The Flash backdrop
Action & Adventure•Crime•Drama

The Best Episodes of The Flash

Every episode of The Flash ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Flash!

Binge this in 17h 58m•Peaking at 8.5/10

When a bolt of lightning crashes through a police crime lab, a mix of electrically charged substances bathes chemist Barry Allen, transforming him into the fastest man alive--The Flash.

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons1

All1

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    The Flash Season 1 Episode 16 - Deadly Nightshade
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #1 - Deadly Nightshade

    S1:E16

    There's a new vigilante in town, the Deadly Nightshade, who fights crime by killing criminals. The Flash and the original Nightshade team up to take him down.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Flash Season 1 Episode 9 - Ghost in the Machine
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #2 - Ghost in the Machine

    S1:E9

    Barry befriends an African American who was once a super hero that defeated a terrorist called the Ghost, who blackmailed the city through television sets. When the presumed dead criminal is defrosted, the Night Shade is back in business.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Flash Season 1 Episode 12 - The Trickster
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #3 - The Trickster

    S1:E12

    Barry must protect his old girlfriend, Megan Lockhart, from an obsessed, maniacal criminal disguised as The Trickster.

    Director:Danny Bilson
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Flash Season 1 Episode 2 - Out of Control
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #4 - Out of Control

    S1:E2

    Homeless people are dying and their bodies are disappearing. Tina rekindles a relationship with a former colleague who is an expert in genetic engineering.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Gail Morgan Hickman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Flash Season 1 Episode 19 - Done with Mirrors
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - Done with Mirrors

    S1:E19

    A battery is stolen by a criminal calling himself the Mirror Master. He soon steals a crystal from Star Labs. Tina will get fired if they can't recover the crystal. Tina's mother comes for a visit, and an old friend of Barry's also stirs up trouble.

    Director:Danny Bilson
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Flash Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #6 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    A laboratory accident endows a police scientist with the ability to move at superhuman speed which he uses to battle a menacing gang as a superhero.

    Director:Robert Iscove
    Writers:Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Flash

    READ
  7. The Flash Season 1 Episode 3 - Watching the Detectives
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Watching the Detectives

    S1:E3

    The corrupt District Attorney Thomas Castillo hires a private eye named Megan Lockhart to find out the Flash's identity. He then blackmails Barry to work for him, or he'll expose his secret.

    Director:Gus Trikonis
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Flash Season 1 Episode 4 - Honor Among Thieves
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Honor Among Thieves

    S1:E4

    While arranging security at the Central City Museum, Barry is reunited with an old girlfriend and a former mentor.

    Director:Aaron Lipstadt
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Flash Season 1 Episode 6 - Sins of the Father
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Sins of the Father

    S1:E6

    A bank robber escapes from prison. He goes back to Central City to get his money and revenge on the cop who busted him, Henry Allen, Barry's father.

    Director:Jonathan Sanger
    Writer:Stephen Hattman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Flash Season 1 Episode 7 - Child's Play
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Child's Play

    S1:E7

    An orphan boy has information that incriminates a 1960s cult figure who is trying to make a comeback.

    Director:Danny Bilson
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Flash Season 1 Episode 8 - Shroud of Death
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Shroud of Death

    S1:E8

    Pieces of a broken medallion are the only clue to an unknown assassin who is on a deadly rampage in central city.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Flash Season 1 Episode 11 - Beat the Clock
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Beat the Clock

    S1:E11

    A jazz musician friend of Julio's is about to be executed. An hour before the execution, a friend calls and says he has evidence that could exonerate their friend. Before Barry can contact him, he disappears. They have less than an hour to save a condemned man.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Jim Trombetta

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Flash Season 1 Episode 13 - Tina, Is That You?
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Tina, Is That You?

    S1:E13

    Barry is having trouble sleeping. Tina tries to use bio-feedback to help him, but it back fires on Tina. She joins a gang, and she's able to hold Flash at bay with her knowledge of his strengths and weaknesses. Barry has got to find a way to save his friend.

    Director:William A. Fraker
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Flash Season 1 Episode 14 - Be My Baby
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Be My Baby

    S1:E14

    Barry tries to help a young woman. She found out about her husband's criminal life, and is trying to escape from him. She takes their daughter with her, but he wants them back.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:Jule Selbo

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Flash Season 1 Episode 15 - Fast Forward
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Fast Forward

    S1:E15

    Jay's killer, Nicholus Pike, is released from jail and blames the Flash for Jay's death. He sets the Flash up by using a heat seeking bomb on him, but something goes awry. Instead of killing the Flash, it sends him into the future where Pike is in charge and outlaws anyone from mentioning the Flash.

    Director:Gus Trikonis
    Writer:Gail Morgan Hickman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Flash Season 1 Episode 20 - Good Night, Central City
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Good Night, Central City

    S1:E20

    A small time crook gets a hold of a device that puts people to sleep. He goes on a spree while the people are unconscious. He has a plan to knock out the entire city, it's up to the Flash to stop him.

    Director:Mario Azzopardi
    Writer:Jim Trombetta

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Flash Season 1 Episode 21 - Alpha
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Alpha

    S1:E21

    An android built by the government to use an assassin refuses to obey her orders. She escapes, and is befriended by Tina and Barry.

    Director:Bruce Bilson
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Flash Season 1 Episode 10 - Sight Unseen
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Sight Unseen

    S1:E10

    An invisible man gets into Star Labs, and releases a neurotoxin with Tina inside the lab. Then he starts killing scientists who worked on the project. Flash must find the invisible man and save his friend.

    Director:Christopher Leitch
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Flash Season 1 Episode 18 - Twin Streaks
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Twin Streaks

    S1:E18

    A scientist and his business partner are trying to develop a being with super speed, their attempts fail. They manage to clone the Flash. Their creation learns quickly, but is emotional moral equivalent of a child. Barry must stop his twin.

    Director:James A. Contner
    Writer:Stephen Hattman

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Flash Season 1 Episode 22 - The Trial of the Trickster
    6.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - The Trial of the Trickster

    S1:E22

    With the help of an insane admirer who wants to be his sidekick, the Trickster escapes from police custody and places the Flash under his mind control.

    Director:Danny Bilson
    Writers:Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Flash Season 1 Episode 17 - Captain Cold
    3.8/10(2 votes)

    #21 - Captain Cold

    S1:E17

    Captain Cold, who freezes his victims to death, is contracted to kill the Flash.

    Director:Gilbert M. Shilton
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Flash Season 1 Episode 5 - Double Vision
    2.8/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Double Vision

    S1:E5

    Someone spreads graffiti, and messages asking to meet "Flash" at a church. Barry goes to the church. Shortly after that, he begins to experience black outs and memory losses.

    Director:Gus Trikonis
    Writer:Jim Trombetta

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"Deadly Nightshade" is the best rated episode of "The Flash". It scored 8.5/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Bruce Bilson and written by Howard Chaykin, John Francis Moore, it aired on 3/30/1991. This episode scored 0.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ghost in the Machine".