Pilot (The Flash (CBS))

For other episodes of the same name, see Pilot (disambiguation).

"Pike has been terrorizing the city. Well I'm going to terrorize him. You know that insignia of his? That blood dot they all wear on their backs? Well, I've got one of my own."

—Barry coming up with his alter ego.

"Pilot"
Information
Episode number	1 of 22
Original airdate	September 20, 1990
Written by	Danny Bilson Paul De Meo
Directed by	Robert Iscove
Chronology
Followed by	"Out of Control"

"Pilot" is the first episode of The Flash. It aired on September 20, 1990.

Synopsis

Police chemist Barry Allen's life radically changes one night when his lightning strikes his lab—and the combination of chemicals and incredible electrical power transform him into the fastest human on earth, The Flash.[src]

Plot

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Cast

Starring

• John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen/The Flash
• Amanda Pays as Tina McGee
• Alex Desert as Julio Mendez
• Paula Marshall as Iris West

Special guest star

• Robert Hooks as Chief Arthur Cooper
• M. Emmet Walsh as Henry Allen

Guest starring

• Michael Nader as Nicholas Pike
• Tim Thomerson as Jay Allen
• Priscilla Pointer as Nora Allen
• Lycia Naff as Lila
• Richard Belzer as Joe Kline

Co-starring

• Patrie Allen as Eve Allen
• Biff Manard as Officer Michael Murphy
• Vito D'Ambrosio as Officer Tony Bellows
• Wayne Pére as Rick
• Justin Burnette as Shawn Allen
• Eric DaRe as Tyrone
• Ricky Dean Logan as Scott
• Mariko Tse as Linda Park
• Sam Vlahos as Dr. Lawrence
• Josh Cruze as Petrolli
• David L. Crowley as Swat Captain
• Virginia Morris as Mother
• Richard Hoyt-Miller as Young Father
• Jan Stango as Young Mother
• Brad Sevy as Waiter

Uncredited

• Christopher Murray as Highway Patrolman

Trivia

• Although Paula Marshall (Iris West) was intended to be a regular character on the series, she was written out after the pilot.
• Technically, this is the very first episode of the Arrowverse. However, the shared multiverse didn't actually start until CW's Arrow​ first premiered in 2012. CBS's The Flash​ was confirmed as part of the Arrowverse in 2018, during the Elseworlds​ crossover event.
  • It could be argued that the 1966 Batman TV series is the first episode of the Arrowverse as it is tied-in through the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover.
• There are two references to the Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick:
  • S.T.A.R. Labs is located at 50 Garrick Avenue.
  • Jay Allen, Barry's brother and a police officer, could be an adaptation of sorts to Garrick.
• The scene with Tina McGee talking to Barry would later be reused for "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three".