The season 2 premier of the Flash seems ages ago. I remember the season starting off with an angsty and angry Barry (Grant Gustin), who quickly regained the companionship of his friends. From there it took off to introduce you to Jay (Teddy Sears) and Patty (Shantel VanSanten). After that, I don’t remember much.
All I know is that the Flash is headed down a path of failure and a loss of viewers. Raise your hands if you are completely frazzled by the constant hiatuses the show is taking xbox one amazon. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that constant three week breaks between episodes does not help anyone to understand their intricate plot this season.
The concepts and characters that are introduced are extremely interesting, and I won’t lie and say that the subplots aren’t well crafted titanfall 2 multiplayer. However, the fact that they aren’t crafted together all that well, really bothers me. Another thing is that I can’t get over the ambiguous disappearance of Patty, and how every time something weird or crazy happens, I feel like Patty will reappear (I think it’s common for love interests to suddenly reappear when the protagonist needs re-inspiration, or in this case, when the timeline is reset), but she never shows up and I’m so damn disappointed. I don’t understand why writers throw in a character like Patty, who is obviously so critical, and then she just disappears off the face of the Earth.
Patty’s disappearance makes me feel like the writers are trying to go for some ‘out-of-the-box’ writing style. Like instead of being so in love with Barry and choosing to stay, she thinks for herself and goes out to study what she’s passionate about. But then again, I feel like the love story thing should be reset soon after for it to feel continuous and sensible, rather than in season 4 or something arbitrary like that (I have a horrible gut feeling that this is where the writing is going).
Also, now that the time line got reset in Episode 17 – “Flash Back” where Barry goes back in time to seek advice from his past mentor, Dr. Wells/Eobard Thawne, I feel like Patty will reappear. This is on of my main hopes for the upcoming unblock sites in pakistan Episode 18 – “Versus Zoom”, airing on April 19th. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to have ended up staying because of some event in the new timeline.
The one thing that bothers me the most about Patty and the writing in this season is that while there is a frequent change in subplot as each episode airs, the one thing that was consistent was Patty. She served as an inspiration, and an additional plot that viewers could follow in contrast to the ever changing course of villains. With the constant intense plots that are introduced with each episode, it’s hard to get a grasp on Barry and his emotions. You feel that he’s repeatedly throwing on his Flash suit and running into danger without a reality check.
For any character, it’s important that while they are constantly presented with new conflicts, they have a long-term personal goal that they have to keep working at. Defeating Zoom is Barry’s long-term goal for the season, but that’s not an entirely personal endeavor unblocked games at school. In order to fully witness and experience Barry Allen, it’s essential that you see a side of him that’s working towards achieving something that he is personally passionate about. Bringing Patty back into the show as a captive of Zoom or seasons later will not help the lack of flow in Barry’s personal inspiration plot.
Hopefully, the writers will bring Patty back in time for Barry to become reinvested with something other than Team Flash shenanigans. Last season, we got to see Barry overcome his long-time questions regarding his mom and dad, now it’s time that Barry is given something else to pursue alongside his vigilante-given duties. Tune into the CW this Tuesday 8/7c to find out what direction the Scarlett Speedster is headed in this week.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Sunday, December 13, 2015
The Flash: Danielle Panabaker and Andrew Kreisberg Talk Firestorm and Killer Frost
This week’s episode of The Flash
is called “The Fury of Firestorm.” As the title hints, the issues
facing Dr. Stein (Victor Garber) are at the forefront, as Barry Allen
and his team search for a new match for their ailing friend, who has
been showing increasing physical side effects since the death of his
“other half”, Ronnie Raymond.
“The Fury of Firestorm” introduces Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Attack the Block’s Franz Drameh), who will be a part of the upcoming spinoff, Legends of Tomorrow (as will Garber). However, while Jax seems like a candidate to merge with Stein to become Firestorm, Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) has some notable reservations.
