Blu-ray TV reviews: ‘The Flash,’ ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Batwoman’

Here’s a look at some of the latest DC Comics’ superhero-themed television shows on the CW network now binge ready in the Blu-ray format courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The Flash: The Complete Third Season (Not rated, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, 1,096 minutes, $44.98) — Barry Allen aka the Flash (Grant Gustin), the fastest man on all of the earths, returned for another exciting season on the CW and in a position to literally save the multiverse from the evil Anti-Monitor.

Viewers can now appreciate all 19 episodes of the season on four-discs featuring Flash being put in a position where he must sacrifice himself to stop an antimatter wave from destroying all of the connected universes.

If not enough to deal with a cataclysmic tragedy, a pair of villains complicated the super speedster and his team’s lives this season.

First, scientist Ramsey Rosso (Sendhil Ramamurthy), unable to save his mother from a fatal blood disease, tests a cure on himself to help others afflicted with the disorder. Of course, that’s a bad idea and he turns in the monstrous megalomaniac named Bloodwork, now on a mission to covert al humans into zombie-like creatures.

Next, one of Flash’s oldest comic book archenemies Mirror Master, adapted for TV as a female scientist Eva McCulloch (Efrat Dor) traps Flash’s wife Iris (Candice Patton) in a mirror-verse and unleashes her doppelganger to exact revenge on Eva’s husband and cause mayhem in Central City.

The tightly knit ensemble cast shines as usual with Mr. Gustin and Miss Patton getting support from Flash team members Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow aka Frost, Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon aka Vibe, Hartley Sawyer as Ralph Dibny aka Elongated Man, Tom Cavanagh as Nash Wells aka Pariah and Jesse L. Martin as Barry’s dad Joe West.

As always the sometimes overtly emotional Mr. Gustin sucks viewers into his complex time crossing family universe and makes for highly recommended TV.

I’ll also mention, the coronavirus pandemic cut the season short by three episodes and left a cliff-hanger for Barry’s beloved wife that will make fans grind their teeth.

Best extras: First, the episode “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach” starring a dopplganging tragedy in the life of Cisco Ramon gets converted into a black-and-white “noirish” presentation and includes an optional commentary track from lead producer Eric Wallace.

Next, let’s pass by the handful of deleted scenes and a 51-minute “best-of” look at all of San Diego Comic-Con panels from 2019 featuring the CW superhero shows and move to the bonus goodie worthy of the set.

Owners get a fifth disc that compiles all five episodes of the CW’s superhero crossover event called “Crisis on Infinite Earths, adapted from the massive DC Comic’s series from the 1970s.

It’s one episode from “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Batwoman” and “Legends of Tomorrow” that covers the story of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) assembling a group of elite heroes to stop the Anti-Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) from unleashing an antimatter wave to destroy all of the parallel universes and only allow one evil, anti-matter universe to remain.

Besides the impressive scope of the story arc, with hints rippling through multiple seasons of all of the series, the Crisis featured appearances of actors that had starred in many a movie and television show over the decades showcasing DC Comics heroes and villains. Yeah, this was a fanboys pop culture dream scenario.

They included Tom Welling and Erica Durance (Clark Kent and Lois Lane from “Smallville”), Kevin Conroy (the voice of the animated Caped Crusader in “The Adventures of Batman”), Burt Ward (Robin from the live action “Batman” TV show), Robert Wurl (reporter Alexander Knox in the 1989 “Batman” movie), Brandon Routh (Clark Kent from 2006 “Superman Returns” movie) and Ezra Miller (Flash in the 2017 “Justice League” movie).

Also on the disc are six featurettes (roughly 40 minutes in total) covering the original source material, the complex collaboration of teams of writers, bringing Mr. Conroy on screen as Batman, the various versions of Superman appearing and a look at the characters Pariah and the Anti-Monitor.

Supergirl: The Complete Fifth Season (Not rated, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, 1,015 minutes, $44.98) — Reporter Kara Danvers aka Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) returned for another season of protecting the planet and trying to live a normal life as the cousin of the Man of Steel.

Viewers get 19 episodes on four-discs to watch the disintegration of the friendship between Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath) and Miss Danvers as the famed sister of Lex (Jon Cryer) attempts to exact revenge for her supposed friend lying to her about that pesky alter ego.

This leads to the story arcs of Lena trying to harness Q-wave, mind-altering technology to improve humanity; Lex trying to destroy a secret society called Leviathan while Supergirl deals with him and Lena’s betrayal; and also the impending Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Our hero is assisted by her sister Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh), Martian Manhunter (David Harewood), Braniac 5 (Jesse Rath), Dreamer (Nicole Maines) and Jimmy Olsen’s sister Kelly (Azie Tesfai).

The comic book ties are deep here, fans, with additional appearances by Lex’s supposed girlfriend Eve Teschmacher (Andrea Brooks), troublemaker Mister Mxyzptlk (Thomas Lennon), shadowy assassin Andrea Rojas aka Acrata (Julie Gonzalo) and Leviathan leader Rama Khan (Mitch Pileggi).

Even though the show has lost its family friendly appeal compared to its first season on CBS, with creators preferring to overtly ram their political agenda down viewers’ throats, Miss Benoit’s super charm and complete immersion into the character saves the day.

Equally impressive, Mr. Cryer performance as Lex Luthor stands out as one of, if not, the best in the history of the character portrayed in movies and television. It’s hard to believe Andie Walsh’s quirky friend Duckie from “Pretty in Pink” could grow up to embrace such thespian villainy.

Best extras: Viewers get a gag reel, some deleted scenes, the same best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels from the “Flash” Blu-ray set and the fifth disc compiling all of the Crisis on Infinite Earth’s episodes and bonus content.

Batwoman: The Complete First Season (Not rated, 2.00:1 aspect ratio, 844 minutes, $44.98) — CW gave fans of the Batman universe a new Caped Crusader in a brooding adventure show that seemed destined for greatness during its inaugural season.

Now available on a four-disc set, all 19 episodes of that first season offer the story of Kate Kane (Ruby Rose), a tough-as-nails woman haunted by the tragic death of her sister and in need of a new career and a hug from her father.

While her cousin Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) has been missing for three years, she visits Gotham to reconnect with her father (now head of a massive private security firm) to heal family wounds and that leads her on a quest to uncover the unresolved mystery of her sibling.

With Gotham turned into practically an urban war zone, she works with Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson), nephew of Wayne Tech innovator Lucious Fox, to don a costume and take back the streets currently ruled by the psychotic Alice (Rachel Skarsten) and her Wonderland gang.

Although the show lacked the heart of the established “Supergirl” and the “Flash,” the emotional season was entertaining with plenty of ties to the source material, also introducing villains such as Magpie and Hush, and featuring a dream costume with flowing red hair for Batwoman seen near exact in her DC New 52 comic book series.

However, in a momentum-crushing move, Miss Rose left the show at the end of the season forcing an unwelcomed reboot for new episodes with another actress needed to take on the role of Gotham’s vigilante. For sure, it’s an unfortunate development for fans and a move that may not allow the show to recover.

Best extras: Viewers get some deleted scenes and, sounding too familiar, the same best of DC TV’s Comic-Con panels from the other Blu-ray sets along with the coveted fifth disc compiling all of the Crisis on Infinite Earth’s episodes and bonus content.