<P> The Flash is an American superhero television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns, airing on The CW . It is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash, a costumed superhero crime - fighter with the power to move at superhuman speeds . It is a spin - off from Arrow, existing in the same fictional universe . The series follows Allen, portrayed by Grant Gustin, a crime scene investigator who gains super-human speed, which he uses to fight criminals, including others who have also gained superhuman abilities . </P> <P> Initially envisioned as a backdoor pilot, the positive reception Gustin received during two appearances as Barry on Arrow led to executives choosing to develop a full pilot to make use of a larger budget and help flesh out Barry's world in more detail . Colleen Atwood, costume designer for Arrow, was brought in to design the Flash's suit . The creative team wanted to make sure that the Flash would resemble his comic book counterpart, and not simply be a poor imitation . The series is primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada . </P> <P> The Flash premiered in North America on October 7, 2014, where the pilot became the second-most watched premiere in the history of The CW, after The Vampire Diaries in 2009 . It has been well received by critics and audiences, and won the People's Choice Award for "Favorite New TV Drama" in 2014 . The series, together with Arrow, has spun characters out to their own show, Legends of Tomorrow, which premiered on January 21, 2016 . On April 2, 2018, The CW renewed the series for a fifth season, which is set to premiere on October 9, 2018 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs to be updated . Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . (June 2018) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

When did the first episode of the flash come out