Team Flash now knows what the Crisis on Infinite Earths holds for Barry Allen. They have seen Bloodwork (aka Dr. Ramsey Rosso) in action. They have even met Harrison Nash Wells…but they don’t know what he is really up to, not yet. What we do know is that this episode is all about faith and trust. Is it well founded, or misplaced…or both? Wanna know more? Follow us after the jump!
SPOILERS AHEAD! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
NOTE: This review is posting prior to the airing of THE FLASH in the Pacific Time Zone USA. If you haven’t seen the show yet, STOP HERE and come back after you watch it. You’ll be glad you did!
This episode is Cisco-centric. That, of course, makes for a great episode of THE FLASH as Carlos Valdez has been a fan favorite since this whole series started. We aren’t disappointed here. Barry and Iris go off for a vacation, to get some brief time together before the Crisis comes, so apart from the first and last of the show we don’t see the Flash at all. Meanwhile, a LOT is going on…
- Joe West and Harrison Nash Wells become trapped underground, and Well’s first attempt to free them only takes up most of the remaining oxygen in the chamber. They have only 45 minute of O2 left. Joe has faith that someone will come to save them, while Wells has no such belief left. We’ll come back to that.
- Cisco doesn’t have faith in his own judgment, so he creates the Barry Allen Replicated Intelligence (B.A.R.I.). It’s a sort of “What would Barry do?” that takes the decision making out of Cisco’s hands. This is a bit of a stunt, but the way it plays into the plot later on makes it worthwhile.
- Frost is determined to track down Dr. Rosso on her own, feeling responsible for him still being free. She doesn’t have faith in anyone other than herself to track this bad guy down. Well, faith in no one else except her alter ego Caitlin.
Then, there is the main plot: Cisco’s ex, Gypsy has been killed! She was tracking a villain called Echo, and he vaporized her. The Collectors are on Earth to try to bring whoever did this to justice.
Breacher has come to tell him the news. When Cisco and Breacher use some tech to replicate Vibe’s now eliminated power set, they see the killer. And the face of this horrible murderer?
It’s Cisco’s face!
Cisco has been sleepwalking lately…and both he and Breacher believe that Cisco could have done this during one of those times. It looks bad for Cisco, and he is ready to blame himself and turn himself in. That is, except for one thing.
Kamilla believes in him.
She points out that B.A.R.I. was evidence that Cisco hadn’t believed in himself for a long time. While they talk, something strikes a chord with Cisco and he figures the whole thing out.
Echo is a doppelganger from another Earth! He killed Gypsy and set our Cisco up to take the blame.
Yes, Cisco turns things around and captures Echo, who is arrested and taken to a cell on Earth-19. Breacher invites both Cisco and Kamilla to the remembrance service for Gypsy. Then, Breacher points out just why Gypsy and Echo ended their fight on Earth-1…
Gypsy had faith in Cisco to bring Echo to justice.
Yes, it all boils down to faith and trust. Let’s recap:
- Kamilla believed in Cisco and it allowed him to regain trust in himself. That’s how they won the day.
- Joe West was right in having faith in his friends, as Ralph Dibny arrives to save Joe and Wells.
- Frost/Caitlin was wrong about Rosso. He tried to have Caitlin join him, and then attacked her when she refused. He let her live…for now, but this faith was completely misplaced.
- Cisco got rid of B.A.R.I., realizing that he really did have the ability to lead. His faith in himself has been restored…and Barry is even more sure he made the right choice to lead Team Flash in the future.
NOTES:
- During most of the episode, Cisco wants to tell Kamilla that he loves her. It makes for some adorably awkward moments. In the end, they don’t say the exact word but do profess their love for each other.
- Wells took notice when Joe mentioned the Monitor. He is now ready to work with Team Flash…to save Barry Allen? Seems like it!
SUMMARY: This episode largely took us away from the main plot threads of the season, but it really worked here. There were still some connections to both Bloodwork and the Crisis, but we got one more chance to see just why Cisco Ramon is such a fan favorite character. I’m sad that we lost Gypsy, especially the way that this played out in the show. But, I’m glad to see the relationship of Cisco and Kamilla continuing to grow. And, I’m glad to see her taking a more active part in Team Flash. Overall I’ll give this a 9/10. Of course, that’s just my opinion. What do YOU think? Leave your comments below!