Jessie Robertson reviews the first episode of season three of The Flash…
“I’ve got the perfect name for it: Flashpoint”
Everything you love about The Flash is present in this season opener, even if we don’t quite recognize where or what Central City we are in. As you may recall, at the end of last season, Barry chose to tear back through time and stop the Reverse-Flash from murdering his mother; what that did, we had no idea. Well, it split the timeline and veered off-road like me playing Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City after a nasty police chase. Thing is, Barry is loving life. He has his parents with him, both of them, and they “are stupid in love”, he just got up the nerve to talk to Iris, after months of stalking her and there’s already a Flash; so he doesn’t have to be the hero. If only Barry Allen could go into our timeline and watch this show weekly, he’d know that over and over again, he NEEDS to be a hero, he was BORN to be one! Ah Barry….
If only every family was as happy as this one. It’s like almost sickening how crazy happy the Allens seem to be. They both play these roles with so genuine, it had me wishing I’d grown up in that house, except for the crazy homicide that ends up happening. Everything is great for our hero…there is that little loose end of keeping the Reverse-Flash in a glass cell that somehow negates his speed (I don’t even want to ask about that). I mean, he has a prisoner! This becomes a theme, as the effects of the Flashpoint start driving Barry’s memories of his old life out of his head, a sort of override, Barry strives to put the old team together, grabbing up Wally, Iris and even Caitlin Snow, Children’s Optometrist just to get some of that Team Flash magic happening. As Caitlin says “Am I kidnapped?” and Wally wisely retorts ” Unclear.”
I had my issues with last season’s ending and I think largely those issues, while making for a nice one-off, seem to agree that there was not real good reason to go through with this Flashpoint exercise. By episode’s end, Barry realizes he has to get back to his own timeline, and recruits his prisoner, Reverse-Flash to get him back. Story issues aside, though, this episode is a pure return to form for this show; I mean, this cast was on fire with the humor. There is nothing better than nervous, bumbling Barry and we got it in spades as the show opened. Candice Patton is an image of loveliness, grace and all things that girl next door you absolutely fall in love with here. Carlos Valdes, as Cisco, richest person in the world; Grand Slam.
For all the haters of the DC Film Universe, there’s so much levity in this program, me and my TV were floating upwards just watching it. If nothing else, this show delivers that and when there’s so much confusion amongst the time travel aspect of the show, to be able to go to that, is a pure blessing. This show has heart for days.
I’m giving this one a solid 8.5/10. The Flashpoint is a bit jumpy but the soul and laughter of this show remain and shine through. A great start to the season.
Other Notes:
– The Rival is here! Well, actually there, in that other timeline; he’s actually a villain of the original Flash, Jay Garrick and his costume looked very Power Ranger Villain.
– Loved that Wally got to don the classic “kid Flash” costume, as that was Wally’s original costume outfit. The design of it was really interesting; it was pretty close to classic look but seemed to sort of combine this universe’s Barry & Thawne outfits in one, which was a cool touch.
– One- Liners Galore: Let’s rip through ’em:
” I have a hangover…and a gun.”
” Stringbean.”
“You’d be a great candidate for Lasik.”
– Cisco was fantastic here; also, Thawne was chewing up all the scenery in that jail cell; that villain laugh was dead on.
– ALCHEMY- scratched into the mirror; I won’t spoil that one, just keep watching!
Jessie Robertson
Originally published October 5, 2016. Updated April 13, 2018.
