Jessie Robertson reviews the twenty-second episode of The Flash season 3…
Cold drink….check. Smart phone for story consultation….check. TV review superpowers…(grins slyly)….check.
Well, it’s almost here. Tonight’s episode begins with the caption “24 hours before Iris West dies.” Pretty grim stuff. And they weren’t lying. Iris West does in fact die tonight. But, this is The Flash. Time hardly matters. We even see that tonight; out of nowhere, Barry travels back to 1849 to pick up an accomplice and doesn’t even tell anyone this time. Huh. I guess what his evil time remnant said was true: Once you change time so much, it hardly effects anything. Tonight’s Flash offering was like a greatest hits of what is so amazing about this show and what is also not good about a television show. The hit list goes on and on about awesome Flash-centric nods tonight: Cisco science talk, HR drumming, gratuitous villain cameo, anything Leonard Snart, super-powered showdowns, tense drama and even Joe singing. It had it all. But as soon as tonight’s episode kicked off, with that headline “24 hours before Iris West dies”, we see the crew all at STAR Labs working the problem; then we see Barry and Iris, in bed, and she wants caviar as a distraction to film something on Barry’s phone. They are the only two not trying to solve the issue of her dying? Caviar, really? When you have that sexy mofo in bed next to you? And caviar, really? I thought for sure it would be a Big Belly burger; we know Joe didn’t keep caviar stocked in the West family fridge! It all felt wrong and just because it was set to a tonally perfect but superfluous soundtrack overlay doesn’t excuse it.
I’d like to think the writers of Flash are constantly on the search for how they can insert a now dead character back into current timeline Flash episodes. Leonard Snart (I should say Wentworth Miller) is a pure delight on every single spot he does for DC TV and tonight was no gosh darn exception. His chemistry with Barry and him explaining the dynamic between them was classic. The bit about the best laid plans was perfect. They just nailed this character from the get go and have been earning dollas ever since with him. Again, the power source they need just so happens to be right in their backyard (Where is ARGUS HQ anyways?) and that Flash just so happens to know the best thief there is, is all too convenient for convenience sake. But, it’s fun, frivolous and delicious for the comic fan soul. We spend the majority of the episode with Barry and Leonard and it’s the perfect addition to their already unique and rich history together on this show and this universe.
Yes, Iris dies and what a perfect time for Killer Frost (or is it Caitlin?) to show up for a picturesque duo with Cisco (if he doesn’t make a Force Awakens comment next week, I’ll be shocked). Cisco is so Barry’s not so much sidekick but partner in heroing and is just his crutch. When Snart was left in the tidepool of King Shark’s clutches, Cisco’s the only one who can save him and Barry knows it and depends on it. When Cisco vibes Caitlin is waiting to fight him, Barry knows Cisco has to go and their implicit trust (which got off to a rocky start at this season’s beginnings) is the glue of the whole of Team Flash itself. Cisco’s speech to HR who is feeling useless is quick and to the point (we didn’t really have time for a sidetrack HR storyline this week anyways). Cisco is simply a character for which The Flash could not function as well as it does without his presence. It’s surprising how quickly Caitlin’s skill set has been erased from the last few weeks storylines – and where was Julian this week?
So the plan failed and Iris has died. Where do we go from here? If this was a season finale, it would be the most dour of occasions, but since it isn’t; there’s still time to fix all before we head off for the summer.
8.5/10- this would rank lower except the pure fact that Leonard Snart was co-star this week.
Other Notes:
– The meeting at Infantino Street that this whole season has been setting up for is quite eerie; no one is around. and I thought HR was holding the Speed Bazooka? This is a nod to legendary DC artist Carmine Infantino, who was responsible for the classic red trimmed with yellow costume design of the Flash, and among many, many other amazing moments , characters and looks, also drew the classic “Flashes of Two Worlds” book that was done shot for shot in last season.
– When King Shark falls asleep, I loved Snart’s comment about being like Jaws and not showing the shark due to money and the effects being so damn much – one because Jaws is my favorite movie and two, because this show said outright it costs a lot of money to effect King Shark.
– When Barry brought up baby Sara to Lyla, I had forgotten that she was gone! They never show John Jr. so it’s hard to keep track.
– In the fight with Savitar to save Iris, Wally’s leg looks to be broken; Ouch! Where was Jesse at during this? Did I miss something?
– During the break in at ARGUS, we see a few familiar character’s cells in the basement lockup; Barry comments this must be Lyla’s “Suicide Squad”; Grodd, Cupid and a very famous Wonder Woman villain we have not seen in this universe yet: Cheetah!
Jessie Robertson
