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Season 5 – The Flash

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Oct 2018

Drama

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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94%

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294 Reviews

51%

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1,000+ Ratings

At 11, Barry Allen's life changed completely when his mother died in a freak accident and his innocent father was convicted of her murder. Now a crime-scene investigator, his dedication to learn the truth about his mother's death drives him to follow up on every new scientific advancement and urban legend. When his latest obsession -- a particle accelerator heralded as a world-changing invention -- causes an explosion, it creates a freak storm and Barry is struck by lightning. He awakes from a coma nine months later with the power of superspeed. When he learns that others who have gained powers use them for evil, he dedicates himself to protecting the innocent, while still trying to solve the older mystery.

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Critics Consensus

The Flash's fifth season maintains the show's high standard for compelling visuals, chilling villains, and well-scripted moments of humor, but also turns a more focused gaze on the role of family dynamics amongst the increasingly complex characters.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Aug 26, 2019

3.5/5

The Flash returns with another action-packed season that, while it may not be on the level of previous seasons, still manages to give fans the thrilling, character-centric show that they've come to know and love.

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David Hogan

hoganreviews.co.uk

May 30, 2019

3/5

The Flash's fifth season is one of many problems, mainly the many acts of stupidity from Team Flash, but there were a few highlights from certain cast members, at least...

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Jesse Schedeen

IGN

May 16, 2019

"Legacy" worked about as well as could be hoped.

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Matt Webb Mitovich

TV Line

May 16, 2019

The Flash ended Season 5 with its own deluge of devastating family drama, followed by a "Crisis on Infinite Earths" tease of its own.

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Amelia Emberwing

Birth.Movies.Death.

May 16, 2019

It was a little rocky with that Cicada business, but the season closes out strong with plenty of stakes and enough hope to pull you forward.

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Mikel Zorrilla

Espinof

Mar 5, 2019

3.5/5

The Flash has returned in good form. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Riley K

@Primeditz Jun 29, 2026

Honestly I think this season is very overhated. I don’t think Cicada is a bad villain by any means especially the first Cicada. This is the one and only season Nora is a good character and a fun character. Barry’s cowl sucks but I can look past that a bit. Episode 8 honestly was the best episode of the entire Arrowverse and that raises this rating up for me dramatically. The reveal that Thawne was behind everything at the end was actually very well setup and very well done, I just wish Ralph was the one who found that out instead of detective Wells who was a nothing character just an excuse to have Tom Cavanaugh on the show. Overall it’s a good season and the ending is legitimately sad where Nora dies and Thawne escapes it also sets up Crisis on Infinite Earths very well.

Fate C.

@fate_252 Apr 19, 2026

Season 1-4 was actually pretty good in my opinion despite the writing being a stretch of how do the hell did they come up with this. But season 5 through the rest of the series is actually so bad. WTV YOU DO, do not even try to keep watching this show bc you will only be disappointed. Stop at season 4 and do not look back, you will only being saving your energy, time, and love for the show.

Denis G

@DenisGVMtours Apr 10, 2026

Seasons 1–4: cheesy, fun, loveable. Season 5: forgetting your own rules and lack of logic. The writers apparently decided that the best way to defeat one villain is to time travel. A lot. More than 60 times... To find weapons, tricks, and elaborate schemes — anything except the blindingly obvious solution of travelling back JUST ONCE to prevent Cicada from becoming Cicada in the first place. They could just save him and the girl he cares for. Two birds, one stone. But no. Our heroes would rather kill the villain and leave a child in a coma without her only guardian, than attempt basic logic. And Nora… Every one of her appearances should be accompanied by Britney's track "Oops!... I Did It Again". At least it would be a bit funnier…

stefan C

@RT89536469 Jul 25, 2025

I like this season and i like Nora and godspeed! Cicada is an great villain but this story can told in 10 episodes😅

Esli M

@Esli9187 Jul 20, 2025

The suit and Nora just ruined the amazing thing season 4 was.

Null L

@ChefPepperJack Apr 13, 2025

This is when the show truly went downhill and turned painfully boring.

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David McWhirter

Director

Stefan Pleszczynski

Director

Gregory Smith

Director

Kevin Tancharoen

Director

Grant Gustin

Barry Allen

Candice Patton

Iris West

Episode 1

Aired Oct 9, 2018

Nora

After an unexpected guest from the future appears at their home, Barry and Iris must figure out how to get her back to the future without disrupting the timeline.

Details

Episode 2

Aired Oct 16, 2018

Blocked

Barry and Team Flash track down a meta that is stealing high-tech weapons, only to cross paths with a new foe named Cicada, who is hunting the very same meta, with nefarious intent.

Details

Episode 3

Aired Oct 23, 2018

The Death of Vibe

After Cicada's attack, the team realizes it needs to think outside the box to stop this dangerous new foe; Nora comes up with a plan that ultimately puts a team member in danger; Caitlin delves into her past.

