Jessie Robertson reviews the fourth episode of The Flash season 2…
The particle accelerator continues to weave stories…
Ronnie really is gone, but….well, he’s mostly forgotten too – No offense to Stephen Amell’s equally hunky cousin Robbie (who portrayed Ronnie Raymond) but he was quite stiff and wooden on the show; new better half of Firestorm Jefferson Jackson (played by the energetic Franz Drameh) exudes more fun and life into the part than previously done. So, let me get nerdy for a moment: in the comics, Jason Rusch replaces poor Ronnie as Stein’s other half; and interestingly enough, we’ve already met him in the DC TV Universe; he was one of the leading scientists on the original Project: Firestorm. So it seemed he was out; Jefferson Jackson was a high school friend of Ronnie’s who played a somewhat decent role in his book in the 80’s, but again the producers of Arrow and Flash show their comic depth and reach into the bag to bring out a new and improved Firestorm. Jackson’s backstory isn’t War and Peace but it suffices enough to give him credence for being mad at the world while also displaying the necessary qualities that somehow Barry sees in a hero and no one else does. It would have been nice to give him some more background though as he does the same departure we saw Ronnie do last season; fly off to a training camp in Pittsburgh while leaving whatever life and job he had behind. Did he even give a 2 weeks notice? I, for one, am for the change and even Caitlin, who already found a new crush and took Ronnie out of the official STAR Labs database, seems to have moved on so I’m all in!
How Soap Opera will we get with Iris’ Mom? I also was digging Iris quiet, solemn way of dealing with this situation with her mother showing up. She was strong and steadfast when they actually met face to face. As a child of divorce and absentee parents, I think the writers nailed the emotions Iris was wrestling with. When Joe finds out she’s dying from McGregor’s disease (OMG_ Batman: The Animated Series shoutout!), he lets Iris take another pass at this, giving her another chance but still supporting her 100%. I also like that the show gives Iris this chance to prove her reporter background; it’s almost another phase of training, like we saw so much of on Arrow last season. But, they kind of lose you when she finds out she could have a brother and the mother retorts with nothing but a strained “Iris.” Going back, I think having Iris instantly distrust her motivations shows more growth into the reporter role. It’s an interesting storyline because it’s one that’s almost completely Barry-less, but I didn’t think it was that crucial to the overall direction. It could be bordering on filler; one thing not addressed yet (and I Have a feeling it’s on purpose) is Iris really dealing with Eddie’s death and everything surrounding him from last season.
By popular demand (and the writer’s room) Harrison Wells is back Just because Tom Cavanaugh just killed in his particular role last season as Wells/Thawne, he had to return. We’ve seen him pop up a few times now, even once triggering a fun Dr. McGee cameo but we still don’t know his overall role in things. It could be yet the best mystery of this season as well and that would make me even more giddy on Tuesday evenings.
7.5/10- Love the new Firestorm; other than that, slow week in Central City….oh, but this happened!:
Other Notes:
– SO MUCH SCIENCE TALK- not an engaging first few minutes tonight
– Henry Hewitt (or Tokamak) at least had some personality, as Villains of the Week go; what was up his butt anyways? He had fire powers; don’t understand what he was whining about.
– Patty and Barry need 1 good key scene where they mesh in a real, organic way; their “attraction” feels very forced right now. But, I did love her saying she isn’t good at lying.
– They did a voiceover this week with Barry, talking about leaps of faith; I didn’t see Barry actually talking to Patty as being anywhere near the level of Jefferson joining atoms with another person, but hey, to each their own
– “Man-Shark” Loose in Central City! Yep, first we had Grodd; Now King Shark! He looks like the pre-New 52 version (which was modeled after a Great White) and he looked right out of a Syfy original.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=Yo85WjqklYY
Originally published October 28, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
