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
Last week it looked like the end for Iris West. Last night we got to see what happened after that heartbreaking moment in the season three finale. Think you know how it’s going to end? You might want to grab some tissues, buckle your seat belt, and get ready for a spoiler and surprise-filled recap below.
Last night picks up right where last week left off. Barry is cradling Iris while everyone else who witnessed Savitar kill her stands by crying. Iris gasps suddenly in Barry’s arms and then holds up HR’s image changer and suddenly it’s not Iris in Barry’s arms anymore. A brief flashback explains that HR felt so bad about revealing Iris’ location that he rescued Iris from Savitar and then took her place. With his time drawing short, HR and Tracy share a moment and then HR gives Barry a message for Cisco before dying. It’s shortly after that sad moment that the gang realizes that Savitar took the Speed Force bazooka. Cut to the forest. Killer Frost is about to bring the pain down on Cisco but Savitar shows up and stops her. He needs Cisco. He also realizes that Iris didn’t die.
Back at STAR, the gang starts talking about how when Savitar killed HR and not Iris a weird paradox was created. Because of this Savitar will, in time, vanish but it could take a few hours. Julian takes this moment to reveal that he has a cure for Killer Frost. Wally then shows up and reveals that Savitar has both Frost and Cisco. At the same time, Savitar explains to Cisco his plan. Savitar wants Cisco to adjust the bazooka so that it would force Savitar remnants through all time meaning he would both not be able to be erased and would also rule. Savitar, who gets the memory of the cure for Caitlin, uses that knowledge against Cisco.
Barry and Iris share a moment in the Reverse Flash room, but instead of taking the moment in Barry has an epiphany. He is going to stop things by doing the last thing anyone expects him to do in an attempt to stop Savitar. Next thing we see Barry is confronting Savitar. He tells him that they need to stop hurting one another because they share the same memories and the same experiences. It seems like Barry gets through and Savitar joins Barry back at STAR. Tracy may be Savitar’s only hope, but she’s not on board to help. Iris tags Harrison Wells to assist and he gives Tracy a pep talk. However, Savitar wasn’t exactly on board with thing. He plants and rigs the Philosopher’s Stone to explode. Wally and Barry get everyone out in the nick of time.
At the lair, Cisco finishes the adjustments to the bazooka and Savitar orders Frost to kill Cisco. Just as she is about to do so, Gypsy appears and vibes Cisco to safety. Wasting no time, Savitar and Frost go to the waterfront and start the process of making Savitar immortal. Black Flash shows up to stop them, but Frost easily stops him. However, even with Black Flash out of the way the bazooka doesn’t work. Cisco rigged it and Jay Garrick shows up. From there it’s a fight to stop Savitar. Barry, Wally, Cisco and Gypsy along with Jay all take on Frost and Savitar. Savitar grabs Cisco and is about to kill him when Frost unexpectedly stops him. Savitar then tells Barry that even though only minutes remain, Savitar is going to kill everyone Barry loves.
Except not. Barry kicks Savitar out of his armor and destroys it before punching Savitar down. Savitar gives it one last try as Barry is walking back to Cisco and Frost, but a gunshot rings out. Iris shoots Savitar who quickly vanishes from paradox.
And things start to wrap up. The team holds a funeral for HR. Barry tells Cisco HR’s final message, that the strength he needed to save Iris came from Cisco. Killer Frost watches from a distance and reveals to the group that she’s not Caitlin and she’s not Killer Frost and she needs time to find out who she really is. At Barry and Iris’ apartment, they start talking wedding plans and are happy for a moment. That moment is shattered, however, by tremors and lightning all over Central City. They make it to STAR Labs where they realize that this is a Speed Force storm. Jay leaving the Speed Force prison made thing unstable. Barry knows what he has to do.
A portal opens up and out walks Barry’s mom telling him it’s time for Barry to rest, time to cross the finish line. Barry takes a moment to say his goodbyes and takes a moment to make Iris promise to always keep running. He then joins hands with his mother and disappears into the Speed Force. The portal closes. The storm ends. Barry is gone.
And with that it’s the end of season three. Until season four!
The Hudsucker 
I’m honestly a bit salty over H.R. dying