This is highly personal for Caitlin, of course,
because she was married to Ronnie, and Panabaker remarked, “I think
that’s what’s especially hard for Caitlin, and maybe ultimately
cathartic about this experience, is she’s so connected to Stein and
cares so deeply about him and for him because he is this last connection
to Ronnie. So she’s particularly invested in taking care of him and
getting it right and not messing this up and making sure that his next
partner is just as good, if not better, than Ronnie was.”
The Flash executive producer Andrew Kreisberg had high praise for Panabaker, saying, “I thought she was amazing in this episode. As always in any ensemble, some shows are more about one character than the other, and even though we did have the episode where Ronnie died and moved past it, as Danielle said, this was the episode where she kind of dealt with it.”
He added, “Because it’s The Flash and it’s science-fiction, she can grieve through wanting to protect her dead husband’s co-superhero. And we thought Danielle was just… this episode makes me cry, especially at the end.”
Panabaker in turn spoke very fondly of Garber, who is now filming Legends of Tomorrow. “I have such love for Victor and we’re so lucky to have him; saying goodbye to him - I’m gonna tear up right now! - knowing he’s going off to do [Legends], it’s sad. We miss him!”
Said Kreisberg, “That’s the thing that you can never count on about a show, about why it works or why it doesn’t - all those scenes, it’s all genuine." He added, “I think that’s what’s really special about The Flash. Everybody on the show, the characters really care about each other but the actors do too and that really shines through, and I think that’s why the audience has become so invested in them.
It’s also why the audience is willing to go on these Earth-2s and doppelgangers and all that nonsense - it’s not nonsense, I love it! - but it’s because you’re so invested in the characters you’ll watch them go through anything, because you know you’re experiencing with them emotionally.”
Of
course, Flash fans are eager to see how and when Caitlin will transform
into her comic book alter ego, the villain Killer Frost - especially
after we got a glimpse of Killer Frost in The Flash: Season 1 finale, as
Barry ran through his past, present and future.
Matching, if not surpassing, fan enthusiasm is Panabaker, who exclaimed, "I’m so excited for Killer Frost! I can’t wait!" Kreisberg laughed, noting how happy Panabaker was the one day she was in costume for the finale and recalling, "She looked so incredibly scary and she was going ‘Don’t I look great? Don’t I look awful?!’"
That being said, it didn't sound like Killer Frost is going to be directly introduced very soon - but Kreisberg stressed that didn't mean they don't have a plan, noting, "Greg [Berlanti] and I and Marc Guggenheim and everybody who works on both shows [Arrow and Flash], we’ve been so blessed with the success that we’ve had that we’ve been able to… A lot of things we’ve done, we’ve rushed and we’ve rushed through them and we’ve gotten to them very fast. But because of the success that we’ve had, we’ve been able to know that we’re going to be on for a years and we were able to play some things the sort of slow con [way] on some of these things. Just because one thing is happening fast, it doesn’t mean that something else is never going to happen, it just means that it’s being platformed. Sometimes you guys realize that these things are being set up [or] it’s only in hindsight that you look back and you go, ‘That thing in episode whatever from early Season 2, that tied to the thing that led to the other thing’ There are plans for a lot of this stuff."
“The Fury of Firestorm” introduces Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Attack the Block’s Franz Drameh), who will be a part of the upcoming spinoff, Legends of Tomorrow (as will Garber). However, while Jax seems like a candidate to merge with Stein to become Firestorm, Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) has some notable reservations.
The Flash executive producer Andrew Kreisberg had high praise for Panabaker, saying, “I thought she was amazing in this episode. As always in any ensemble, some shows are more about one character than the other, and even though we did have the episode where Ronnie died and moved past it, as Danielle said, this was the episode where she kind of dealt with it.”
He added, “Because it’s The Flash and it’s science-fiction, she can grieve through wanting to protect her dead husband’s co-superhero. And we thought Danielle was just… this episode makes me cry, especially at the end.”
