SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.13

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.13:  "Fail Safe"  

There was much time for reflection in this latest installment of our Man of Steel & his intrepid reporter wife.  In the wake of what's happened in regards to the whole Morgan Edge affair, Smallville has been on pins and needles.  The people that have gotten the WORST of it has been the Cushing Family, whom everyone has painted the Scarlet Letter onto because of the entire incident, because Kyle was the most vocal voice in support of Edge coming into Smallville and revitalizing the town---but they don't realize the fact that the Cushings were taken for a ride as well---but the town is looking for SOMEONE to blame....and they're prime target #1.  We also see the fallout from the perspective of the Kents...who know there has to be SOME damage control done in regards to explaining what happened.  And then there's Edge himself---trapped in his cell, mulling over his past, and how he failed in his mission.  So, there wasn't a whole thing of action this episode...we got time to pause and take a breath---and explore the aspect of what happens when a town faces such a situation, and the consequences of it. Even the kids have to deal with the fallout as well.

In this episode, we see the stress and fallout hit the Cushings the hardest.  Kyle is anxious to get back to work, but everyone at the station...and the Mayor...all felt that he needed to step back and let things cool off before going back to work.  The Mayor assures him that he is on their side, and for them to not worry.  Kyle is still the kind of guy that---if things go south in a situation---his fallback is hitting the bottle or doing something stupid---like lashing out.  The perfect example of this is when he and Lana are out at the diner in town, and he sees his co-workers come in, and one of the crew guys is named the interim Fire Chief.  And they don't decide to greet or talk to Kyle.  He takes offense to this, and gets into an argument with them, which causes a scene in the diner, for which Lana has to try and put out the fire, and then they argue about it.  The entire incident makes Kyle rethink wanting to stay in Smallville in general...especially later on, when Lana is with Sophie, and Sophie comments about whether or not they're moving.  Kyle had mentioned to Sophie if she'd like to go to another school, and Lana plays it off that he's just upset, and things will improve.  But even then...there are cracks in Lana's armor, as she finds out that Jordan and Sarah had been arrested for trespassing (we'll discuss the boys' day in a bit).  As Lana and Lois have had to go bail out their kids, she overhears the Mayor having a private conversation with someone else, literally throwing Lana and her family under the bus, and confronts him about it.  She's sick of everyone putting the blame on them, and says that for someone who said HE was on THEIR side, he's only covering his own ass...and she's sick of it. 

Bridging to the boys, they also had to endure A LOT of questions in regards to what's going on---considering their grandfather is head of the DoD.  Sarah has to also got to deal with everything, as there's supposed to be an assembly at school...for which the boys were instructed by their parents to try and get to some semblance of normal.  But Sarah is still bullied by many of her fellow students.  She can't handle it, and she's deciding in ditching to get away from it all, and Jordan follows.  Jordan and Sarah go for a walk to discuss everything that's going on, and Jordan does his best to be supportive of his girlfriend.  Jordan understands what she is going through, and knows what it's like to feel like an outsider.  They wander onto a bridge on a trail, and are just about to kiss when they're interrupted by someone, who ends up calling the cops on them.  Jordan and Sarah get arrested for trespassing, but were only given a warning.  That didn't sit will with either Lana OR Lois.  But  while Lana ends up dealing with the Mayor and his two-faced lies, Lois lights into Jordan AND Jon.  Jon had encouraged his brother to follow Sarah, while the gal that Sarah had warned Jon against as being trouble, came up to him, and wanted to help him get away from the assembly.  So, they ditched as well.  They went out for a drive, and talk...but what ends up happening is that she uses this time to try and grill Jon about what has gone down, figuring that HE would know because his grandfather is the head of the DoD.  Jon realizes that she didn't bring him out for a drive just for his company---but to pump him for information.  He takes offense to this, and takes off.  So, both boys....who know EVERYTHING that happened, still have to endure the fallout from this---especially since they're connected to Gen. Sam Lane, and the DoD has had an extended stay in town until this mess dies down---and they seal the mines from the town, and make sure the Kryptonite is NOT accessible. 

Lois and Clark have their own equal issues to deal with, and it DOES crossover with each other, as Superman continues to pump his half-brother for information on what he did with the Eradicator machine.  Tal continues to stonewall, as he keeps building up some kind of power in his body for something nefarious.  Tal also takes this time to do what he can to goad him about how good it felt to feel that power for the first time...to not feel hindered by limitations.  Clark spends A LOT of time contemplating that issue, and when he talks to Sam about his plans to destroy all the Kryptonite weapons, and close out Project 4437, he wonders if that's a good idea.  Eventually, he and John are talking about plans, and John is trying to see what he can do about fitting into this new world.  They get an alert on his computer, and they discover it's Leslie Larr, who was headed for the DoD to free Tal from his cell.  Superman and John cut her off, and managed to take her out.  Kal-El reminds his brother that she's been captured, and that there is no way she can help him.  As for Lois...she tries to get a statement from her father about everything that went down, because she knows the town is wanting answers, but Sam gives the typical government BS standing---no comment.  They'll hand out a pamphlet, and that'll be the end of it.  Sam DOES make her understand that IF he were to say anything...it'll lead to more questions about Superman, about her, and the boys, and that's a can of worms he refuses to open.  Lois DOES get it, and she hands what she got from her father to Chrissy, who knows they have had no story to write without information.  She wanted Lois to press her dad about getting a statement, and when Lois came back with when Sam gave her, Chrissy felt that Lois sold out as a reporter, and that she's just protecting the DoD.  This doesn't sit well with Lois, who is conflicted with it.  On top of that, THEN she finds out that Clark had told her dad to NOT close Project 4437, because he's worried about what would happen if he DID go rogue.  Lois assures him that he won't, and he proved it, but she still doesn't grasp what CLARK was feeling---and when he expresses how much he enjoyed the feeling of NOT controlling himself with his powers...and enjoying the fact that he was unhindered with his code...it scared him.  That is why he feels keeping the Project open is a good thing.  Plus...he asks John to be the gatekeeper of it---in case of the worst scenario happening---he can trust John to uphold his end of the bargain.  Lois is pissed at him, as well as the boys when she finds out  the ditched school.  So, after her fight with Chrissy, which resulted in her pretty much being canned from the paper...Lois decides that she needs to remember who she is.  So, she takes the info she has to Chrissy...and tells her that she is too close to the story to write it....but Chrissy CAN.  She apologizes for holding back.  

