Best/Worst Relationships
LUCIANA MANGAS: I’ll be honest here, guys, I don’t think I can choose. The thing is, THE FLASH is essentially a show about relationships and that’s what makes it so successful. Sure, we have metahumans and super powers and superheroes, but what really drives this show are the relationships within. Whether it’s Barry and Joe or Barry and Patty or Cisco and Harry, most of them are such a joy to watch. I have always loved how they handle Barry and Joe’s relationship and I like that even better than Barry’s relationship with his own father. They have such a tremendous amount of respect for one another and they love each other unconditionally. Also, Grant Gustin and Jesse L. Martin? They make magic happen on my screen every week. What’s not to love about them?
That said, I absoultely adore the love/hate relationship between Cisco and Harry. Carlos Valdes is my absolute favorite, but the way he and Tom Cavanagh play off of each other is just spectacular. Their chemistry is just off the charts. So I’ll leave this with a tie between these two wonderful relationships. Please, don’t make me choose.
Now, the worst relationship for me this season has been Caitlin Snow and Jay Garrick, and that’s mostly due to the fact that I still don’t know what the point of Jay being there at all is. I get that they’re both scientists, but I don’t see anything else in common or any chemistry between them, so this whole thing has just been annoying for me.
MELISSA SMITH: My actual favorite Flash relationship is Barry and Felicity because the actors have such great chemistry. But since the crossovers may slow down now with Legends premiering, I’ll go with Cisco and Caitlin. I know he had a crush on her for awhile, but now they’ve settled in to BFF mode. She’s “one of the guys” and there’s no crush, no expectation. Just 100% “I’ve got your back” dependability and no “like a girl” restrictions on Caitlin. They’re team members, friends and heroes to each other, regardless of superpower status. Just like we all want our BFFs to be.
Worst relationship for me is Barry and Wells. There was such a strong dynamic with Wells from Earth-1, and I know that there is a basic distrust, but with Barry’s dad off finding himself and Joe about to become a father to Wally, Barry will need someone to fill that void. I think Wells can do the trick with a couple of slight tweaks.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: I ship so many things on so many shows, but as far as romance goes on THE FLASH, I’ve yet to find something that interests me. I feel like the strongest, richest relationship on the series is easily the father-son dynamic between Barry and Joe. But the most interesting may just be the antagonistic, yet grudgingly warming, dynamic between Cisco and Harry.
Considering my distaste for all things related to the backdoor pilot for LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, it should come as no surprise that my least favorite relationship during the first half of season two was the fiasco that was Cisco’s romance with Kendra, if it even deserves to be called that. I’m all for angst and broken hearts when they serve a purpose, but this flat out didn’t. Cisco finally gets a girl to go out with him, it’s sweet, he thinks he’s in love… and oh, yeah… She’s got this history with someone else that spans practically all of time. She’s not even who Cisco thinks she is. How lovely.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: One of the unique things about The Flash, for me, is that I don’t really ship anyone with anyone. That isn’t to say I think anyone is particularly bad together; quite the opposite. I can see potential in pretty much any and all of romantic relationships. Barry and Iris? Sure! Go for it! Barry and Caitlin? Why not? Barry and Patty are lovely and sweet and boring. Caitlin and Jay? I mean, I guess. I liked Eddie and Iris. I really did, but that may be at least 87% due to my love for Rick Cosnett. So now, I’m really not married to any ship.
Now the friendships and family relationships? That’s a totally different story. At least when it comes to the male characters (more on that in a minute). The father/son dynamic between Joe and Barry is fabulous. The friendship between Barry and Cisco is perfect. The hilarious interactions between Cisco and ParaWells are to die for. This show has built up some pretty solid non-romantic relationships, to the point that I would argue this is their biggest strength. And whatever else happens – the lifelong friendship between Barry and Iris remains the central and most important relationship on the show.
That said, what this show is sorely lacking is female friendships. We got a hint of it with Iris and Linda Park, but just a hint. I don’t always love Caitlin, but if the show is going to have Iris act as part of “Team Flash” the least they could do is spend some time building a believable friendship between those two ladies. Or just… give each of them someone other than the occasional visit from Felicity Smoak.
On the next page: best/worst storylines…
