Season Four tested The Flash/Barry Allen (Grant Gustin; Glee) in a way he hasn't been tested before. After entering the speed force, at the end of Season Three, to protect his friends, Season Four returns with Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale; Insurgent) and Cisco Ramirez (Carlos Valdes) struggling to protect Central City. After losing a battle, where the foe wants The Flash, Cisco and Wally realize they need to find a way to bring Barry back to Central City. While Barry's friends do find a way to bring him out of the speed force, his return releases dark matter, which turns twelve people into meta-humans. The team spends season four trying to save the meta-humans and defeat this season's foe, The Thinker.
The Thinker (Neil Sandilands) is, by day, a genius professor named Clifford DeVoe, who is trying, in his own mind, to "fix the world" by collecting powers. Throughout the season, the audience finds out that DeVoe orchestrated the exact return location point of Flash from the speed force so that his return would affect the bus riders and give them the powers he, himself, sought. DeVoe is a worthy opponent, not only being one of the meta-powers but a foe with a brilliant mind. He strategizes and sees every possibility so that The Flash and his friends are defeated almost every time. It becomes increasingly frustrating for Barry and for H.R. (Tom Cavanagh, Yogi Bear), as neither one of these characters is used to being intellectually defeated. H.R. puts who he is at risk to help the team and Barry must come to terms with what being a leader, teacher, and friend is when he takes Ralph Dibney/Elongated Man (Hartley Sawyer; The Young & The Restless), one of the twelve meta-humans under his wing.
Season four is more of a mystery than other seasons. The plot, while concise and clear, was not always apparent to the audience. This was actually a great way to write the season, as every episode seemed to be a continuing climactic ride. Whereas prior seasons have had several villains to deal with, season four was really about DeVoe. The writers outdid themselves with season four, creating episode after episode, building up a series long cohesive storyline, that left you sitting on the edge of the seat until the very last minute of the season finale's epic conclusion.
Warner Bros. and DC Comics also have several other superhero shows on television. In order to bring their universe together, the actors work on a four (4) part cross-over series every year, creating a storyline that befits all of the Superheroes. This year, the writers played upon the different Earth's (Supergirl said there are 52 but H.R. said there were 53) and doppelgangers to bring us familiar faces but not familiar ethics. Our heroes from Earth-X were in fact, the bad guys and their world was based upon the Nazi regime. While the writers did a great job of showing the dark sides of our favorite heroes, including The Flash, it was a little disconcerting relating them to the Nazi regime. Barry Allen is supposed to be the nice Jewish guy from next door so seeing him as a Nazi was just -weird. Regardless, this storyline brought back a beloved character we have all missed- Leonard Snart/Captain Cold. Wentworth Miller (Prison Break) is such a unique actor that watching him onscreen is simply a pleasure.
Warner Bros. gives us season four of The Flash in 1080p High Definition widescreen16x9 with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The contrast between the dark colors of DeVoe and the white colors of what his wife, Marlize (Kim Engelbrecht; Eye in the Sky), wore seemed as a foreshadowing of what was to come. The pitchy colors of Ralph's office were apropos, setting the scene of his background in the police force and his job as a private investigator. As in my season three review, I still find the special effects of the speed force with the blues and almost whispers of silver peeking out fascinating, as well as the reds and golds when The Flash is running. One additional special effect that was added was Ralph's stretching as his superpower. The special effects of contorting his body created a lighter aspect in a year when the entire plot seemed rather dark and devious.
The audio is presented in DTS-HD 5.1 Dolby Digital. Volume is consistent, sound effects are appropriate and not overwhelming, providing a well-balanced audiological experience. The DTS-HD 5.1 Dolby Digital is a full, rich sound that complements and supports the storyline without overpowering the dialogue.
The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray comes with bonus features to support every fan's obsession. Bonus features are provided on each disc.
Disc 1 – Episodes 1-7
- Deleted Scenes Episode 3, 4, and 5
- Special Feature: Gag Reel
Disc 2- Episodes 8-13
- Deleted Scene Episode 12
- Episodes 8-11 are the Crossover Events: Crisis on Earth-X.
- Special Feature: Inside the Crossover Crisis on Earth-X
Disc 3- Episodes 14-20
-Deleted Scenes Episodes 17, 20
-Special Features: The Elongated Man and Flash Time on Amunet Black with Katee, Eric, and Sterling (visual commentary)
Disc 4- Episodes 21-26
-Deleted Scenes Episodes 21, 26
- Special Feature: The Best of DC TV's Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2017
The Flash is one of the best television shows today. The writers bring consistent storylines. The acting is natural as if the characters are letting the audience into their lives. The comedic character of Ralph balanced out the darkness of DeVoe, this season. Barry Allen is continually growing both as a man and as a superhero. The bonus and special features provided on the disc are supportive of the season and a wonderful edition for those who love The Flash and just want to know more about his world. The Flash: The Complete Fourth Season is a definite addition for any home entertainment collection.
Grade: A