We also get to dive into the mind of Tal...who spend the episode mulling in his cell about his training with this father as a youth, the pressures of his father's training, and his father not allowing him to know his mother, as well as not wanting him to know about Kal.  We also know he spends the episode goading Superman about how he is no different from him, and how he enjoyed being able to cut loose with his powers.  But he's also been spending time in his cell building up some power---something in reserve.  So, when it's reached its peak, he manages to break his cell, despite the DoD increasing the Kryptonite in his cell.  He takes out the guards and Sam, and he flies off.  In just that moment, Sam alerts Superman, and he's there quickly.  Superman scours the Earth, but can't find him.  We then see the end of the episode where Tal is on the far side of the sun.....soaking up MASSIVE amounts of solar energy...with a voice over of his father telling him that it's now HIS time to become the Eradicator.  

This wasn't a bad episode....a lot of juxtaposition to digest, as we got to take a breath and pause for the fallout of Edge's first failure, before the final battle is met.  We see that EVERYONE is dealing with what happened in their own ways, and we see how they react to it.  Clark is dealing with the fact that he is...when unchecked and allowed to cut loose...is the most powerful man on the planet, and virtually unstoppable unless there are measures in place to keep him in line.  John is willing to be the gatekeeper and the one to take him down should he go rogue, but it also shows that Clark is worried about what would happen, and justifiably so.  Lois...ever the optimist...doesn't like it.  But even SHE had to realize that he's right...and that's unsettling to her.  On top of that, she compromised with her father in order to spare the family secrets from getting out.  That brought her into direct conflict with her ethics as a reporter, and with Chrissy, who felt she sold out.  However, she did managed to find a way to get the information out...tell the story...by having Chrissy write it.

We've explained what the fallout was for the boys and for the Cushings, who got the worst side of it all.  We also have to see the side of the townsfolk...who're still angry, upset, and looking to point fingers at SOMEONE:  Sadly, the Cushings are the easy target, because of the most vocal Kyle was of Morgan Edge,and  Lana obviously supporting him and their family, as well as the town.  People haven't realized just how screwed THEY has a family had gotten just as much as the rest of the town.  So, the coming final two episodes will be REAL interesting down the stretch, as we see Edge's ultimate plan is, and how the town will react to it. 

What did YOU all think of the show?  Subscribe and drop a comment, theory, or opinion below.

Until next time....Up, up, and away! 

THE FLASH 7.18

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.18:  "Heart of the Matter Part 2" 

We have reached the finish line for Season 7.  It's been a strange journey this season, and we've had to deal with the fallout of the COVID era, as the show had to take an early powder last season when production stopped due to the virus becoming a pandemic.  In the wake of what has followed, we got a season that had to begin by wrapping up Season 6's Mirror Master storyline, then bounce into their new arcs, which included the team dealing with the various aspects of the Speed Force, and then finally jumping quickly into the Godspeed storyline to reach the end.  And when last we left off...the Godspeeds were out of control, warring with one another, and Flash enters the mind of the befuddled August Hart---to see if he can restore Hart's memories, and find out WHY he's in 2021 Central City.  They also have to deal with Bart being comatose after the Godspeed attack on him from last week.  So, it's up to the family of speedsters to fend off Godspeed, and halt his run real fast. 

As Bart lies in his coma, having had most of his speed sapped by the Godspeeds, Barry is in the mind of August Hart...and he inquires about what Hart wants.  For Hart, it's simple:  he wants ultimate speed....he wants to be the God of Speed.  However---his speed isn't organic.  He wants organic speed.  And if he doesn't  get what he wants, he'll continue to reign terror all over Central City.  But...Barry denies him.  He blasts Barry in anger, and Barry wakes up from his trance.  August himself wakes up, and wonders what happened.  Barry confers with the team on what August wanted, Nora seems to think that her dad should give him what he wants---especially if it will preserve the future and save Bart.  Barry says it's not the answer, and Iris backs him up.  Jay tells him that if they're going to fight...they're going to need an answer for them soon.  Or, Barry says, they need a fast one. 

