The Flash is DC’s television adaptation of the comic book of the same name. It airs Tuesday nights at 8/7 Central on The CW. Our writer, Nicole Drum recaps the series each week updating you on the latest episode here in The FlashBack.
Image Credit: The CW
As the episode opens with our hero narrating, Barry talks about the nature of running and how it plays out in his life: running to avoid things. While running, Harry and Cisco are irritating each other in the lab with Harry being demanding about what Barry needs to do and Cisco pushing his buttons. This growing irritation between the two comes to a quick halt when a chemical truck is out of control and Barry has to stop it. Except when Barry gets there, no one is driving the truck and Barry can’t stop it. Cisco informs him that he can’t allow the tanker to crash or it will explode, so Barry uses his speed to take the tires off the truck for a safe stop. Lurking nearby is Eobard Thawne. Yes, Eobard Thawne.
With the crisis averted, back at the lab, the gang realizes that The Turtle is dead. This is not good for the team since they had planned to use The Turtle to figure out how to stop Zoom. Jay suspects that Harry has something to do with this.
Back at the police station, Barry and Patty have a rather awkward exchange. Barry is backed up on work and Patty seems to want to talk, but Barry isn’t really in the mood. He feels like there is nothing to talk about now that she is leaving. As Patty leaves disappointed, Iris shows up to try and convince Barry to talk to Patty and work things out. This semi-sibling moment is interrupted by a sad Joe who has just come from visiting Francine as she nears the end of her life. He has said his goodbyes and suggests now would be Iris’ opportunity.
Meanwhile, Harry is working on something on his computer and trying to figure out how he can do what he must to free his daughter from Zoom. Cisco comes in and the pair talk about trying to figure things out, but the issue of Cisco’s vibes come in. Cisco points out that it took some time for him to be able to vibe on Harry and Harry agrees. This ultimately leads to the two of the trying to trigger Cisco’s powers and they are successful, but only when Harry dresses as Reverse Flash and scares poor Cisco. It seems the adrenaline rush from fear triggers his vibes. And what does Cisco vibe? Reverse Flash. Yeah, he’s back.
There is a break in at Mercury Labs. The Flash shows up, but so does Reverse Flash. As one would imagine Flash is confused. On the other hand, Reverse Flash is pretty excited. He informs the Flash that now he knows what time he originates from and can kill him. He punches Flash pretty soundly and vanishes with scientist, Dr. McGee. Barry is left to explain the situation to the gang. Understandably, they are confused. Harry attempts to explain the situation as a timeline remnant. It somewhat makes sense if you don’t think too hard. At any rate, the team now knows that Reverse Flash (and therefore Eobard Thawne) is back and must stop him, as well as figure out Zoom.
At the hospital, Joe and Iris take a moment to visit Francine. It would seem that Joe has made his peace and now Iris has her turn. Francine tells her daughter that now is the time to say what needs to be said so Iris does. Iris tells her mother that she had a great childhood, but now wonders what it would have been like to have had her mother and brother there. Iris also tells Francine that she isn’t angry with her anymore and has forgiven her. She then leaves the room in tears. Also in tears, or near them, is Patty as she tries again to talk to Barry. Barry has a good opportunity to let Patty in and tell her everything. He does admit to loving her, but doesn’t take full advantage of the situation to right things. Instead, he pushes Patty even further away.
Back at the lab, Harry has fashioned a pair of goggles for Cisco that will let him access his vibe powers without having to be scared into it. The goggles work well and with a little guidance from Harry, Cisco is able to focus on Reverse Flash and what he’s done with the good doctor. Unfortunately, he sees what’s happened: Dr. McGee is dead and Reverse Flash has now been flung back into the future. This is bad. The whole crew gets together to sort this out and in their talking realize that Cisco saw the future. They have three hours to save the doctor and stop Thawne. They roll out.
Joe comes to say goodbye to Patty. Joe has a moment talking to Patty, who talks about the secrets they keep. It seems that Patty has figured out there is a connection between Barry and the Flash. Not only has she solved the connection, but has come to the conclusion that her Barry is the Flash. When Joe tries to lie to Patty, she calls his bluff.
Iris goes to visit Wally at his garage and tries to steer him to seeing his mom. They argue a bit until Iris tells Wally about the death of Eddie and how she never got to say goodbye. She uses this story to encourage Wally to go see Francine before it is too late. It’s not clear how successful she is as Wally leaves without a word.
Back at the lab the gang works out their strategy to save Dr. McGee. Caitlin is there too, but is worried about Jay. Turns out that Jay does not have an Earth One doppelgänger and Caitlin finds that weird. Barry encourages her to talk to Jay about it. Joe comes to let Barry know that Patty has figured out his secret, but Barry says he can’t tell her because bad guys might be able to hurt her if she’s part of his life and secret. They can’t talk about it much more though because they have located Reverse Flash’s whereabouts. The Flash shows up in the nick of time to save Dr. McGee and stop Eobard from going home.
The two face off, but unlike the last time the Flash and Reverse Flash fought, Barry is ready. He wails on Reverse Flash as though he is going to kill him. Joe and the team talk him down. Flash ends up knocking him out and dragging him back to the lab. They lock him in the holding cell, and though Barry wants to go talk to Thawne, Harry talks him out of it. Talking to Thawne might have unexpected consequences to the timeline. Of course, Cisco goes down and confronts him (including a great “bye, Felicia” moment) and leaves. As he leaves though, his nose begins to bleed.
Patty confronts Barry about being the Flash. She asks him to tell her the truth so that she will stay. Barry again denies his superhero identity and a heartbroken Patty leaves.
Back at the lab, Barry also confronts Reverse Flash looking for answers. He gets none, but does get called back up to the others. Cisco is in very bad shape and gets sedated by Caitlin, but then weird things happen to him. Turns out that with Thawne being captured here, Cisco is suffering the ramifications. The only way to save him is to send Thawne home and Barry has to get him there since the tachyon device is busted. Harry goes down to confront Thawne and a way to get him home. It’s a neat exchange where Harry claims to be no one of consequence even though Thawne knows better. Harry also gives Barry a pep talk and explains that this moment is Thawne’s origin story and he has to do it to save his friend.
The two speedsters take off through the accelerator and their combined speed works to open up a way for Reverse Flash to get home. Barry throws Thawne in the opening and it works. Cisco returns and is going to be okay. Barry just gave up his biggest enemy to save his best friend.
Wrapping up loose ends in the episode, Wally shows up on the West’s doorstep and asks Iris to come with him to see Francine one final time. She is happy to do so. Caitlin goes with Jay to the park where they observe his doppelgänger. The reason they couldn’t track him was because he had a different name. Here, he is known as Hunter Zolomon, adopted as a child. (Remember that name, fans.) Anyway, his DNA is of no use to Jay in regards to healing him because his speed mutated him. Instead, Jay and Caitlin have to renew their efforts to stop Zoom and get Jay’s speed back.
And in the final loose end, Barry gets a phone call from Patty who is frantic. There is a shooter on her train heading out of Central City. Barry tells her he will send help and then speeds off to rescue her. The only problem is that when he gets onto the train, there is no shooter. There is only Patty (and other passengers). Patty tells him it was a false alarm and there is a tense moment between the two as Barry realizes Patty just busted him with a false alarm to confirm what she knew the whole time. Patty assures him that everything is good and as he speeds away, she tearfully says goodbye to Barry.
The theme this week seemed to be sacrifice and the teaser for next week definitely seems to indicate that we’re not done with that. What did you think? Anyone else really wondering about the Jay/Zoom/Zolomon connection? Share your theories in the comments section!
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