No time for jibber jabber, let’s get to it.
1. I’m Surprised Iron Heights is Still Standing…
…because I’m shocked that Mark Hamill didn’t chew all of the scenery, bringing the prison to the ground. Good God, y’all.
That isn’t to say that I didn’t love Hamill reprising his role as the Trickster – it was a nice bit of nostalgia (more on that later) that gave the show a little bit of history to play with. In fact, this whole episode was really a stocking of the show’s past, giving everyone a little more legacy to play with, so the show feels a little more lived in. That isn’t a bad thing at all.
This was also the first episode that would have seemed far fetched, in points, even as a comic. There were some incredibly comic-y moments, like Henry Allen having knives hanging above his head, or the Harrison Wells makeover program (again, more on that later), and everything about the episode was just a step further down the comics rabbit hole than the show usually goes. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it puts even more space between The Flash and Arrow, tone wise.
2. Hamill’s Legacy
I realized something shocking last night: there are people who are dedicated fans of The Flash who probably have no idea who Mark Hamill is – kids who haven’t seen the original Star Wars trilogy, kids who never knew him as the voice of The Joker on Batman: The Animated Series, and certainly folks who have no idea that there was ever another Flash show, or that he played the Trickster on that show, too.
For those fans, this episode might have fallen flat, as so much of it hinges on knowing Hamill’s legacy: seeing him in the old Trickster duds, hearing a tinge of that Joker laugh, having him reverse the classic Luke/Vader moment, all of that was very cool for fans of Hamill. Hell, he was practically reprising his role as Cock-Knocker from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
This episode had people, like my cousin, who was a fan of the original show asking about it. This is a good thing for this episode, but the show needs to keep building on its own, instead of just relying on the past glories of its guest stars.
3. The best possible version of continuity
The show continues to tweak, and push, and adapt, and change, and generally play with the idea of continuity, but in doing so, they’ve been using that sometimes icky word in the best way possible. The show’s past and future are somewhat fluid, and we’ve seen all the various permutations of how the creators are going to play with it and, let me tell you, it is the best version of continuity possible from a superhero show. Here’s why:
Everything that has happened on the show is in play for change, but the show, so far, is incredibly reluctant to actually change anything. Sure, we saw Barry erase an entire day, but that’s the extent of it. I’m sure that the show will go further down this path as it goes on, but it also seems to recognize that the show works because of the characters, and the emotional beats between them, rather than the super sci-fi elements. As long as that is the case, and continuity is the cherry on top, the show is going to thrive.
4. Henry and Joe
I’ve said this in the past, but how lucky is Barry to have the two greatest dads in the history of the world in his corner? Both men seem to be the platonic ideal of a fictional father: they are sensitive and loving, while still being ‘tough’ guys, and men who genuinely love, and show affection to, their kids.
Contrast this with just about every other father on TV, and you’ll see just how rare this combination is. Henry, for a man locked up for 15 years, is surprisingly sunny, and Joe, for a man who has a tough job, a huge secret to keep from his daughter, and who spends a lot of time getting shot at, is about the most pleasant guy you can imagine.
Continued belowCan we show these men to expectant fathers and ask them to emulate them? Pretty please?
5. Boo Ya?
So, I’m not claiming total victory on my “Wells isn’t the Reverse Flash” theory, but I am taking partial credit on it. This was a really well done, interesting development on the show that, if pushed just slightly differently, could’ve been incredibly cheesy. This explains why the blood at the crime scene doesn’t match Wells, which was the big sticking point on the ‘who actually is the Reverse Flash?’ questionnaire.
But that isn’t even the best part: this allows there to be, way down the line, redemption for Wells – the real Wells, not the face-sucked through a meat thermometer Thawne. I can’t see the show, until the very, very end, if ever, going back and saving Barry’s mom – but, if they do decide to do that, that would also mean that Harrison Wells would never have been co-opted by Eobard Thawne, and could still do his great work with the particle accelerator.
The question, of course, would be this: what would become of Barry? Would he just be your cuter than average CSI guy? Or would fate, the universe, whatever, still find a way to make him a hero?
Bonus Point
So now Eddie knows that Barry is the Flash? Why don’t they just take out an ad in Iris’s paper?
Let’s talk more in the comments, you guys!
