"The Flash" returned to The CW last night, but it seems that not all its viewers could keep up. Tuesday night’s third season premiere snared 3.13 million viewers, good for a 1.2 rating among adults ages 18-49 demo, according to TV By the Numbers. That’s a drop from the 1.4 rating its two-hour premiere achieved last fall.

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As with changes to the timeline, however, even small things can make a big difference. The Scarlet Speedster was facing off against some other fast fellows, as the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays battled for the AL East Wild Card slot. Looming still larger was the vice presidential debate, which centered on two politicians who, though not perhaps fleet of foot, sure know how to talk fast. While the debate began after Barry Allen's premiere wrapped up, it's likely that the impending political showdown kept some viewers away. Last, while Netflix does not release ratings, it's reasonable to assume that viewers are still barreling through the streaming site's "Luke Cage."

Starring Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Carlos Valdes and more, “The Flash” airs Tuesdays at 8 pm ET/PT on The CW.