Chester checks up on Allegra, and she is still in mourning over Esperanza.  She continues to blame herself, but Chester makes her realize that it wasn't her fault.  Chester says that Esperanza is to blame because she CHOSE to go start a war. meanwhile, Allegra is helping the Flash try and FIGHT a war.  He reminds her that her efforts aren't wasted.  The pep talk is what she needed, and she's ready to help save the city.  Meanwhile, the Speed Force arrives, and is aware of what the Godspeeds are up to, and gives a power boost to everyone...which also revives Bart.  With the team juiced up, the speedster clan heads out to battle the Godspeeds.  Flash's plan is simple:  keep them busy until they wear out, and need to charge.  For little while, it works.  But...it turns out that the presence of the Speed Force is allowing the Godspeeds to draw speed energy off of her.  Flash orders her to take off.  Allegra and Chester arrives with his machine that Allegra has supercharged.  She manages to use the machine to blast the Godspeeds, and it incapacitates them....but it's only a temporary fix.  Vibe and Frost also have to deal with them, and Vibe uses his gauntlets to create a force shield to fend off the Godspeeds.  It works, but they had to hold their breath while doing it...which didn't sit well with Frost...but they're alive. Joe and Kramer are still trying to get people evacuated off the bridge, when a Godspeed catches Joe, and is about to kill him, but Kramer sees it, and actually super speeds to Joe's rescue.  However, she's too dazed to continue, and passes out.  

Back at STAR Labs, the team is aware that Round 2 will begin, and they all look to Barry to find an answer to this situation.  While Nora and Bart help Chester rebuild his machine to attempt to use it again, Nora once again pleads with her father to give Godspeed what he wants.  Barry caves in, and agrees, and they set Hart up with a harness with the tachyon generator, and Barry gives him enough of his power to jumpstart the generator---Hart gets his memory back, and Cecile tries to gauge his mind, but it turns out that Hart likes being the bad guy, and has played everyone into getting what he wanted.  Iris, meanwhile, is with the Speed Force initiating their plan.  Godspeed takes off, and Barry tells the kids that, no matter what happens, stay put in the lab.  He races off to meet Godspeed atop STAR Labs.  Godspeed has drawn his children to him, and now plans on killing the Flash.  Flash tells him he's going down and heading to Iron Heights. Iris and the Speed Force work together to focus their energy to help Flash, as he's being beaten down and about to have his speed taken from him. But....just as Flash is about out for the count----Reverse-Flash shows up!  So, Thawne and Flash team up, and use their speed powers to create weapons from lightning and battle him.  Godspeed fends them off, and is just about to put the finishing touches on Flash, when he's run through by Thawne.  He's not dead, but incapacitated.  Flash chastises Thawne for trying to kill him.  Thawne says he was brought back to end the threat, so he did.  And now that it's over, he plans on killing Flash---just like he intended.  However---as he goes to throw a punch, Flash speeds up, and realizes he's MUCH faster than Thawne.  Flash then grabs his arm and tosses him aside.  Thawne wonders how Barry did that, complaining that he MADE Barry and Barry says that he got faster---didn't Thawne?  Thawne says no, but he will, and their battle will continue.  He races off.  

As the team congregates back at the lab, Nora wonders how Thawne came back, and Iris said that she and the Speed Force focused on the Negative Speed Force to draw Thawne out.  They knew it was a risk, but it was their only play.  They know that he's out there, while Hart is in Iron Heights.  But while Hart has no limits to what he wanted to do....Thawne does.  Thawne's goal is to always kill Barry...and they're prepared for that.  As for Hart knowing Barry's secret---the Speed Force wiped his mind of any knowledge of the Flash Family secrets.  

One week later, Kristin visits Joe, and she says she tested positive as a metahuman.  It turns out that she SHOULD'VE died during the bomb explosion, but because she can mimic the powers of others, she used Creyke's healing powers to save herself.  She's taking some time off from the CCPD to figure things out.  Joe wishes her luck, and tells her to call him Joe.  Finally...it's party time, and that means that Barry and Iris have decided to renew their wedding vows (and no Oliver and Felicity to ruin it this time around).  Bart pulls out a song for his parents, and finally....the couple kiss in Flashtime.

The final few episodes of this season were its best.  I felt that this season just kind of plodded along, and felt rather directionless.  It just didn't have the umph and spark like the seasons past.  But we can blame COVID for throwing production off and for putting the show off-track.  Hopefully, with production getting somewhat back on schedule, Season 8 will be better.  But the final arc definitely save what was not the best season of this show.  

I WAS pleased we got Nora and Bart---great chemistry together between Jessica Parker Kennedy and Jordan Fisher.  IF they ever did a spinoff with THESE two...I'd be for it.  To see the Flash Family as a unit was fantastic.  Throw in Jay and Joan Garrick, and it made it even better.  I only had ONE problem with this final arc, however:  Wally.  His absence from this arc was HIGHLY disappointing, considering that he would've been a major part of this fight....and to see him fight with Jay and the kids.  It WAS great to see Eobard Thawne return....thought, we kinda figured that would happen anyway.  But another aspect I enjoyed was that FINALLY.....FINALLY....after 7 years...we see that Barry has gotten faster than Thawne...and it was glorious to see him just embarrass Thawne with one throw. 

