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The Best Episodes of The Flash Season 1

Every episode of The Flash Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Flash Season 1!

When a bolt of lightening 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.

Genres:Action & AdventureCrimeDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:CBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Flash" season 1 is "Pilot", rated 6.8/10 from 262 user votes. It was directed by Robert Iscove and written by Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo. "Pilot" aired on 9/20/1990 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Out of Control".

  • Pilot
    6.8/10 262 votes

    #1 - Pilot

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1990

    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

    Writer: Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo

  • Out of Control
    6.9/10 237 votes

    #2 - Out of Control

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/1990

    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 Philip Azzopardi

    Writer: Gail Morgan Hickman

  • Watching the Detectives
    6.8/10 212 votes

    #3 - Watching the Detectives

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/18/1990

    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

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin

  • Honor Among Thieves
    6.5/10 208 votes

    #4 - Honor Among Thieves

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/25/1990

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

    Director: Aaron Lipstadt

    Writer: N/A

  • Double Vision
    6.9/10 196 votes

    #5 - Double Vision

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/1990

    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

  • Sins of the Father
    6.8/10 204 votes

    #6 - Sins of the Father

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/1990

    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

  • Child's Play
    7.1/10 187 votes

    #7 - Child's Play

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/1990

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

    Director: Danny Bilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Shroud of Death
    7.7/10 202 votes

    #8 - Shroud of Death

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/29/1990

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

    Director: Mario Philip Azzopardi

    Writer: N/A

  • Ghost in the Machine
    7.0/10 177 votes

    #9 - Ghost in the Machine

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/13/1990

    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

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin

  • Sight Unseen
    7.0/10 171 votes

    #10 - Sight Unseen

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/10/1991

    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: N/A

  • Beat the Clock
    7.7/10 207 votes

    #11 - Beat the Clock

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/31/1991

    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 Philip Azzopardi

    Writer: Jim Trombetta

  • The Trickster
    6.8/10 175 votes

    #12 - The Trickster

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/7/1991

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

    Director: Danny Bilson

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin

  • Tina, Is That You?
    6.5/10 173 votes

    #13 - Tina, Is That You?

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/14/1991

    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: N/A

  • Be My Baby
    7.9/10 188 votes

    #14 - Be My Baby

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/21/1991

    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

  • Fast Forward
    7.7/10 192 votes

    #15 - Fast Forward

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/27/1991

    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

  • Deadly Nightshade
    7.7/10 173 votes

    #16 - Deadly Nightshade

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/1991

    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

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin

  • Captain Cold
    7.1/10 174 votes

    #17 - Captain Cold

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 4/6/1991

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

    Director: Gilbert M. Shilton

    Writer: N/A

  • Twin Streaks
    7.3/10 155 votes

    #18 - Twin Streaks

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/13/1991

    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

  • Done with Mirrors
    7.0/10 160 votes

    #19 - Done with Mirrors

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/27/1991

    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

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin

  • Good Night, Central City
    7.5/10 166 votes

    #20 - Good Night, Central City

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/4/1991

    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 Philip Azzopardi

    Writer: Jim Trombetta

  • Alpha
    7.8/10 198 votes

    #21 - Alpha

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/11/1991

    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: N/A

  • The Trial of the Trickster
    6.0/10 2 votes

    #22 - The Trial of the Trickster

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/18/1991

    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

    Writer: John Francis Moore, Howard Chaykin