Panabaker in turn spoke very fondly of Garber, who is now filming Legends of Tomorrow. “I have such love for Victor and we’re so lucky to have him; saying goodbye to him - I’m gonna tear up right now! - knowing he’s going off to do [Legends], it’s sad. We miss him!”
Said Kreisberg, “That’s the thing that you can never count on about a show, about why it works or why it doesn’t - all those scenes, it’s all genuine." He added, “I think that’s what’s really special about The Flash. Everybody on the show, the characters really care about each other but the actors do too and that really shines through, and I think that’s why the audience has become so invested in them.
It’s also why the audience is willing to go on these Earth-2s and doppelgangers and all that nonsense - it’s not nonsense, I love it! - but it’s because you’re so invested in the characters you’ll watch them go through anything, because you know you’re experiencing with them emotionally.”
Danielle Panabaker as Killer Frost in The Flash: Season 1 finale.
Matching, if not surpassing, fan enthusiasm is Panabaker, who exclaimed, "I’m so excited for Killer Frost! I can’t wait!" Kreisberg laughed, noting how happy Panabaker was the one day she was in costume for the finale and recalling, "She looked so incredibly scary and she was going ‘Don’t I look great? Don’t I look awful?!’"
That being said, it didn't sound like Killer Frost is going to be directly introduced very soon - but Kreisberg stressed that didn't mean they don't have a plan, noting, "Greg [Berlanti] and I and Marc Guggenheim and everybody who works on both shows [Arrow and Flash], we’ve been so blessed with the success that we’ve had that we’ve been able to… A lot of things we’ve done, we’ve rushed and we’ve rushed through them and we’ve gotten to them very fast. But because of the success that we’ve had, we’ve been able to know that we’re going to be on for a years and we were able to play some things the sort of slow con [way] on some of these things. Just because one thing is happening fast, it doesn’t mean that something else is never going to happen, it just means that it’s being platformed. Sometimes you guys realize that these things are being set up [or] it’s only in hindsight that you look back and you go, ‘That thing in episode whatever from early Season 2, that tied to the thing that led to the other thing’ There are plans for a lot of this stuff."
'Flash' EP and Danielle Panabaker Talk Firestorm 2.0, Killer Frost, and More
When Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) falls ill, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and his S.T.A.R. Labs scientists must find a replacement for his metahuman partner Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell), who died last season saving the city.
After a screening of the flame-filled, emotionally charged episode -– titled "The Fury of Firestorm" –- Moviefone spoke to "Flash" co-showrunner Andrew Kreisberg and star Danielle Panabaker, who plays Dr. Caitlin Snow, Ronnie's crestfallen widow. The two of discussed the new-look Firestorm and also teased several big moments from later on in the season, including the emergence of Killer Frost, the upcoming "Arrow" crossover, and the return of everyone's favorite villain -– Grodd.
1. Firestorm 2.0 Will Be Hilarious
When Ronnie died saving Central City, he left behind a grieving bride in Snow and an incomplete superhero in Dr. Stein. This week, Stein's needs are more pressing as his health fails him and we learn he must "merge" with another metahuman to survive. Flash and friends sift through several candidates to replace Ronnie, including an ambitious scientist Henry Hewitt (Demore Barnes) and a former athlete Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Franz Drameh).
Mild spoiler alert that has already been widely reported: Jax will win the job.
Dr. Stein and Jax have zero in common, but as Kreisberg explains, that's by design. Juxtaposing the "radically different" characters "leaves more room for comedy with the Firestorm character," he said. Now we can look forward to more quip-based humor from Firestorm, especially after the character migrates over to The CW's upcoming spinoff "DC's Legends of Tomorrow."
2. What Does Ronnie Getting Replaced Mean for Caitlin?
Dr. Snow is a focal point of Tuesday's episode because the search for a new Firestorm is essentially a quest to close the book on Ronnie. As sad as that sounds, Panabaker believes it could be an important step forward for her character.
