Barry Allen — aka The Flash — debuts in Starling City tonight in Arrow season 2, episode 8 “The Scientist.”
Grant Gustin makes his highly anticipated debut as Barry Allen, a Central City crime scene investigator, who will become The Flash, tonight on Arrow when an unexplained break-in occurs at Queen Consolidated.
What can we expect from the Glee alum’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster? “Grant as an actor has brought more to Barry Allen than I think we’ve seen before, especially seeing him in the days of when he’s taking his first steps,” says DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.
“But he’s got that heart. He’s got humor. He’s got a compassion. Barry was always a nice guy; he’s the guy that stops to make sure that everyone’s all right, and then keeps going, and Grant embodies that. He’s a perfect Flash.”
“He’s fun to play. He’s likable. I would be his friend. I haven’t had the opportunity to play a character that I would actually enjoy spending time with,” Gustin adds. “So, that’s nice.”
And just as Gustin joined Glee in time to shake things up with a fan favorite pairing, Barry will have an effect on Oliver and, in particular, Felicity. Barry and Felicity immediately hit it off since “they’re both sort of uncomfortable in their own skins, and they’re both very likable and personable,” says executive producer Andrew Kreisberg.
This new dynamic will “complicate things for Oliver even more,” Kreisberg adds. “Especially with the way the season has been going, with Oliver and Felicity and their growing relationship or feelings for each other.” Oliver “knows he feels something for her, but he can’t quite define it, and I think he’s sort of surprised to find [in “The Scientist” he might be jealous].”
“Barry has a profound effect on them, and that will carry through,” Kreisberg teases of episode 9 and beyond.
Watch a promo
Producer’s preview
‘Arrow’ season 2, episode 8 ‘The Scientist’ official synopsis
If those promos have whet your appetite, make sure to read the official synopsis for the first part of the mid-season finale:
BARRY ALLEN COMES TO STARLING CITY — A seemingly impossible robbery at Queen Consolidated’s Applied Sciences Division brings Central City police scientist Barry Allen (guest star Grant Gustin) to town. Citing a similar case back home, Barry offers to help Oliver (Stephen Amell) and team with the investigation. Oliver senses there is more to Barry than meets the eye, but he’s distracted by the similarities between this current case and something that happened on the island. Meanwhile, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) takes a liking to Barry, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Oliver. Sin (guest star Bex Taylor-Klaus) asks Roy (Colton Haynes) for help when a friend of hers goes missing. Roy is surprised when Thea (Willa Holland) not only encourages him to help, but joins the search. Unfortunately, Sin’s friend is connected to Brother Blood (guest star Kevin Alejandro), and their search ultimately gets one of them seriously injured. Michael Schultz directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Andrew Kresiberg and teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Geoff Johns (#208).
Gustin will also appear in episode 9, the second part of the mid-season finale, as well as in his own Flash pilot, set to film in 2014.
Watch clips from the episode
Watch ‘Arrow’ season 2 online
If you’re unable to catch Arrow season 2, episode 8 “The Scientist” live tonight, you’re not out of luck. If you want to watch online, the CW posts new episodes of the show to its site the day after they air.
You can also find new episodes within 24 hours on iTunes and Amazon. The last five episodes to air on The CW are available 8 days after broadcast on Hulu as well.
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