The essential episodes of The Flash

Watch these 11 in order and you've got The Flash — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · September 20, 1990 · 1h 34m

   Pilot7.8

   Forensic scientist Barry Allen is struck by lightning and doused in chemical products that afford him superhuman speed, which he learns to control with help from Tina McGee, a scientist from S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry's brother, policeman Jay Allen, is murdered by his corrupt ex-partner, Nicholas Pike, the leader of a vicious gang of criminals.

2. 02

   S01E02 · Top rated · September 27, 1990 · 47m

   Out of Control6.3

   While Barry investigates the murders of several homeless people whose bodies are being stolen from the crime scenes, Tina reconnects with an old friend, Dr. Carl Tanner, who has recently returned to Central City to retrieve Tina's late husband's research on genetic engineering. Barry and Tina learn that Tanner is using the vagrants in his illegal experiments.

3. 03

   S01E03 · Top rated · October 18, 1990 · 48m

   Watching the Detectives7.0

   Barry's secret identity is uncovered by Megan Lockhart, a private investigator employed by corrupt District Attorney Arthur Simonson, who blackmails Barry into becoming his secret accomplice in his efforts to bring legalized gambling into Central City on behalf of the organized crime.

4. 04

   S01E04 · Top rated · October 25, 1990 · 48m

   Honor Among Thieves6.7

   Master thief Stan Kovacs assembles a team of criminals, which the police believe intend to steal the Mask of Rasputin from the museum of natural history.

5. 05

   S01E05 · Top rated · November 1, 1990 · 47m

   Double Vision6.5

   Barry attempts to foil the kidnapping of Sofia Tomarquin, daughter of DEA agent Felix Tomarquin, who is scheduled to testify against drug lord Reuben Calderon. However, Calderon's enforcer, Marcos Trachmann, utilizes advanced microscopic devices to control Barry's nervous system and force him to help them kidnap Sofia.

6. 06

   S01E06 · Top rated · November 8, 1990 · 47m

   Sins of the Father6.5

   Barry attempts to protect his father, veteran policeman Henry Allen, from Johnny Ray Hix, a dangerous criminal that Henry arrested 15 years prior and who has escaped from prison to enact revenge.

7. 07

   S01E07 · Top rated · November 15, 1990 · 48m

   Child's Play7.0

   Barry shelters street orphans Terry and Cory Cohan, who have stolen the backpack of a recently murdered journalist, Philip Sullivan, containing Sullivan's research on a highly addictive synthetic drug known as "Blue Paradise", developed by notorious drug designer Beauregarde Lesko.

8. 08

   S01E08 · Top rated · November 29, 1990 · 47m

   Shroud of Death6.5

   Garfield stonewalls Barry and Julio's efforts to locate a cloaked figure who is targeting individuals connected to the arrest of notorious anarchist Zacharias, who was later executed... and Garfield was the arresting officer.

9. 09

   S01E09 · Season 1 peak · December 13, 1990 · 47m

   Ghost in the Machine8.0

   In the 1950s, Central City's guardian was Desmond Powell, who fought crime as "The Nightshade". His nemesis, a criminal mastermind known as "The Ghost", is believed to have died after a confrontation, causing a guilt-stricken Powell to retire. However, the Ghost has in fact preserved himself in suspended animation and resurfaces in the 1990s, where he hijacks Central City's power grids and holds the city for ransom, forcing Powell to return to action and join forces with the Flash.

10. 10

    S01E10 · Top rated · January 10, 1991 · 48m

    Sight Unseen6.5

    Brian Gideon, a disgruntled biophysicist, learns that STAR Labs is producing weapons of mass destruction based on his research for the United States government and uses a cloaking device to infiltrate STAR Labs and retrieve the weapons, exposing Tina and the project administrator Ruth to a deadly neurotoxin. While attempting to locate both Gideon and a cure, Barry clashes with federal agent Quinn, who is trying to cover up Gideon's--and Quinn's--involvement in the crisis.

11. 11

    S01E22 · Series finale · May 18, 1991 · 47m

    The Trial of the Trickster5.5

    Barry feels betrayed when the city treats James Jesse as a celebrity ahead of his trial. Jesse later escapes from prison with help from an obsessive fan, Zoey Clark, and becomes the Trickster once again, with Clark as his assistant, Prank. They brainwash the Flash into joining them in wreaking havoc, damaging the Flash's public image.