2) The Flash Season 1
Arrow initially worked so well because it strived for realism, despite revolving around a playboy who wears a green hood and shoots arrows in bad guys. Once The Flash spinoff was announced, potential for the newly christened ‘Arrowverse’ to become silly or absurd grew tenfold. On top of that, spinoffs don’t always work well at the best of times, yet despite a clunky pilot episode, The Flash’s popularity grew and grew as the season developed.
Yes, there are still some clear issues that need to be dealt with in season two, including silly dialogue, some two-dimensional characterization and the entire Iris/Barry relationship, but there’s a key reason why The Flash surpassed many fan’s expectations and even bettered Arrow this season.
The Flash just doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sure, there are mature moments, but in a genre where darkness is often equated with quality, The Flash’s light-hearted approach is extremely refreshing and sets itself apart from other shows of its ilk. It also helps that the overarching story arcs improved dramatically as the season progressed, building up towards a pulse-pounding finale with one of the best villains seen on TV in years.
Now would be the ideal time to make some time traveling pun, so we don’t have to wait any longer for the season two premiere… suggestions in the comments section below please!