How CW failed Wally West

The introduction of Wally West to The Flash Season 2 brought excitement to fans because they finally got to see the beloved Kid Flash join the Arrowverse. His story began with potential as he fought against his sister Iris' excessive protection while learning about his speed abilities before becoming a hero. The show began with a promising narrative for Wally but it evolved into a story that failed to deliver on its potential. The show eliminated Wally's development into the confident speedster from the comics by minimizing his screen time and then removed him from the show without providing any conclusion. The Flash series failed to deliver on its potential for one of DC's most significant speedsters.

Wally's peak:

Wally West reached his highest peak during Season 2 of The Flash when he accepted his role as Kid Flash. His narrative followed a meaningful arc as he learned to use his speed while developing deep connections with Iris and Joe and gaining Barry's confidence as a hero. Wally West served as more than just a sidekick because he played an essential role in Team Flash. The character experienced a continuous decline after Season 2. The show writers marginalized him through minimal storylines before sending him to Legends of Tomorrow where he vanished from the series. The show failed to develop Wally into the comic book version of Flash which he would become while reducing him to a background character in the series.

Misplaced In Legends Of Tomorrow

Wally West joined Legends of Tomorrow in Season 3 as a desperate attempt to maintain his relevance after The Flash sidelined and removed him from the show. The show failed to discover a suitable direction for his character. The comic book version of Wally presented himself as a confident speedster with skills yet the show reduced him to an uncoordinated team member, and an incompetent speedster. The Legends team members failed to connect with him properly, the guy lacked chemistry with the Legends, so he maintained an outsider status instead of feeling like a natural part of the group. The show failed to use his speedster abilities effectively because he rarely delivered memorable moments in combat and his battles failed to match the epic speedster battles of Barry Allen.

The show treated Wally in a similar way to "Jax Jefferson (Firestorm)" during his later storyline by making him a presence without meaningful character growth. The show embraced its chaotic and fun storytelling approach but Wally never received the attention he needed. Instead of becoming a hero in his own right he disappeared into the background before his departure. His departure from the show matched the unimpressive way he first appeared which proved Legends was not his proper home. Wally West needed more than being the team's oddball because he should have become a legend in his own right.

Emasculation and failed relationship:

Wally West found a rare moment of connection with Jesse Quick during The Flash Season 2 because they shared a strong bond as speedsters who respected each other. Jesse ended their relationship through a video message while choosing her personal ambitions over their connection. The abrupt breakup Jesse delivered through video message made Wally feel unimportant in her story. Wally returned in later seasons as a monk-like figure who had lost his personality in a jarring transformation that stripped away his character. The writers demonstrated their lack of interest in his character by removing his romantic agency and emotional depth through this emasculating plot development.

Wally's incompetence as a speedster:

The Flash series depicted Wally West as a speedster who performed poorly in battles because he needed frequent rescues and never managed to win decisively. The CW version of Wally remained inferior to Barry throughout the series because he needed his white mentor to save him from every situation. The show perpetuated the "white savior" trope through its depiction of the Black hero who always received less recognition than his white mentor. The narrative consistently diminished Wally's potential when he briefly became Kid Flash by portraying him as weak and dependent. The show failed to allow Wally to develop as his own hero by maintaining his position beneath Barry which represented a missed chance for growth.

Wally West missed opportunities on crossovers and the last season:

The Arrowverse wasted Wally West through numerous opportunities to develop his character. The comic book version of Wally West participated in Crisis on Infinite Earths but the Arrowverse version remained absent from this major crossover event. Wally West should have fought alongside Barry and Kara and the Legends in universe-altering battles to prove his hero status as an equal Flash. The writers chose to keep Wally out of the story and sideling him, which denied viewers the chance to witness his complete development, robbing fans of seeing his full potential.

The final season of The Flash presented an excellent opportunity to give Wally West the redemption he deserved. The original timeline's impending departure of Barry created an excellent opportunity for Wally to establish himself as Central City's new protector just as he did in the comic books. The writers gave him a brief appearance but denied him any meaningful storyline or heroic farewell. The show had an opportunity to give Wally West the recognition he deserved by making him the Flash but they chose to disregard him once more; imagine if Wally West was there to help Barry in the final battle; imagine Wally West meeting his future niece and nephew, bonding with them along with fighting the bad guy with them as speedster. Uncle Wally has a nice tone, doesn't it ? The Arrowverse failed to deliver justice to Wally West because they denied him meaningful appearances and a proper ending.

Conclusion: Wally West Deserved Better:

The CW television show The Flash had an ideal chance to pay tribute to one of DC's most famous speedsters but they chose to neglect Wally West throughout the series. Wally West entered the show with great promise during Season 2 but his departure in Legends of Tomorrow was awkward and he never received the respect he deserved. His potential was squandered—whether through rushed storylines, inconsistent power scaling, or outright erasure from major crossover events. His personal relationships suffered from poor handling when Jesse Quick ended their relationship without emotion and when he returned as a monk he lost his personality.

The worst part occurred during the show's final season because it presented an opportunity to give Wally his moment as the Flash just like in the comics. The show diminished him to a minor detail in Barry's narrative. The Arrowverse possessed a legacy character with extensive comic book history yet they failed to provide him with the heroic storyline he deserved. Wally West represented more than a wasted character because he symbolized all the opportunities The Flash show failed to capitalize on. Fans should have witnessed his true heroic nature which was always meant to be displayed.