The Flash Season 5: 6 Problems It Must Fix

When The Flash made its debut, it entered a crowded era of modern superheroes that was overflowing with acclaimed dark tales. However, the show proved to be a light among that darkness, complementing its deep storylines with callbacks to some of the best traits of classic superhero TV, reminding viewers that comic book shows can be fun and gripping.

It lost its way when it travelled down a darker route in Season 3, inspiring the creative team to return to that light-hearted tone the following year. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out. The season was founded on the basis that it was resurrecting a fun tone - so "cool" action and quirky one-liners became the main focus.

To make matters worse, this comedic approach didn't blend with the dark and mature storyline surrounding DeVoe. Thus, Team Flash's inability to take anything seriously was incredibly frustrating, and this was accentuated by the introduction of Ralph Dibny - who just might be the corniest character in the show's history.

While The Flash can successfully tackle both fun and grim storylines, it's important that it gets the balance right next season in order to avoid a repeat of Season 4's shortcomings. The season was ultimately a huge mismatch of styles that made us question what the show was trying to achieve. It was dealing with dark subject matter while trying to be funny at the same time, and this detracted from the storyline and hindered it from living up to its potential.