Finish Line

So, you show an amazing teaser - touching, melancholic, and set to wonderful music The hero is totally down and out. The audience feels it. And you describe the episode like so - With nothing left to lose, Barry takes on savitar. And then, 30 seconds into the episode shits on the teaser, and cheats everyone who wanted to see what they saw in the teaser.

There's a good way to surprise, and there's cheating. I couldn't possibly mention the word cheat enough. Yes, I expected the obvious "twist", but I really hoped they would be more honest with the story telling. What was with the "invitation" in the climax, instead of punishment for everything he'd done until then? Nothing made sense emotionally. Captain cold's advise couldn't possibly have mattered less ultimately, and I really wanted it to be that kind of a finale, an honest one.

To their credit, they explained the time stuff reasonably well. The finale was well executed in terms of visuals, and Savitar's plan. The dialogues in episode 9, and 15, and the ones about the stone/husks made so much more sense after you come to know the Savitar reveal. On rewatching the season a little while ago, I felt they had planned this season quite well, unlike season 2. So, Zoom can create so many time remnants, even kill them just like that, but he needs Barry to provide enough energy to the pulsar? What a load of bull.

But, as much as this finale made tried to make fans happy, it just failed miserably. It was passable, but not the touching, emotionally fulfilling conclusion the teaser promised us. Also writers, and this is really important, if you have 3 speedsters against 1 villain, don't make just one fight him ! It's so lame to even think of reasons to temporarily handicap them.

A disappointing end to an IMPORTANT, interesting enough season of The Flash. If you don't feel the way I feel, watch the 3x23 teaser again, and you will feel how I do.

This episode had a great plot, plenty of engaging material for the audience to sit on the edge of their seats, biting their nails. Unfortunately, the delivery of the plot was disappointing to say the least. The plot twists would have been great, if they gave us time to process them, highlight the emotional impact of those twists. Instead we are quickly pushed to the next big plot point and left with a feeling of "Okay, I suppose it wasn't that big of a deal after all". Big expected clashes between the Flash and Savitar, between Killer Frost and Cisco were short and underwhelming. Instead of spending an extra 2-3 min on each fight scene, giving the audience some proper action and excitement worthy of a season finale, the episode director seemed more concerned with saving the budget for season 4. A lot of this would have been a lot more digestible, had it not been for the fact that the entire season leading up to this episode, hadn't been one massive build up, promising us a thrilling conclusion. It feels a bit like going to a movie that you've been super excited to see because of the amazing trailers, only to find out that the shots in the trailers are the only interesting parts of the movie. The creators behind the Flash TV show knows how to work the audience, how to perfectly time the drama and the action, this is the very reason why so many love the Flash. But that means they should've known that a season finale like this would turn out incredibly underwhelming.

I don't know if it's because Arrow is doing essentially the same storyline (the hero creates and is represented as the villain) or because they are doing it miles better, but this season of Flash really crapped the bed. Especially towards the end. There were certain things this season did incredibly well, and I'll still defend that it was the right decision to make Barry his own villain, but there were so many missed opportunities and poorly executed aspects of this season.

I don't want to continue to compare the show to Arrow, but it's amazing to see just how much better that show is at balancing its characters and knowing when or when not to kill them. I figured this show was never going to kill Iris off, but how lame is it to see that (monumental) death be wiped away by one from H.R. Especially considering how manipulative and botched that whole experience was this season. Sure, the show must go on at some point, but I don't even feel like they gave enough time mourning H.R.

Complement that with the fact that Savitar's plan (or lack thereof) felt like second fiddle to the true villain of this episode (the speed force), was extremely disappointing. I always hoped there would be a big payoff to having Savitar sit out multiple episodes at a time or being manipulated by a lingering Iris' death, but the only thing this season gave us was a cool speed force sendoff. That sendoff is the only good thing memorable about this episode. Because that moment was earned through months and now years of Barry trying to fix the timeline so many times. Ending with Barry trapped in the speed force was telegraphed the entire season, but it at least meant something. It was emotional. That's more than any part of these last few episodes have been.

There was even a point where good Barry tried to redeem Savitar-Barry and keep him around for a while. What? Is that really the route we are taking on someone who tried to kill the love of your life and who JUST killed one of your new best friends? That's what we're doing here? Is this a joke? We spent nearly an entire second half of a season waiting to figure out the fate of Iris and then it gets swept away in a matter of minutes. In my mind, this episode was summed up in a matter of a few lines from Tracy, "You're about to have a really bad day". More like a really "bad episode."

There's really only a few things that this episode did particularly well. It had great performances from all parts and the decision they made to send Barry into the speed force and keep Caitlin uncured was admirable. I just wish everything wasn't so easy to figure out. Ending Savitar's run with a shot from Iris should have felt gratifying, but it was painfully cringe worthy. Also, Wally doing virtually nothing the entire episode? Sure, that's good. Overall, there is a minuscule amount of things that I really enjoyed about tonight. Most of it was really disappointing. Alas, there's always next year, right?

+Speed force retaliates

+Caitlin's decision

-Iris not being killed by Savitar/ HR twist

-Iris killing Savitar

-Feels like a season wasted with so many opportunities

5.7/10

After an uneven season the penultimate and final episode made up for that in spades. Though expected the episode started with a great twist. Who really thought that Iris would die after two close deaths to Barry in the preceding finales? Bonus: the death of HR; the worst character in the Flash show, followed closely by Snart. Those two made every scene an annoying experience. Even his last speech was annoying but time to rejoice that he's gone. Fantastic ending with the speedsters battle though some more fisticuffs would have been welcomed. And finally that wrenching, emotional ending where once again; Iris and Barry's happiness seems a fleeting dream. I suspect next finale will end with their wedding and all manner of chaos will ensue. Still an emotionally charged action packed finale with spectacular effects ( for a low budget TV show ) that did not disappoint. At least Barry seemed at peace with his decision and penance but confident that he will defeat the Speed Force and come back to Iris. Can't wait.

This is by my opinion best and exciting season , i didn't read the comics but i watched 1990's flash when i was a kid/teenager since were i live we have occasionally some comics from the flash in Politikin Almanac. Thank you for keeping the spirit alive and with modern technology it's successful translate into current or modern time (2014- 2017) , big respect to Tom Cavanagh for directing most action episode ever , maybe there's some plot holes and not related with comics but i never expect to be 1:1 , this ending episode was sum up of all flash episode and have all elements for TV screenplay , drama , action , comedy and entertainment , and finally show that the main character isn't BA it's all about team flash . i'm glad that chemistry with the actors growing each episode . I believe season 4 will raising the bar of excitement and the others. thanks to all persons involved for creating this beautiful series and 3rd season. Run Team Flash Run !

p.s. more crossovers ! :)