Jessie Robertson reviews the fifteenth episode of The Flash season 2…
“We’re going to need a bigger Flash”
I was personally looking forward to this episode all week: Jaws is my favorite movie of all time, so any episode riffing off of that is right in my wheelhouse; but, not so much. First I have to say, the special effects on this episode were absolutely amazing! King Shark is a hulking monstrous beast and to get him so detailed and ferocious in so many scenes was a huge accomplishment. I mean just look at this:
The team really outdid themselves here. That being said, there wasn’t much motivation for King Shark to be back except to look scary as shit and eat some people: We get to see the fruits of Lyla taking over ARGUS as she’s touring their Aquarium facility (what other use would this have except King Shark? Killer Croc?) Diggle guest stars as well and besides getting to actually see him smile at the end, he didn’t add much overall to the goings on. This episode was largely a Barry episode (big surprise) but not in the way you’d expect.
Last week we saw Jay Garrick get sucked back in the breach by Zoom and presumably killed (spoiler alert, yep, he dead) but besides Wells telling them not to speak about their experience because he doesn’t want it to shape the people on their Earth by what their dopplegangers lives were like, it didn’t seem to hold much resonance , mostly because, as we’ve learned with Arrow, so much nuttiness happens, you just wash over it and get to the next thing. Flash doesn’t move on this week: Cisco is very concerned about Caitlin and what Jay’s death may do to her mostly sunny disposition (such as turning it cold) and Barry is internally beating himself up, he’s distant, uninvolved in the family trying to incorporate Wally, etc. We don’t get to feel the full impact of what Barry experienced until his confession on the West family staircase and it’s really strong stuff. It highlights the special qualities this actor (Grant Gustin) was hired for and has brought to the role of Barry, being someone who cares about everyone and has the inner strength to be a hero and not let wrongs go un-righted. He’s lived in this character for 39 episodes and knows the true heart of Barry Allen. It’s one hell of a scene.
And there’s Barry and Wally; say what you will about the family dynamic so far (Wally just comes off like a brat; there, I said it) and the awkward “homework” design scene was pure awfulness, but it seems to be a pretty natural arena to play in, esp. the cup game where Wally declares himself the fastest. It’s great foreshadowing and sort of plays into the overall uniqueness of the family in this show and leads to another tear jerker scene with Joe West at the end where he’s equally proud of both of his sons, and lets it show just enough where it gets you every time. Well played Joe. (Sidenote: Joe’s reaction when finding out he was a lounge singer on E-2 was priceless.)
9/10- Looking past some story faults this week, the special effects and King Shark were center stage and it was excellent
Other Notes:
– Jay is Zoom! Okay, wait….huh? Let’s look at this again: Hunter Zolomon is Zoom in the comics. Caitlin’s Jay told her that his doppleganger on her Earth is Hunter Zolomon. So, we have that straight. So, Earth-2’s Zoom is actually Earth-2’s Hunter Zolomon. So, the man in the Iron Mask is Earth-2’s Jay Garrick. What? So, who just died? I have no idea!
– Caitlin playing up her “Frosty-ness” at the end was pretty perfect
– Wally did have a great line about a “talking shark wearing pants”
– I like how Cisco quickly gets in a line bout Diggle’s helmet and how he’ll start working on a new one; little housekeeping there.
– Not nearly enough Jaws references
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Originally published February 24, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
