The Flash
Episode Title: “Fast Enough”
Channel: CW
Director: Dermott Downs
Writers: Gabrielle Stanton and
Andrew Kreisberg
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 43
min
Rated: TV-PG
Original Air Date: May 19, 2015
Go no further if you haven't watched
The Flash's season finale,
you have been warned.
First,
a word on the entire season. The Flash's
first season has been one of the most consistently good premiere
seasons of any of the shows I've watched. Often it was more than
good, with truly great moments sprinkled throughout the season.
Sure, there were the occasional things to quibble over, but it's hard
to imagine a better way to bring the Flash to the screen. With that
said it's time to get into the season finale, “Fast Enough.”
One of
the first things that struck me concerning this episode is the
bucking of the trend when it comes to final showdowns between the
hero and his nemesis. Eobard Thawne was captured last week, and was
in no position to pose a physical threat when the episode opened.
With Thawne neutralized the show was given more time to focus on the
personal and emotional ramifications of Barry's plight. Given the
opportunity to travel back in time and prevent his mother's murder
Barry was presented with, what seemed at first, a dream scenario. If
he successfully saved his mother he'd be able to live his life with
his real parents. Nora would avoid her fate and his father, Henry,
would actually have his freedom. What on the surface seemed like an
easy decision was made much more difficult when Barry realized all of
the consequences.
There
was little time spent beating around the bush. Barry gathered his
closest friends and family and laid out the options. The scenes
leading to his decision were the most emotionally powerful we've seen
so far in the series. Grant Gustin's chemistry was on full display
with both of his onscreen fathers. Jesse L. Martin's scenes were
heart wrenching. He realized that if Barry was successful the son he
had raised as his own would cease to be, worse than that; the times
they had spent together would be forever lost in the new time line.
Despite his obvious sorrow at the possibility he encouraged Barry to
save his mother and have the childhood he deserved. Barry's
biological father, Henry, had an entirely different take on the
situation. Overcome by pride in seeing what his son has become he
counseled Barry to leave things as they are, believing that
everything happens for a reason. John Wesley Shipp shined in his
portrayal of a proud father, unwilling to change the worst night of
his life if it meant changing the man his son had become.
Another
great pseudo-father/son moment took place between Cisco and Thawne.
Cisco told his former mentor about the memories he's retained from
Barry's first jaunt through time. Thawne explained to Cisco that
this was a sign that he was affected by the accelerator catastrophe
and that he was some sort of metahuman too. It looks like we're not
too far away from seeing Cisco Ramon's alter ego, Vibe. In this and
every other scene he was in, Tom Cavanagh, continued his stellar work
as a villain who has genuine love and affection for those he's been
manipulating. Cavanagh deserves more recognition than he's likely to
receive for his performance this season.
Victor
Garber's character, Dr. Martin Stein, also made an appearance. With
Wells no longer around to guide everyone through the scientific
aspects of what they're attempting he filled in admirably. Aside
from explaining the technological aspects of their plan he also
shared a good moment with Eddie. Eddie was, understandably, feeling
as if he had no place in the proceeding. After a pep talk from Stein
he realized that because in the future he's an unknown he has the
opportunity to make anything he wants of himself. He reconnected
with Iris and it looked as though they were going to try to make it
work, no matter what future Eobard had shown them.
If
there was a weak spot in “Fast Enough” it was the way in which
Caitlin's character was handled. The first irritating moment came
when the possibility of a black hole was being discussed. She needed
someone to tell her what a singularity was. It's hard to believe
that someone has science savvy as Caitlin would be ignorant of that
information. The line should definitely have been given to one of
the less scientifically minded people in the room at the time. She
really didn't have much to do this week, but with Stein's presence in
the episode they also brought along Ronnie Raymond. He has changed
his mind about staying with Caitlin in Central City and re-proposed
to her. With all of the things going on around them they decided
that this would be a good day for a wedding. I suppose the writers
believed there was a need for something happy to happen in an episode
that had been so tearful, but it felt unnecessary.
Barry
and Eobard made a deal, Eobard would tell Barry how to travel back to
the night of his mother's murder and Eobard would be allowed to
return to his time. Of course there were going to be complications
with the plan, the most dire of which was the possibility that the
worm hole Barry was going to open would become a black hole and
swallow the world. Barry made the decision to go back despite the
danger, though he'd have less than two minutes to accomplish his goal
before the worm hole destabilized into a black hole. He successfully
made the trip, seeing some interesting possible time lines, notable
among them one in which Caitlin becomes Killer Frost, on his way
back. It looked like everything was going to plan until the moment
came to intervene. Somehow the future Flash knew his past (Present?
Time travel gets so confusing) self was in the next room and warned
him away.
The
look of pain on Gustin's face has he listened to his mother's murder
in the next room conveyed perfectly to the audience that toll that
decision took on him. After the deed was done he did go into the
room to say goodbye to his mother, at least giving himself some
closure. Back in STAR Labs, Eobard was preparing to go back to his
time. Before he left a helmet came back through the worm hole and
landed at his feet. It looks like we'll be seeing another Flash in
the near future, one Jay Garrick, who is the first man to use the
Flash moniker in the comics. The appearance of the helmet was enough
to panic Eobard, who was mere feet from realizing his goal when Barry
came bursting back through the portal. While the team struggled to
shutdown the worm hole Eobard and Barry fought it out. Eobard got
the upper hand, and in true comic villain fashion took time to gloat
and threaten Barry's friends and family. A gun shot rang out, Eddie
had made his decision regarding his future and shot himself in the
chest. Because he's an ancestor of Eobard Thawne this caused Eobard
to be erased from time. It was a great moment for Eddie, he became
the hero he always wanted to be and made the impact on history that
Eobard had told him he wouldn't make.
Unfortunately
for team Flash things quickly got worse. The worm hole reopened and
became a singularity. It was centered over STAR Labs and quickly
devouring everything nearby. Barry decided to do what he could to
stop the destruction of the city, possibly the world, by diving into
the swirling accretion disc and using his speed to sap it of its
power. Then the screen went black, fans left with a cliffhanger that
seems much too removed from being resolved. Season two can't get
here fast enough.
Conclusion:
A stellar ending to a great first season. “Fast Enough”
benefited from being able to forgo the villain showdown one would
expect from the finale of a superhero show. Nearly all of the
performances were their respective actors' best of the season, making
it very hard to pick out a single standout. The lack of something
important for Caitlin to do could be viewed as the episode's sole
weakness.
Rating:
9/10
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