I was glad we got some resolution with Kristin Kramer.  It wasn't surprising that she turned out to be a metahuman.  It was an easy enough explanation, and now I guess we'll call her Mimic from here on out.  I did hear rumblings that she will be making an appearance next season.  We'll see if she's come to grips with her powers, and how will this change her approach to metas?  

Overall, the season was rather flat, and I do hope that Season 8 will be better.  How about all of you?  How did YOU feel Season 7 fared?  Subscribe and lemme know what you think.

Until next season.....rest your feet.  You're done running for now. 

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 6.10

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  6.10:  "Bad Blood"  

We took a break from the usual Legends hijinks to focus back on John Constantine and his quest to regain his magic.  But....as we know in John's world...there's always something devious up, and there's always consequences.  They may not be paid NOW....but they'll happen further down the road.  

John has been mulling and rummaging about his home, trying to get Crowley to reveal the location of the map to the Fountain of Immortality. Crowley is reluctant at first, but John manages to convince him....with gum stuck to his forehead.  Crowley then says he kept it with a banker named Noelle...who turns out to be a vampire, and cannot come in unless John invites her in, and she hands him the map, but she wants something in return.  She tries to lunge for him, but he has her trapped.  She gives him the map...and a vial and says that he'll need it sometime soon.  John goes to leave on this quest, with Crowley wanting to go with him, but John's got other ideas. 

Aboard the Waverider, Lita is wanting Spooner to check on her dad's progress with his pregnancy, because he really doesn't want to talk about it.  Spooner goes to listen in and check on Mick, but John springs aboard the ship, looking for her, and asking for her assistance on his venture.  Looking to get off the ship and not have to deal with Mick's pregnancy issues or playing babysitter to Gus...which is what the rest of the team has been doing at this point in time....with Zari 1.0 taking pictures of the occasion.  John and Spooner head back to his place, and she helps him decipher the map, and it leads them into a small town in eastern Spain called Albacete in the year 1939.  When they get there, John tells them they're looking for a man named El Gato.  Apparently he's been fighting against fascists, and has managed to survive certain death.  He is the key to finding out the location of the Fountain.  They arrive at a tavern, where they talk with a mysterious man about the legend of El Gato. The man says the tavern is closed, and mistakes John and Spooner as fascists.  But John says he's served in the trenches, and that seems to quell the stranger from killing them both.

Meanwhile...back aboard the ship, the team is still dealing with Gus Gus, as Spooner had warned them that he was experiencing growing pains, thus the constant crying.  Gary also informs the team that Gus Gus' species only has a lifespan of 38 years.  The team discusses Mick's pregnancy, and he's upset that he was caught off guard by it.  Lita tells him that her mother was caught off guard.  Lita wasn't warned by Nico, but here they all are.  Nate and Zari rush in, letting them all know that Gus Gus has had a growth spurt, and is running amok.  

Back in 1939, as John is told the story of El Gato's exploits, he also wants to hear another story.  The one of how El Gato drank this donkey's milk from the next village over, and gained immortality.  John is not convinced the man is El Gato, and thinks the milk is at the back of the bar.  He and Spooner then check back there, and find a boy reading a comic.  Spooner gets an alien alert, and she manages to communicate with the boy, who's name is Fernando.  She informs John he's an alien, but before they can do more, the tavern is raided by a group of fascists led by a man named Noriega, who's loyal to Hitler.  He's looking for the Fountain as well, and discusses how he's searched for the Spear of Destiny and the Loom of Fate, and he WILL find this Fountain.  He orders everyone in the bar shot until El Gato reveals himself. Gato worries about Fernando, and Noriega shoots El Gato, forcing Fernando to reveal himself and heal El Gato.  Thinking the boy is the key to the Fountain, he is taken by Noriega...until John rushes out to find a plan----and comes back dressed as a priest after hearing the church bells.

Back on the ship, the Legends are doing what they can to stop Gus Gus from destroying the ship.  Mick's experiencing a headache, which Lita takes as possible labor pains.  She needs to get him to the med bay, but Mick resists.  Lita then says she's going into labor, and Mick rushes her towards the med bay, but they run into Gus Gus.  With the Tarazis running down the hall, they use their wind powers along with Mick's  heat gun to fend him off...eventually using a portal to get him off the ship.  Mick gets Lita into the med bay, but she tells him she lied...and did it just enough to get him into the med bay to get HIM examined.  Gideon examines him, and he sees the digital sonogram of the eggs...and he's suddenly enamored with them.  

Back in 1939, Spooner assures Fernando that they will be rescued, and that's when John shows up as the Priest.  He manages to convince Noriega he's from the Vatican, and that he's also looking for an ancient relic.  They should team up.  As they sit at a table, John casts a spell to allow Fernando and Spooner to talk, as he talks about how a bomb separated him from his family, and how he found this fountain that saved his life.  Noriega wants to know the location of the Fountain, but Fernando lies and says that he was lost for days, and can't remember.  He gets angry He goes to attack, but the bar patros start attacking themselves, allowing John, Spooner, and Fernando to escape.  They make their way to a cave, where Fernando said the Fountain was.  John needs Spooner's powers to stop them, and can use Spooner to channel them into him.  Spooner resists the idea, but the boy agrees as long as John agrees to help him find his mother.  He agrees, and when the power leaves Fernando, it only goes back into the empty fountain.  Fernando states that only those worthy can gain the power from the Fountain.  Noriega and his men are coming, and John orders Spooner to get Fernando out of there.  He then remembers the vial from earlier, and consumes it.  He then goes into this trance, and becomes extremely powerful.  He manages to kill Noriega and all his men.  As he comes out of the trance, Spooner returns, and his horrified by what she sees.  Fernando is the reunited with El Gato and the rest of his family.  

