THE FLASH 7.14

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.14:  " Rayo de Luz"  

As we gear up for the final 4 episode arc (which will---FINALLY---feature Godspeed), Flash gives usw one more single episode arc focusing on one of the members of Team Flash.  This time around, we finally get more into Allegra Garcia's story, and her issues with her cousin, Esperanza---whom we know as Ultraviolet, who's terrorized the team before, as well has having been employed by Caver's group, Black Hole.  This episode was directed by Danielle Panabaker, and it does feature a more female-led story, but Chunk is there along for the ride.  But mind you...we haven't forgot about Barry & Iris...and we DO touch on Joe this week, as he continues to dig into Kristin Kramer's mysterious background.  So, let's see how things unfolded this week...

As we opened up at a point in the show where Allegra is doing battle with her cousin, we backtrack to 12 hours prior to the incident, where Team Flash is chilling at STAR Labs, not doing anything.  Barry zips in, and says he and Iris are taking a little vacay, but of course he's vague about what they're doing....not that anyone doesn't know what's going on with those two at this moment...they're getting freaky for baby's sake.  So, as awkward as Barry comes off to everyone, he does bail to go on his little island trip with Iris.  Frost has returned, and while Chunk is ready for some serious D&D, he invites Allegra and Frost, but Frost herself says she's got a thing, and awkardly shuffles off herself.  As for Allegra, she passes on Chunk's invite, and says she's on a search for her cousin, who is just freshly out of prison.  Chunk inquires how she found her, and she said she used the Citizen Tip Line...which she wasn't supposed to...but did anyway.  Allegra wants to make things right with her, considering Esperanza has blamed her for abandoning her years ago.  So, when Allegra DOES catch up with Ultraviolet, Esperanza's been in a vendetta kind of mood.  So, when the two cousins meet, it's not good.  Allega tries to appeal to her, but Esperanza would rather kill her.  And had it NOT been for the timely appearance of Sue Dearbon, Allegra would've been dead.  This, apparently, has been part of the reason Sue has stuck around, because Ultraviolet is still working with Black Hole.  

Back at STAR Labs, Allegra fills the gang in on what she's trying to do.  Sue warns her that Ultraviolet is a killer, and she needs to be stopped.  Caitlin and Chunk wonder why Allegra would try to save her, and Allegra says that it's what Barry would do.  So, she's taking cues from the boss.  Sue reluctatnly decides to help, and has a device to track Esperanza, but they don't have a powerhouse on the team....Frost is M.I.A., and Barry and Iris are on vacation, so they are all there is....Sue says for them to get ready, and meet back at the lab to put the plan into action. Once ready to go, Allegra wants Chester to sit the mission out, But Chester insists on going.  They catch up with Esperanza again, who is looking for a particular doctor to kill.  She finds the doctor---a Dr. Olsen in question, and is about to kill him, the team shows up to stop her.  Sue and Allegra capture her, and Esperanza says that she was trying to kill the doctor, because HE was the one who created her.  At STAR Labs, Esperanza explains what happened to her, and this somehow convinces Allega to work with her cousin to find him, and bring him to justice.  Sue tells Allegra that this isn't a good idea, but Allegra tries to train with her cousin, but she can't muster up her power enough like her cousin.  Sue jumps in, and decides to throw down with Esperanza, as they have so many times before.  In the process of their little fight...Ultraviolet shoots her power, and Chunk takes a hit.  Caitlin and Allegra tend to him, and Esperanza takes off, saying they're all weak.  Later on, Chunk is in a sling, and Allegra apologizes.  Sue comes in to try and convince Allegra that her cousin is a lost cause and evil, and Allegra doesn't listen.  Sue wants Chunk to talk some sense into her, but he says he can't.

Sue tries to reach Allegra about her cousin, but Allegra gives her some backstory, about how they grew up, and how Esperanza felt she abandoned her.  Allegra feels she can offer her cousin a way out...at least she has to try.  Sue finally opens up about her parents, and how they took Carver's bribes in order to stay out of trouble---but then they learned to like the lifestyle, and covered and helped Carver with his criminal activities.  Sue feels bad because she COULDN'T get her parents out....because they didn't WANT out---and Sue feels that Allegra is trying to convince someone who kills and is a criminal to give it up.  Allegra, however, sticks to her guns.  

