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'The Flash' zooms onto The CW By Jacqueline Cutler © Zap2it Barry Allen was always heroic but it took a freak accident to turn him into a superhero in The CW's "The Flash" premiering Tuesday, Oct. 7. Barry (Grant Gustin, "Glee") is an unlikely su- perhero: sweet, skinny and scientific. His altruism was evident even as a child when he stood up to bul- lies taunting others. When Barry was 11, a freak electric storm exploded in his living room, and killed his mom. His dad was con- victed of her murder, but Barry always maintained his father's innocence. The father of Barry's best friend, Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin, "Law & Order"), took in the orphan, and remains his surrogate father. As an adult, Barry works for Cen- tral City Police Department in forensics. He continues to be a sweet guy, who loves science. Struck by lightning dur- ing a cataclysmic storm, he's left comatose. When he comes to he's delighted to discover he has six-pack abs. Later, he realizes the incredible speed. He is The Flash. The pilot devotes fun scenes to Barry discover- ing his speed. He crashes until he learns to harness his special power. Gustin had not read the comics growing up, though he's since learned much about this world. He sees Barry as a very full charac- ter, who is "optimistic and full of hope," Gustin says. "Barry has a dark past." Barry grew up respect- ing Joe, and harboring a crush on his best friend, Joe's daughter, Iris (Can- dice Patton). They continue to have a loving friendship. Grant Gustin stars in "The Flash," premiering Tuesday on The CW. Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") plays scientific genius Har- rison Wells who has a par- ticle accelerator and likely designs on world domina- tion. For now, at least, he appears to be helping The Flash realize his powers. Being the fastest man alive takes some work. As a lifelong dancer, Gustin was in shape, but needed to train for the role. "I worked with a track and field trainer," Gustin says. "He showed me how to be more efficient." The Flash, he says, "is less equipped than most superheroes and less reluc- tant to become a hero. He's always been invisible to people, even at work. All he wants to do is help people. He's a police scientist in CSI and he will continue to be." Central City needs all the help they can get. The Flash is not the only meta- human, as these genetical- ly altered folks are known. A bank robber in the pilot causes cyclones, showcas- ing terrific special effects. Based on the DC com- ics, the pilot cleverly lays out alliances and gives viewers, even those who can't cite the character's history, a solid understand- ing of this world. "If you don't know the mythology, that's OK," Gus- tin says, "because we are starting from the story telling from the very beginning." 2 The Goshen News • TV Spotlight • October 6 - 12, 2014 On or Off-Site Catering All Occasions Dine under the glow of gas lanterns Breakfast and Lunch Meals also available Open Tuesday through Saturday www.goshennews.com

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