The Flash Episode Recap, Season 1 Episode 1: City of Heroes

Episode Recap of The Flash, Season 1 Episode 1, City of Heroes

The Flash begins with a flashback, ironically enough. Barry Allen, the would-be Flash, is already showing signs of heroism, trying to help bullies. But that night, red and yellow flashes surround Barry’s mother, and his father tries to save him, but his mother ends up dead.

Moving to the present time, at a crime scene, Barry shows up, and he appears to be a CSI. He is apparently known for being late, but one of his cop superiors covers for him this time. He begins his work, and is able to determine the car used in the getaway at the crime scene.

After work, his friend, Iris, is excited to see Star Labs particular accelerator being turned on. Barry seems to be just as excited. And it also turns out that this girl is the daughter of Joe, his buddy cop who covered from him earlier.

Barry and Iris head to Star Labs, and on the way Barry tries to hint at a possible relationship, but she takes it as them being more brother and sister than potentially romantically involved.

A presentation is being made, when Iris’ laptop is stolen. Barry tries to follow him, but the thief pummels Barry. He is caught by a cop though a couple seconds later. Turns out Iris might be interested in her “savior”, the new cop in town.

Back home after the presentation, Barry turns on the news, and the accelerator is working as intended so far, despite the huge thunderstorm happening. Looks like Barry has his own case file going on the disappearance of his family.

Meanwhile, Joe and his partner chase down their suspect. John, the partner, is shot as the plane makes a getaway. At home, Barry sees that the accelerator is out of control, and he witness a large explosion from the direction of Star Labs. This explosion also takes down the getaway plane of the suspect Joe was chasing. Meanwhile, Barry is struck by lightning at home, and is rushed to the hospital.

So this is the point where in Arrow we learn that Barry is in a coma. 9 months later, he wakes up. When he wakes up, he seems to have mysteriously gotten buffer, Star Labs is condemned, and he is being cared for by a couple of teenage looking kids who immediately begin running tests. Cisco and Caitlyn are their names. Dr. Wells then appears, and he is now in a wheelchair.

He explains that Barry was moved to Star Labs to be monitored. Barry tries to leave, and at first the team try to keep him, but he decides to leave anyway. He immediately finds Iris, who is glad to see him. While talking to her, he has his first “moment”, seeing a waitress take a tumble in slow motion.

Meanwhile, at a bank, it is robbed by a man able to create weather from thin air. Barry’s next visit is Joe at the police station, but the bank robbery is called in. Eddie, the new cop, seems to be going out with Iris now.

The cops return to the station, and can’t believe what happened, but one of the hostages has video. They are able to also pull a license plate.

Barry has his next moment, when he sees a criminal try to steal a cops gun. Barry is able to swoop in and stop him, without anyone noticing. Outside Barry freaks out some, and tries to figure out what is going on. He then decides to go for a light jog–okay maybe a bit faster than that.

Barry returns to Star Labs, and they decide to do some tests. They take him to an airfield, and strap some measuring devices to him. Barry takes his place on the “track” and blows out of there, knocking Cisco over from the force. Unable to stop while seeing a memory of the night his mother died, Barry slams into some barriers, and possibly breaking his arm. Luckily, he seems to have superior healing, and his broken arm has already healed. Dr. Wells asks him what distracted him, and Barry tells the story of his mother’s disappearance and the arrest of his father.

After meeting up with Iris to talk about her new boyfriend, Barry saves her from a police car that spun out of control. This car was chasing the bank robbery suspect, and Barry tries to stop him. Unfortunately, he is unable to, due to an explosion that appears behind him.

Joe arrives on the scene, and Barry tells him that Clyde Wells is the person who did the crime. Barry explains that he thinks Clyde can control the weather. Joe doesn’t believe it, and the argument turns into Joe telling Barry to get over his distorted memory of his mother’s murder, and believe that his father did it. But an artist sketch comes in, looking just like Clyde.

Barry confronts Wells about this new person with powers, and Wells explains that there may be other “meta-humans”. Wells tells him that he isn’t a hero, and that his body is more important to run tests on. Barry isn’t having it though, and leaves. As he is running, he sees more of the flashback to his mother’s murder and father’s arrest. It is a heartbreaking scene with Barry trying to talk to his dead mother.

Barry heads to Starling City and talks with our friend, the Arrow. He asks for advice, and Oliver tells him that he must have been “chosen” by the lightning bolt. Oliver tells him to wear a mask, and they part ways.

Returning to Star Labs, Barry asks for Cisco and Caitlyn for help catching the criminal Meta-Humans, including Clyde. Cisco happens to have a new, shiny suit for Barry too.
So the cops get a lead on where Clyde might be and move in. They find him, but he has a surprise for them–a large gust of wind. He then starts a huge tornado, and Joe and his partner have to flee. Barry shows up, and has to figure out what to do.

Barry’s idea is to run the opposite way around the tornado to “unravel” it. Caitlyn thinks it could kill him–because he would have to hit 700 mph. Wells then radios to Barry, admitting this is partly his fault. Trying to inspire Barry, he tells him this is something that he can do.

He is able to stop it, but Clyde pulls a gun on him. Joe shows up, and is able to save Barry from the gun meant for him.

The cops arrive on the scene, along with emergency services. Joe, of course, now believes Barry’s story. Joe makes Barry promise that Iris will be kept safe, and not know what Barry can do. He agrees.

Barry visits his father, and they have a heart to heart. Barry makes a promise to get him out of prison.

In the final scene, we see Dr. Wells go into a secret room – where he stands, takes off his glasses, and walks over to a device. He places his hand on the device, which brings up a hologram — of a newspaper in 2024, with the headline “Flash Missing, Vanishes in Crisis.”