As a gamer who has been following The Flash since its debut in 2014 and witnessed Grant Gustin‘s transformation from Sebastian Smythe to Barry Allen, I must say it was an incredible journey! Watching him navigate through nine seasons of high-speed action, emotional turmoil, and intricate plotlines was like riding a rollercoaster that never seemed to end.
Grant Gustin initially gained significant recognition on television as he recurred as Sebastian Smythe on “Glee.” However, it was his portrayal of Barry Allen, also known as The Flash, that propelled him to international stardom. Following guest appearances in two episodes of “Arrow” Season 2, Gustin moved into the limelight for the “The Flash” TV series in fall 2014, which ran for a total of nine seasons on The CW (a network I covered extensively during this period). In retrospect, Gustin expressed confidence that the spinoff from “Arrow” would enjoy a lengthy and successful run. Interestingly, his co-star Jesse L. Martin, who played Joe West, initially had doubts about its longevity at the outset.
Lately, Gustin appeared on “The Sackhoff Show” for a conversation with its host, Katee Sackhoff, who portrayed Amunet Black in several episodes of “The Flash”. During their talk, when Sackhoff mentioned that Gustin probably didn’t anticipate his role as the main character of “The Flash” spanning over nine seasons, the actor playing Barry Allen admitted this was accurate. However, he then elaborated:
It turns out I underestimated the length of time The Flash would run. Initially, when we agreed to a six-year contract, I thought it would be straightforward. However, I didn’t realize that wasn’t something you could assume. Arrow was already popular and The Flash was a spinoff, so I assumed its popularity would follow suit. But The Flash is better known, and I knew it would be more challenging to maintain interest and tell an engaging story about The Fastest Man Alive. This character has a complex power that can make plot consistency difficult in television.
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From Jesse L. Martin’s perspective, as a veteran TV actor who gained significant fame portraying Detective Ed Green on Law & Order for almost 200 episodes, it’s understandable that he might have some insights. However, The Flash was no longer fresh in Martin’s recent acting career, having been followed by brief stints on shows like The Philanthropist and Smash, the former lasting only one season and the latter getting canceled after two. Given his experience with the unpredictability of TV show longevity, he advised Grant Gustin to keep a realistic outlook regarding the potential success and longevity of their show.
Initially, Gustin might have been underestimating The Flash’s popularity, as it turned out to be the longest-running series within the Arrowverse, with a total of 184 episodes across nine seasons. Compared to Arrow, which ended after eight seasons and 170 episodes, this makes The Flash the more enduring show. Moreover, it’s worth noting that The Flash is a better-known character than Green Arrow. This has become even more evident with Ezra Miller portraying The Flash in the DCEU as well. Consequently, there was more source material available and a slightly higher chance of captivating viewers.
Grant Gustin has played Barry Allen for nearly a decade, and if James Gunn were to ask him to return as The Flash in the DC Universe, he would take that opportunity. If such a day arrives, we’ll keep you informed. In the meantime, you can stream The Flash along with Arrow and other Arrowverse shows using a Netflix subscription.
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2024-11-13 18:39