So this is the episode the internet has been waiting weeks to see, because it was directed by Kevin Smith. Let’s dive right into it!
After last week’s episode, where Harry apparently blew Barry to bits with a particle accelerator explosion, we find out pretty quickly that Barry isn’t gone. Cisco vibes and discovers our hero is trapped within the speed force.
Harry is freaked by the discovery that Jesse (and Wally) was caught in the explosion, so he spends a good chunk of the first act moping over his comatose daughter. Cisco and Iris head down to the basement to try to find Reverse-Flash’s notes about Barry’s initial coma. While there, they get attacked by a zombie, no foolin’. Girder is back, Walking Dead style. It’s ok if you don’t remember who this is from S1, because I sure didn’t. He’s the Freak-of-the-Week, and only notable because Smith clearly had such a blast with the horror-movie aspect.
"Zombie? For real?" |
Back at STAR Labs, Team Flash splits up to deal with the various emergencies. While Henry keeps an eye on Jesse, the Wests take on the task of dealing with Girder, who is rampaging through Central City. Bonus points for Girder trashing Jason (the Jay in Jay & Silent Bob) Mewes’ mom’s car.
Best Cameo Ever. |
Back at home briefly, Joe suspects Wally may have gotten speedy powers during the explosion, so he drops a cup of coffee, assuming Wally will react naturally. Instead, he just trashes a mug that Iris gave him. :( No time to explain things to Wally, because Girder has arrived. Iris leads him back to STAR Labs, where Cisco has set up a machine to take out Girder once and for all. Of course, it doesn’t work, so everyone ends up trapped down in the vault with Girder banging the door down. Harry and Cisco decide to try contacting Barry again, but this time Iris insists on going.
Anyone who watched this episode had tears in their eyes during the pivotal scene when Barry confronts SpeedForceNora. You are lying if you say otherwise. Or just not human. Everything about this scene was pure emotional perfection. Michelle Harrison was brilliant as the serene Nora Allen. And Grant Gustin gave the performance of his freaking life here, in my opinion. Even though this was Nora as the Speed Force embodied her, it didn’t matter. In talking to her, and in reading his favorite kid’s book with her, Barry finally comes to term with her death and his part in it. And more importantly, with the fact that despite his powers, he can't stop all the tragedies in the world. It’s only then that Barry is able to catch the shadow, which turns out to be himself. Then he hears Iris calling for him, and Nora delivers the heart-wrenching line, “Run, Barry. Run.”
For my money, the episode could have ended there and it would have been perfect. But we get added sprinkles of sugar as Barry and Iris pop back out into reality, and Cisco reveals that they are all about to die.
"I'm so glad you're back... cuz we're about to die." Never change Cisco. Never change. |
We finally see poor Caitlyn, sitting untied in a chair, as Zoom gives her an ultimatum. If he comes back and she’s still there, then she will be spared in the coming apocalypse. But if she is gone, then he won’t show her any mercy when he takes over Earth-1. Then he runs off to deliver a speech to his army of meta goons. Decision time, Caitlyn!
Guys... shit's getting real |
If I have any qualms at all about the future of this show, it’s that Henry Allen’s declaration of intent to stay sounds like he’s signing his own death warrant. Or, even worse, that he might be replacing Caitlyn (Cisco made a comment about Caitlyn being gone, and Henry being their medical person). Women haven’t had much luck in staying alive on TV lately, and Caitlyn in particular has been incredibly underutilized this season, so I just have a bad feeling about it.
The Flash seriously needs to have Kevin Smith come back more often, because whatever magic wand he waved, it worked. Bonus points for the hilarious and sometimes vulgar description of how he got the job.
What did you think? Sound off in the comments!
Ivonne Martin is a writer, gamer, and avid consumer of all things geek—and is probably entirely too verbose for her own good.