Kevin Smith returns to The Flash. I think the producers gave him this episode partly as a way to make up for his previous episode, where he directed Danielle Panabaker for all of about 5 minutes of screen time. Also, Killer Frost is really, really cool.
There were less opportunities for outright comedy this time. Just Barry knocking out Julian, which actually became relevant to the plot later on. There was one more subtle sight gag: “Ledded Goh Frozen Foods” on the truck parked outside the warehouse where Caitlin brought Julian.
The best villains expose the ugly truth in the hero. Caitlin hit it right in the bullseye by calling out Barry’s selfishness in creating Flashpoint. The best villains are also smart about how they go about fighting the hero. Caitlin was certainly smart about how she fought Barry. First disabling him by stabbing him in the leg, later by icing the road so he couldn’t get traction and then giving him the Killer Frost kiss. I was kind of hoping that Killer Frost would continue on in the villain role as she makes a good snarky foil for the Flash.
Greg Grunberg suddenly showing up in the squad room playing a detective almost took me out of it. Maybe Alchemy is going to give him a superpower, too. There hasn’t been a telepath on the show yet, has there?
I am shocked - shocked, I tell you - that Julian is Alchemy. The plot twist to end all plot twists.
One of the better episodes, as the villain was able to exploit the Flash rather than relying on the Flash being a dummy about using his powers (or the writers just glossing over how easy it would be to beat a certain villain). Good amount of character building, and HR was rather useful in tracking down KF. Julian was telegraphed from his first appearance, and cemented 3-4 episodes ago so, yeah, shocking development. TVs conservation of characters strikes again.
I still think Douche-Wells is Abra-Kadabra. He only comes up with “ideas” (or, maybe, future-knowledge?) when he’s twiddling with the wand/drumstick. And that combined with the “Oh, I just happen to have a piece of magic future-tech that like, totes slipped my mind” thing from last week just serve my theory.
Greg Grunberg is one of my favorite actors, but he keeps trying to play “heavies”. He did in that awful HEROs sequel and he’s doing it here. And it doesn’t work. There’s very few people who can do “nice guy” or “normal guy in over his head” as well as Grunberg. I don’t know why he keeps accepting roles as a dick or bad-guy. Hopefully they’ll change the character 'cause I want Grunberg to stay on the show, but not as the petulant sullen teenager he was acting like last night.
I really hope they don’t make Grunberg a Meta. With the exception of Joe and Iris (and maybe Abra-KaHarrison, if I’m right. ) everyone in Barry’s life is a Meta. Flash needs a more grounded supporting cast.
Because that’s the role he keeps getting a paycheck to do?
I like Grunberg just fine, but he doesn’t seem to get that many gigs. One-off work in Vancouver probably pays better than dinner theater, but not much. Recurring roles do better (more per episode and more episodes), so lets hope, for Greg’s sake, that this is a frequent recurring role. And while I shouldn’t be one to talk about needing to lose weight, I’m not an actor. Grunberg should probably trim down and might see more work.
Ah, yes. By the Rule of Singularity of Metahuman Powers, which states the metahuman powers cannot be duplicated unless the individual metahumans are related to (or doppelgangers of) each other, that means Grunberg cannot become a telepath himself. Unless he’s related to a giant gorilla.
I dunno. He’s one of JJ Abrams’ best friends and to me it seems like he’s content to just work JJ’s projects. I was surprised when he showed up in this.
And he has lost weight before. He’s one of those people that looks weird when their thin - not a thin version of themselves, but a large person with something missing.
Apparently, Kevin and Greg are co-hosts of Geeking Out on AMC, so we shouldn’t have been that surprised with Greg’s appearance on this episode. Whether he’ll make another appearance in a later episode remains to be seen. Still, Greg is more closely associated in my mind with J.J. Abrams.
I don’t usually post in these threads but the last two have been great episodes to the point that I’m a little bummed the crossover is next week which means this story won’t be advanced any further for two weeks.
I don’t think Grunberg is that great of an actor, and ever since I found out most of his work is given to him for being a friend of Abrams I’m suspicious whether he can even get work without nepotism. He’s just that guy who keeps showing up.