Returning back home, Spooner admits to him that she was scared of what he did with that magic, and is even more scared when he's licking the bit  of the lid to extract the rest out of it.  Spooner threatens to tell the team about this...especially Zari...but he hypnotizes her, and tells her the mission was a success, and orders her up to bed...which she obeys.  Crowley chastises John about consuming the potion, and he berates him.  Noelle then shows up with a box that has MORE of the potion...and in return, he gives Crowley to Noelle...who is eager to sell his soul for a pretty penny.  We hear Crowley's cries to John, as John is eager to have his new magic.  

This episode didn't quite pack the fun and humor in it----but when it came to John....that's alright.  His story is always a dark one---and with the deal he made with Noelle to get his magic back---I have a feeling that this is going to create QUITE a problem for the rest of the team.  Especially since he couldn't consume from the Fountain because he wasn't worthy enough.  Spooner even fears what John will become, but she won't remember anything, because John hypnotized her.   John is always better when he gets to be HIM....and when we get that dark magic aspect about him.  Despite all the humor the show has, it's nice they can hit us with something with some serious drama....John can bring that alone.  

Otherwise, it was a good way this episode to get Gus Gus off the ship, and written out of the show.  Didn't need him cluttering up the scenery, and glad he was gone.  The REAL story was Lita and Mick reconnecting after about a proverbial year.  Both now get to share the prospect of parenthood, and Mick has now warmed up to the idea---especially feeling that he deserves this after feeling bad about stranding Kayla on the planet to die.  Lita has matured, and it's cute to see the child become the parent in a way.  But for the most part, the team took a back seat this week to John's quest.  I've been very  meh about the show this season, but there's some potential with John's addiction here for some juicy stuff.  

What did YOU all think of this Constantine-centric episode?  Subscribe below, drop me YOUR thoughts, theories, and opinions.  

Until then....Time is on our side.

SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.12

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.12:  "Through the Valley of Death"

It's a scary time for the Kent clan.  It appears that---to save his family---The Man of Steel had to join forces with Morgan Edge in order to join the Kryptonian's cause to remake Earth into Krypton.  This means being "reprogrammed" into being a servant of Edge and his father.  Lois, in desperation, calls John Henry Irons, who had warned her about the upcoming war, so say that Superman is going to be turned.  Meanwhile, the Cushings are dealing with the fallout of what happened with the townsfolk after Edge had converted them to Kryptonians before Superman put an end to that plan.  Can Kal-El be saved?  Will Mr. Irons be forced to kill him?  Let's see what transpired....

Before Lois manages to call John, we see him spying on a woman who is leaving a building.  This appears to be his sister from this world (mind you---the Irons of this planet died awhile ago), and is contemplating connecting with her....that is, until Lois calls, and let's him know what's going down.  Meanwhile, we see Superman still being tortured at Edge's Fortress, as they try to convert him to their side.  But Kal-El keeps resisting. 

Lois and the boys chat, and she still believes that Clark will find a way through this---he's been in rougher situations. General Lane arrives, and says that they've been unable to find Superman, and wonders if he's at his Fortress up north.  But Lois knows he's not there, but Edge said he had one out in the desert....so Sam calls the DoD, and they expand their search.  He promises he'll do all he can to bring Clark home. 

Kyle Cushing is trying to get back into his routine, by getting ready for work, and Lana and Sarah try to convince him to take a break, and collect themselves after this fallout.  He feels this is the best thing, but as he goes to leave for work, one of his team from the firehouse tells him that they don't want him there.  In the wake for what happened, a lot of people are looking at Kyle as the reason for what happened....so, Kyle's benched. 

Jon pulls Jordan aside, and encourages him to use his super hearing to try and find their dad.  Jordan says he doesn't think he has that kind of range, but Jon believes in him, and urges him to give it a try.  John has arrived back in Smallville, and he, Lois, and Sam talk, and John says that the ONLY option is to kill Superman.  Sam seems kind of open to the idea (he's a soldier, so he's going to explore EVERY option), but Lois flat out refuses, and says he can get through this.  It's up to THEM to figure it out.  John then shows Sam a weapon that he had made on his Earth that used red sun energy, but in his battle with Superman on his world, he didn't get a chance to really use it, as Superman attacked his ship, and his ship jumped space before he could find out if it worked.  John just needs supplies, and he can make it work. 

The Cushings go into town to get tested, but as they try to talk to their friends, Emily and her family shun them, blame Kyle and Lana for everything that happened to them...especially Emily, who feels ashamed for attacking Lois Lane.  As the town looks down upon the family, it's Lois herself that says she doesn't blame them.  She wants to chat with them, and she asks Kyle about when he was taken over...what happened to him, and how did he manage to fight back.  Lois takes notes as Kyle tells him about the blackouts, and thinking about his family.  She thanks him for everything, and she's off to try and save Superman. As she goes to plead her case to John and her father to try and save Clark.  As for the Man of Might...he's continuing to resist the reprogramming, despite Edge and his father telling him to just give in.  At this moment, Jordan continues working on locating his father....and he actually hears him, and he's off to tell his family he knows where he is. 

