Jessie Robertson reviews the third episode of The Flash season 3…
Barry Allen: the second Daughter Joe never had
(Yeah, I’d give him that look too, Barry)
Tonight’s episode was titled “Magenta” and it gave us a new villain, and another one formed from the mysterious husks of Dr. Alchemy (are we going to get a look at these things? Are they what Neo was in at the beginning of The Matrix?) Frankie’s a physically abused foster child who’s been struggling with a split personality disorder, and her other personality is not so nice. And did I mention she can move metal with her mind? Yeah, she’s a tiny thing but maybe one of the most hardcore of any Flash villain to date; she tried to crush her foster father with a Tanker Ship! Talk about overkill! But, talking her down gave Barry a great Barry moment where he gives her the advice not to do the thing that turns you into the evil person you are trying to hurt – great advice from a hero that never goes there. Speaking of never goes there, Barry and Iris tried to date and it as awkward….
When I see them trying to do what a normal couple would do, it just feels wrong and they both know it and their chemistry is all off in that setting; I want what they had in the first few moments of the very first episode; breezy familiarity and dynamite chemistry. Don’t let this become Ollicity.
Great things happened this week: Wells and Jesse came back – and she came with super speed! Wells quickly devolves into overprotective dad and wants the team to talk her out of using her powers to fight metahumans – Wally, in the meantime, is completely bummed that she got powers and he didn’t – I didn’t get powers – WAH! Actually, I thought that was one of the first real storylines Wally’s ever had; I can absolutely see someone getting jealous in that situation, especially someone who feels a calling to help people. It’s a very real emotion in this world and I am all for this storyline; which YOU KNOW leads to Wally going to Alchemy for powers – because he’s only turning back on powers from people who had them in Flashpoint (ahem, Kid Flash).
Also, Joe and Wells both gave awesome dad speeches – Joe played “Dad Cop” to Wally in the first great Joe speech of season 3 (this show is slowly turning meta because Joe later acknowledged he gave a great speech) and in an even better turn, told Barry he never needed a firm hand with him because he “overshared.” So good. And Wells gave a speech every father wishes he could pluck off to his daughter, about how she’s always been his hero and it’s time he shared her with the world. I almost totally went weepy-Kevin-Smith mode because I was holding my sleeping infant daughter right then. (Kleenex break)
There were also two extra cheesy moment tonight – one where Iris is chasing the story of the abusive father and within a split second of him talking, she realizes exactly what’s happened between him and Frankie and what Frankie’s going to do next. Wells also cheesed it up huge with the “Run, Jesse, Run” although you can reference that as a call back to the beginning of the show when he said the same to Barry.
9/10 – besides some questionable moments, pretty good episode – Caitlin and Cisco noticeably take a back seat this week but that’s what happens when Team Flash balloons up to eight members!
Other Notes:
INTERNET FAN THEORY CORNER: Julian is Dr. Alchemy; sure it could definitely be true and I won’t deny Tom Felton is really playing up the suspicious of everything Barry does while still just condescending him into a hole in the ground; I’m digging it so far.
– Jesse’s suit looks freaking awesome!
– Frankie’s alter-ego Magenta named herself this week: Cisco’s reaction – “Meh”
Jessie Robertson
Originally published October 19, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