"What's especially hard for Caitlin, and maybe ultimately cathartic about this experience, is that she's connected to Stein and she cares deeply about him because he is her last connection to Ronnie," she explained. "So she's particularly invested in taking care of Stein... and making sure his next partner is... just as good if not better than Ronnie."
"This was really the episode where [Caitlin] kind of dealt with [Ronnie's death]. She can grieve through wanting to protect her dead husband's co-superhero," Kreisberg added. "This episode makes me cry."
3. Does This Have Anything to Do With Her Killer Frost Transition?
So, will she suffer another tragedy? Is Killer Frost actually Caitlin Snow's doppelganger from the alternate universe that has come into play this season? Universe? Or is there some other explanation? Kreisberg wouldn't say for certain, but he did imply that he and co-showrunner Greg Berlanti has been laying a foundation for Killer Frost's arc for quite some time:
"We knew we [the show was] going to be on for a few years, [so] we were able to play the slow con on some of these things," Kreisberg said. "It's only in hindsight that you look back and go, 'Oh, that thing in episode whatever from early Season 2, that tied into the thing that led into the other thing."
Hmmm. Mystery still unsolved.
4. Dr. Stein Gets a Weird 'Vibe' From Cisco
"[Cisco] has seen what happens to the other metahumans," Kreisberg said. "Good or bad intentions, they all go nuts and get locked up. So Cisco is really scared."
Furthermore, Cisco must deal with his disappointment over the nature of his vague powers: "It's not like he woke up and can fly," Kreisberg said. "So he feels like he drew the short straw. 'Barry gets super-speed, Ronnie gets to fly, and I get these blinding headache and nightmare visions of people being killed?' It's not, at first blush, the most heroic way to step into the world."
5. Looking Ahead... Is Jaytlin Really a Thing?
Dr. Snow's heart was broken after Ronnie sacrificed himself at the end of last season, but over six months have passed since his heroic death and already we're seeing signs that she may soon be ready to move on. We've seen sparks between her and newcomer/alternate universe Flash Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) – could there be a legitimate romance in their future? All signs point to yes.
"Obviously there's something going on there," Kreisberg said.
Panabaker is shipping Jaytlin, too: "He's a fellow science nerd. What could be better for Caitlin?"
6. The Mother of All 'Arrow'/'Flash' Crossovers Is Coming
When "Arrow" and "The Flash" crossover this winter, they won't just be trading characters for a week, they'll be setting the stage for "Legends of Tomorrow."
Panabaker revealed that, because of the new show, this season's crossover episodes would be "exponentially bigger." Kreisberg agreed: "We looked back and thought those 'Flash'/'Arrow' episodes were the biggest things we'd ever done, but now we have more heroes, more villains, more mouths to feed – it's really exciting."
It won't just be the character pool that changes, either -– fans can also expect a shift in tone. "The 'Flash' episode plays more like an episode of 'Arrow,' and the 'Arrow' episode plays more like an episode of 'Flash,'" Kreisberg added.
7. Grodd's Return: Caitlin Will Be His Fay Wray
Gorilla Grodd, a fan favorite villain from "The Flash's" freshman season, is coming back this year in a big way. According to Kreisberg and Panabaker, the telepathic primate's return may inspire comparisons to the 1933 film "King Kong".
"Caitlin plays ['King Kong' starlet] Fay Wray to Grodd's Kong," he explained.
"[Grodd] has some unfinished business with her," Panabaker added.
8. The Big Regret Form Season One
"The Flash" scored big with both audiences and critics last season, but Kreisberg admitted there's still one thing he wishes he could go back and change: "The one thing we didn't do last year on ' The Flash,' and I keep kicking myself for it, is when Oliver got exposed as the Arrow. There was no mention of Flash for all those episodes about everything Oliver Queen was going through," he said. "For me, it's like they're all friends, they all know each other's secret identities, and they all care for each other – you'd think somebody would've said something about it."
However, this season the writers have been more vigilant about "honoring the fact that they're all in each other's life." "That's why we acknowledged Oliver's change into Green Arrow on 'The Flash,'" he said.
