After a week off, The Flash is back, and continues to develop both the mythos of Barry Allen and his supporting cast, as well as the DC Universe in general.
1. A backdoor Captain Atom pilot?
The whole episode, I was waiting for a reference to Nathan Adam – it seemed right there. Harold Hadley and Wade Eiling were part of the team that created him, and Plastique is his former love interest. But, they didn’t bite – they kept his name out of the episode, although I would not be surprised if that is a season 2 or 3 development.
By bringing such a heavy Captain Atom focus, what the show did, and what it continues to do so well, is that it gives the viewer an idea that, while the show may be a fun sci-fi romp, the particle accelerator had some real consequences that ruined lives and destroyed families. Barry isn’t the norm here – he is the exception.
2. Up on the Rooftop
The scene between Barry and Iris on the rooftop was the most recent in the line of superheroes talking to their girlfriends on roofs. Think Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder in Superman or Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman in Batman Forever – the Flash folks know this, too. They are keenly aware of the references, and that little nod to the past really helped tonight.
This was the first time that Barry and Iris had enough chemistry to pass 10th grade. When Barry “breaks up” with her at the end of the episode, it felt like it meant something, which is more than could be said for most of their onscreen time. We know, because everyone reminds us, how much she means to him and vice versa, but it was nice to see that translate into a palpable chemistry onscreen. They’re still no Barricity, but they’re getting closer.
3. Plastique, and the Freak of the Week Graveyard
So far, only two villains has made in through an episode in tact: Captain Cold and the Mist (and that is only because they couldn’t figure out a way to effectively kill him). I don’t know why this is the route they plan on taking – Plastique is far more interesting in a few seasons as that potential Captain Atom love interest, or as the key to linking Wells to some bad shit than she is an explosion underwater.
I get that the show needs to establish how dangerous it is to be a metahuman – we’ve received that message loud and clear. Plastique was such a well developed character – in 40 or so minutes, we got to see her at her best and at her worst, we saw her manipulated, we saw her attempt redemption. That would mean so much more if we’d see her again.
Also, eventually DC will run out of villain cannon fodder – let’s start keeping some of these folks around, ok?
4. Wells starts showing his hand
This episode marked the first time, outside of each episode’s little stinger, that Wells has let on to anyone that his agenda might not be what he lets on. Of course, he does so to a person that he believes won’t live to see the end of the day, so it isn’t exactly like he’s tipping his pitches too much. However, between that scene, and the penultimate scene with Eiling essentially letting Wells know that his game is not going unnoticed, we are starting to see that Wells might be outed before too long.
At first, I thought that he would be the big bad of the entire series, but not revealed to Barry until 2 or 3 seasons in, but all signs are pointing to that being how this season ends. I’m not complaining, bit it is a little surprising that this show is moving so (puts on sunglasses) fast.
5. That Flock of Seagulls cover was pretty dope
For those that were paying attention, the song playing at the bar where Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin were hanging out was “I Ran (So Far Away),” originally by A Flock of Seagulls. It is this sort of cheesy humor that could turn people off, but I think is actually very endearing. While Arrow has been all about showing the darkness eating at the heart of Starling, The Flash is about Barry as the heart of Central City. Sure, it isn’t the most sophisticated show on TV, but it sure does satisfy.
Oh, and they pretty much promised us Grodd sooner than later. So there’s that!
