Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3

I was very disappointed in this episode. Couldn't get past the first few minutes, and then I realized it was the third part of four, which were all crossover episodes over four different shows. I don't watch the other three and don't plan to. I feel cheated that they did the wedding on one of the other shows. The least they could have done is include all four parts so that viewers weren't vaulted out of the story line. Crummy way to do such an anticipated event between Barry and Iris.

I love the flash but surely you could have added part 1 and 2 to flash??? I know the point is to get everyone to watch the other shows - which we will but what??? How can you start with part 3???

Part 3 of the crossover was a little bit slower and more plotting, but that doesn't mean it wasn't kickass. In fact, it just provided for some different storytelling. Pretty much everyone is captured, and unlikely heroes in Felicity and Iris are forced to step up their game and prevent Kara from being cut open by none other than heart surgeon himself, Reverse Flash.

Complementing that with the appearance of a Nazi version of Lance, a powerful General version of Winn Schott leading Earth-X's resistance, a good natured version of Captain Cold or Leo as he goes by, and a brand new character in Ray Terrill aka The Ray. In some ways, this was the messiest episode with most of our heroes imprisoned for the episode and the rest of the Legends still nowhere to be found. Even still, there was so much to be thrilled about.

Most of the conflict came from Winn's unwillingness to let the team leave and go through the breach area because he didn't want Nazi Kara and Nazi Oliver to return to Earth-X ever. Who blames him? I sure don't. However, the conflict never really got to a point where I felt the weight of the situation, and I figured it would come down to The Ray and Leo pulling some strings. This once again provided some heart to heart moments in a desperate time, including another great 1v1 with Sara and Alex. Does anyone else want a spin off show with these two?

The other big moment came from Stein's sacrifice. More on this particular situation in part 4's review, but it was a bold move having Stein do what he did for the team, and if I may say a worthy move. Before moving on to part 4, it's worth mentioning just how awesome it was to hear Reverse Flash fought Superman in the future, that's how you plant an easter egg.

9.3/10

This is not the 1st time they are doing crossovers, but they went with 4 shows. Not everyone watch all of them, I couldn't care less for those "legends" of tomorrow, if they are so legendary why are they just a group of leftovers from other shows, or a Supergirl (who I find to be a feminist knockoff of Superman, I don't want the same thing twice).

They want to force people to watch other shows, but for me, the effect they got is making me give up the Flash and Arrow I watched so far. At least if it was with something cool like Constantine. Disappointed.

As with Invasion from last season, you need to watch the corresponding episodes in Supergirl, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow for this to make sense. While I saw a bunch of reviews by people frustrated with having to watch other shows, this is complaining on a very high level. With streaming at your fingertips, you don't need to watch six seasons of Arrow, instead you can just jump to the connected episode and it all makes sense. They do a nice job of explaining plot points, relationships and characters, that you would know, if you watched all the other shows, but it makes sense without it. I only watch Flash (though I did watch half of the first season of Arrow) but if you made it through three and a half seasons of Flash, you already know all the characters from previous crossovers. It's not overly complicated. I actually love crossovers because they logically connect characters in the Arrowverse that should know each other. I find it actually more confusing, if you watch other shows that have a connection and characters never meet when they visit the respective cities. It's also in line with the comic book universe these shows were born in, where the connection of the characters and the multiverse is well established. When you watch the show and pay attention to the themes and philosophy it uses, it makes most sense to put the West-Allen wedding into such a crisis episode because love and family gives the hero the whole reason and purpose to fight in the first place.

I would prefer though, if there was a disclaimer before this episode in Flash to tell you which episodes to watch, so I wouldn't have to google it. So here is the info for you:

This is the third part of a four-part crossover event, it begun in Supergirl episode 3x8 "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1," then Arrow episode 6x8 "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2," and continued after this episode and concluded in DCs Legends of Tomorrow episode 3x8 "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4."