9. Batman Who?
Green Arrow and the Flash are a part of the Justice League, a crime-fighting super group that includes Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. DC Comics fans are naturally fond of speculating when and where those other big named heroes might rear their heads, but Kreisberg says the writers aren't focused on shoehorning them into their shows.
"We've gotten to do Green Arrow, Ra's al Ghul, the League of Assassins, Deathstroke, Flash, Killer Frost, and Vibe; now we're doing 'Legends' and Rip Hunter; we have Constantine coming on to 'Arrow'; and we have 'Supergirl.'" he said with a laugh. "So it's not like we're sitting there saying, 'God dammit, why won't they give us Batman?'"
In fact, he said the writers prefer developing lesser-known characters: "It's a lot more fun to show people that [viewers] haven't constantly seen."
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Danielle Panabaker Talks THE FLASH's Six Month Time Jump & Teases 'Killer Frost'
The much-anticipated return of The Flash is right around the corner, and a few of the cast attended a DragonCon panel this weekend. While there, star Danielle Panabaker discussed Season 2's time-jump, and when Caitlin could become the villainous 'Killer Frost'...
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The Flash: First Look At Danielle Panabaker As Killer Frost
During tonight's brilliant season finale of The Flash viewers got to see past events in the Scarlet Speedster's life when he traveled within the Speed Force as well as revealing future events. One being, our first look at Doctor Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) as the supervillain Killer Frost.
Was that just an easter egg for the finale or will the show revisit that storyline down the road? "Yeah, now that people have seen the finale, there were some things we’re letting happen faster than people are expecting and there are other things we’re slow playing," executive producer Andrew Kreisberg told Entertainment Weekly. "That’s the fun for us as writers, but hopefully for the audience too, that especially with characters like Caitlin and Cisco (Carlos Valdes), there is a certain level of expectation after we very specifically gave them the names we gave them and how that’s going to turn out. You’ve got Wells telling Cisco that he was affected, but when we saw in the speed force, we saw Caitlin really and truly affected. Whether that happens next year or the year after that, we’ll have to wait and see what the speed force tells us to do."
Snow eventually becomes Killer Frost, a villain with ice-based powers. She has connections to H.I.V.E., an organization that's been referenced in Arrow, and is most closely associated with the hero Firestorm, whose stepmother in the comics was Felicity Smoak, a regular character on Arrow.
Check out Caitlin as Killer Frost in the images below.
The Flash will return with new episode this fall.
Jessica Jones: It’s Time to Learn Her Name
When Marvel announced that it would be putting out several series on Netflix about street-level heroes, they told us who we’d be getting: Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones. And as I tried to force everyone I know to be just as excited as I was, whenever I reached the name Jessica Jones (to be played by Krysten Ritter), I was given a single overwhelming response:
“Who?”
With her thirteen-episode Netflix series by showrunner Melissa Rosenberg coming out in November, and my moral compulsion to tell people about good comics, I’ve decided, fine—I’ll tell you who Jessica Jones is.
In her short history of publication, a lot has happened to Jessica Jones. She gets married to Luke Cage (to be played by Mike Colter), they have a baby (who practically all the Avengers babysit), she and Luke run an Avengers team, and they fight off an alien invasion! But for this article, and keeping in mind what the show will be about, I’ll focus on the early days of Jessica Jones.
It makes sense that so few people know about Jessica. She is not of the Stan Lee golden-era of classic heroes. She’s just over a decade old, and debuted in a less than mainstream series.
In 2001, writer Brian Michael Bendis (of Ultimate Spider-Manfame) pitched a new series: a gritty, down-to-earth private detective comic, starring a former superhero who walked away from the life in tights. At first it was going to be an out-of-continuity miniseries, starring Spider-Woman Jessica Drew (who would indeed appear in a later Alias arc).
But, deciding he wanted to create something all his own, Bendis promptly changed the last name in his scripts. The wonderful watercolours of David Mack made up the covers and artist Michael Gaydos filled the interiors of Jessica’s world.
