Jessie Robertson reviews the fourth episode of The Flash season 5…
A villain who actually works this week!
The Good:
– This was a great episode. The opening “family breakfast” defines what The Flash is all about. Great, smart, character driven writing with Iris who can’t cook and is obviously third wheel to Barry and Nora and is struggling to gain some family time with them and Barry being the dad in the middle, it all just worked great.
– Cut to very next scene of Barry at the company softball game, apparently those rumors were true not a great athlete (which is pretty damn funny watching him not make it to First base!) and then Iris and Nora having a mother-daughter spat that sent Cecile and Caitlin into “Oh snap!” mode; this was all superb. The argument laid the foundation for our villain this week- Spin, a cut corners blogger whose phone can do meta things; any headline she writes can make it come true. It works completely in the context of this storyline and also randomly Nora is attracted to her.
– The Iris v. Spencer reporter thing at Jitters was a little too punchy and on the nose but still enjoyable scene.
– A complete sick twist on future events: Finding out Iris suppresses Nora’s powers really pulls out the heart and watches it beat its last beat and gives you all you need to know about Nora’s eternal cold shoulder of Mom. The final argument scene with the Allen family – slow clap for all involved – Grant Gustin (to a lesser degree – but giving every wife the support they dream of), Candice Patton and Jessica Parker Kennedy both SHOW you how family is, and how hard it can be. Bravo to both of those ladies.
– And I just love Kennedy in this role, she is too cute for anyone’s own good and nails each and every delivery she gives.
The Not as Good:
– Really not much at all this week: The whole investigation with the particles from the mask, that was pretty far fetched for Ralph to find that one little piece, even for a comic book show. I liked the interplay between Sherloque and “Baby Giraffe” but it drops one of the major issues I have with The CW Shows currently; they’re too long! And now, we’ve got the mask thing but it now has to do the longest slow burn of all time to wring that out enough to get at least near the finale.
– I’m not sure how I feel about “Meta Tech.” It sounds dumb, and it feels short sighted. Iris’ line saying “meta powers can now be in the hands of anyone,” is pretty ridiculous considering ANYONE! is exactly who has gained them from the explosion 5 years ago! And I don’t like the idea of the Enlightenment granting more powers, but to objects.
Okay, that’s it but food for thought – is it just me or is Nora’s scar (from her prohibitor) the same as Cicada’s on his chest?
Jessie Robertson