Pilot (The Flash (The CW))


 * For other episodes of the same name, see Pilot.

"You can do this, Barry. You were right. I am responsible for all of this. So many people have been hurt because of me, and when I looked at you, all I saw was another potential victim of my hubris. And yes, I created this madness, but you, Barry, you can stop it. You can do this. Now run, Barry, run!"

- Harrison Wells to Barry Allen

"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of The Flash, and its pilot episode. It premiered on October 7, 2014.

Synopsis
Barry Allen was just 11 years old when his mother was killed in a bizarre and terrifying incident and his father was falsely convicted of the murder. With his life changed forever by the tragedy, Barry was taken in and raised by Detective Joe West, the father of Barry's best friend, Iris. Now, Barry has become a brilliant, driven and endearingly geeky CSI investigator, whose determination to uncover the truth about his mother's strange death leads him to follow up on every unexplained urban legend and scientific advancement that comes along. Barry's latest obsession is a cutting edge particle accelerator, created by visionary physicist Harrison Wells and his S.T.A.R. Labs team members, Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon, who claim that this invention will bring about unimaginable advancements in power and medicine. However, something goes horribly wrong during the public unveiling, and when the devastating explosion causes a freak storm, many lives are lost and Barry is struck by lightning. After nine months in a coma, Barry awakens to find his life has changed once again – the accident has given him the power of super speed. Thrilled with his new powers, Barry learns how to control them with the help of Dr. Wells and his team. However, keeping his secret from his best friend Iris is proving to be harder than he thought, especially when Joe's new partner, Eddie Thawne, catches her eye. When another meta-human attacks the city, it's time to put Barry's new powers, and himself, to the test.

Plot
Barry Allen, a forensic crime scene assistant for the Central City Police Department, is struck by lightning during a storm that is created after a particle accelerator from S.T.A.R. Labs explodes. After being in a coma for nine months, Barry awakens in S.T.A.R. Labs, having been placed in the care of his scientist idol, Dr. Harrison Wells, along with his assistants, Dr. Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon. He learns from Dr. Wells that during his stay at the hospital he causes the hospital to have power outages whenever he gets a cardiac arrest. It turns out that his heart was too fast for the EKG to detect. Barry notices changes to his physical appearance, leading the the researchers to agree that his state, such as muscle regeneration, is unheard of following his type of injuries and the subsequent coma. Also, S.T.A.R. Labs has not been operational since the incident due to all the injury it has caused from the particle accelerator. The first person he went to visit was Iris, and before leaving, he asked if he could keep the S.T.A.R. sweatshirt. Barry quickly learns that he can move at extraordinary speeds, and that there were other "meta-humans" created from the explosion. One of them, Clyde Mardon, is robbing banks with his ability to control the weather. S.T.A.R. tested Barry's new abilities, and all was going well until he remembered the night his mom was murdered, causing him to lose control and crash on the test track. During a visit with Dr. Wells to find out the real truth behind the explosion, an argument occurs and Barry ran to Starling City, home of Oliver Queen. Barry is seen talking with Oliver as The Arrow, who gives him advice about his abilities before leaving. In order to stop Clyde, Barry is outfitted with a suit that can withstand his high speed of movement. He tracks down Mardon and with the help of Detective West, who learns of Barry's abilities, Barry is able to stop Mardon by stopping his tornado. Joe finally believed in Barry that his father was not the one who murdered his mother. Barry visits his father in the prison and he told his father he finally found a way that might find the real killer, his father asks him to move on with his life which he replies he never feel more alive until now. With his new powers, Barry vows to find out who killed his mother when he was a child, believing him to be another meta-human who has similar abilities of speed as he. Elsewhere, in a secret room at S.T.A.R Labs, Wells reveals he is not paraplegic, while reading a newspaper from the future concerning Barry's fate as the Flash (below the news we see Wayne tech/Queen inc merger).

Production
Shooting ran from March 2 until March 25, 2014.

Production

 * Originally, the 20th episode of the second season of Arrow would act as a backdoor pilot to The Flash, however after seeing Barry Allen's introductory episodes, and, the CW ordered a full pilot.
 * Despite the full pilot, Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes appeared in the 19th episode of Arrow ' s second season,, as their respective characters, Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon.
 * The episode's name was in much dispute. Originally it was marketed as simply "Pilot", as most pilot episodes are, however closer to its airdate it was marketed under the title "City of Heroes", one shared with the second season premiere of Arrow. However, after its airing, The CW finally confirmed that it was in fact simply titled "Pilot" as originally mentioned. As to why it was promoted with the other title is unknown.

Continuity

 * The first bit of the episode takes place during and immediately following the second season Arrow episode,, while the rest of it takes place concurrently with the third season Arrow episode,.

Goofs

 * During the initial flashback, a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica is seen, despite it being set 14 years prior to 2014, in 2000.
 * In the Arrow episode "Three Ghosts," Barry calls Felicity immediately prior to the particle accelerator malfunction and lightning strike; in this episode, he makes no such phone call.