Mixed Signals

Well I have to give it to The Flash, they are really trying to lighten up the tone this year, and I don't mind it all that much. I can't necessarily say the same for the direction it looks like they are taking The Thinker, but if we can get back to season 1 and most of season 2's tone, then I'm down.

This week, Team Flash took on a villain, who I'm just going to call Kilg%re, who used his metahuman abilities to hack into technology and exact his revenge on his former co-workers. Sounds like a regular day at the office to me, right? Luckily, there was plenty of goofiness to go around to keep the Walter White wannabe's plans to a minimum (seriously, that's who this villain reminded me of). Not only was today a full blown girlfriend-problems episode between Cisco and Barry's issues, but it was also an episode full of suit shenanigans thanks to Cisco's upgrades.

It felt like the only reason Gypsy made an appearance was so that Cisco's arc could be paralleled with Barry's. While it's good to throw in some romantic material every once in awhile, I wasn't a huge fan of the material tonight. Iris' confession about her unhappiness with Barry leaving to the speedforce was a nice touch, and Candice Patton does have a tendency to pull out nice dramatic beats when needed. Gypsy and Cisco's arc wasn't as nicely plotted out. She would just randomly show up every few scenes with much notice. I've enjoyed their relationship to this point, but I would just like a more consistent presence of Gypsy or really no presence at all. This show already has a problem with too many characters.

As much as this episode felt like a huge villain of the week episode without much depth, there were some fun moments, including an impressive slow-motion sequence at the police department with Barry stopping the grenade. They don't usually spend a ton of time in the CGI department on the slow-motion, but it seems like that was stepped up this week. Some cheesy romantic stuff and a weak villain didn't help but it was an improvement over last week for sure. Plus, that Risky Business tag was pretty dang great. Out of nowhere, but still great.

7.1/10

This episode showed how Barry (and the show) evolved absolutely NOTHING after almost 4 years of being The Flash. Barry who is supposedly one of the smartest characters is still getting his ass kicked by random metas and STILL needs the motivational speech to do something, but now it's worse, because it's Iris who inexplicably became smart enough to tell everyone what to do at every situation, is leading the team.

I have to admit i really like a funny/happy Barry, but it's just not working with Iris contradicting everything he does,there is a funny moment, and then it's gone, it's like she's the most important human being in the world, judging Barry for going to the speed force: "You left me!", no, ma'am, he just saved you, your family, the city and the world possibly, so you should be grateful that he's back and even more grateful because he's not down and depressed like last season. And i don't even want to talk about that couple's therapy scene because, oh god, it was awful.

Don't get me started on Cisco putting tech upgrades at the suit, which is an obvious rip-off from Iron Man, and i thought it was RIDICULOUS! I know it was because of the script, because the villain conveniently controls technology, but WHY THE HELL DOES THE FLASH NEEDS LASER BEAMS? WHO CAME UP WITH THESE IDEAS?!

Also what's up with Wally being useless, not being able to dodge that laser beam and doing nothing against Kilg%re? Is this because he is leaving the show? Wow, they really made him look bad this week. Is this because they can't afford having 2 speedsters and the budget is too expensive? Who knows.

The show is going downhill, but i might give it a chance and tune in for more 1 or 2 episodes, because if the writers are doing what i think they are doing, we may have a Felicity 2.0 on our way and the nightmare of Arrow season 4 will repeat all over again.

Barry has dealt with a lot in the previous season. He had gone through so much and felt desperate and exhausted most of the time. And now, he suddenly came out of speed-force like nothing has happened. He is joyful more than ever, and it is not because that he is grateful to return to the world or Iris. It is something extreme. His attitudes, behaviours are so incongruent with the stereotype that I could recall. I've even thought about the possibility of our new villain to shape and control the actions of him. Iris seemed to suspect that he is not the fiancée who went into the speed-force couple months ago. I don't know whether anyone else have noticed that, but it is a disturbing issue unless it is something fictionalized. Besides, add something new. I don't want Barry to gain his confidence following an emotional talk anymore.

I don't get it. 4 years now and still don't.

How are the hero and every time you get your ass kicked until your team helps you and then you win the fight.

How useless is Barry alone?

Is this suppose to be a hero parody show?

Flash should be the stonger and the leader in his show. Not his chick.

Oliver Queen would never be the weakest in his show. That's why he is the leader and the star.

I still don't get it.

I found it more sarcastic than any other episode of any other previous season.

they really pushed this sarcasm part that was actually missing as MCU are better in this i always felt.