The Flash: Before You See the Movie, Revisit How the TV Show Handled the Flashpoint Storyline

Before The Flash speeds into theaters with its own take on Flashpoint, let’s slow down a minute to revisit how the recently ended TV series tackled the iconic comic book storyline.

Directed by Andy Muschietti (of the IT films), the standalone Flash movie — nearly nine years in the making, for as long as the CW series was on the air — finds Barry Allen (played by Justice League‘s Ezra Miller) using his powers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when Bar’s attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, he becomes trapped in a new reality, one in which General Zod (Man of Steel‘s Michael Shannon) has returned, threatening annihilation.

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In the movie, Barry in order to correct this paradox must coax a Batman (played by Michael Keaton) out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian (though it’s not Superman, as in the comics, but Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle). The film’s cast also includes Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Kiersey Clemons (Fairfax) as Iris West, Antje Traue (reprising her own Man of Steel role of Faora-Ul), and DCU vet Ben Affleck.

(Note: Miller in recent years has been the subject of multiple investigations and arrests, regarding allegations of grooming a minor, choking a woman in Iceland, second-degree assault and other instances of disturbing behavior. In an August 2022 statement/apology, Miller acknowledged they have “complex mental health issues” for which they had begun “ongoing treatment.”)

Understandably, the Flash TV show’s approach to Flashpoint could not be as grand in scale as the film’s, let alone the comic book arc that spanned more than 60 issues. But it still was comprised of some of the 184-episode Arrowverse series’ best episodes, as summarized below….

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