The Flash Reborn

It sure didn't seem like it's been 6 months since the last time we saw an episode of The Flash, but that's the timeline the show is going with. And to that point, it was hard to come around to accepting an immediate return of Barry to Central City. Not that we shouldn't already be accustomed to a quick turnaround, considering Flashpoint only last 1 episode last season, but at least that had residual effects for the entire season. For some reason, the return of Barry or "rebirth" felt pretty cheap and unearned. Especially when you take into account the direction they went with him when he eventually did return.

Just as silly as having Barry deal with memory loss last season, was the decision to have Barry return, full beard, and spew out gibberish and draw out 'Arrival' like diagrams all over dry erase boards. Yeah, not exactly the return I expected. Granted, this could very well turn into something related to a further sub-plot involving the speed- force, or even a grander plan from The Thinker, but more on that later.

Tonight was a hodgepodge of various catch up sub-plots. Caitlin was miraculously back on Team Flash (not Team Kid Flash) after all that season 3 drama, Julian has inexplicably moved to London (maybe that's for the better), Iris made it clear she didn't want Barry back (because the writers want forced drama in their relationship), and we also saw the debut of season 4's supposed "big bad", The Thinker. With that said, tonight wasn't the most balanced episode, having to constantly jump from character to character without having a nice thru-line. But that's just the nature of having so many characters to service 4 seasons in.

I found myself intrigued in Caitlin's arc, up until it was revealed she's involved in with some sort of gang/mob with the guy from the bar. If we're going to get a season of Caitlin struggling with keeping Killer Frost inside, then I hope that conflict stays within her, not involve some outside force prying these emotions out of her. Iris on the other hand, had a much tougher week. I can't help but think she's gone back (at least for tonight's episode) to the stupidity of season 1 Iris. I came around to Barry and Iris' relationship after a while, but I didn't care to see Iris shut down Cisco's attempt to bring Barry back. We don't need her character to go back to those inexplicably awful decisions from season 1. But hey, she stepped up by offering herself up as a bait at the end of the episode, right…?

The one thing that you can't deny about tonight's episode is the show's renewed attempt at being a fun superhero show. They got away from it a little bit the last few seasons, but I think the energy seems to be back. It's just a matter of how well they use that light and quirky (but sometimes still poignant) tone to their advantage. I can tell you that having Wally randomly speak Japanese was not a good decision. This season could go many different ways. 1 episode isn't nearly enough time to determine that, but I have my worries because season 4 of Arrow was the time when it tried to do something different with its villain and bring magic into a grounded crime drama. The Thinker is an intriguing villain because he's different, but that doesn't mean it will be the right choice for the show. I'm certainly willing to keep an open-mind, but tonight wasn't exactly the right step for the show.

6.5/10

First of, I never been in military (I was the "lucky" one), and I never fired a weapon bigger than an air rifle for kids in my youth. But Central City is frankly lost without the Flash. And why? Well even when it didn't was shoot one shot from the cops, when they stand ground, they was in a line for a possible crossfire. Even "better" if that was the SWAT team... And nope, I didn't take time to check it out, just saying. Otherwise, the Flash is cool enough, even when it have been some interesting failure, and some non physical events, that was not trying hard enough to explain these episodes (see for example the time ghost). I give only 6 star for this episode, but else it could have 8 star.

the worst episode of the flash.i don't know, is this some kind of romantic drama!!!! this is a superhero TV series not some soap opera.i'm a die hard fan of dc comics.but the flash season 04 episode 01 is the worst episode of entire arrow-verse.the flash aka Barry Allan supposed to be funny but in this TV series they made the flash aka Barry Allan a romantic hero!!! i mean seriously!!!! the flash is now totally waste of time. in the comics i like Ires west but in the series i kind of hate her.same thing happened in the arrow,when Oliver and felicity in a relationship the show became boring and now the same thing happening in flash. please stop all that nonsense drama about Barry and Ires. i'm sorry if someone feel bad about my review, i'm just telling whats in my mind.

After all the climax of season 3 with 'Savitar' we've seen our fair share of bad guys, 'Reverse Flash', 'Zoom' then the one we never saw coming in future Barry as 'Savitar'. Ok I get he's been away for 6 months, but suddenly Iris is in charge of 'Team Flash' ?, Wally has a new haicut, Caitlin works in a bar, and they get Barry out of the Speedforce way to easily, he's babbling a load of nonsense and sporting a beard and longer hair, it seems the writing team are running out of ideas as the stories get weaker each season, I will keep watching but this wasn't a great start to a new season.

Before starting of this season I was huge fan of Team Flash and I rate Season 3 the best of all seasons but in the current season it has gone out of focus making Iris the central character and everybody rolling around her so my sincere request to the Team Flash is that please just limit the character of Iris being the love interest in Barry's life and side her character ASAP to the journalism that she does best otherwise you all are going to loose some true fans of the franchise!