11 Years Later, The Flash's "Out Of Time" Is Still The Greatest Moment In DC TV History

Published Aug 31, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.

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DC Comics has many great television moments, but The Flash’s best episode is still the best 11 years later. The comic book production companies, Marvel and DC, have been competitors for decades. While the former has found its success on the big screen, the latter shines the most on television, both in live action and animation. The MCU has had a few shining shows, and a couple of theatrical DC movies have been hits in recent decades. However, by and large, the two remain siloed in success.

Some of the best DC television episodes from the past include “The Trickster” from the 1990s version of The Flash and “Hi Diddle Riddle” from the 1966 Batman show. John Wesley Shipp and Adam West are DC legends for a good reason. More recent strong points include “Divided We Fall” from Justice League Unlimited and “A Great or Little Thing” from The Penguin.

However, credit where credit’s due, the Arrowverse helped popularize DC with mainstream audiences, and it has episodes better than the live-action DC movies and all the other episodes on this list. It’s undeniable that the CW franchise has inconsistent quality, but it was truly remarkable at its best. The pilot and finale of Superman & Lois are genius. As is “Lian Yu” from Arrow season 5. By far, the number one most impressive DC TV moment comes from The Flash, starring Grant Gustin. From its writing to its cinematography, “Out of Time” is an absolute masterclass in superhero television.

The Flash’s “Out Of Time” Is Masterfully Written

Image via MovieStillsDB

There’s so much to love about The Flash’s “Out of Time,” and the biggest strength is the screenwriting. The episode combines pulse-quickening action, high-stakes threats, and emotional storytelling. The pacing is quick but consistent, never feeling rushed. What’s more, the dialogue doesn’t include anything cheesy or out of character. The Flash season 1’s episode “Out of Time” is also the perfect example of a story in which every single scene contributes to its success. Plenty of TV episodes use filler, but I can’t think of a single scene that could be cut out of “Out of Time” without it impacting the story.

Each scene has at least one, if not more, purpose within the narrative, even if it doesn’t seem so at first glance. For instance, Cisco and Wells watching Christmas movies together could be written off as filler, but it actually shows the almost familial bond they share, which is the backbone of their interaction at the end of “Out of Time.” Similarly, the bowling scene with Iris and Eddie and Barry and Linda needs to occur so that Iris’s romantic confession at the end makes more sense.

John Wesley Shipp, who played the Flash in the 1990s TV show, took on the role of Henry Allen in the Arrowverse's The Flash TV show.

“Out of Time” also makes the bold choice to drastically change existing relationship dynamics by the end, but each outcome feels earned. Linda figures out that Iris has feelings for Barry. Caitlin Snow develops a mistrust of Harrison Wells. Barry and Iris kiss, and she learns he’s the Flash. Cisco discovers that Eobard Thawne disguised as Harrison Wells is the Reverse Flash. Then, Thawne brutally kills Cisco.

The story brilliantly foreshadows the ending of The Flash’s “Out of Time” in more than one way. Barry seeing a copy of himself early in the episode hints that he will accidentally time travel. As mentioned, the bowling date hints at the confession of love. Wells’ comment about the Christmas movie being from “before his time” doesn’t seem strange at first glance because they’re watching a really old movie. However, it’s also foreshadowing that Wells is actually Thawne, who’s from the future.

The only major downfall of the story is that Iris is a bit insufferable in this The Flash episode. Unlike many fans of The Flash, I’m not an Iris hater overall. However, I do find it a bit immature for her to be touchy-feely towards someone else’s boyfriend while Iris is in front of her own boyfriend. Plus, she has a catty attitude about Linda when speaking to Barry. I don’t really care if she’s jealous. That’s still unnecessary. That said, Iris's unlikability here feels more like a reflection of the character's flaws than of the episode.

“Out Of Time” Builds The Suspense & Tension

Another positive of The Flash’s “Out of Time” is the ability to build suspense and tension in a multitude of ways. The opening scene captures the audience’s attention with an action-filled flashback of Clyde and Mark Mardon flying a dinky little plane through a thunderstorm as the particle accelerator explodes. From there, “Out of Time” has a strong ebb and flow. The lower tension moments make the suspenseful scenes more impactful. A few key details, like the empty wheelchair and the facial expression as Cisco passes Mark Mardon in the elevator, make this even more true.

The investigation into Harrison Wells also adds a layer of suspense, as the audience already knows he is the Reverse Flash, but none of the other characters do. The characters in The Flash may not know that Harrison Wells is Eobard Thawne, but they recognize that he’s extremely intelligent. They have to be extremely careful with their words and behaviors around him. I found myself holding my breath when Caitlin was with him, even though they were in public.

On top of that, the threat wasn’t simply someone robbing a bank or someone breaking into a science lab. That’s small potatoes. “Out of Time” is much bigger than that. By the end of the episode, one man has been kidnapped, another has been paralyzed, and a third has been murdered. What’s more, there’s a personal element motivating Barry because Mark Mardon has Joe. However, the bigger picture is that a tsunami created by Weather Wizard would destroy all of Central City. Barry has to make snap judgments as Mark Mardon creates a ticking time bomb.

Tom Cavanagh and Carlos Valdes Gave Phenomenal Performances In An A+ Scene

“Out of Time” could easily tie with other DC TV moments for the “best” title, but the scene between Tom Cavanagh’s Eobard Thawne and Carlos Valdes’ Cisco Ramon pushes it over the line. The scene is a career-best moment for both actors, and it’s without a doubt the best part of the entire Arrowverse. Nothing even comes close.

Valdes has incredible control over his microexpressions, making Cisco’s emotions feel deeper and more nuanced. Rather than simply being scared, he looks confused, frightened, and dismayed. It’s particularly hard to watch him cry, as it feels devastatingly real. Meanwhile, Cavanagh delivers his lines with a chilling and cold detachment. The only time he shows a glimmer of emotion is when he says, “In many ways, you have shown me what it’s like to have a son.” It’s just a small flicker. However, that spark is completely stamped out by his follow-up, “Forgive me, but to me, you’ve been dead for centuries.”

The camerawork is especially important to the success of this scene. Rather than remaining stagnant, at least half the scene includes movement. The arc shot, used when Thawne is walking around Cisco, creates a disorienting, almost claustrophobic feeling. It leaves the impression that Cisco can’t possibly escape Thawne. They also use tight close-up framing to enhance the emotional impact.

Rather than shooting straight-on, the scene frequently uses low-angle shots and high-angle shots. The former makes Eobard feel bigger and more menacing, while the latter makes Cisco feel smaller. Ultimately, each of these choices contributes not only to the success of the scene but also to the overall episode of The Flash.

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  Barry Allen / The Flash

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  Khione