The Flash returns tonight. I used to post individual threads for each episode, but I think we’ll go with just one thread for the whole season this time.
When we last left Barry Allen & Co, they had finally defeated Savitar. HR substituted himself for Iris, which led to his demise. (I never liked that guy anyway.) Cisco appealed to Caitlin’s better nature, causing her to switch back from being Killer Frost. But the Speedforce demanded a speedster and so Barry jumped into the speed portal.
Word of God is that we’ll see a return to the more light-hearted Barry Allen of Season 1, which is welcome news; I’ve had quite enough of mopey Barry. I’ve also heard that they’re not going with a speedster villain this time. Maybe the Rogues will finally get together.
It’s a new Flash season - into what form will Tom Cavanagh regenerate? Cowboy Wells, Disco Wells, Morty Wells, Gandalf Wells, Grumpy Wells, pop-culture Wells, Secretly-evil Wells, which?
I’m curious as to whether they’re sticking with E2’s Harry Wells or having another interdimensional audition for a new Wells - which was hilarious the last time.
Also, hope people take to our South African exports…
Iris takes over running the Cortex. I see she took the time to do some redecorating by moving some consoles around and applying some starburst decals. She also took some tips in leadership from Oliver Queen - when she needed to talk to Barry alone, she asked everyone else to step out into the hallway.
I like that they didn’t bring the Flash theme music back until the Flash actually came back, and in the new suit no less. They also waited to bring back the Barry/Iris love theme until Barry was fully in control of his senses. (Or is he?)
DeVoe – who, in the comics, was brainy enough to invent a literal “put your thinking cap on” device, which grants him even more braininess plus the usual comic-book mental powers. So it’s probably him.
Yes, the villain is the Thinker. In the comics, he started as a DA who went bad–wonder what this one’s origin is? Another metahuman?
Also, “This house is bitchin’” – I’m wondering if this will actually turn out to mean something by the end of the season? A reference to a literal doghouse, maybe?
I assumed that was a lyric from this wrap/hippity-hoppity music the kids are listening to these days, but apparently not. Glad I didn’t ask one of the yunguns about it.
Current speculation is that all that gibberish was Barry being “unstuck in time” if you will from being in the Speedforce. So I’m guessing at some point someone will say “This house is bitchin” making them realize Barry was seeing the future. He also said something like “We’re going to need a lot more diapers” = Iris being pregnant with twins?
Classic comic homage: Flash 115 “The Day Flash Weighed 1,000 Pounds”. Which we reminds me, we’re supposed to get Elongated Man at some point this season.
The Flash is truly back, complete with hallway talk. Two hallway talks, even. One between Barry & Iris and another between Cisco & Caitlin. Speaking of Cisco, the Vibe/Gypsy thing better be going somewhere. It makes for some comedic moments, but I was never fully convinced that they were an actual couple.
It appears there are metahumans that weren’t involved in the particle accelerator explosion. Which shouldn’t be too surprising as we actually saw one appear previously on Arrow. And the Thinker is starting a collection of them. What’s his endgame I wonder?
At last, a villain’s plan involves putting someone else in prison, and not himself (I’m looking at you, Loki). What’s the deal with the prison warden - working for “The Thinker” or has a plan of his own.
It’s great to see Flash using his powers in creative ways - taking apart the car while it’s in motion! Cool!
But, it’s yet another single-source empowering pattern - the third, so far: STAR Labs incident, Alchemy/Savatar, and now whoever empowered Killg%re (presumably Thinker).
I wish they’d get to the point where metahumans are just a thing that happens occasionally. Figuring out a meta’s origin should usually only be part of stopping them, not part of the season plot. Please, Flash writers, please?
At this point I don’t care if it’s ‘they’ve always existed, but mostly operating in secret’, or ‘the STAR explosion changed something fundamental at a non-local level’ (or, you know, both - ‘they’ve always been around, but thanks to the STAR incident, they’re more common than ever’), just…stop with everyone either getting their powers from the same source, or coming from a different universe.
I noticed the newspaper headline in the therapist’s office “MAYOR QUEEN IS THE GREEN ARROW.” A not-so-subtle reminder from the CW to watch the next episode of Arrow.
