THE FLASH 7.6

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.6:  "The One With the Nineties"  

Past and present merge for Team Flash this week, as they deal with yet ANOTHER threat to Central City....and THIS time, Barry's NOT available.  So, it's Cisco and Chester on the case, as they try to figure out WHY time is in a state of flux.  Plus, it also brings us more into the life of Chester P. Runk.  So...what went down?  And how will Team Flash deal with the fallout?  

From dinosaurs, to what looked like the Titanic, to seeing a Blockbuster Video in Masonville, to complete period clothing that some of our team took on, time was unraveling all around, and in a state of flux.  It was up to Team Flash to try and figure out just what in the hell was going on, and it all somehow connected back to the Speed Force.  The Speed Force...still taking the form of Nora Allen, informs the team that when it returned, there were other negative forces, that are now either hunting her, and creating havoc wherever possible.  With Barry in a self-imposed coma to recuperate from his injury that he suffered at the end of last episode, it falls upon the team to try and track these other Forces, so Cisco and Chester team up to create some tech to be able to spot just WHERE the isotope signatures that the Forces leave are located.  This ends up leading the duo to Masonville, where they end up getting swallowed by this wave of green energy.  

Both Cisco and Chunk realize that they've now been sent into the past, with this bubble enveloping Masonville.  It's also here that we figure out that Chester grew up here, and they've flashed back to 1998.  The boys then have to try and use makeshift technology of the time to be able to track the lastest Force, and figure out how to stop them.  They wind up at the high school where they believe they have found the energy signature in a boy who works with the football team.  However, they end up getting zapped back into a loop, where Cisco briefly loses his memory.  It's a literal race against time because if they don't get back to the present, the loop will be permanent.  Their tech needs to be rebuilt again, and this is where Chester's dumpster diving for tech comes in handy.  But they also visit an electronics store, where they witness Chester's father purchasing the last part they need for their machine.  This leads Chester to admit that this was the last day he saw his father, before his father took off for a job interview, and was killed in a car crash.  Chester had always felt that his father didn't care for him, but he finds out differently when he actually talks to him.  It's here that with this heart-to-heart...it was Chester's father who would leave these little pieces of technology for Chester to find, because he felt it gave Chester a sense of "another man's treasure..." ideology.  They end up building the part needed for the boys to track the new Force---which turns out to be the high school quarterback, who's future got shortened thanks to an injury.  It takes Chester's speech to him  about how HE was in charge of his life, and that HE can alter his destiny to prevent him from really destroying everything.  However, at THIS time...while everyone was going through period changes in looks during the Force's spread of his power, Chester managed to get through to him...sort of.  This new Force ends up taking off, but he manages to stop his time rampage for the time being.  

Back at STAR Labs, Barry is back, feeling better, and Cisco and Chester catch him up on what happened.  Cisco theorizes that these Forces are different aspects deviated from The Speed Force:  The Time Force, Strength Force, and the Sage Force...because that's what Dion, Fuerza, and Psych represent.  We are now realizing that THESE are splintered factions from the Speed Force, and a result of what happened when Barry got his powers back, as Iris charged the Speed Force Generator.  As for the Speed Force this episode, as it continues to recover, she converses with Barry, and is wondering that whether or not taking the form of Barry's mother Nora has caused more harm than good.  Iris says that Barry never talks about Nora's death, and it's something he just internalizes.  She is amazed at how her and Barry have managed to survive all that's been thrown at them.  Iris shows her the blanket that Barry has.  It was his mother's, and it makes him feel safe.  Iris reminds the Speed Force that while she herself is Barry's lightning rod....it's the Speed Force that's his lightning.  Towards the end of the episode, the Speed Force offers to stay at STAR Labs, and help track the other Forces, but Iris invites her back to the Allen home.  Barry agrees, but we see he's got that face of uncomfortability about it.  