John Diggle has arrived in Smallville with some tech from ARGUS to help with the situation, and has arrived at the camp the DoD has set up.  He runs into Lois, and she explains what's going on.  When he finds out WHY he brought the tech, he is NOT pleased, and says that Lyla also would NOT have approved of this.  Sam and John try to explain to him that this is the only option to stop Superman.  John says that he's fought alongside Superman, and he would never turn against the Earth.  He explains from experience, and from a life he's long left behind (yeah....RIGHT, John!).  He then talks to Sam privately, and says that himself, Sam, and Lyla are going to have a little chat later on....and hopes that Sam AND John make the right call.  It's at this time that Jordan and Jon show up, telling them they know where Superman is.  As John is ushered out of the room to work on his project, Sam, Lois, and the boys discuss where Clark is, and Jordan says that Edge said that if anyone tries to save him, he'll destroy them.  Sam says to Lois that, like it or not, he has to treat Superman as a global threat, and they have to take extreme measures, and apologizes to his daughter.  She then goes to Irons, in one last ditch effort to get through to him to NOT kill Superman.  She then tells him their secret:  that she's married to Superman, and that he is the father of her kids.  John is surprised that Clark Kent is Superman, but it still doesn't alter his thought process.  He saw what the Superman of his Earth do to that planet.  Said that it took him 7 minutes to destroy Metropolis...and he won't let that happen here. 

Superman seems to have succumbed to the reprogramming...as he's turned into General Zod.  And they look ready to initiate their plan to take over the planet.  And before Irons goes into battle with Superman, Jon goes up to him, and tells him that he saw the history of John Henry Irons, and expresses sympathy for his loss, and that he sees him as a good dad.  But he also let's Irons know that the man he's about to kill is also a good man.  John says he wishes there could be another way, and Jon reminds him that there's ALWAYS another way.  

The Cushings arrive home, only to see that their house has been broken into and vandalized, with a message spray painted on the house saying "LEAVE SMALLVILLE".  Kyle is wondering about whether or not to leave, but Lana says they've fought for a lot, and they're together as a family, and that's important.  So, they're going to stick together and get through this as a family, and we get a nice montage of Kyle, Lana, and Sarah cleaning the house and re-bonding.  

Irons eventually meets up with Superman, and they end up doing a little bit of fighting.  But as they fight, John can see Superman continue to resist the programming, and Lois and Sam are able to witness things from a cam in John's suit. They take the fight into space, and then battle back down to Earth.  John blasts Superman with his hammer a couple of times.  Superman continues to fight, but feels like he's losing his grip, and orders John to finish him off.  But John tells him to fight...think about what he loves the most.  Eventually, Superman breaks the programming, and is back to himself.  Edge and his father realize that he has failed, and his father bids him off, and Edge must continue the plan on his own.  But Superman and John are now after him, and Edge takes the Eradicator Machine and goes off into space to try and still salvage the plan, but John shoots his rocket meant for Superman at Edge, and blasts him, stopping Edge's threat.  Edge falls back to Earth, and Superman knocks him out.   Superman thanks John for his help.

A little later, Lois and the boys await for Clark to return.  He finally arrives home, and embraces his family, and thanks the boys for helping him out.  John arrives, and Superman again thanks him.  Jon also thanks Irons for not killing his dad, and John says they need some serious family time.  So, he takes off.  Over at the Cushings, we see that Sophie has returned home, and they are finally bonding as a family in full again. 

Sam comments to Lois and Clark that Leslie Larr is still in the wind, but they have eyes looking for her.  We then see Edge in his Kryptonite laden prison, still understanding of his plan.  

Family once again seemed to be the core theme of this week's installment,  as it took  the family to try and convince John Henry Irons to NOT kill Superman, and believe in him to fight the programming of Edge.  I thought it was VERY interesting that...of all the Kryptonians Clark was being reprogrammed as....it was General Zod.  An old enemy.  But the combined effort of the Kents managed to win the day.  It shows the power of family, and what not giving up when the chips are down can do.  The same can ALSO be said for the Cushings.  That family is ostracized right now as the events played out as of late.  But this also allowed Kyle to have his wake up call, and realize what he has is worth fighting for.  With Sarah seeing her father in a new light, and Lana being the rock as always, we got to see this family clean the slate, and have a chance to start anew.  And I feel we're far from done as far as them helping out in stopping any threats, and being the ones to get the town back on track.  And another family aspect is the fact that Sam and Lois have put aside their differences for the time being, and Sam loosening up a bit, and being more of a father...not just a soldier.  Still awaiting an appearance of Lucy Lane, however.  Think we can get a Jenna Dewan appearance on the show next season?  

John holding back and actually HELPING Superman fight the programming was rather expected...but STILL shows character growth.  He knows his world is gone, but that doesn't mean he can't make a new life here.  And him looking upon his sister is a direction we can see going.  Have to see how that plays out.  