Thus, Jessica Jones was born!
Jessica begins as a normal kid, attending Midtown High alongside Peter Parker, who she has a crush on but never works up the nerve to speak to. Then, she is in a car accident—her family hits a truck carrying the trademarked radioactive waste that always activates superpowers in comics. Her family is killed. After a year-long coma, Jessica survives. Gifted with flight, durability, and super strength, Jessica briefly tries her hand as a costumed superhero called Jewel. But after a scarring event, she gives it all up.
As a private detective, Jessica takes on clients who often hire her to find a loved one or to spy on a spouse. She makes a living. She smokes, she swears, and sometimes she drinks too much. She is disillusioned with both the system and the world she lives in. Police resent her for her former superhero lifestyle; heroes hate her for giving it up. Jessica hates most of them because she thinks they’re awful.
This is how we first meet Jessica Jones. She’s angry, she’s unhappy, and she’s carrying a lot of baggage that she doesn’t like to face. She’s self-destructive, and has a bit of self-hatred. She’s not a superhero. She doesn’t throw herself at muggers or race into burning buildings.
But she does her job. Each time Jessica is given a case, she is thrown into a world of dangerous people and people in danger. But underneath all her pathos, her messed-up sense of self, her cynicism, and her bad language, Jessica can’t help but get sucked into other people’s problems. Ultimately, she is an empathetic, moral person—and a hero.
In a great crossover moment, she’s hired to be Matt Murdock’s bodyguard when he is publicly outed as Daredevil (the comicDaredevil was also written by Bendis at the time). There’s also a time when J. Jonah Jameson hires her to find out who Spider-Man is, and she spends weeks billing him while she feeds the homeless and doesn’t bother to investigate… because Jessica Jones is amazing.
Far away from the fantastical epics of the Avengers or the X-Men, Jessica’s world is that of a noir detective drama, infused with superpowers and a heavy dose of humanity. I think the story that truly best illustrates what made Alias such a special book also happens to be the only case that takes Jessica outside of New York.
Alias issues eleven through fourteen tell the four-part story, “ReBeCCa, PLeaSe CoMe HoMe”. Jessica is hired by single mother in small-town New York to find her missing child.
Some claim her alcoholic father kidnapped her; others don’t know what to think. But as Jessica continues her investigations, a single uniform rumour about the missing Rebecca begins to emerge: Rebecca has run away from home because she is a mutant.
This is a story in which Jessica tackles the horrible reality of how bigotry still holds its place in the modern world. Its greatest moment is when Jessica confronts a priest as he gives a sermon filled with hate speech against mutants. It really says something about the nature of this book and its character that it tackles the mutant metaphor of oppression and persecution better than most X-Men books.
But Jessica is by no means a perfect character. In a way, Alias is a book about someone suffering from depression and PTSD, caused by her short time as a costumed hero and the abuse she suffered at the hands of the mind-controlling villain, The Purple Man (to be played by David Tennant). In the end, however, Jessica manages to beat The Purple Man and begins to make an effort to fight her inner demons as well.
Alias starts with Jessica punching a man through her front door and getting far too drunk, but ends with her beating the bad guy and making a stab at happiness.
Hers is a crass, brutal, and blunt story. It is about the importance of having friends, standing up for what one believes in, and how to love oneself. It is a great story. So, if you have any time between now and November, I’d suggest picking it up and reading it. Then on November 20, please join me in binge-watching all thirteen episodes of Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix! (Viewer discretion is advised.)
The Flash Star Danielle Panabaker on Acting in CW's Hit Superhero Series
These questions originally appeared on Quora: The best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Answers by Danielle Panabaker, Actress (The Flash)
What are the pros and cons between acting in a television series vs. a movie?
It is an exciting time to be an actor. The industry, alongside technology, is changing rapidly. There are so many sources for content, but in my opinion, television has some of the best, most innovative and challenging material right now (I feel that way both as an actor, but also as a consumer - there is just so much amazing television right now!). Television also offers a variety of quality material at all different levels.
