The Flash Season 2 Episode 23 Review: The Race of His Life
Carissa Pavlica
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Zoom really did want to race. And destroy the multiverse.
For a man who covets power and being the best, Zoom's objectives, which were revealed on The Flash Season 2 Episode 23, seemed counter productive. Why seek ALL THE POWER only to wipe out everyone and every place where you could show it off?
Nope. Zoom didn't have what it takes to be a season long big bad. He fell short in many areas, and as a result, the finale wasn't all that compelling, either.
Let's be honest. Did anybody believe Joe was in jeopardy at any time? Henry just died. There was no way in hell they were going to kill off Joe one episode later.
Supergirl lives on another earth. (We don't know the number, do we? Why did I think it was 3?) They weren't going to destroy the multiverse, either. It's a lot like the the annual Arrow episodes where Star City is in peril from one type of destruction device or another and you wonder why on earth anyone continues to live there.
In addition to wanting to race and be all powerful, Zoom also really had a need for Barry to embrace his anger. I'm not sure what that would get him, but man he wanted it bad.
Given everything Barry had been through, he was on board. Really, we were all on board. Since his target was Zoom, it's difficult to understand why Team Flash wasn't diggin' the end game being Zoom's death, but perhaps it had more to do with Barry's ability to focus. If you can't focus your energy properly, you can lose.
Nobody wanted Barry to lose the fight with Zoom. Of course, their own attempt to take him down went horribly, and it all ended up on Barry's shoulders anyway. He handled it beautifully.
I'll never understand a time remnant and why going back in time and getting yourself doesn't affect the future, especially when those remnants perish. It was weird seeing Barry die in order to save the day.
The reveal of the Man in the Iron Mask was done without much fanfare. It was Jay Garrick, who is an Earth-3 Henry Allen Doppelganger.
It was pretty cool to see John Wesley Shipp back in a Flash suit, and if it means he gets more screen time, even if it's not as Barry's dad, then I'm all for it. Let's keep him around, OK?
Barry reacted normally to seeing him and didn't interact with real Jay much at all. But, Jay can return for visits now as they don't have to close the breaches for fear of Zoom coming back.
And, since Harry and Jesse went home, if we're ever to see Harry again, the breaches have to remain open. I knew it was a long shot for Harry to stay in Central City once Jesse said she wanted to go back.
Strangely, the season was so lackluster in general that I wasn't even ruffled to learn Harry was heading home. Standing side by side with The Flash Season 1, when you remember at the emotional connection with the characters and the immersion felt with the storylines, there was more distance between us and the characters now.
Barry was bummed out at the end, which made sense. He even went so far as to tell Iris he just wasn't ready to explore a future with her. While that was a bit suspicious, I figured he would go off to mope.
Barry had earlier told Iris he came to terms with Nora's death while in the Speed Force, so I'm not sure why he didn't go back in time to save Henry. He learned how to be childish hanging around Hunter and ran back in time, killed Eobard Thawne (I think he killed him, unless it's The Walking Dead version of non-death death), and saved Nora.
What the hell?
So now what? Where will that leave things when the season starts? Will Barry's mother be alive? Are we watching Frequency already, but Barry is his own dead parent changing the future before he runs back into it?
Saving Nora SHOULD be a lot different than it was to kill Eobard Thawne and Eddie at the end of Season 1. The impact should be far reaching and have major implications. Barry's entire existence could be altered, right down to Henry being alive, since he never went to prison in the first place. His relationship with Joe? Gone.
No Eobard, no dead Harrison Wells. No particle accelerator? My head hurts just thinking about everything Barry could have messed up. It would be pretty cool if he flat out lost his powers while in the past. Didn't Harrison Wells originally create the particle accelerator later, which is why Eobard used his skin?
Maybe Barry only loses his powers when he returns, and that's how Wally gets his powers. And, of course, Nora might finally have screen time in the present...aged?
Eh, I'm not going to try to guess more of what's coming. Maybe you all have more. I just hope it's carried off better than this season, isn't as easy to figure out and brings more organic emotion instead of that manufactured by shock and awe.
I should be a lot more jazzed after just having watched the finale. I'm disappointed at how empty I feel. It wasn't enough to carry me over until fall. Hit the comments, and share your thoughts. Was it enough for you?
Don't forget, you can watch The Flash online right here via TV Fanatic until the hit returns in the fall!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
