The Flash: 10 Filler Episodes That Are Still Great | Screen Rant - Screen Rant

The Flash is part of the very foundation of the Arrowverse and has been since Barry Allen raced across screens in 2014. It's the only original Arrowverse show which is continuing to unfold, although the end does seem to be in sight. Considering the seasons themselves are so long, it's not that surprising that the writing team has to create filler episodes, in order to bulk out the show.

A filler isn't a bad thing though. It can provide an opportunity to introduce a new antagonist to face, add a power to Flash's set of abilities, or perhaps allow for the creative team to genuinely explore these characters further, adding depth to the ensemble. Regardless of how the episodes contribute their time, these fillers are standouts of the DC Comics series.

Tricksters

Mark Hamill as The Trickster in The Flash

There are some villains from across The Flash that continue to be iconic and the Trickster is among them. Perhaps it's the performances or the over-the-top nature of the antagonist himself, but the character was instantly entrenched in the debut of both versions of Trickster in Season 1, Episode 17.

With the original villain, based on the 90s TV version of Flash, firmly in prison, a copycat is out there causing havoc, forcing Barry to call upon the incarcerated for aid. The quirkiness of the episode is perfect for the character and it's a breath of fresh air for the series, boasting a twist that perhaps audiences should have seen coming but is nonetheless fun.

Legends Of Today

The Flash Legends of Tomorrow Vandal Savage

The Flash acted much in the way of other Arrowverse shows, allowing some of its episodes to function as backdoor pilots for upcoming shows. Season 2, Episode 8 introduced the concept of the Legends Of Tomorrow, a unit that would garner their own beloved series.

With Vandal Savage posing a threat to the timeline and Hawkgirl getting attacked, Flash would work alongside numerous heroes to help save the day. It may be a filler for Flash but it's a really important episode for the Arrowverse as a whole, as a new super team was born, with a cliffhanger that encapsulated what the upcoming show could be about.

King Shark

King Shark is such a popular villain from the comics, but much like Gorilla Grodd, it seemed unlikely that the CW show would ever attempt to adapt such a complicated and CGI-heavy character. Season 2, Episode 15 leaped straight into the challenge though.

Team Flash faced off against the monstrous King Shark, who had escaped from A.R.G.U.S. and was on a murderous rampage. While it didn't add the additional wrinkles that later episodes may have done, the dynamic of the out-of-his-depth Flash facing such a beast was a thrilling change of pace for the show and a much-needed filler.

Abra Kadabra

Season 3, Episode 18 brought a character from the comics that few would have expected would make the impact that he did. Abra Kadabra was a foe that came from the future, utilizing the far-fetched technology in order to create the illusion that he was capable of sorcery.

It's an interesting concept, but the fate of Abra Kadabra would later come to play in episodes down the line. Not only was the showdown between Flash and Abra an ideological and a physically challenging one with the inclusion of Gypsy, but despite being a filler the episode was so memorable that it actually influenced Barry in the future.

Run Iris Run

The Flash has often tried to allow its best characters to take a moment in the spotlight since this is an ensemble show. Season 4, Episode 16 gave the ball to Iris to run with in Run Iris Run. With a meta allowing the powers of Barry to be passed on to Iris, West-Allen was now the resident speedster on the team.

It's a brief story but one that sees Iris take on her full potential as a version of the Flash. It sets the stage for her daughter Nora, who will even don the same jacket in the future, and demonstrates that Iris is capable of taking charge of the situation even in the field. It's a brilliant change of reality that shows the true heart of Flash's heroes.

The Icicle Cometh

Caitlin Snow has had quite a tough journey on screen, from losing her fiance, to becoming Killer Frost and eventually separating out her two personalities. However, her family has also caused a lot of trauma in her life, with her father actually being revealed to be the source of her transformative powers.

Season 5, Episode 6 sees Cailtin discover what her father has become, the villain Icicle. It's a story that has a huge impact on Caitlin and Frost moving forward and while should be seen as a filler, is so vitally important for understanding the meta-humans own origin story.

Kiss Kiss Breach Breach

Breacher holding Cisco by his neck on The Flash

Gypsy and Cisco have continued to have an on and off again relationship throughout The Flash, but it seemed like the romance had finally come to an end. Season 6, Episode 5 saw the conclusion of that arc in a tragic fashion, when Vibe had come to learn that Gypsy had been murdered.

With her father, Breacher, claiming that it was Cisco who committed the crime, the duo goes on a hunt to find out the truth of the matter. It's a murder mystery with an emotional edge, with the Multiverse once again brought in to aid the plot. It's a goodbye for one beloved character and an important journey for Vibe.

The One With The Nineties

The Flash Chester Runk and Cisco Ramon in 90s Clothes

It would be easy for The Flash to fall into some of the cliches of the comics when it comes to filler episodes. But the creative team always manages to find an intriguing way into the next conflict. For The One With The Nineties, Cisco and Chester are thrown into the past, in a retro adventure, unlike anything the show has done before.

Season 7, Episode 6 was a passing of the torch moment, where Cisco began to see that Chester could replace him long-term. It also allowed the audience to bond with the newcomer, with Runk meeting his late father and learning from his own scientific know-how in a moving moment.

Masquerade

Sometimes filler episodes drive the plot forward without actually doing much at all. That's the case for Season 7, Episode 13 which carries plenty of sub-plots while balancing some genuinely emotional arcs. For Cecile, the psychic comes to confront her past and reveals the truth about some of the health issues she has survived.

Meanwhile, Chester is looking to take over from Cisco and thinks he has made a mistake, calling into question his role on the team. This episode is largely a character study for these two individuals, but is handled so elegantly and concludes in a way that makes Team Flash even stronger.

Impulsive Excessive Disorder

The Flash Season 8 XS Iumpulse Bart Nora West-Allen Jordan Fisher Jessica Parker Kennedy.

Season 8 allowed its cast to really dive into a number of weird and wonderful stories and Episode 6 put the focus on Nora and Bart, after the events of Armageddon. It sees the young heroes travel through history, trying to put right a mistake they had previously made in the timeline.

Each time they attempt to fix the flow of things, they make another mistake. It's really a coming-of-age tale that allows the heroes to go out by themselves really for the first time, and tackle what being a hero is all about. It might have implications for the future but is a self-contained filler episode that becomes a breath of fresh air for the show.

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George Chrysostomou (1208 Articles Published)

Politics graduate, freelance writer and all around film geek. If George isn't lecturing someone on the history of the MCU, he's probably ranting about the political consequences of Boris Johnson's latest hairstyle.