The "Black Flash" (a.ka. Death) was the fastest of the speedsters in DC Comics history. The only speedster who ever managed to outrun him was Wally West, the fastest of the Flashes.
The city shown as Zurich, is in fact the Swiss city of Basel.
Rip hiding in another time line with no knowledge of his identity, is similar to Doctor Who (2005) in which The Doctor hides in another time from his enemies without his knowledge of being The Doctor.
John Barrowman (Merlyn) and Arthur Darvill (Rip) both played companions on Dr. Who, though not at the same time. Barrowman played Captain Jack Harkness and Darvill played Rory Williams.
The first time the intro is narrated by someone other than a Legend.