The Flash Season 5 Episode 6 Review: The Icicle Cometh
Kat Pettibone
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Well, schrap. I did not see that one coming.
Although The Flash Season 5 Episode 6 was a little slower paced than the previous few, it had no shortages of twists and turns. All of which paid off in full.
It seems as if Helbing’s method of madness this season is to mix and match the team as much as possible, splitting them up to divide and conquer. Every character ends up with different partners each episode, and it’s working.
Unlike in the past, we’re getting to see new dynamics flex their chemistry; we’re also getting to see some old ones stage a comeback. It’s a clever way to develop characters while also give the audience what they crave.
In “The Icicle Cometh,” we finally get the OG Team Flash of Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco, together again. We get the mother-daughter pairing we’ve been hoping for (with Sherlock thrown in for fun), and are even blessed with crime-fighting Cecile and Ralph; a twosome I never knew I needed.
Season 5 has been generally fantastic, but I would be lying if I said I haven’t been a little disappointed in Barry’s detachment from Caitlin’s storyline. Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry are the OG three -- best friends from the beginning.
Their easy and fun dynamic lights up the screen and has created some of the biggest highlights of seasons past. They are more than friends – they are each others family. They always have been, since day one. It was nice to get reminded of that.
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Barry has his own issues to deal with now; being an instant-Dad to a 20-something is no easy feat. Still, it felt natural to have him by Caitlin’s side as she navigates through her long overdue backstory.
I was hoping the arc of Caitlin’s father would pay off in worthwhile ways, and I wasn’t let down. Not only did we get an array of emotional scenes delivered by the original trio, but we were also finally given answers on how Killer Frost originated.
Did I suspect Caitlin’s father had something to do with Killer Frost? Yes, I picked up on those clues. But did I think Thomas Snow secretly had his own alter ego who had taken over his body completely?
No, I definitely didn’t see that coming.
It was quite the bomb drop, and it opened up a lot of exciting possibilities for Caitlin’s story to continue in the future. It also brought a lot of open-ended story points to a close.
Caitlin no longer feels alone; she’s reminded she has family in Team Flash. She also has answers to her past -- how she became Killer Frost, and how to bring Frost back out of hiding. She’s also stopped demonizing her mother, and most importantly, discovered her father is still alive.
It has been an excellent arc in expanding Caitlin’s narrative.
Although it got put on the backburner as the B plot of the episode, Nora’s new found determination to bond with Iris did not disappoint. Kennedy continuously plays Nora with such an effortless innocence; it’s truly as if she was born for the role.
It’s heartwarming to watch the two women navigate their bumpy relationship and such a jarring juxtaposition to Nora’s immediate and easygoing dynamic with Barry.
The two women may have found a way to understand one another this episode, but I hope it’s not all smooth sailing from here on out. Diving into character motives has been a new route for The Flash, but it’s one they’re executing well.
There is still so much to learn about Nora’s intrinsic uncomfortableness around her mother, and many more answers to uncover -- answers that I’m sure resident investigator Sherlock will be looking for.
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He may not be getting a great deal of backstory, but I’m thoroughly enjoying the part Wells is playing within Team Flash this season. We don’t know much about him, but we don’t really need to. Instead, he serves as a type of catalyst. One that aids the audience in learning about other main characters.
And for now, I prefer it this way. If you’re going to give us a new Wells every season, don’t force us to get attached. Instead, use him in interesting and witty ways that will entertain us, and enhance the world you’ve already built.
Pairing up Cecile and Ralph could have backfired. It probably should have backfired. But it didn’t! It worked.
They were given a goal that danced around the main plot, so their team up felt right for the story, and Cecile served as an excellent stand-in for Joe.
Plus, the two are hilarious together.
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Sawyer plays well with the rest of the cast, but at some point, the writers are going to need to give Ralph something meatier. His participation on the outskirts of everyone else’s story works for now, but eventually, we need to see growth.
Otherwise, I don’t see how he could stick around for more seasons.
Unless that’s the plan, and he’ll be the one to die. He is a metahuman, after all. And Cicada is out to kill all metahumans.
I still have no idea why, though.
I’m extremely interested in Cicada -- what his motives are, who he was before the Enlightenment, his relationship with his daughter. And I enjoy the mystery aspects of this series, so I don’t need all my answers at once.
But, I am going to need a little more from the character. I can’t just keep watching him stumble around injured every episode.
I mean, how is this guy supposed to terrify me as one of the most horrific serial killers in history if he can barely walk (or talk, apparently) without passing out and needing medical attention?
I’m not saying Cicada doesn’t have potential, because he does. He has the potential to be the best villain The Flash has ever tackled. His story in the comics is utterly fascinating. But if you want me to be scared of him, I’m going to need some more action.
Or just bring back Ragdoll. That guy was terrifying.
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Random Thoughts:
- I didn’t want to ramble on about them in my main review, but can we just talk about how much Cisco loves Caitlin for one second? I CAN NOT HANDLE THE LOVE HE RADIATES FOR HER. It’s too powerful.
- Someone in the hair department got Killer Frost a new wig and, well, it’s about time. It looked great.
- The CGI in this show always reads really well to me, and I wish other CW shows were given the same budget to make it look more streamlined.
- I know at least one character is slated to die this season, and I’m very concerned that if it isn’t Ralph, it will be Cisco. He needs to stop vibing!
- Barry and Iris’ smiles when Nora wanted to team up with her mom was the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life.
- It’s so strange to me this cast doesn’t seem to be close in real life, because their on-screen chemistry is all around fantastic.
Kat Pettibone is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