Chunk has figured out how to track Ultraviolet, who has found Dr. Olsen, and he has offered her a chance to get her voice back...to finish what he started. Chunk figures out that Allegra and Esperanza are the yin and yang of their powers...and they use that find her.  Chunk, Sue, and Allegra head to a warehouse, where Black Hole guards are posted.  Allegra goes to take out a few of them, but gets into a bit of trouble.  Sue is there to help with the guards, as is Chunk.  Allegra meets up with her cousin again, and Dr. Olsen says he plans on staying in business...even though Carver is dead.  He's not going to be caught, and says for Ultraviolet to kill Allegra, so that she can get her voice back.  The two cousins battle, but Esperanza still gets the better of Allegra.  As Esperanza is about to put the finishing touches on her cousin, Allegra's powers...which aren't born from hate, start to amplify.  She stands up, and fully powers up in a way she never has before...and she attacks her cousin, and Esperanza can't overpower her this time.  Allegra wins the fight, and the battle is over.  Esperanza can't believe how Allegra powered up, but Sue asks if things are okay, and Allegra says it's good.  

Caitlin gives props to Allegra for following her heart and for powering up....she's on another level now.  Caitlin manages to save a file from Dr. Olsen that created Esperanza, and it gives information on how to save Esperanza.  Allegra promises she'll be there for her cousin, and gives her the file...with a chance to Esperanza to finally be free and cured.  Sue still plans on sticking around...and maybe talk to her parents finally...feeling a tad inspired by Allegra's ability to not give up on her cousin.  

Elsewhere in this episode, we check in with Joe and Cecile, who're still working on Kristin Kramer and her shady past.  Joe comes acorss an audio recording of a member of her team the night they died, talking about the set up that killed them.  They wonder just how deep Kramer is in, and Cecile tells him to ask her.  So, when Joe goes to confront Kramer...who still says she an INTERIM Captain of the CCPD...about the night her team was killed, he lays out the file for her to see.  She instantly gets defensive, and calls out Joe, reams him, and says that if he digs more into her life...she'll arrest him.  Joe is shocked, but takes the file and leaves....leaving Kristin shook up at finally having her past come back to haunt her.  Joe just feels that she's not being honest when he talks to Cecile again, and she urges him to maybe give it another shot.  Listen to his gut.  Kramer eventually calls Joe, and wants to meet.  So, they meet, and she opens up by first apologizing to him for her outburst, but then reveals her story about how she had a member of her team...her brother in a sense, who grew up outside the reservation with her (thus informing us she's Native American), and how she knew he sold their team out, and how helpless she felt that she couldn't stop what went down.  She asks Joe to help her find her brother....and bring him to justice.  

Finally....we catch up with Frost at the end...as she tracks down Chillblaine...ready to put HIM back on ice at Iron Heights.  But he has a HUGE surprise for her:  He's turned state's evidence, and has been released.  So, now like her, he's free.  

In a lot of ways, this was a filler episode before we get to the final arc of the sesason, but it was good that we got to dig a little more into Allegra's life.  Outside of the fact that both her and Esperanza grew up on the streets, and that they both spent time in Iron Heights, we didn't know much about her.  After tonight, we got a little more, and she finally showed us what she's capable of.  Her power increase is a phenomenal gain for Team Flash, and it means she'll be more ready for field work should Flash need a helping hand.  As for her relationship with her cousin...that'll be work, but it looks like she's up for it.  But will Esperanza take the cure?  Get her voice back?  Or will her spots never change?  Maybe we get to find out, maybe we don't....we shall see.  It also looks like Chunk and Allegra are getting closer...we saw hints of that a couple of episodes back.  So...we getting another couple here?  

Looks like Joe finally broke down Kristin's walls.  Now...I'm still NOT 100% behind her, and putting my money on her to be the actual good guy...but it seems as if she trusts Joe enough with her story to let him help.  See...THIS is why Joe is the heart of this show right now....his guidance and wisdom guide this show throughout...and it effects EVERYONE.  Jesse L. Martin is so incredible with his performances, it just radiates on the screen.  Joe is that dad we ALL want, the great husband Cecile has...and the stoic man of justice we need.  This show would be LOST without him. So, it will be interesting to see how Kramer's story pans out.  

I think that now Chillblaine is a free man, will he stay on the right side of the law so that he and Frost can date?  We know she's crushing hardcore on him, so that'll be something to pay attention to.  As for our main two characters....Barry came and went after HIS awkward reasons for bolting.  And when he returned, saying that he and Iris had a good time....yeah, I'll BET.  Baby making is FUN!  So...we KNOW that both of them are making the most of this.  And while we've had episodes where Grant Gustin has only appeared briefly....I honestly belive THIS is the first time Candice Patton was NOT in an episode in ANY fashion....except having Iris' name mentioned.  I know she wasn't crucial to the plot this week, so that allowed Candice some down time...but when your other main star is out...it DOES feel a little weird.  

Okay, gang...how did YOU feel about Allegra's story?  Do you trust Kramer?  And will Frost and Chillblaine have their first date?  And when will we get the announcement that Iris is pregnant?  IF you have theories....subscribe to the blog, and leave a comment below.  

Godspeed is coming....next time!   So, until then......Keep on running!