The FlashBack: ‘The Flash’ – Episode 3 ‘Magenta’

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

The episode we’ve all been waiting for! Our friends from Earth 2 show up and we get to meet Jesse as a speedster! Of course, this means that we’ll have to put her to the test as well as continue to deal with the changes in Central City because of Flashpoint. As always there will be spoilers beyond this point.

One of the best things about this show is when Barry gets to be goofy, adorable Barry and last night he was in fine form taking Iris on a first date. Before he can go on that date, though, Barry has to get past Julian. Julian’s one of those annoying people that counts every second which is torturous to Barry because of that hot date, but to be honest is a little torturous to watch as well. Julian is not a character I’m enjoying and I’m with Barry in not being able to get away from him fast enough. Having escaped Julian, Barry zips off to his date. He buys Iris a bunch of flowers which he displays first as a heart and then as her name to impress her. It’s so cute, but Iris doesn’t need it. She just wants to go out with Barry. Not the Flash, just Barry. The pair head to a fancy restaurant, but the date is lackluster and quickly cut short. The Flash is needed.

Back at STAR a breach has opened. One thing that seems to have remained the same in this new world is that a breach is a bad idea so the team is tense. However, when the visitors come through it’s Harry! Everyone is relieved and then surprised when right behind him comes a speedster blur in the form of Jesse. Last season when the team had to restore Barry’s speed, Wally and Jesse got hit with particle accelerator energy. Jesse got speed. Wally, at least in this version of the timeline, didn’t. The disappointment is clear on his face. At any rate, Harry wants the team’s help with Jesse. He also quickly figures out that Barry did the thing and broke the timeline again because things aren’t quite the same. It seems Barry’s actions had no impact on Earth 2.

So Jesse’s a speedster, Barry’s bad at first dates, and Wally’s bummed out. What else is going on in Central City? Well, a really abusive guy comes home from work to terrorize his wife and foster daughter, that’s what. The girl, Frankie, has had it, though, She speaks up for herself and her foster mother only to get threatened by abusive dad. This isn’t his best move because it triggers something in Frankie. Her eyes go violet, the sweet girl disappears, and a streetlamp flies into the house and attacks abusive dad. The next day, Joe and Barry are investigating the crime, trying to figure out what happened. Joe’s questioning Frankie who is really upset and has no idea what happened. Julian decides to get involved, inserting himself into the investigation by taking Frankie’s water glass and testing it for an element that’s been present in all of the new metahumans. Sure enough, Frankie has it and that’s when Julian is less than smart about things. He confronts the poor girl and yells at her about being a metahuman right there in the police station. Our girl’s eyes go violet again and things get crazy. Frankie becomes Magenta and she goes after Julian. Fortunately the Flash saves the day, then tries to talk Magenta down outside the station. Unlike most of their foes, Flash is able to see that there’s an innocent person inside, suffering. Flash almost gets through to her, but almost isn’t enough. Magenta escapes.

Back at the lab Harry wants everyone to talk Jesse out of being a speedster. While that is going on, Wally is feeling badly about not being a speedster and Joe wants to talk some sense into Wally about it. Instead, Wally and Jesse turn to each other for support, but that also goes sideways when Jesse explains to Wally how her powers triggered. You see, Jesse got her speed when she was almost hit by a car. Wally decides to try this, but it doesn’t work as well for him. Jesse has to save Wally and Wally’s really upset that he doesn’t have speed. Could he be remembering his time as Kid Flash in the other timeline? There’s no time to find out for sure because the team is needed.

Iris goes to visit Frankie’s abusive dad in the hospital to get information for her story. That’s when Iris puts together that this guy is a bad guy, but also that Magenta will be coming for him. No sooner than Iris realizes this than it happens. Iris looks out the window and sees a tanker ship lifting into the air at them. Team Flash is alerted (they finally have panic buttons) and Flash zooms in to save the day. There’s a catch, though. Barry’s not strong enough to stop that tanker and it’s about to be dropped on the hospital. There’s also not enough time to get everyone out of the hospital so the Flash has to run in a figure eight pattern to try to keep the tanker from crushing the hospital and killing everyone. This running pattern, however, means he can’t take on Magenta. Harry realizes there’s only one solution and he tells Jesse to run. That’s right! We get to see Jesse Quick in action! Jesse races to the scene and takes over for Barry, keeping the tanker off the hospital while the Flash confronts Magenta.

This might be one of the best scenes of the episode. The Flash talks to Magenta knowing that Frankie is inside. Honestly, it’s less the Flash talking and more Barry as he appeals to the young woman to be strong and that she’s far better than the awful person her abusive foster father made her feel like. Barry’s words work. Magenta fades back, the tanker gets put away, and then the scared, broken Frankie hugs the Flash tight and cries. Back at STAR the team explains things to Frankie, that she’s going to be going to a safe, loving foster home elsewhere and that her abuser is going to be going to prison. Frankie also explains to them how Alchemy came to her and how this all started with her dreaming of her powers. Wally looks really uncomfortable and I’m pretty sure he’s experiencing the same thing. The episode closes with Barry and Iris trying to date again, this time embracing how the Flash is in their lives. The date is cut short again when Barry’s needed at the police department. They have video of what happened to the Rival in Iron Heights. The Alchemy mystery deepens.

Next week? Jesse Quick in her official speedster costume! I can’t wait! Let me know how you felt about this week’s episode in the comments!