The Flash Null and Annoyed Television 

Five Thoughts on The Flash‘s “Null and Annoyed”

By | April 11th, 2018
Posted in Television | % Comments

The Flash returns! After a mini-hiatus, the show continues towards the inevitable confrontation between Team Flash and the Thinker. Let’s dig in!

1. Ewww Askew

Kevin Smith has directed his fair share of CW-verse shows – this episode marks his sixth – but this episode felt the most over the top Smith-ian of the bunch. That is, of course, due in part to having Jay and Silent Bob be (unnamed) characters in this episode, but it was also the hammiest and least nuanced episode of the season in a number of ways.

Now, Smith didn’t pen the teleplay, so it’s not like he can take all the blame for the episode, but his direction certainly didn’t limit the cheese. Danny Trejo, already a bit much, was chewing scenery like he hadn’t eaten in weeks, and Ralph – again, a bit much on his best day – was so over the top obnoxious I wanted to throw my shoe at the television. The show isn’t exactly Mad Men, but there is a tonal difference between this and the much sillier Legends of Tomorrow, and this episode showed none of that.

It’s also that this particular episode was dealing with a lot of heavy moments, and Smith’s style and heavy moments do not really mix (see Girl, Jersey). Mrs. Devoe realizing Clifford’s plan, Breacher’s retirement, Barry and Ralph’s heart to heart, all of those moments required more nuance than they were given this week. While it wouldn’t have been the best episode of the series, or even the season, in any hands, Smith’s musk was way too overpowering to escape.

2. Null

Continuing their desire to bring in the most minor of DC villains, Null was the meta of the week. Her ability to remove the gravity from a person/space is maybe a decent power? I can’t really tell, as it was used sparingly and for humor pretty much each time. Using it on Barry outside was the most dramatic example, even if its resolution involved an over-sized whoopee cushion. Made of Ralph. Because of course.

3. Who would’ve thought the DeVoe marriage wasn’t a match made in heaven?

Mrs. DeVoe…wait, let’s look her name up. Marlize? Really? OK then. Marlize came to the realization this week that Clifford was drugging her and manipulating her to do what he wanted, including giving her false joy through the Weeper’s tears. This was, obviously, quite cold, but really not that out of character. I guess love is blind yada yada, but Marlize should probably have realized that her husband, totally cool with killing folks and taking over their bodies before discarding them like old pumpkins, was not exactly the most moral man there was.

That said? The episode did a decent job giving her something to do besides just look uncomfortable this week, so let’s take that as a win.

4. Let’s rap

Barry and Ralph had a conversation this week about Ralph’s defense mechanisms, which I didn’t think required discussion. Did Barry not actually realize that the reason Ralph jokes about everything is due to his fear/insecurity? Did Barry not go to high school? A therapist could have a field day on the irony of Barry not recognizing someone’s past influencing their adulthood. Sure, it’s totally normal to a) wear a costume, b) marry your quasi-sister, c) find surrogate parents everywhere you look, right?

5. The New Breacher

My favorite, and objectively the worst, part of the episode involved Cisco and Josh Breacher’s interactions. Cisco is consulted as to why his girlfriend’s dad is losing his powers, and he’s too chicken shit to tell him the truth – because he’s getting old. The only person with a worse situation this week was Caitlin, whose only job it was to tell Cisco to tell his wannabe father in law he’s too old. Can we get Caitlin a plot, pronto?

But back to Breacher for a moment. At the end of the episode, after a fight with a vampire (!?), he finds out that his powers are waning with age, and accepts retirement. But before he does, he offers Cisco an intriguing possibility: become the new Breacher. That way, he can use and hone his powers and spend more time with Gypsy. I think we all know he’s not going to take it, but why shouldn’t he? He’d still be a hero, he’d still be just a breach away from helping/visiting his pals, and he would be able to have a more normal relationship.

As much as I’d miss Cisco on the show, I hope he says yes.


//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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