Another John Diggle appearance, as he's making the rounds of the Arrowverse, and him going out for either personal or ARGUS reasons.  I love how he just KNOWS everyone now, and they know him (one of the benefits of The Spectre rebooting the universe).  But his comment about leaving "that life" behind him was laughable...considering EVERYTHING we saw when we was helping Barry in Central City with his Godspeed problem.  But there is NO WAY he's permanently OUT of the hero business---in fact---if we're lucky, HIS journey is JUST beginning.  I just wish the creators behind the Arrowverse would pull the damn trigger already. 

This was a solid episode, and this show is probably THE best Arrowverse show right now.  It's been solid from the beginning, and has stayed consistent throughout.  Only a few episodes left, and looking forward to see what surprises we get.  How about YOU guys?  What did YOU like about this week's installment?  Subscribe and drop me your thoughts below....

Until next time....Up, up, and away!  

THE FLASH 7.17

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.17:  "Heart of the Matter - Part 1" 

Speedsters!  Speedsters!  Speedsters!  We got A LOT as we have reached the season finale, broken up into two parts for your viewing pleasure.  The Godspeed War races on, and Team Flash has been at a lost at how to stop them.  Now, it looks like help has come in the form of our Tornado Twins.  Nora & Bart Allen arrive from 2049 to try and stop the real Godspeed - August Hart - and meet up with their dad.  Now...will THEY be enough to help stem the tide and end this war?  

Before we get things shifted into 2nd gear, we have to jump ahead to Central City in 2049 where XS and Impulse are chasing down Godspeed, who's tearing up the city, but the twins see some weird light show near the Flash Museum.  They're off to try and stop him before he does whatever he has planned, but get to him too late, as he's on the Cosmic Treadmill racing off through time to execute whatever plan he has in his twisted mind.  As much as the twins try to adhere to their father's rules about time travel, and risk it anyway to try and stop Godspeed.  This is how they've wound up in the 21st Century in 2021. This allows them a chance to reconnect with family, as well as getting to know the younger version of Chester.  Eventually, they put their heads together to try and solve away to stop the Godspeeds, and Chester comes up with a device that kills kinetic energy, it just needs Allegra's powers to charge it up.  

Barry takes a little time to get know his kids---especially Nora again, as he's reminded of the alternate version of her, which Nora herself brings up.  But the family reunion is shot lived, as Caitlin warns them that Godspeeds are on the run.  This gives Flash the chance to have XS and Bart to join him in seeing what they can do to stop them.  They get out there, and they see the Godspeeds.  Flash orders them to split up, and let them chase them until they burn out and need to charge...but they all end up chasing Bart.  Flash orders him to circle back, but he says he's going to lead them out of the city.  Flash and XS order him again, but he ends up getting stopped by one of the Godspeeds, and he's surrounded by them.  Flash and XS show up, and the Godspeeds take a powder to go recharge.  Back at STAR Labs, Barry wonders why it is that they only followed Bart, and Bart isn't exactly up to fessing up what he knows, but his dad pressures him, and Bart lashes out that Godspeed is his Thawne.  Bart seems to think that his dad doesn't understand, and Nora urges Bart to go train.  Barry contemplates on this news.

Allegra has been alone, mourning the loss of her cousin Esperanza, and Chester catches up to her, trying to see what she's up to.  He's also informed her of what he's trying to do to get the machie working to try and stop the Godspeeds, and needs her powers to charge it.  She feels that that's what they think of her, so she'll do it, just to get it over it.  

Barry is in the Time Vault mulling over everything, trying to find Wally, but he's off the grid meditating and in some different zone.  Barry isn't sure what to do when Iris appears.  Deon managed to stabilized her, and she's been able to see everything that's gone one with the help of Deon.  They talk about Bart and Godspeed...and feel that the best option is to keep him safe, and that's keeping him OUT of the fight.

We jump over to Central's twin city, Keystone, and we catch up with our old friend Jay Garrick, who's apparently back to his super speed self, and doesn't need his cane anymore.  Joan informs him that his power is back to full, and Jay suits up, knowing that Barry will need his help soon.  Joan warns Jay to keep his hat on.  She leaves, and as Jay goes to head out to meet up with Bary, the Godspeeds take him out, and caputure him. They need him for their plan.  

Bart trains, but Nora feels he's hot dogging it, and not taking it seriously.  They then get to reunite with their mother as Barry & Iris arrive.  Barry & Iris tell Bart that because Godspeed has made this fight personal due to him, they want him to stay on the sidelines until this is over.  Bart, however, gets angry and bails.  Nora says she'll handle it.  She arrives at the West household, and she tries to get Bart to understand where their parents are coming from.  But Bart says that Godspeed killed "Uncle Jay"....right in front of him.  Jay had been the one to truly understand Bart, and losing him was hard for Bart.  Nora understands, and asks him what would Jay say and do?  Bart understands what she's saying. Nora says she promises to take down Godspeed for the both of them. When she and Flash meet up with the Godspeeds, they fire the machine Chester created, but Flash charged up.  Turns out that all it did was charge the Godspeeds up.  Because it was charged with kinetic energy, it gave off that same energy.  So their inital plan failed. 

Cecile, Caitlin, and August are working together to jog his memory, and they take him to see the Cosmic Treadmill, but he's still not getting anything solid.  He gets a brief memory, but he can't hold onto it.  He wonders if he'll ever get his memory back, and Cecile and Caitlin wonder the same thing. 

