The Flash: 5 Actors Who Nailed Their Roles (& 5 Who Fell Short) - CBR

Now that Arrow and Supergirl are finished, The Flash is the last original Arrowverse series standing. Currently airing its eighth season, this TV show has given DC fans great depictions of many superheroes and supervillains that come directly from the Scarlet Speedster's stories.

Many of the actors and actresses that have starred in The Flash will forever be remembered for their iconic performances, but unfortunately, some will not. Inevitably, certain actors on the show have missed the mark and, whether it is due to poor writing, poor direction, or just poor acting, they will not be remembered with affection by the fans.

10 Fell Short: Grant Gustin As Savitar

Savitar is one of the time remnants Barry Allen creates in the future. After locking this villain in the Speed Force, Team Flash refuses to include the time remnant into the group, which creates the resentment and need for vengeance that makes this Savitar a powerful villain.

Throughout the third season, the audience doesn't know Savitar’s face until almost the end when he reveals himself as another version of Barry Allen, also played by Grant Gustin. Unfortunately, even though Grant’s boyish looks and personality make for a relatable superhero, he didn’t quite manage to live up to the expectations carried along the season by the masked villain.

9 Nailed It: Candice Patton as Iris West

Iris West-Allen is the most important person in Barry’s life. From childhood friends to lovers to a married couple, Iris and Barry have beaten any obstacle that has come their way, proving that love is the most important force in the universe. Iris is also a journalist who uses her investigative and writing skills to bring justice and hope into the world.

Such an important character in the story couldn’t be played by anyone other than Candice Patton, who has shown, throughout the eight seasons, the skills to play a wise and inspiring leader. Iris, besides being an assertive leader and an inquisitive journalist, continually inspires Barry to be a better superhero, a role that Candice has incarnated perfectly.

8 Fell Short: Danielle Panabaker as Killer Frost

There have been several iterations of Killer Frost in the DC Universe. While most of them exist on their own, The CW's Killer Frost was trapped within Caitlyn Snow, a scientist who deals with her alter-ego as a sort of different personality.

While Danielle Panabaker does a wonderful job playing Caitlyn, her villainous Killer Frost is not believable, so she falls flat and seems to be less a villain and more a sardonic antihero, which is exactly what Killer Frost becomes. This, mixed with poor writing, left this villain to be wasted on the TV series.

7 Nailed It: Keiynan Lonsdale As Wally West, Kid Flash

Wally West is Joe and Francine West’s son. He didn’t know his father until he was older because his mother never told Joe about him. When Barry created Flashpoint, Wally was known in that alternate universe as Flash. After this timeline, Wally gets his speed from this alternate universe and works with Team Flash to defeat several villains, now he is known as Kid Flash.

The reason Keiynan Lonsdale nailed this role is that he managed to impersonate a very charismatic character that is reminiscent of a younger Barry Allen. Kid Flash is cheerful and hopeful and brought levity and comedic relief to the show even in its darkest times.

6 Fell Short: Chris Klein As Cicada

There's no doubt Cicada is one of the most terrifying foes that Flash ever had to battle in the comics. Originally an architect and a preacher, David Hersch is a paranoid and violent man that obtains the power to absorb the life force out of any living being and to use it to regenerate himself, which makes him virtually undefeatable.

Orlin Dwyer, the version of Cicada in the Arrowverse, doesn't feel like that big of a threat, and even though the team is constantly commenting on how difficult he is to defeat, it is a bit unbelievable. This is partly Chris Klein's fault because his acting feels soft for a villain, but the truth is Cicada's modified origin story doesn't make the audience fear him. In fact, it makes them feel sorry for him and empathize with his story.

5 Nailed It: Carlos Valdes As Cisco Ramon

Cisco Ramon is Barry Allen's best friend and one of his most important allies. More than once, his intelligence and engineering skills helped Team Flash when everything seemed to be lost. Besides, his meta-powers are very useful against any kind of foe.

Although Vibe is a more serious character in the comics, actor Carlos Valdes's depiction of this character challenges that. He's funny and very relatable, but emotional when needed. His friendship with Barry feels authentic and it gives a very wholesome dimension to the show. All in all, Valdes makes a very lovable Cisco Ramon. Most fans agree he will be missed now that he left Central City to work with A.R.G.U.S.

4 Fell Short: Hartley Sawyer As Ralph Dibny

Although Elongated Man seemed to be a self-centered egotistic man when he first appeared in the show, it soon became clear that he was more than a crook, and his character turned into a hero. Because of this, his character went from a recurrent to a regular one in seasons five and six.

Due to Hartley Sawyer's controversy, Ralph Dibny leaving The Flash for its seventh season turned out to be for the best. Although his acting skills were not especially bad, Elongated Man's dark sense of humor mixed with Sawyer's problematic tweets would have made for a very awkward season.

3 Nailed It: Tom Cavanagh As Any Of The Wells

Harrison Sherloque Wells Harrison Wells Multiverse The Flash TV Show Season 5

Harrison Wells does not exist in the comics. In fact, he was created for The Flash specifically. Regardless, he is one of the most loved characters of the show so far. This is mostly thanks to Tom Cavanagh, who has marvelously portrayed every iteration of Wells.

Whether it is as the original Wells/Eobard Thawne and his very creepy mannerisms, as a very emotional Harry willing to sacrifice himself for the team, or just as a short-lived alternate version with an accent and a wig, Tom Cavanagh's versatility and humor are truly a gift that lifted the quality of the show.

2 Fell Short: Matt Letscher As Eobard Thawne

Eobard Thawne, also known as Reverse-Flash, is the first villain of the show. He is a spine-chilling speedster that is left stranded in the present after he travels from the future to kill Barry's mom and gets close to the hero by pretending to be Harrison Wells, a scientist that works as Flash's mentor.

It is probably because it feels pale in comparison to Tom Cavanagh's rendition, but Matt Letscher's Eobard Thawne fails to convey just how scary Reverse-Flash can be. Although Letscher is technically Thawne's real face, Cavanagh makes for a darker version of the villain.

1 Nailed It: Grant Gustin As Barry Allen, The Flash

To be able to become Flash, Grant Gustin had to go through a number of auditions throughout a couple of months. It’s evident that the CW casting team took their job seriously, and the results speak for themselves: Grant Gustin completely nails playing this beloved character. The fans find Grant such a great Flash that they even complained when he wasn’t cast in Zach Snyder’s film.

Although he didn’t have the muscles commonly associated with a superhero, Grant’s athletic and lean build makes him an amazing speedster. Grant simply encompasses the youthful, charming, and wholesome attributes that Barry is well known for in the comics, as well as being able to play solemn and moving scenes.

NEXT: Arrowverse: 5 Actors Who Nailed Their Roles (& 5 Who Fell Short)

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About The Author

Mayra Garcia (8 Articles Published)

Mayra García is a Comic Lists Editor for CBR. Her main interests include linguistics, superheroes, and food. You can follow her on Twitter @cuasirrefleja_ if you enjoy Spanglish ranting.