I don't know that I would call the CW's The Flash a smart show. I mean, it is perhaps the most comic-booky TV shows out there full of outlandish plots, cartoony villains, and ridiculous technobabble but over the course of its season and a half run, The Flash has become an emotionally intelligent show in which characters and their interactions are not only at the forefront but are navigated in a way that actually resembles actual human relationships. This is remarkable for TV (especially genre TV) where misunderstandings and "drama" are often manufactured and milked for seasons on end in order to generate story.
The Flash has always had heart. It been a warm show that has never shied away from being emotional (I seriously doubt that there has been a single episode in which at least one character does not cry) but much of its first season was marred by the fact that it kept one of its characters, Iris West, on the sidelines and out of the loop as far as the Flash's secret identity as Barry Allen her adopted brother/best friend/possible love interest. This not only marginalized one of the show's primary female characters but also generated a lot of artificial-feeling plotlines including a tiresome love triangle between Barry, Iris, and the Flash. The show did some course correcting late last season and reintegrated Iris so that she is now on the same page as everyone else and, more importantly, an important relationship with Barry that is no longer compromised.
I think The Flash learned a lot from this experience and now routinely does a good job of navigating these conflicts. For example in a recent episode, Barry learns that his Earth-2 teammate Harrison Welles had been working with the arch villain Zoom to steal the Flash's speed because Zoom was keeping his daughter prisoner as leverage (see what I'm talking about?) In a lesser show, this would result in a multi-episode arc about trust and betrayal and it would be mined for maximum conflict and drama. In The Flash, Barry takes a moment to process the betrayal but he also understands why Welles did it and appreciates that he might have done the same thing to protect someone he loved and he resolves to not only continue working with Welles but to make it their mission to help him rescue his daughter. You know, like a real mature adult human being and not a character from The Real Housewives. Even in an outlandish superhero show, it is satisfying to see characters navigate their relationships like real people and not drama puppets.
And the show has some intense and complicated relationships. Barry's mother was killed when he was little and his dad was unjustly locked up. He was raised by Joe and with Iris. Recently, Joe found out he has another son with whom they are all building relationships. Caitlin's ex disappeared in an accident and briefly reappeared before dying in another accident. For the most part, the show does a really amazing job juggling all of this in a satisfying way while being an immensely fun superhero show at the same time.
Another way that she show is emotionally intelligent is in how it handles its male characters. Barry and Joe, in particular are allowed to be sensitive caring men, and, in fact, do the bulk of the crying on the show. In fact, Joe always seems on the verge of tears. It's refreshing to see a show where the men are not expected to be tough unfeeling stereotypical males. Perhaps is the sign of a more relaxed, nuanced masculinity.
On a related note, the show has also gone out of its way to be female and gay friendly. With a couple of notable gay characters, an openly gay producer, multiple recurring out gay actors, and a cast that seems to be almost entirely musical theater people, this incarnation of The Flash might be the gayest superhero project ever. This is consistent with a generally inclusive and diverse vibe that the show has, with a lot of women and people of color playing important complex characters.
In the end, maybe the CW's The Flash is a truly Millennial show in a way that other shows with pretty young casts are not. It embraces the best of the values associated with the Millennial generation such as diversity, openness, and a relaxed, laid back masculinity. It is smart enough to get past superficial conflicts to the relationships and meaningful character interactions beneath.
Patrick Garone
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