The Flash

The Flash came to an end after its ninth and final season aired earlier this year. The Grant Gustin-led series was a pivotal part of the superhero TV renaissance, with its success not only expanding the Arrowverse, but resulting in other platforms trying their hand at superhero TV shows. The biggest hit for The CW network ever and one of the most popular TV shows of the past decade, The Flash’s legacy speaks for itself, and its conclusion marks the end of a TV era as it also marks the end of the Arrowverse. Needless to say, we all took the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of this game-changer in 2023 as it bowed out once and for all.

Back when The Flash launched, there was only one other fully-fledged superhero show on TV and that was its parent series Arrow. The Flash was much more light-hearted, taking us back to the time of cheerful and joyous comic book shows from decades prior. That success placed a new spotlight on the genre and, along with the likes of Arrow and Supergirl, proved that superheroes could indeed work on television once again. The Flash’s global success allowed the Arrowverse to change the game for superhero TV, and its longevity is a shining example of just how successful it truly was. The Flash movie may have hit theaters this year but it’s the TV series that will remain in our hearts and minds for the next decade to come.

Passion has always been a word associated with The Flash fans but that rang truer than ever this year with the show’s conclusion. From their adoration of the legendary DC character to their never-ending attempts to ensure the show wasn’t forgotten about in the wake of The Flash movie this year, it’s been a bittersweet one for fans of the show, but they never once let that stop them from celebrating their favorite TV series and the incredible legacy it has left behind. And that passion will continue to run through them like the Scarlet Speedster himself.