‘Arrow’ season 2 spoilers: Series boss explains role of Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen

In the middle of what feels like a dozen or so interesting story threads on “Arrow” season 2, the arrival of Grant Gustin as Barry Allen (and eventually The Flash) is one that we are particularly excited to see unfold. This is a man who has a deep-seeded history within the DC Comics world, and it is also one of the last people that the show wants to get wrong. Casting Gustin, whose most-famous role so far is Sebastian on “Glee,” was one of the riskier moves that the series has made. But, given how they found a man in Stephen Amell capable of escaping Justin Hartley’s shadow, we’ll give them a little bit of faith for now.

Speaking to TVLine about Barry Allen, series boss Andrew Kreisberg explains that the character is young and at times inexperienced in the world, but his early connection to Felicity as a fellow scientist, and fascination with her world, is going to quickly make him a part of the story:

“He comes to Starling City, and he says to [Felicity], ‘I heard the vigilante saved you. What’s he like?’ … [Being near Oliver is] definitely going to have an impact… because he’s seen that it’s possible to put on a mask and change the world.

“For Barry, it’s one of those things where it’s like, ‘Be careful what you wish for. In the [DC] comics themselves, Barry was a fan. If you look at Justice League, you have Superman and Aquaman and Wonder Woman…. Then you’ve got Barry Allen, who’s just a guy.”

Gustin has already been to the “Arrow” set, and is starting to get to know Amell and some of the other actors on the show. He will first be seen this fall, but will be back this spring for an hour that will also serve as a backdoor pilot to a show all about the Flash, which could premiere on The CW in the fall. Who wouldn’t love a DC-centered hour? We’d certainly be happy with it.

Want more from next week’s “Arrow” premiere? Then just click here, where you can see a sneak peek from the episode featuring Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle.

Photo: The CW