Spoiler Alert! Analyzing The Lead Up To The Flash Season Finale
WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!
"Oh no!"
That was my reaction when watching The Flash on The CW on 5/16 at the end. After months of trying to prevent Iris West's death, it appeared Team Flash failed to do so. Savitar captured Iris and killed her as originally predicted earlier on in the season.
As much as I was shocked at the ending of the episode, I don't think the season finale will end with Iris West being taken off the show. Her character is vital to a lot of the storylines and there isn't anything online indicating actress Candice Patton, who plays the character, wants to leave the show or is leaving.
Below are reasons not to panic over what occurred during the 5/16 episode:
1) The Flash is vital to The CW's lineup
The CW has thrown most of its eggs in terms of programming into one basket by having a good majority of its lineup with DC Comics related shows. In addition to The Flash, The CW also has Arrow, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow in its lineup. All of these shows are connected through the Arrowverse and the characters often appear in different storylines on each show (e.g. Supergirl appearing on the musical episode of The Flash, Captain Cold appearing in both Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash, Grant Gustin making his debut as The Flash on Arrow, etc.). It would be too big of a risk for The CW to lose ratings over a character being killed off due to how many tie ins The Flash has to the other DC comics and Arrowverse shows. The Flash losing ratings could easily hurt the other shows in the lineup and The CW will be left in a bad position as a result. The DC comics shows need to succeed on The CW because of how much space they take in the lineup.
2) It has been proven character deaths and subtle changes can make a huge impact
Years ago, The OC (which ironically starred Ben McKenzie of Gotham) was one of the highest rated television programs on The Fox Network until they killed off Marissa Cooper (played by Mischa Barton). Cooper was one of the most popular characters on the show and Barton received numerous endorsements for her connection to the show. Once the character was killed, the ratings dropped to the point Fox cancelled it. The OC was no longer the show to watch and a specific character being killed made a huge difference in the ratings.
Prior to The CW being formed, The WB had Felicity starring Kerri Russell as Felicity Porter, the main character. The show was popular until Russell cut her hair going into the later seasons. As dumb as it sounds, the ratings dropped to the point the show had to be cancelled. The hair cutting was not the choice of Russell, however, it showed how a subtle change made a huge difference in the ratings.
In both examples, it has been proven how changes to a show can make a huge impact on the ratings. Seeing how Iris West is a popular character, it can easily be inferred that taking her off the show could have a similar impact. It would be a huge risk for the show to take and it has been proven in the past it could be a costly one as well.
3) There have been hints of how Iris's death could be prevented
Barry Allen has proven he can travel and change history throughout this season. Time travel was a key element to the Flashpoint storyline earlier this year. Even though Barry promised not to screw up everyone's lives again by going back in time earlier this season, he has still done time traveling. That and stating that he will do anything to prevent Iris from dying leaves a subtle hint we could see him risk creating another Flashpoint to save the love of his life.
Also earlier this season, when Team Flash was making attempts to gather clues as to how they can prevent Iris from dying, HR Wells (Tom Cavanagh) was seen on the top of a building with some type of gun device when Cisco (Carlos Valdes) was looking into the future for ideas. HR showed remorse in the 5/16 episode for blurting out information that led to Iris being captured by Savitar. Both of these hints could play a role in Iris being saved. Wells was spotted at the scene for a reason and it isn't often subtle cameos in the show are wasted.
In addition, HR and new character Tracy Brand (Anne Dudek) seem to click with one another and could have a backup plan that hasn't been revealed yet. Both seem to come up with ideas for new technology for Team Flash to use and it is doubtful they don't have another plan in case the bazooka they created failed (which it did) to trap Savitar in a speed force.
"Oh no!"
That was my reaction when watching The Flash on The CW on 5/16 at the end. After months of trying to prevent Iris West's death, it appeared Team Flash failed to do so. Savitar captured Iris and killed her as originally predicted earlier on in the season.
As much as I was shocked at the ending of the episode, I don't think the season finale will end with Iris West being taken off the show. Her character is vital to a lot of the storylines and there isn't anything online indicating actress Candice Patton, who plays the character, wants to leave the show or is leaving.
Below are reasons not to panic over what occurred during the 5/16 episode:
1) The Flash is vital to The CW's lineup
The CW has thrown most of its eggs in terms of programming into one basket by having a good majority of its lineup with DC Comics related shows. In addition to The Flash, The CW also has Arrow, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow in its lineup. All of these shows are connected through the Arrowverse and the characters often appear in different storylines on each show (e.g. Supergirl appearing on the musical episode of The Flash, Captain Cold appearing in both Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash, Grant Gustin making his debut as The Flash on Arrow, etc.). It would be too big of a risk for The CW to lose ratings over a character being killed off due to how many tie ins The Flash has to the other DC comics and Arrowverse shows. The Flash losing ratings could easily hurt the other shows in the lineup and The CW will be left in a bad position as a result. The DC comics shows need to succeed on The CW because of how much space they take in the lineup.
2) It has been proven character deaths and subtle changes can make a huge impact
Years ago, The OC (which ironically starred Ben McKenzie of Gotham) was one of the highest rated television programs on The Fox Network until they killed off Marissa Cooper (played by Mischa Barton). Cooper was one of the most popular characters on the show and Barton received numerous endorsements for her connection to the show. Once the character was killed, the ratings dropped to the point Fox cancelled it. The OC was no longer the show to watch and a specific character being killed made a huge difference in the ratings.
Prior to The CW being formed, The WB had Felicity starring Kerri Russell as Felicity Porter, the main character. The show was popular until Russell cut her hair going into the later seasons. As dumb as it sounds, the ratings dropped to the point the show had to be cancelled. The hair cutting was not the choice of Russell, however, it showed how a subtle change made a huge difference in the ratings.
In both examples, it has been proven how changes to a show can make a huge impact on the ratings. Seeing how Iris West is a popular character, it can easily be inferred that taking her off the show could have a similar impact. It would be a huge risk for the show to take and it has been proven in the past it could be a costly one as well.
3) There have been hints of how Iris's death could be prevented
Barry Allen has proven he can travel and change history throughout this season. Time travel was a key element to the Flashpoint storyline earlier this year. Even though Barry promised not to screw up everyone's lives again by going back in time earlier this season, he has still done time traveling. That and stating that he will do anything to prevent Iris from dying leaves a subtle hint we could see him risk creating another Flashpoint to save the love of his life.
Also earlier this season, when Team Flash was making attempts to gather clues as to how they can prevent Iris from dying, HR Wells (Tom Cavanagh) was seen on the top of a building with some type of gun device when Cisco (Carlos Valdes) was looking into the future for ideas. HR showed remorse in the 5/16 episode for blurting out information that led to Iris being captured by Savitar. Both of these hints could play a role in Iris being saved. Wells was spotted at the scene for a reason and it isn't often subtle cameos in the show are wasted.
In addition, HR and new character Tracy Brand (Anne Dudek) seem to click with one another and could have a backup plan that hasn't been revealed yet. Both seem to come up with ideas for new technology for Team Flash to use and it is doubtful they don't have another plan in case the bazooka they created failed (which it did) to trap Savitar in a speed force.
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