I just realized that my love for "The Flash" is simply mirroring my distaste for "Arrow".

"The Flash" has definitely become my favorite out of the two, for so many reasons and the second to last episode of this season definitely reinforces this.  There have been a few missteps, but overall, this season has been very, very good.

The thing about this show is that it does what "Arrow" can't as of late: make the audience care about the characters.  Also, Barry Allen has a support network that cares for him and watches his back.  I remember a time "Arrow" had this but their characters slowly became more and more ridiculous. The team at Star Labs (specifically Cisco and Harry) have grown and have become better, smarter and more fun.  Back in season 1, I didn't really care much for Iris but this season, she has grown into a much interesting character and I would love to see her and Barry finally get together. It works. Kudos to the writing staff for developing everyone incredibly well.

Another part worth mentioning is how incredibly FUN the show is.  There are dark moments but it's only complimented by how lighthearted some parts are. Barry runs, saves the day and we applaud his optimism and his heroism. He gets a win and it's wonderful. We cheer and we laugh. On the flip side, that's not to say the moments overcast by shadow aren't good but are gut-wrenching and emotionally powerful.  When Barry flies high and smiles, the tragic moments are not far behind and when they come, it hits HARD. It's fantastic.

However, the second season had a few questionable moments, choices and episodes, as well as the casting of some characters (Wally and Jay), as well as stretching out stories instead of making things more streamlined and compact. The show could easily be shortened to 13 episodes rather than then the robust 23. After a while, it feels exhausting. However, after a bit of a drag, it gets right back into it and continues on raise the bar yet again.

While it can NEVER be like "Arrow" it's still worth pointing out that "The Flash" can't have lightning strike twice. It can however, manage to amaze and dazzle us in the majority of their storytelling. It works hard to not only please the comic book fans but people who enjoy good TV.

I look forward to the season finale with anticipation and await the next season eagerly.

Yup.

I'm at the point where I can no longer stand by and be quiet about how atrocious the TV show, "Arrow" has become. The sad part is? I LOVED the first two seasons.  God, WHAT HAPPENED?

Actually. I know what happened.

Everyone gave up.

Well, not EVERYONE, but it sure feels like the writers, some of the actors, the producers and even the network have refused to make this show great again. Everyone is going through the motions.

When the show first came out, I was skeptical, but soon I found that I enjoyed it. By all accounts, being a CW show and full of beautifully sculpted people, I shouldn't have cared but I was ENTHRALLED and it was all surprisingly compelling. Good acting and writing made this DC adaptation something special. At least for the first two seasons, everything was crafted beautifully.

But now, the cracks are REALLY starting to show. It started in Season 3 when they introduced Ras (Raish or RAZ or Raygon or however it's pronounced in every other episode) and the whole "Batman with a bow and arrow" was now in full swing and they weren't even trying to make Ollie different. The long 20 something episode season was REALLY starting to drag.  The introduction of the far superior show, "The Flash" certainly didn't help either.

All these factors and probably a dozen different reasons have been contributed to Arrow's downward spiral. And also "Daredevil" doing the whole "tortured hero" and amazing action sequences better. Probably. Most likely.

Now in Season 4, probably the worst season ever, it's tragic. Not in a compelling story-telling way but tragic like, why are they even doing this show anymore. Since the introduction of the main baddie, Damien Daaahrk (played by Neal McDonough who had previous played an unhinged baddie on "Justified" WAY better) it's become almost a farce. It's like how can this show get worse, but then it gets worse.  The acting. The writing. The overall production value. Everything that made the show great initially have become its weakest aspects. There are episodes that I now and I think to myself, "this show has lost its mind." Minute by minute, the plot lines, arcs and characters are becoming ridiculous and bad decisions are being made ALL THE TIME.

Maybe I'm being too hard on the show. Maybe, as I mentioned before, I've grown closer to "The Flash" and realized that yes, "Daredevil" has started doing things better. Like the fight sequences. More brutality and grit and less stupidity and kinetic silliness.

Or maybe it is just that bad. Why am I still watching it? Oh right. In case the Flash shows up. Or whatever.

At least it's not "Gotham" and hey, the CW is getting "Supergirl".

Yay?