Joe and Kristin finish giving their statements about Creyke to the police in Midway City before they leave to go home to Central City to try and reconnect with Cecile and the CCPD.  She coveniently left out the part where Creyke said she was dead to the police in Midway, and Kristin said she won't think more of it....he took enough from her. As they arrive back in Central City, they see a line of cars heading out of town, as the Godspeeds continue their war.  They eventaully land on Joe and Kristin's car...and they go after the two. 

Allegra is struggling to power the device for Chester, and when he catches up to her, he notices she hasn't charged it all the way.  Part of the reason is that she is using ultraviolet rays instead of her augmented powers.  Chester realizes that her powers wane in times of emotional distress.  Chester prods her, and she admits that Esperanza is dead.  She feels guilty that she let her only family down.  She feels like a failure because not only did she not help her cousin, but now she can't power the machine because her powers aren't working right, and the city is going to suffer.  

Barry and Iris talk about how being parents this time is a lot harder.  He also feels that their family is cursed.  Tragedy seems to follow them around.  Iris knows they have had hard times, but she doesn't think he really believes that. They both know that Bart is the key to it all.  Chunk then alerts them that Godspeed has left a message for Team Flash:  Bring the "Adversary"  (their name for Bart) to them, or they'll kill Jay Garrick...the one he loves. 

Bart goes out to to rescue Jay, and is immediately trapped by the Godspeeds at a church.  Flash and XS arrive, to listen, then see, Bart being attacked by the Godspeeds, and eventually they see him being drained of his power by the Godspeeds.  Jay has already been weakened.  They stop the attack on Bart when Flash vibrates through one of them.  He catches Bart, but he's been really hurt.  The Godspeeds surround the speedsters, but Cisco arrives in time to freeze them in place.  They won't hold long, but it's enough for both Flashes and XS get Bart back to STAR Labs, but he's in something of a coma.  What reserve speed he has is what's keeping him alive.  

Barry realizes that whatever drove August Hart to go to the Flash Museum in 2049 is locked inside his head, and they have to get that info.  So, using Jay's Mental Collider, Barry enters Hart's mind to try and discover the reason why Godspeed travelled back to 2021.  When Barry enters his mind, he's back at the church.  He's called into the building by Godspeed, and there he confronts the real August Hart...who is all to pleased that Flash found him.  And now he's ready to tell the Flash his master plan. 

This was, without a doubt, THE best episode of ALL of Season 7.  The stakes were high, there was drama and tension, and we got guest stars galore!  To see the return of Jay Garrick was one of the best surprises of the year, and I had figured that when they talked about the Godspeeds being Bart's "Thawne"....it was because the one they killed in the future was Jay.  Of course, that's from the fact that Jay was Bart's mentor in the comics.  We see that Bart doesn't quite have a tight relationship with his dad...and it seems like he's much closer to Jay from the impression we're given....though he IS happy to see Iris when she returns.  So, it seems that there will be some work to get Barry and Bart on the same page, and to build a father/son relationship.   Bart certainly does live up to all the tropes that come with Impulse as a character.  Jordan Fisher embodies the role so well.  

Allegra feels lost and useless after the death of her cousin...feeling she let her down, and now not being able to use her power to save the city.  It's going to be on Chunk to pull Allegra from this depression stouper to get her act together.  It's the one story they need to get over with, and move her on.  She can have time to mourn, but if there's no city left to mourn in...what's the point.  

I'm glad we got SOME idea about Wally---and why HIS absence has been a glaring problem with this storyline.  I'm honestly STILL not really going to be satisfied if we go into Part 2 next week, and there's STILL no Wally.  It's a let down.  If we can have Jay Garrick....we can have Wally West.  All there is to it.  If this is the Speedster Family...then they need a part of that family there...and that's Wally.

I am HONESTLY hoping that now that Creyke is in custody, that we can move on from Kristin Kramer's issues, and focus on her and Joe doing the cop thing to help save the city.  It's time to see what kind of leader of this department is going to be.  Because I have a feeling that Joe is NOT going to take his job back, and is going to be quite content to play stay-at-home dad.  And whatever issues she has with metas, she needs to put them in the rearview mirror.  Metas AREN'T going away, and she'll have to deal with that.  Plus...what if SHE is a meta?  Time to put that prejudice aside.  

It's been sad that it's taken all season to get an actual captivating episode.  This season has NOT been my favorite, and it's given me that ominous feeling that this show is close to running its last mile.  I know we'll have a Season 8, but will that be the final race for this show?  All I know is that this season has been flat.  COVID issues aside, they've had ample time to make this season worth watching....and it's just kind of been stuck in cruise control, and hasn't hit high gear until now.  I'm all for short arcs, but when the arcs meander along, and are---let's face it---boring....not doing yourself as showrunners OR your audience any favors.  So...hopefuly...they end on a high note next week, and they have time to REALLY plot something good for next season.  

So...you guys on board with me in that assessment?  Do YOU think this show has hit the wall?  Or do you feel they have one more race in them?  Subscribe and let me know how YOU feel....as well as what YOU thought of this episode.

One more lap for Season 7 to go....so, until then.....Keep on running!