One factor common to most recent DC ventures on screen has been a desolate realism. Starting with Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight film trilogy and then moving to television with Arrow, there has been a sense of great suffering and sacrifice on the part of the hero that he endures for the sake of his quest. Who has time to quip or smile when there's brooding in the dark to be done? Well, Barry Allen has time. He may not be the most punctual vigilante to ever don a mask, but his smiles far outnumber his glares. Between Barry's naturally cheerful disposition and Grant Gustin's youthful good looks, The Flash features a protagonist who is actually fun to watch. We want to bake him cookies and discuss zombie films with him rather than put him out of his misery. Central City is bright and beaming, existing in a world where the sun shines and steam does not pour out of every orifice. It is a city where people go to the movies and museums and the mall. The villains are usually tragically warped into metahuman madness, and the good guys don't kill. It's a happy place, and viewers get to be happy while watching. Even the darker moments that leave poor Barry sniffling are countered by a permeating optimism that leaves the tone of the show more light and fluffy than depressing. Besides, Barry is a young man who enjoys his job, boasts a loving support system, and who woke up from a coma with abs and superspeed. He deserves to smile his way through his first season, and so do we.