Anyhoo, I’m still impressed with the SFX and Killer Frost is very cool, pardon the pun. Temporarily being a little evil was fun, but please let her be a hero.
Yeah, Julien being Alchemy was pretty obvious, but does Julien know he’s Alchemy, or is he being mind controlled?
Not sure what to make of HR. Sometimes he’s funny, other times just irritating.
What’s interesting is all the alternate universes seem to have the same people in them, except Supergirl’s universe which doesn’t seem to have any doppelgangers from the rest of the DCU. Wonder if they’ll explain that during the upcoming crossover event.
Ah, but there are two axioms you may have overlooked:
Powers can be contagious: So if Grodd brainzaps Grunberg, he could “catch” telepathy like you catch a cold.*
Powers can be duplicated if you add extra stuff. So Grunberg could be a telepath and telekinetic. Strangely relevant example: in the comics Frigid Bitch Crystal Frost becomes Killer Frost. She fights Firestorm for about 35 issues. Then she dies, but before she does she threatens/tortures Easy Slut Louise Lincoln, her old colleague.* This gave Louise exactly the same powerset because…um…reasons. (Someone tried to recon this with a genetic virus and later, some sort of deep psychological reason. The retcon didn’t take.
**Yeah…Conway seemed to have issues with women. Every female villain Firestorm fought had major, MAJOR issues and either Daddy issues or men-in-general issues.
I’m wondering if Grodd (and maybe Solivar) will show up from HR’s Earth. (19, right?)
Also, I was reminded of the “Run, Barry, run!” thing to save the day. (As in, a character gives him a pep talk and he runs faster.) What he did for Caitlin seemed like, “Be nice, Caitlin, be nice!” and she was good again. Now, will she be good even if she uses her powers again? It might come up, considering how people waltz in and out of Star Labs whenever they feel like it.
I heard there was a rumor the original Harrison Wells from the Earth would turn out to be Alchemy. Frankly, that would have been more interesting than Julian.
Minor quibble: I thought the split personality thing (it was actually an “Astral Twin”, whatever the hell that was) came later that the Silver Age*, like Flash #290 circa 1980 or so.
If they’re going this route, I’d rather it be a split personality (3 way-Desmond, Alchemy, Element) rather than an “Astral Twin(?)”.
*Assuming that the Silver Age ended around Gwen Stacey’ death, the Kirby 4th World thing, the Adams/O’Neill GL/GA…say, 1973.
I just dug the issues in question out: Flash 288 explains(?) it all. There’s two Albert Desmonds–a black-haired guy who had been around since Showcase #13 and fought the Flash a number of times and a new Carrot-Top looking guy who just showed up in this run. Turns out they were both christened Albert Desmond after being born at exactly the same time/day/year/etc from parents with the same names. Apparently this caused a wad of extra evil to be born as well and it settled into Blacky Desmond (for lack of a better name). When he started to reform, the wad of evil went into Red Desmond (who didn’t want it either) and the two of them played cosmic ping-pong with it for a while.
Frankly, I’d just go with the split personality as the above is just crap. All due respect to Cary Bates, but srsly…this story was just…bad. And the subplot (Fiona Webb, neighbor to newly single Barry Allan freaks out every time she sees him–turns out she’s under witness protection and the mob enforcer looks JUST! LIKE! BARRY! :eek: However, she’s a snivelling crying wimp and the storyline will go for about 10 issues (this is in the middle of it) and ALL SHE DOES is cry and scrunch up in a corner. Bleh. Cary Bates last few years on the Flash were not good ones.
) everyone in Barry’s life is a Meta. Flash needs a more grounded supporting cast.
All due respect to Cary Bates, but srsly…this story was just…bad. And the subplot (Fiona Webb, neighbor to newly single Barry Allan freaks out every time she sees him–turns out she’s under witness protection and the mob enforcer looks JUST! LIKE! BARRY! :eek: However, she’s a snivelling crying wimp and the storyline will go for about 10 issues (this is in the middle of it) and ALL SHE DOES is cry and scrunch up in a corner. Bleh. Cary Bates last few years on the Flash were not good ones.