Grant Gustin

'The Flash' took something of a breather this past week in order to prime for tonight's explosive "Plastique," but the newest trailer for the CW 'Arrow' spinoff picks up the pace double-time. Not only do we get new looks at the likes of DC's Girder, General Wade Eiling and a returning Clock King, but so too does an epic look at 'The Flash''s future tease a new name beyond the "Red Streak," and a deepening time travel mystery to the enigmatic Harrison Wells!

Practice makes perfect. That holds true for superheroes as well as television shows about superheroes. So it makes sense that 'The Flash' is essentially repeating the same steps week after week in order to get the basics down pat before getting into more adventurous stuff down the road. “Things You Can’t Outrun” is by no means a bad episode, but it doesn’t provide a lot in terms of new elements.

'Arrow' spinoff 'The Flash' has speedily become one of the better-received series of the year, let alone its success for the CW, making the latest update seem somewhat slow by comparison. The DC sci-fi drama has officially been given a full season order for its back 9 episodes, along with fellow CW success 'Jane the Virgin.'

Second episodes of television shows are hard. They might be the hardest one a show ever has to pull off, since it has to establish the template by which the show moves from pilot to actual series. Gone is the burden of having to set up a world, but present is the burden of having to build it out on a weekly basis. A show has to plan for the future but stay entertaining in the present. “Fastest Man Alive” represents 'The Flash' experiencing a few growing pains as it makes its shift into weekly entertainment, but it’s by no means a bad episode. The good far outweighs the bad, and much of the bad can be easily fixed over time.

‘Arrow’ season 3 lets loose its first installment of the year with season premiere “The Calm,” as Oliver's increased acclaim in Starling City is threatened by a new Vertigo (Peter Stormare), while Queen Consolidated falls to billionaire Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), and Oliver remembers his time in Hong Kong.

'The Flash' has officially made his grand debut on The CW, and while the 'Arrow' spinoff has been especially shy with footage beyond last night's premiere, the fastest man alive can barely keep up with the newest trailer. See Wentworth Miller's Captain Cold in action alongside other 'Flash' villains, Felicity's return, and a few new details on last night's shocking post-credits twist!

“Cool!” “Cool!” That simple two-word exchange between Barry Allen and Oliver Queen sums up the joys of the pilot episode of 'The Flash.' The second straight DC Comics adaptation by The CW, the new series gets so many things right that it puts other small-screen comic yarns to shame. What truly makes this pilot episode stand out from the myriad of comic book-inspired television shows lies in its light touch. That’s not to say that 'The Flash' is a frivolous show by any metric. But the show realizes there’s more than one way to tell a superhero story, and that dour realism only takes you so far in the world of the fantastical.

While CW 'Arrow' spinoff 'The Flash' has already made a few internet and critic rounds before next week's formal premiere, notably absent has been any new footage of the speedy DC drama beyond its pilot. Now, a new preview for the series debuts a first look at additional footage from the extended cut this Tuesday, as well as some shiny new footage of upcoming episodes!

With its October 7 premiere of 'The Flash' speeding toward us, we non-spoilerly break down the strengths and weakness of The CW's new 'Arrow' spinoff DC drama. Does the latest TV take on the world's fastest man stumble out of the gate, or hit a speedy stride?

'Arrow' season 3 will hit the mark on its latest photos and trailer any day now before the big October 8 premiere, but with season 2's Netflix debut pushed back, you'll have to pick up the Blu-Ray/DVD home release for yourself to catch up. And what better way to ring in 'Arrow' season 2's arrival on the home platform with a five-minute gag reel?