For me, television is especially appealing because it is much more consistent work, especially as a regular on a show. With movies, you're constantly hopping from one to another, often in different locations. In television, like on The Flash, we shoot in Vancouver so I can predict where I'll be for nine months out of the year!
Creatively, it's fun to grow with a character on television. In film, you already know the full arc of the story and character when you start. With television, the character is (hopefully!) growing and changing. Each script brings an opportunity to move forward and evolve based on the previous episodes.
The cons of television are that you can be limited by budget and/or the time in which you have to tell your story. For example, We only have eight or nine days to shoot each episode of The Flash, and that includes all the stunts and special effects, so we often shoot 14 hours a day. That said, I think I am superbly lucky in the commitment The Flash team has made to create special effects which are movie-quality. Another challenge, particularly on a new TV show, is that we have a new director every week. In film, it is important to trust the director and his vision; in television, the director is often a guest on the show and not as familiar with the material as the actors might be.
Creatively, it's fun to grow with a character on television. In film, you already know the full arc of the story and character when you start. With television, the character is (hopefully!) growing and changing. Each script brings an opportunity to move forward and evolve based on the previous episodes.
The cons of television are that you can be limited by budget and/or the time in which you have to tell your story. For example, We only have eight or nine days to shoot each episode of The Flash, and that includes all the stunts and special effects, so we often shoot 14 hours a day. That said, I think I am superbly lucky in the commitment The Flash team has made to create special effects which are movie-quality. Another challenge, particularly on a new TV show, is that we have a new director every week. In film, it is important to trust the director and his vision; in television, the director is often a guest on the show and not as familiar with the material as the actors might be.
What is it like to portray a comic book character in film or television?
It's great on a number of different levels. On the one hand, with The Flash, we are so lucky to have a built-in audience that knows the DC universe and is excited to see it translated onto the screen. Comic book fans have a passion for the material that I think is unparalleled, and that in turn translates into a loyal and engaged audience, which is so rewarding for performers.
Additionally, the very nature of comic books is one in which the rules of the universe do not necessarily apply. As an artist and a fan, that allows for action which, for lack of a better term, is just plain awesome. Not only can The Flash run like he can, but our universe is one in which someone can multiply themselves, can turn into mist...It is a universe in which the incredible is not only possible, but credible, and that is just so much fun for me as a fan of the material.
My hope is that The Flash team's passion for the material and respect for the underlying universe is something that comes through in the final material. Selfishly, being part of a comic book world just makes work so much fun so I consider myself very lucky to be working in the medium.
Additionally, the very nature of comic books is one in which the rules of the universe do not necessarily apply. As an artist and a fan, that allows for action which, for lack of a better term, is just plain awesome. Not only can The Flash run like he can, but our universe is one in which someone can multiply themselves, can turn into mist...It is a universe in which the incredible is not only possible, but credible, and that is just so much fun for me as a fan of the material.
My hope is that The Flash team's passion for the material and respect for the underlying universe is something that comes through in the final material. Selfishly, being part of a comic book world just makes work so much fun so I consider myself very lucky to be working in the medium.
How much can you relate to the role of Caitlin Snow in The Flash?
I've come to love Caitlin Snow so much over the past few months. One of the biggest things we have in common is our passion for our work. She's so devoted to Dr. Wells and his mission at Star Labs that she returns to work with him, even after the particle accelerator explodes. She is also very comfortable in a job that is largely male-dominated - often times its 3 against 1 in Star Labs! I love my co-stars and am totally comfortable around them as well.
Will we see Caitlin Snow make a cameo on the TV series Arrow, similar to Felicity Smoak showing up on The Flash?