We also got some comical moments, as Caitlin and Frost learn how to co-exist as two separate entities....mostly about artwork.  It's going to be a work in progress, to say the least.  But as we ended this week's episode, Joe has a heart-to-heart with Frost, letting her know about Kristin Kramer, and how she's coming after her.  Joe tells her that she SHOULD lay low, but Frost says that she's now got a chance to live her life on HER terms, and welcomes the challenge of Kramer.  

I've noticed that within the first 6 episodes of this season, we've gotten to see Team Flash resolve an issue with a villain by talking it out, instead of punching it out.  Flash did it with Kadabra before HIS untimely death, and then Chester THIS week with Dion---the football player who is the Time Force.  While I'm glad that they can show OTHER ways to resolve a fight with a villain without death or destruction---I don't want it to be the norm.  This IS a superhero show, and we DO need some superhero action at SOME point.  I know we're getting things ramped up for when Godspeed DOES arrive, but I don't want TOO much lull.  I know this team is still in the throes of recovery from what happened with Mirror Monarch, but it's time to start putting their best feet forward.  Also....I gotta say...is this a budget thing?  Seems to me that TALKING the villain out of their master plan seems to be more cost effective than having some big fight.  

For Barry...I feel his head isn't 100% in the game, or he's completely overthinking everything.  And with the Speed Force now back in his life, he's going to have to reconcile his feelings towards it...and the form it takes as his mother Nora.  It's been one of the most nurturing aspects of Barry's life, and it only seems appropriate that it takes the form of his mother.  But how long before he decides that this form is a painful reminder, and admits it?  We get it---the most tragic memory in your life, and it's DEFINED who you are....but with Barry....it's all consuming.  As much as Iris lets the Speed Force know that taking the form of Nora is a GOOD thing....she's not really speaking from BARRY'S heart.  And maybe we'll see this next week, that both Barry AND the Speed Force finally talk.  

It was GREAT to see the Cisco/Chester dynamic.  Cisco NEEDED a new partner-in-crime outside of Barry...and Chester fits the bill.  There's incredible comic timing between the two, and this episode really strengthened that friendship, and bolsters the team.  Chester fits in nicely, and he's taking on a bigger role.  Plus, it was cool to get more into HIS past, and have him resolve a personal issue this installment.  Not too much time on juxtaposition, just tell the story, and not drag it out.  And while we have NO idea just what his father was working on....I'm looking forward to the project once he's done.  

Frost is playing with fire---figuratively.  By NOT heeding Joe's advice, it's going to take some heroics of a different kind for Team Flash to save Frost from prison.  Kristin Kramer looks to be formidable, and will no doubt show no mercy or lack of relentlessness in getting Frost behind bars.  But I ALSO feel there's MORE to this story , and I hope we get it.  With that said, I really am enjoying the dual work that Danielle Panabaker is doing in portraying Frost and Caitlin as two separate individuals.  It's a lot of work taking on ONE role on a TV show...and ensure that you get the audience to engage and be invested in ONE character...but TWO---that's talent.  And Danielle has done an amazing job.  

No Cecile this week---she gets the week off after playing hero last week.  And where the hell has Kamilla been?  Ever since the season premiere...she's been practically M.I.A, and she is just as much a part of Team Flash as she is Team Citizen.  I don't know if the actress has other commitments, but we SHOULD be seeing MORE of her.  And this was also the 2nd week in a row that Allegra has been missing as well.  Is she on a story?  If so...which one?  Even if we DON'T have an actual PHYSICAL appearance by her on the show, dropping a mention about here whereabouts for continuity's sake would be nice.  If you want the audience to be INVESTED in that character...let us know WHAT she's doing.  

It WAS kinda cool to see Cisco & Chester to be able to re-live the 90's...and for some of the OTHER characters to get into period pieces.  

It was a serviceable episode...it moved plot along, and we got more insight about Chester, and how the Speed Force feels in regards to Barry.  But I AM hoping that things WILL ratchet up again soon.  What did YOU guys think of this week's show?  Subscribe and drop a comment below.

Until next time....Keep on running!