Details

Episode 4

Aired Oct 30, 2018

News Flash

Barry and Iris face the ultimate parenting test when Team Flash battles Spin, a savvy millennial armed with meta tech and a dangerous agenda for Nora; Ralph feels defeated until an unlikely source issues a challenge to help boost his confidence.

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Episode 5

Aired Nov 13, 2018

All Doll'd Up

Nora lets something slip about the future that devastates Iris; in an attempt to distract his wife, Barry asks Iris to team up to stop a new meta, Rag Doll; Caitlin learns something about her father.

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Episode 6

Aired Nov 20, 2018

The Icicle Cometh

Caitlin, Barry and Cisco learn something new about Caitlin's father; Iris and Sherloque follow a clue about Cicada.

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Episode 7

Aired Nov 27, 2018

O Come, All Ye Thankful

Nora grapples with unresolved anger over her father's disappearance in the future; Barry and the team must stop a powerful new meta, Weather Witch, from killing her own father.

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Episode 8

Aired Dec 4, 2018

What's Past Is Prologue

Barry and the team come up with a plan to stop Cicada, but it calls for Barry and Nora to travel back in time to gather some key necessities; Barry hesitates, concerned about his daughter seeing certain parts of his life.

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Episode 9

Aired Dec 9, 2018

Elseworlds

When Barry and Oliver Queen wake up one morning and realize they have swapped bodies, the two set off to find out what disturbed the timeline to cause such a shift.

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Episode 10

Aired Jan 15, 2019

The Flash & The Furious

While Nora grapples with the revelation that Thawne killed her grandmother, Team Flash must stop Weather Witch and Silver Ghost, a new villain who can control engines and motorized technology; Caitlin and Cisco discuss creating a metahuman cure.

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Episode 11

Aired Jan 22, 2019

Seeing Red

During a battle with Cicada, Nora is severely injured; due to Cicada's dampening powers, Nora's speed healing isn't working; Barry and Iris are scared for their daughter's future; an enraged Flash confronts Cicada in a brutal battle.

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Episode 12

Aired Jan 29, 2019

Memorabilia

Sherloque wants to use a memory machine on Barry and Nora to help gain access to Grace's memories; Ralph tricks Cisco into going out for a night out on the town.

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Episode 13

Aired Feb 5, 2019

Goldfaced

Barry and Ralph must go undercover as criminals in an illegal black market to purchase a device that could help them stop Cicada; Iris investigates a lead on Cicada's whereabouts and ends up in a dangerous situation.

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Episode 14

Aired Feb 12, 2019

Cause and XS

After Iris lands in serious danger, Nora races to save her mother; Barry puts the finishing touches on the metahuman cure; Cisco gets a rare night off, and he decides to take Kamilla on a date.

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Episode 15

Aired Mar 5, 2019

King Shark vs. Gorilla Grodd

When Gorilla Grodd attacks Central City, Barry and friends find themselves teaming up with King Shark; when they hit a snag, they bring in Dr. Tanya Lamden to try to reach the man behind the shark.

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Episode 16

Aired Mar 12, 2019

Failure Is an Orphan

With the meta-human cure ready to use, Barry and the team must figure out a way to subdue Cicada long enough to take it; Killer Frost steps in to help with the plan; Joe eases back into work; Nora isn't happy about her dad's plans to stop Cicada.

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Episode 17

Aired Mar 19, 2019

Time Bomb

Team Flash finds out that suburban mom Vickie Bolen is in danger, and they race to save her; they discover she's a metahuman who is hiding her abilities from her family; Barry encourages Vickie to share her secret with her family.

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Episode 18

Aired Apr 16, 2019

Godspeed

After discovering that Nora is working with Thawne, Barry and Iris disagree about how to handle their daughter; Team Flash aren't sure they can trust Nora, so they go through her journal to find out how she came to work alongside their nemesis.

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Episode 19

Aired Apr 23, 2019

Snow Pack

When Icicle returns to enact the next phase of his devious plan, Caitlin and her mother must resolve their long-combative relationship to defeat the icy monster; Barry makes a big decision about their family without consulting Iris.

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Episode 20

Aired Apr 30, 2019

Gone Rogue

Barry continues to struggle with how he feels about Nora's betrayal; Brie Larvan, Joss Jackam and Peter Merkel return to Central City; Cisco makes a bold decision.

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Episode 21

Aired May 7, 2019

The Girl With the Red Lightning

Team Flash is on high alert after Cicada II threatens to unleash a dangerous virus that would put all meta-humans at risk.

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Episode 22

Aired May 14, 2019

Legacy

Barry faces off with his oldest and most formidable nemesis, Reverse Flash.

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