Jessie Robertson reviews the twenty-second episode of The Flash season 2…
Coming this holiday season: Beats by Wells
So, I’ve sat with this episode longer than usual and that’s because the ending really messed me up; I didn’t like it at all! Earlier this year, on Arrow, we lost Laurel aka Black Canary; a significant character blow to the show since she’d been on since day one. Now, tonight, another devastating loss in the form of Henry Allen, yes the man who spent nearly the entirety of season one locked up only to get out and move to the country.
Now, how it happened is in line with the tragic death of Barry’s mother, Nora, same circumstance, same place, everything; it tees off dramatically well from the tragic event that shaped Barry’s young life; so it makes sense to double down and repeat it to propel Barry in his adult life. Also, since Barry’s return from the Speed Force, he’s like a new man; confident, overconfident some would say, he is walking around with a feeling of being invincible, hence this week’s episode name; the team sees the flaw here, especially when dealing with such a dangerous fellow like Zoom; it takes Iris (of course) to point out there’s nothing wrong with living with a little fear (which I’ll come back to). Thematically, it all plays and it’s devastating on camera as Henry spits out his I Love you’s and We’re so proud of the man you’ve grown up to be before a vibrating hand is plunged through his chest; It all works on those levels. I personally just hated the moment because The Flash is the positive show; it doesn’t dole out death like Arrow does, in waves, brutally, and haphazardly. This show is about Barry and his father figures; and I hate to see his true father, Henry, go out when there still felt like so much more he could do on the show. The timing is epic as well; just 1 week ago, Barry finally accepted his mother’s death and his role in it; this week, he simply stands there, locked in place by fear, unable to act as his father is killed in front of him; what will this do to his psyche? Bury him under another mountain of fear like he has been all season?
I think it’s all backwards; Barry knows about fear. He’s lived with it his entire life. The yellow blur he saw kill his mom; he’s lived with the fact he couldn’t do anything. Fear his father will never get out of jail; fear the girl he’s loved will never love him back. But, when he breaks through all of that, and becomes the Flash, setting aside his many insecurities, his flaws, and just lets these powers reveal the true hero underneath, the fear is gone. Then, Zoom breaks him again; shows him he’s much faster than Flash, that he can kill quickly, outrun him, do whatever he wants; that fear has driven Barry to take chances this season, to come up short, to be afraid he’s inadequate next to Zoom; does killing Henry make any of that play for bigger stakes? I feel like you’re there already. Now, what, he buries his father, and then goes up against Zoom, more scared or more confident? I may be way off but I personally didn’t care for that choice in the show; very reminiscent of Arrow; right before the finale of season two, Oliver’s mother, Moira goes down to the villain.
7/10 – it was a fun show as always, but the end really dragged it down for me
Other Notes:
– Katie Cassidy is back already! As Dark Siren, a crazy powerful (but not as bright) doppleganger of Laurel from Earth 2. Just to see Cisco and Caitlin in makeup was worth it enough.
– Wally is showing signs of his own heroic side, trying to take on a meta-human by himself and later, rescuing the Flash from Dark Siren. But, in what circumstances would the Flash ever need a lift in a car?
– Jay Garrick really chews up those villainous speeches. I think Teddy Sears is doing a fine job as well, I just question what Zoom is doing all the time??? Dude can run at Mach-50 (sorry, that’s not a thing) yet we never see him doing anything.
– Cisco Vibing out this episode and discovering some new uses of his powers – like it.
– What’s up with Jesse’s ears?
– “Poppa” Joe, that’s got a nice ring to it
– I guess those sparks between original Flash TV series co-stars Henry Allen and Dr. Tina McGee won’t be happening anytime soon
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