Yes! We're very lucky to share producers (and film studios!) with Arrow, so there's lots of opportunities for crossovers! The first time Caitlin Snow appeared on television was actually episode 19 of the second season of Arrow. Cisco and Caitlin are taking inventory on a storage unit in Starling City, when Deathstroke disrupts them! We quickly see the friendship between Felicity and Caitlin, as well as the sibling-like closeness between Cisco and Caitlin.
Since then, Felicity has come to visit Barry and also gets to see Star Labs and how we are helping The Flash. Then, on the December 2nd episode of The Flash, Team Arrow comes to Central City - I think we had more people in Star Labs for those scenes than we had ever had before!
Since then, Felicity has come to visit Barry and also gets to see Star Labs and how we are helping The Flash. Then, on the December 2nd episode of The Flash, Team Arrow comes to Central City - I think we had more people in Star Labs for those scenes than we had ever had before!
Felicity and Caitlin are similar in their interest to protect Arrow and The Flash, respectively. Personally, I think it's great to see two smart, driven women on these shows, and I love that we get to see their friendship unfold and how much they trust each other.
In one episode of Arrow, after discovering that Felicity works with the Arrow and the Arrow's true identity, Caitlin and Cisco are very curious to see what's going on in the Arrow's lair. They travel to Starling City for a little visit, but stumble into a very intense situation. It's interesting to see Caitlin confronted with a serious injury and have to deal with the weight and reality of the life and death situations. It's easy for her to sit behind the computer and talk Barry through saving people rather than saving lives herself on a daily basis.
In one episode of Arrow, after discovering that Felicity works with the Arrow and the Arrow's true identity, Caitlin and Cisco are very curious to see what's going on in the Arrow's lair. They travel to Starling City for a little visit, but stumble into a very intense situation. It's interesting to see Caitlin confronted with a serious injury and have to deal with the weight and reality of the life and death situations. It's easy for her to sit behind the computer and talk Barry through saving people rather than saving lives herself on a daily basis.
What are the best aspects of being a television actor/actress?
One of the greatest parts of being a television actress on a show like The Flash is the people I'm surrounded with. Our creators (Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns) have a long history of making great television, which just attracts more talented people to be a part of the show. They tell great stories each week, and it's fun for me as an actor and audience member to read every new episode and see what's coming next. Not to mention, they never disappoint- I rush to read each episode as soon as I get it and I'm amazed that the episodes just keep getting bigger and better.
I'm also so lucky because the cast on The Flash is a delight as well. Everyone had to relocate to Vancouver from our various homes (in NYC or LA) so we have become our own little family. Even though we spend so much time together on set, we can often be found hanging out at Jesse L. Martin's apartment on the weekends. Our crew is phenomenal as well - they're truly the unsung heroes of the show. They make it possible for us to get such incredible footage every week, and there's often many scenes or sequences that don't make it into the final cut due to time constraints. They're outside in the cold and rain with us, working 14 or 16 hours a day to get it right.
I'm also so lucky because the cast on The Flash is a delight as well. Everyone had to relocate to Vancouver from our various homes (in NYC or LA) so we have become our own little family. Even though we spend so much time together on set, we can often be found hanging out at Jesse L. Martin's apartment on the weekends. Our crew is phenomenal as well - they're truly the unsung heroes of the show. They make it possible for us to get such incredible footage every week, and there's often many scenes or sequences that don't make it into the final cut due to time constraints. They're outside in the cold and rain with us, working 14 or 16 hours a day to get it right.
Danielle Panabaker can currently be seen starring as one of the leads on The CW's "The Flash." The show premiered in October and was the highest rated CW premiere ever with 6.1 million viewers. She was also recently seen on the FX series "Justified" and had formerly starred on the CBS series "Shark" for its two seasons. She previously starred in several films including "Mr. Brooks", opposite Kevin Costner, "Sky High", opposite Kurt Russel, "Home of the Giants", opposite Ryan Merriman and Haley Joel Osment, and "Yours, Mine and Ours." Panabaker starred in multiple horror films including "Friday the 13th," "The Crazies," "The Ward," and "Piranha 3D."
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