The Flash: Season 1, Episode 4

The Flash

Episode Title: “Going Rogue”

Channel: CW

Director: Glen Winter

Writers: Geoff Johns and Kai Yu Wu

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Runtime: 45min

Rated: TV-PG

Original Air Date: October 28, 2014

I have mixed feelings about this episode. It wasn't bad really, it just tried to do more than should have been crammed into one episode. One aspect of “Going Rogue” focused on the numerous relationships that have been depicted so far, and there are a lot of them. The issue here is that only a couple of them actually change as a result of all the screen time spent on them. Joe has seemingly come to accept Eddie and Iris, and Barry and his team have overcome adversity to better understand each other. Every other relationship is just as it was at the beginning of the episode, it's just been confirmed that things are as the audience already knew they were. The dynamic between Cisco and Barry was interesting, as the consequences of their actions caused Barry to face his first real failure. Wells behaved very oddly in this episode, concerned over the exact time something had happened, making me think that at least some of the events were orchestrated by him.

This week also marked the introduction of a major villain from the Flash comics, Captain Cold. I don't know much of anything about the comics, so personality and methodology of the villain in the show compared to the comic won't be found here. What I will say is that I felt Wentworth Miller's performance to be rather spotty. There were times when I'm sure he was going for cold and detached, but he instead sounded bored. I hope to see him grow into the role over his next several appearances, and will reserve judgment until he's a more complete character. It was good to see him get away, and begin the process of recruiting allies to help him deal with Barry.

The Flash's effects have been a bright spot in the show's short history. The train sequence during Captain Cold's getaway was well done for a television show, as was Barry's interference with the initial heist. That's why the ice effect near the end of the episode that held Barry to the ground was so disappointing, especially when it broke. That was the first time the effects have really bothered me in the series, it looked bad.

Emily Bett Rickards guest appearance was nice to see, but didn't really serve to do much but confirm what we already knew about the love lives of everyone involved. Even Barry and Felicity know they're right for each other, so they're going to continue pining over other people. Oh, and how fortuitous it was that Felicity was there the one time they've needed something speed-hacked. If there's not an actual meaningful reason for a character to be in a scene, they shouldn't be there; that's better than throwing them a bone so transparently.

Conclusion: A lot of relationship stuff jammed into an episode that should have been dedicated to showing off and developing the first villain the writers have seen fit to let hang around. With luck Miller will feel more natural the next time we see him. Besides the villain the event of most significance was the revelation to Barry and his team that he won't always come out on top.

Rating: 7/10