The Flash Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Things You Can't Outrun
Carissa Pavlica
at
.
Updated at
.
They were one week too late on deciding to use the particle accelerator for a prison for super criminals.
On The Flash Season 1 Episode 3, Barry went up against Kyle Nimbus, who was being executed at the same time the particle accelerator exploded, allowing him to turn into the same gas used in executions -- at will.
The bummer is they couldn't find a viable way to kill him and now he's around to come back another day. That's too bad, because the first two metahumans we met, The Weather Wizard and Multiplex, were multifaceted and not evil for evil's sake. Nimbus? He is.
I would have rather had the other multi-dimensional characters come back. I didn't even really like the special effects of The Mist because it seemed like the green was only for viewers. Why else did everyone just stand there as it came toward them? And nobody in the restaurant noticed a big gaseous thing climbing into the air and toward their boss? I'd rather have Multiplex bouncing around the new prison.
But that's just my reaction since I didn't get to keep one of the first metas that I liked better. Small quibble.
It was good thinking on Joe's part to ask "the geniuses" to come up with someplace to house the new breed of criminals they're up against. I just wonder how long they can keep their evil deeds and subsequent capture from the other detectives or the general public.
It was also the perfect catalyst for Caitlin to start recalling her life (and last moments) with her fiancé. Ronnie Raymond. Caitlin is no longer a background figure, now that she's shared her personal moments with Barry.
Barry is such a great listener. He seems to truly care about everyone in his life and that makes him really special. He noticed that Caitlin was uncomfortable going down to the particle accelerator and the memories it dragged up, but he also recognized that when you love someone like she loved Ronnie, you might want to talk about him in a safe environment.
That's how we got this juicy nugget about what's to come. This isn't an Easter egg, it's pretty blatantly talking to Killer Frost and Firestorm! I am also wondering -- do metas have a trigger? Or does Caitlin know who she is already and is keeping mum?
We were very different. You may have noticed I'm a bit... guarded. Ronnie knew how to make me laugh. He used to say we were like fire and ice.
Caitlin
The "who the heck is Harrison Wells" play of the week goes straight to the heart of the matter. Or the particle accelerator. The time traveling is apparently on a loop, as Wells allowed the accelerator to be fired up knowing fully well it would create the metahumans (at least Barry).
Cisco: Ah, sir, we just got the weather report and there is a big thunder storm coming in.
Harrison: We're not launching a space shuttle. We'll be fine.
On his way down to see the damage, Harrison stopped in his secret room to watch his magic time traveling screen, and it was showing Barry being hit by the lightning. "See you soon, Barry." I'm still not buying he's the Reverse Flash or Professor Zoom.
I did a bit of research and there are two time traveling characters that might fit -- Rip Hunter and Booster Gold. Geoff Johns is the Chief Creative Officer at DC Comics. He is writing for The Flash TV series, as well as other DC shows and movies. He also wrote the Flashpoint comic series that featured both characters.
I guess Booster Gold is a bit of a showboating superhero from the 25th century who manipulates events in history so he can be heroic. Perhaps he's doing it here to create a hero.
The only thing I can say is I feel like I've waited for this day for centuries.
Harrison
Rip Hunter created his own time traveling sphere and his name is an alias because he was so certain another time traveler would go back in time and kill him in infancy and erase him from existence.
So, there are definitely some other players who could masquerading as Harrison Wells! Do either of those mentioned above make sense to you in this story?
Carrying on, let's talk about Joe reopening the case into Nora Allen's death. That was sweet on so many levels, and even though he never went to see Henry, Henry forgave him simply because he believed in his son. Wasn't the video of Henry screaming to Joe from the interrogation room at his time of arrest that he didn't do it, and their kids are friends heart wrenching to watch?
You think I don't understand what you're feelin'? I have been a cop for almost as long as you've been alive so you should know, putting on that suit does not make everybody safe. For every person you save, there is going to have to be somebody you can't. And the hardest thing you're going to have to face is not some monster out there with powers. It's going to be that feeling of uselessness when you can't do anything. Or the guilt that weighs on you when you make a mistake. Some things, Barry, you can't fight. Some things, you just have to live with.
Joe
When Joe was attacked by The Mist, do you think Henry recognized his son as the man who saved Joe? Barry hasn't told his dad about his capabilities, but for a nanosecond Barry looked straight at him before shaking his face so Henry wouldn't see him.
However, during the conversation they had about Barry taking his first steps and how his first instinct was to run because he had somewhere to go, I couldn't help but think that he was talking around that he knew what Barry was, even though he caught on. After all, the red streak ran toward Joe, and that's somewhere Barry would want very much to go, to save his other dad.
It seemed much like when Joe admitted to Iris that he knew about her and Eddie. Fathers just know things; sometimes they even know when their children don't want them to know, and keep their secrets hidden.
I'm glad their secret is finally out in the open, and it was really sweet to learn why Iris was keeping it hidden. She just wanted something for herself and was afraid she might muck it up if she revealed it.
It's hard not to imagine Eddie getting jealous of the red streak, even if he (or she, as Barry pointed out) isn't available to his girlfriend. Iris is blogging about him and thinking about him all the time and that's bound to cause some strife with Eddie. Who can compete with a superhero?
There is still a lot to ponder and a lot to learn. We're now capturing metahumans rather than killing them and we got our first glimpse at Ronnie. If you need a quick primer, you can watch The Flash online, but don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments!
And here's your first look at The Flash Season 1 Episode 4, "Going Rogue."
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.
