When “Arrow” made its debut in 2012, it was the start of a sprawling, interconnected TV universe of superheroes. With the arrival of “The Flash” two years later, fans started to get a hint of what would eventually be known as the Arrowverse, which would encompass six different series. Spun out of a series of appearances in Season 2 of “Arrow,” the series follows crime scene investigator Barry Allen after he receives superpowers and becomes a costumed crime fighter.

While the DC movies went with a grittier, grounded feel, “The Flash” embraces the outlandish nature of its source material. Barry fights weirder and more dangerous foes each week on the streets of Central City, alongside Team Flash: on-again/off-again love interest Iris West (Candice Patton), engineering prodigy Cisco (Carlos Valdes), and scientist Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), among others. Fans of the comics appreciate the show’s willingness to dig deep into the character’s rogues gallery, with appearances from the likes of Gorilla Grodd, Captain Boomerang, and Professor Zoom. 

During its run, “The Flash” took part in multi-series crossovers that adapted some of the most acclaimed stories in DC history, including “Armageddon” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” In 2023, nearly a decade of stories will come to a head in an epic series finale featuring a return of the Green Arrow, plus a team-up of some of Barry’s greatest foes.