THE FLASH 8.13

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  8.13:  "Death Falls"  

It's been awhile since we've experienced some SERIOUS tragedy to befall Team Flash...but this episode did just that.  As Deathstorm is about to reign down terror upon Central City, and absorb all the grief and pain and suffering of anyone who's experiencing any, he plans to marry Caitlin and make her his new bride.  Having imbued her with some of his powers, she's slowly changing from the inside out, and the team is against the clock to stop her from becoming another version of our villain.  Meanwhile, Iris' illness continues to get worse, time is fracturing, and now she's seeing ghosts---in the form of Eddie Thawne.  

Eddie shows up at Barry & Iris' loft, saying he isn't going anywhere until Iris is all better.  Iris isn't buying it, and neither is Sue.  But there isn't anything they can do at the moment.  They're trapped.  But they try to work on a plan to get some help, as Sue managed to activate the Flash signal on Iris' phone, and Joe shows up to try and help out by blasting Eddie...but we find out it's just an extension of Deathstorm.  He was trying to convince Iris that she'd never be the same, and that she'll never get what she deserves.  He says she's going to die, and have nothing. 

Deathstorm continues to plague Team Flash as well, with trying to convince them all to give up on everything.  They use Esperanza to torture Allegra, as Chuck's dad torments him.  The ghosts do what they can to make Allegra and Chuck feel despair.  They end up getting trapped in Chester's lab, and they're losing oxygen fast.  Barry is facing a version of his mother Nora yet again, but everyone manages to shake off what turns out to be an attack by Deathstorm, whom does what he can to keep them occupied while he finished his plan.  He tried to get to Frost, by telling her she's not real, and just a copy of Caitlin.  She then wonders whether nor not she was just a creation of Thomas Snow, or was she just an actual person in Catilin's subconscious.  Mark reassures her that she is real.  And she just needs to find that one thing to help make the machine work and give her the powers she needs to battle Deathstorm.  He finally realizes it's grief...and that's grief if she loses Caitlin.  Frost wouldn't know what to do if she lost her sister.  That's enough to help power her up, and she's ready to take down Deathstorm.  Mark also finds out that Barry is the Flash when Frost asks Barry to be there should things go South.  So, As he's ready to reign terror upon the city, he begins to draw the energy from the grief of the team.  But she then meets up with him, and they face off.  It's a back and forth affair, as they battle through the streets and the air of the city.  After more back and forth, she rips off the device that kept Deathstorm alive, and she absorbs his power....thus destroying him.  With him gone, she ends up collapsing.

Flash races her back to STAR Labs, where Caitlin begins working on her to revive her.  She and Barry work on jumpstarting her heart, and they manage to succeed.....if only briefly.  With Caitlin cured, Frost takes one last look at her....and then closes her eyes.  Caitlin tries desperately to revive her, but it's too late....Frost is dead.  Caitlin and Barry come out and inform the rest of the team that she is dead.  Mark is in disbelief, and the team is wrought with grief....Caitlin especially.  Cecile moves over to comfort her, as the team mourns the loss of their friend.  

This episode was emotional...and heartbreaking....but also with a sense of predictability.  I have felt that---over the last few episodes---that either Caitlin or Frost might die.  Or that they might leave.  I wasn't sure it was Frost until the end of the first act.  So, the writing was on the wall with her.  It also frees up Danielle Panabaker from having to play two characters in an episode.  And considering her 2nd pregnancy...reduces the workload.  I am still convinced that this season is her swan song as well as Jessie L. Martin's.  So, we have a few episodes to see what transpires.  But loss was something on the minds of everyone, as Iris had to deal with Eddie's ghost.  Not that Deathstorm's ghost could effect Iris in any real honest way---Iris may have mourned his loss...but her true love has ALWAYS been Barry.  Allega obviously has worked through her grief about Esperanza, but Chester still gets bothered when it comes to his Dad.  But for Caitlin---it was bad enough to have to mourn losing Ronnie all over again, but now her sister is gone...and that will weigh heavily on her in the days to come.  And it might mean that she needs to step away from Team Flash to find herself.  Mark Blaine will also feel the effects of Frost's death, as he lost his girlfriend, and the one person in the world that believed in him.  Hopefully, he'll lean on Team Flash for support.  

Iris' issues STILL haven't been resolved, and not sure how THAT will be resolved, but SOMETHING will need to be moved on that story soon....it's been a lingering problem all season, and it needs to be addressed.  So...let's see some movement on that front.  

What did YOU all think of this episode?  Subscribe and leave me YOUR comments below.  How badly will YOU miss Frost?  

Until next time....keep on running!