CW’s The Flash has had a shaky life and is finally coming to an end with its ninth season running. With the first two episodes released of this unusually long show, there isn’t much to run off of whether or not this season will be successful.

Barry Allen, more famously known as the Flash, was first introduced to the Arrowverse in December of 2013 in the episode of Arrow, “The Scientist.” Played by Grant Gustin, Barry was no more than a young CSI officer helping the main character, Oliver Queen, played by Stephen Amell. 

On his way home in Central City, Barry is struck by lightning, giving him super speed and turning him into the revered Flash seen now. 

The first season of the show is one of the most memorable parts of the series. The narrative of a young CSI turned superhero whose life was flipped upside-down was executed near perfectly for a show at that time. It showed the adjustments Barry had to make in his early days of becoming the Flash, and introduced the infamous Eobard Thawne, played by Tom Cavenaugh. 

The second season was a huge improvement from season one’s novice touch. The season’s “big bad” Zoom, played by Teddy Sears, was genuinely menacing, compared to the corny batch of rogues on the previous season’s villain roster. The idea of the multiverse really spiced up the show.

After two seasons of great material, the show writers make a pitiful attempt at portraying the Flashpoint paradox, without any of the involved characters from the comics. This led into a third season which turned out to be less prestigious than the last two.

Season four was a minor comeback from the third season’s flop. A great suit for The Flash, an interesting non-speedster villain, and a great representation of full-time superhero Flash were all attributes that boosted the season. But while all those were great, many flaws began to surface that would send The Flash on a downward spiral.

Too many “heartfelt” scenes, too many characters with powers, and confusing plot lines started to make The Flash not really about the Flash. By the time season six premiered, just about everyone had hidden powers. 

The storyline and plot twists were executed horribly, to the point where it seemed a format was being followed. The Flash would be better than ever, a big villain is teased, he meets a villain, gets destroyed and discouraged, comes up with a way to defeat the villain, plan goes wrong, and the power of friendship solves the problem.

This repeated design made the show repetitive and hard to watch through seasons five through seven, with season eight improving only slightly as the Flash now had the spotlight back on him. 

Only 13 episodes are included in The Flash’s ninth season, leaving little room for showrunner Eric Wallace to mess up. The season’s big bad, Red Death, has been revealed, but does not compare to Teddy Sears’ excellent talent in inciting fear into the viewer as Hunter Zolomon’s Zoom.

After nine years of ups and downs for the show, a die-hard fan could only hope it ends the only appropriate way it should end, with Barry turning into the bolt of lighting that turned him into the Flash and the show coming full circle.