up with action and ambient noises.
The Digital HD Copies
included with these releases are merely downgraded releases of the
Blu-ray so that the series can be used on other devices.
Marvel
may have a hold on the big screen (for now), but between Gotham,
The Flash, and
Arrow
DC
is ruling the small screen and if they keep delivering series like
The
Flash...
there is no slowing down.
- Michael P.
Dougherty II
