The Flash, "Magenta" Television 

Five Thoughts on The Flash‘s “Magenta”

By | October 19th, 2016
Posted in Television | 2 Comments

OK, so everyone is aware that Barry changed the timeline, and we can move on with business as usual, right? Not so fast…

1. A more glum tone

Is it just me, or has most of the hope evaporated from this show? Even when Barry and Iris are on their date(s), it seems like they’re pushing against the tide of ‘fuck it, it’s not worth it, life is pain’ and trying to make something better out of their sad lives. This is a decidedly different tone than the show has had in the past, and I’m not entirely thrilled with it. Now, this might still have some residual effects from the new timeline, but it seems like everyone is just more glum than they were in the past.

Cisco still seems quite subdued, Caitlin is freaking out over her powers, Wally is emo about not being a speedster, Barry is considerably less happy at work – I’m not the only one seeing this, right? Now, I recognize that this episode’s main plot has its roots in child abuse within the foster care system, so the fact that there weren’t more pratfalls and whoopee cushions is tonally appropriate. I just hope that, with the addition of Supergirl to the CW, the show doesn’t feel like it needs to get darker, and let Kara be the shining star. There’s room for both shows to be overtly positive. In fact, we need that.

2. Frankie / Magenta

As alluded to earlier, Frankie’s backstory here is absolutely heartbreaking. A child within the (broken) foster care system is an automatically sympathetic character, and Joey King does a great job showing a teenager trying very hard to push through her difficult living situation. But we also see her split personality, Magenta, pop up, who wants to hurt her foster father beyond repair. Even the ‘evil’ Magenta is a sympathetic character, because fuck that guy, right? But, her dropping of a tanker on the hospital where he’s laid up isn’t exactly a rational approach to hurting the dude.

We’ll get into the specifics of this in a little bit, but the show is making interesting choices with its evil metas this season, having them, essentially, all be turned evil without much of their own choice, due to Alchemy’s hand. That makes fighting them a much more nuanced and difficult task for Team Flash.

3. Harry and Jesse pop in for a visit

I remember at the end of the last season debating the ease in which a breach could be re-opened and, it seems, it isn’t too difficult at all! Bam, here come our Earth 2 pals!

I’ve praised Tom Cavanaugh’s performance many times in these pieces, but he was a little too ‘panicky dad’ for my tastes this episode. Sure, he’s always been protective of/worried about Jesse, but he was a character from a 1930’s screwball comedy here. I get that, to show how worried he is, there must be an over the top aspect to his character, but c’mon guys – a little restraint goes a long way.

As for Jesse the speedster, the show handled this part, perhaps, the best of any part of this episode. Jesse clearly loves being a speedster, and Wally – who is sweet on her – is insanely jealous. I like where this is leading, and I look forward to seeing the show ramp up both Jesse’s character – replete with her own Flash costume – and Wally’s resentment in the coming weeks.

4. Barry and Iris are sophomore science…

…because they FINALLY HAVE REAL CHEMISTRY!

It took two entire seasons, but I finally can see the spark between these two clear as day. Especially on their second attempted date, there was something incredibly simple and lovely about their attraction to one another – it also doesn’t help that they are two absolutely gorgeous people. I mean, who wouldn’t fall in love with Iris with her hairstyle and dress from that second date, or Barry’s adorable attempts to look grown up, but still have sneakers on.

This may be the most important development of the entire season, because if they show is going to be invested in their love long term, we have to be invested in it, too. Helping us care is a huge step forward. Even in this dark episode, that last date provided some much needed hope.

Continued below

Also, did anyone else think that Barry took her far away, to some romantic getaway, and then left her there? I fully expected her to say, after he sped away: “Wait a minute, where the hell am I?”

5. Alchemy

As hinted at above, the Alchemy thread of this season is really interesting, if a little bit problematic. Since he can remember the Flashpoint timeline, and since he is hellbent on returning metahuman abilities to the people who had powers in that timeline, it is only a matter of time before he gives Wally back his speed. This show has always been about people getting their powers without consent, but this feels somehow even more aggressive than just being hit by the particle accelerator’s dark matter.

Here’s my ballsy prediction for the rest of the season: Alchemy is a major villain until the 4-show crossover, where the Legends undo all this stuff that’s been done by Flashpoint, and ‘reset’ the timelines. Of course, this leaves Wally without speed, but they’ll figure that out somehow, because there is no way the show wants to give up on Kid Flash.

So, what did you guys think? Let me know in the comments!


//TAGS | The Flash

Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

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