So this is how it’s going to be the whole season, just talk the villain down? At least it was Chester who did it since he doesn’t have any powers. And it appears that there are going to be some hidden repurcussions – monkey’s paw style – this time.
Cisco dubbed the new villain the Still Force, which is strange for someone with time-based powers. I would have thought someone like the Turtle would be more appropriate for the moniker. (I think that’s how it was in the comics?) I think the forces are complete now:
Speed Force - Nora
Strength Force - Fuerza
Sage Force - Psych
Still Force
Random thoughts:
Not a whole lot of Barry or the Flash this episode. Grant Gustin must have needed a break from production.
How did Chesco buy coffee and a donut in 1998? Their mulicolored big-headed bills from the 21st century would have been regarded as Monopoly money back then.
I noticed last week that you can still see the scar on Danielle Panabaker’s forehead, from when she injured it way back in Season 2. It’s especially noticeable when she’s in Frost makeup.
The time god’s powers had a variety of effects on artifacts - it could be that Cisco’s cash on hand could have been converted to era-appropriate money.
FROST MUST FACE HER PAST - When a mysterious ice powered enemy frames Frost for a brutal crime, she must find a way to clear her name. Meanwhile, Barry and Iris have a surprise houseguest, and Joe continues to deal with Kristen Kramer (guest star Carmen Moore).
I wonder what Caitlin/Frost’s storyline would have been, if last season had ended normally and the current season had started production on schedule. Danielle Panabaker would have gone on maternity leave before the end of last season and possibly come back later in the current season. Indeed, Frost had left on some made up excuse at the season “finale”. The interruption of production was so long that Danielle was able to have her baby and get her break, allowing Frost to unexpectedly appear in the “season premiere”. They really threw Danielle back into the thick of things, too, with action sequences and then split screen scenes where Frost acted against Caitlin.
I’m glad we got Frost back early. She isn’t one to just talk her opponent into defeat. Her solution to Chilblain was quite creative, too, while being true to her character. Frost surrendering to Kramer was also true to her reformed character. She pled guilty so we will mercifully be spared a “Trial of Killer Frost”. Hopefully she won’t cool her heels in prison too long.
Random thoughts:
Speedforce Nora was being a helicopter parent. No wonder Barry was so annoyed.
No matter how friendly Joe and Caitlin are, I think it’s still illegal for a cop to sit in on a suspect consulting with her attorney.
There was something funny about two people who are invulnerable to cold trying to blast each other with beams of coldness - but the eye attack and the ice spike were both clever bits (note to Chillblain - you’ve blinded your enemy, so don’t fight so close to her that the blindness isn’t a factor).
They weren’t affected by the cold, just by the physical blasts. Though logically, Chilblain should have been affected by cold since he wasn’t an actual meta, just an ordinary human with some techno-magical gauntlets. Maybe they also protected him from the cold.
Fair enough. In previous battles it had seemed like Frost’s opponents had been affected more by the cold than the physical blast, but in those cases, she might have been deliberately making the blast gentle but still cold.
I think I spoke too soon when I said that we would be spared the sight of a trial of Killer Frost. The next episode is entitled “The People v. Killer Frost”, which I presume will be her sentencing hearing. The show is on hiatus now, and will return on May 4.
CAITLIN FIGHTS TO CLEAR FROST - With Frost facing an unjust punishment for her past crimes, Caitlin goes to great lengths to save her sister. Meanwhile, Barry’s efforts to protect Speed Force Nora (guest star Michelle Harrison) lead to a shocking discovery.
I was dreading this episode, as Cecille, this show, and the Arrowverse in general, doesn’t have a good track record with courtroom drama. But this one was actually pretty good. Maybe because it was just a sentencing hearing and so the writers could concentrate on character testimony rather than, you know, the rules of evidence. Danielle Panabaker was exceptional pulling double duty as Caitlin and Frost.
Was anyone actually surprised when the Speed Force turned out to just be looking out for #1 and betrayed Barry in the end? Anyone at all?
In casting news, it’s just been announced that Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanaugh are leaving the show. Tom’s name hasn’t even been in the credits since OG Wells bid adeiu; this announcement just makes it official. Carlos will be leaving at the end of the season.
Not surprised about the speedforce being evil, and just as not surprised that the perpetually perceptive Barry also missed it. Sad to hear about Carlos, he will be missed…Tom C was a good addition early on but the continued hacking of him into the plot as yet another trans-dimensional Wells was starting to get old.
Will Frost get pardoned/commuted? I could see it happening.
It has been pretty obvious that Speed Force has been no compromise/ends justify the means for quite a while so no, not a shock.
I see two possibilities for Frost. One: She’s needed to save the day in a big way, and her sentence is commuted. Two: Since presumably she’ll be at Iron Heights, there will be a jailbreak (or something along those lines) and she’ll die heroically defending a non-meta guard or lawyer or visiting relative of another meta.
Oh, and I’m wondering who the villainous meta who got those soldiers killed is. Since they didn’t mention his name, I’m guessing that’s going to be a big reveal later this season.
I know Barry is caviler with his identity, but I could almost hear the quotation marks when Barry reminded Fuerza that “Flash” had promised that she would be safe in Star Labs.
Will miss Cisco and the various forms of Wells (and Frostie, assuming she’s out for a while). For a while, “Flash” had the most stable cast in the Arrowverse, but no more.
BARRY SEEKS OUT TIMELESS WELLS - After a devastating betrayal, Barry turns to Timeless Wells for help. Meanwhile, Iris leads Team Citizen down a dangerous road in search of answers, and Cisco confides his biggest fear to Kamilla (guest star Victoria Park).
So Timeless Wells is just chillin’ in his beach house at the turn of the century. Barry can go visit him for advice any time, right? He’s gonna need it soon as they’re setting up for Cisco leaving. I mean, they’ve been setting it up for a couple of seasons now but this time they’re serious.
This was a pretty blah episode. It wasn’t actively bad, but neither was it particularly good either. Just a transition from the revelation last episode that the Speed Force really isn’t Nora Allen to her actively hunting down the other Forces. Good thing that Barry and Iris can use the Power of Love to revive any of them that she kills.
PSYCH THREATENS IRIS - Iris is pushed to the limit as she seeks to uncover the mysterious truth about Psych (guest star Ennis Esmer). Meanwhile, Barry initiates a new training system, that could potentially backfire, with devastating consequences. Joe and Cisco make life-altering decisions.
