The big plot twist in this week’s episode is such a blatant BS ret-con that it’s practically an insult to viewers… It must be a direct and deliberate “F.U.” from the show’s writers to the viewing audience. Not just because we missed our beloved DC Comics TV show, but also because this week’s episode promised to be a very juicy one indeed. The warning rings true as the last seconds of the clip show The Flash cornered by Gray and a beaten Barry seems to be pleading with him. Barry witnessed his mother’s murder, as did Hunter. Something about this big explanation feels a bit underwhelming, especially since Zolomon was teased earlier this season when Jay revealed the Earth-1 Zolomon to Caitlyn. That’s a name we’ve heard before. Barry shackles Zoom with a speed dampener and the two chat about Zoom losing. Barry’s speed is faster than anything he’s reached before thanks to the tachyon device, Cisco’s vibing abilities were able to (fairly easily) open the breach, and everyone was riding high on the idea of being a big, happy family. Dr. Wells, however, refuses to help him do that.
Advertisement
Also, does Zoom have plans to turn Cait into Killer Frost on Earth 2? In fact, it has also been a part of the “Supergirl” crossover.
What else happened… Oh yeah, Cisco has a crises of conscience at one point about about coming into his Reverb-like powers and turning to the proverbial Dark Side. Jesse L. Martin was given plenty of room to shine as Joe, whether it was his awkward attempts to become closer with Wally, his easygoing banter with Barry or his fatherly terror at realizing Wally’s life was in danger. Joe shrugs and says that once Barry sets his mind on something, there’s no stopping him. My only wish is that we’d get more time with this version of the character before his likely defeat at the end of the season.
In our previous recap, in hopes of learning how to run faster, Barry time-travelled to the past, but was discovered by the evil Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). Caitlin let’s slip that Jay’s doppelganger is Hunter Zolomon on this Earth. When the particle accelerator exploded on Earth-2, Zolomon was being given one of these treatments, leading to the remorseless killer being given super speed and turning into Zoom.
He grew up to become a serial killer and was caught and locked up after murdering 23 people. Oy, my head hurts… Barry is now excited to get the breaches open so he can get to Zoom. Zoom enters the breach into Earth 1 and stares down Barry. The two fastest men alive unmask themselves and have a heart-to-cold-heart convo. Whaaaaaat?! No, that can’t be right.
Yes, after three seasons and slowly introducing mutan-ah, heh, introducing Inhumans, we’ll finally see a Marvel superteam kick butt on network television. Well, he kidnaps Cait and winks out back to Earth 2!
With the tachyon chestplate in use, Barry manages to get his speed to four times his prior limit. Team Flash is pretty complicated. WTF are you thinking, Barry? Barry eventually talks Cisco into it, greater good and all that. What’s more, Caitlin and Iris briefly observe the latest example of Barry and Joe’s special bond, which is something to normally take for granted.
With Barry’s power gone and Caitlyn taken by Zoom, the team is at a loss on how to stop a powerful meta-human who has arrived at Central City. When asked who the man in the metal mask is, all he will respond is, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you”. Barry, in an effort to free his father, went into law enforcement rather than crime. Barry tries to comfort Caitlin, who is uneasy about all this and her past relationship with Jay.
To be blunt about it, this episode is a bunch of horseshit. I know we have five episodes left and that would take away some of the momentum, but the script should have at least had Barry giving his speed away in less relaxed circumstances. Because if it was, it was a damned stupid diabolical plan. As for me, I’m just happy that Caitlin and Jay (Jaytlin?) aren’t a thing anymore.
Advertisement
We haven’t seen Papa Allen in some time and while I wasn’t a fan of his sendoff, he’s still an important figure in Barry’s life.
