Grant Gustin shares what he misses most about The Flash
Grant Gustin talks The Flash, Arrowverse fans, and his favorite on screen musical moment ahead of his Broadway debut in Water For Elephants
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Grant Gustin has an unsurprising answer to what he misses most about The Flash: “The people,” he told The A.V. Club in a recent interview. “I did it for nearly 10 years. I was 23 when that show started and 33 when the show ended, and grew up, and learned a lot of who I was, and just matured a lot throughout the process, and was surrounded by cast and crew that became family. I mean, it’s so cliché, but it’s true. I spent so much more time with all of those people than I did with anyone that was my actual family during those years. And it’s weird to just suddenly end and know that we’ll never all be in the same room at the same time again.”
But even some of the things that were “the toughest” to deal with on the CW superhero series are now fond memories for the Barry Allen actor. “Wearing the suit in downtown Vancouver at 4 A.M. in the rain, in tough environments,” Gustin reflected. “I was aware during the last season I was gonna miss that, and I do. Like, I miss throwing the suit on and standing in downtown Vancouver at 4 A.M. shooting an action sequence, because it was a really unique experience.”
Gustin has only recently been able to fully appreciate the “passionate” Arrowverse fanbase. “I think maybe I did underestimate early on how much the show was going to mean to people,” he said, noting that while the show was running he tried to stay focused on the work and not “outside noise.” While he was “aware of the fanbase,” it wasn’t until the series ended and he started attending conventions and meeting fans in person that he got the full experience. “I think I’ve leaned into it more and gotten to enjoy that fan relationship since the show ended, and see how much it genuinely means to, like, [a] full generation of people, and entire families, and how it’s special to see how much people love the show,” he shared. “I try to keep my focus a little more singular while I was doing the work, so I couldn’t get overwhelmed by that. But now I get to enjoy it now that it’s behind me.”
After a long run on The Flash, Gustin hoped the next thing he did would be on stage, but he wasn’t looking to book a musical. (“I had kind of imagined it being a straight play, because I was scared to sing again, honestly,” he admitted.) Nevertheless, he jumped at the chance to join the new Broadway show Water For Elephants and originate the lead role, which “had always been a dream of mine,” he said.
Luckily, he has lots of experience to fall back on—including for The Flash. The romantic proposal song “Running Home To You” is one of Gustin’s favorite musical moments he’s had on screen, especially because it was written by the “incredible” Oscar and Tony-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. “I actually first met them when I was at Elon in college, they came and did a workshop, and had stayed in touch with them a bit, and then watched them explode. So it was really cool to have kind of a full circle moment, have them come back and write that song for us,” Gustin said. “I know it’s been a fan favorite—all the time people tell me that it was their first dance at their wedding, or they walked down the aisle to it or something. So I know for Flash fans, ‘Running Home To You’ became an important song for a lot of people’s relationships, and for a lot of couples.”
14 Comments
I miss the first 3 seasons. I watched the rest but it was…less than good.I can understand why DC didn’t use him for movie Flash but he would have been a LOT better than Ezra.
I mean, talk about low bars though. Anyone would have been better than Ezra.
They were less than Jake.
So…not Good?
Really glad he got a job that focused on his muscal talents and not another sci fi job. and yeah Runnin Home to You still works all these years later.
I really hope to see him on TV again someday. The writing for that show was downright bad a lot of the time, but he was always an excellent performer.
Agreed and by all accounts he’s a good guy behind the scenes too. Need more of that in Hollywood.
Gustin always seemed like a real cool dude and I would’ve liked to meet him at a con (I mean, I guess I still would, but I don’t think he’s exactly cruising con circuits anymore lol), it’s nice that he looks back fondly on the show even if it sure did get messy in its later years.No matter what it’s grand legacy is, I will say that I think the first season of The Flash is about the most perfect comic show to ever air on TV. And it’s certainly a damn sight better than the movie, but well, even a lot of the crappier seasons of The Flash are better than the movie Flash.
I will say that I think the first season of The Flash is about the most perfect comic show to ever air on TV.Agreed. That and the first season of Stargirl were absolutely phenomenal.
Flash s1, Stargirl s1, Supergirl s4, Arrow s2, and most of Legends of Tomorrow’s run are peak superhero TV for me
My list would be:Flash S1Arrow S2Legends of Tomorrow S2 and S3 (enjoyed rest of the series after S3 but IMO the peak was Beebo)Stargirl S1, S2, S3 (honestly thought the entire show was great and was amazed they made villains like Eclipso and Ultra-Humanite work – wish it got a longer run)Doom Patrol S1 (enjoyed entire show but think it peaked in S1)Daredevil S1, S3Jessica Jones S1Loki S1, S2And of course, this is live-action only. There are a ton of great animated shows.I never watched Supergirl past the first season BTW. If it’s worth it, maybe will go back at some point.
It is hard for me to pick a best season of Stargirl too, really they are all about equally great. I have a soft spot for s1 since it was the one that most focused on Courtney & Pat becoming father & daughter. Supergirl conversely was maddeningly inconsistent almost every season, with elements of greatness & elements that didn’t really work, with the exception of of s4, which introduced Lex Luther (the show’s best big bad) and the alien immigration storyline, which was ambitious & mostly worked
No matter what it’s grand legacy is, I will say that I think the first season of The Flash is about the most perfect comic show to ever air on TV. Lotta other people waxing nostalgic for the 2010s or so, but I recently went back and did a partial rewatch of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from friggin’ 1993 and man, they had it sorted out.Lots of crazy comic-book stories, a whole lot less of the whole world being in peril and a whole lot more of themed villains just coming up with bizarre sci-fi ways to rob banks and otherwise cheat at life. And in the middle of it all were Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher, both in their prime, both playing it super straight-laced and not in on the joke of it at all (even though the show itself was never very self-serious), neither particularly great actors but with tons of chemistry between them. That show had it all.
I notice he doesn’t mention missing the writing