Why Barry Allen From The Flash Looks So Familiar
The CW's Arrowverse currently features seven separate, interconnected television series, the longest running of which is "The Flash." Originally debuting in 2014, "The Flash" has followed the story of Barry Allen, a CSI assistant who — through a freak lab accident involving a distressing amount of lightning — acquires super speed. Now a metahuman (DC's term for super-abled people), Allen dons a crimson speed-suit and becomes the Flash to fight crime head-on, instead of just analyzing it in a lab.
Considering how "The Flash" has fought everything from goons to gorillas for eight seasons, Barry's face will no doubt remain in the cultural conscience for years to come. If you recognize the Scarlet Speedster's charming smile, though, it might not be from his cameos in The CW's other Arrowverse properties. Grant Gustin, the leading man for DC's most successful live-action television series, has been around the block a few times. Here's where you might have seen him before.
Grant Gustin was a wicked Warbler in Glee
Of all Gustin's non-Flash credits, it is perhaps his time on Fox's musical drama series "Glee" that stirred the greatest amount of attention. That's right folks, not only can the Flash sing, but he does so frequently. Gustin portrayed the cocky antagonist Sebastian Smythe, who led the Dalton Academy Warblers, an all-boys a capella glee club that also featured Darren Criss's role of Blaine Anderson, before he transferred schools. He stayed with the series from 2011 to 2013 for appearances in three seasons, after which his character ultimately graduated off-screen.
During his stint with "Glee," Gustin recorded four tracks, although only three of them ever saw the light of day. The three that aired were covers of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," The Wanted's "Glad You Came," and Lenny Kravitz's "Stand." The unaired track was a cover of The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," which creator Ryan Murphy later released the footage for via his YouTube account.
Grant Gustin was a privileged brat in 90210
After he graduated from Dalton Academy, Gustin joined the ranks of California University's finest in 2013 on The CW's teen drama "90210" for the series' fifth and final season. He portrayed Campbell Price, a privileged, arrogant college student who ran the Cronus Society. His character's primary conceit was to antagonize Navid Shirazi (Michael Steger) and Liam Court (Matt Lanter). While all that may sound eerily similar to what he did on "Glee," the material on "90210" was significantly darker ... or at the very least, the mature material was more consistently prevalent.
"90210" features Gustin's Price stirring up drama via blackmail, physical assault, and cheating, all in the name of permitting Shirazi and Court access to the Cronus Society. Ultimately, though, his antics cause his expulsion from California University, and his final appearance is brief but gratifying for anyone wanting to see the rich Campbell Price get told "no" for once in his life.
Grant Gustin's got a thing for dogs in Rescued by Ruby
For almost a decade now, portraying the fastest man alive has devoured the lion's share of Gustin's time, but in 2022, he squeezed in a Netflix original. "Rescued by Ruby" sees him as Daniel O'Neal, a state trooper whose ambition is to join the K-9 search-and-rescue team, something that only approaches fruition when he meets a shelter dog in need of a home. The film is based on a true story, but that of course doesn't prevent it from following the standard format for an underdog-styled dog film.
Gustin's O'Neal saves Ruby from a kill shelter, then Ruby saves O'Neal from the death of his dreams, then the two combined save a boy lost in the woods. Most importantly, though, "Rescued by Ruby" doesn't end with the dog sacrificing itself for the owner to learn a valuable lesson, and that alone causes the Netflix original to stand out (in a positive way) from many of its canine-themed peers.