THE FLASH 8.18

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  8.18:  "The Man in the Yellow Tie" 

With Season 8 winding down, we're seeing some interesting plots beginning to form, and our major, final arc coming into focus.  Flash has met a new speedster in town:  Dr. Meena Dhawan, the head of Fast Track Labs, as she's been trying to get a handle on her artificial speed.  Flash has taken it upon himself to train her to control her powers.  It also seems that Mark has had a change of heart in regards to bringing Frost back, but he needs Caitlin, who bailed her apartment to stay with her mother Carla.  And Cecile is discovering that---much like Barry---she's "leveled up" her powers...and she likes it!  And we get a couple of guest appearances that fill in some details about a couple of elements for our story---especially when it comes to Eobard Thawne AND one guy we've been wondering about HIS future as he's wandered from Arrowverse show to Arrowverse show:  John Diggle. Lots of interesting things to unpack in this latest episode of our Scarlet Speedster. 

First and foremost:  Flash and Meena.  Flash has tried to help Meena gain better control of her powers.  She's coming along fine, and when Flash tells her to keep up, she gets frustrated when she's running, and thus ends up shooting a lightning bolt at Flash, knocking him down.  It's somehow effected his powers, because he's never felt that sensation when he's encountered artificial speed.  So, the team suggests he check out Meena's set up at Fast Track Labs.  As he does, he meets her assistant who helped her get the machine built that helped grant her speed:  Eobard Thawne.  This shocks Barry, as he can't believe what he's seeing.  This Eobard, however, has no prior knowledge of his life as the Reverse-Flash, as he has suffered amnesia on his way to this time.  As Meena steps away, Barry lays into him, telling him who he is, and wondering how he got here.  He asks Chester to check on the real Thawne, and then he takes off...vowing to figure out how he escaped, and how he's wearing his original face again.  We see in flashbacks how Thawne got to 2022, and how he meet Meena, looking for work.  She wasn't impressed with him, but he ended up solving her problem about gaining super-speed, and thus built the machine.  

Back on Lian Yu, Barry visits Thawne, wondering how he got his speed back.  Thawne is adamant that he's been stuck in his cell because Barry took all his speed.  Barry tells him about another version of him with his old face.  He shows Thawne the chamber that his other self and Meena built, and Thawne says that is the chamber HE built centuries from now in order to become like the Flash.  Barry realizes that the machine didn't create artificial speed for Meena...she's tapped into the Negative Speed Force, and the more she uses it, the more it will corrupt her.  And Eobard tells Barry that no matter the timeline or universe, Thawnes will always do what they have to in order to get what they want. 

Flash races back to Central City, and warns Meena and Thawne to NOT use the chamber, because it will tap into the Negative Speed Force.  Meena doesn't understand, so Flash reveals to her that Eobard Thawne is his old enemy, the Reverse-Flash.  This Thawne denies it, has no memory of it, and the face that they're arguing puts Meena in the position to use the chamber regardless.  She taps into the Negative Speed Force, and blasts Flash and Thawne...then takes off in search of even MORE power---by draining electrical energy wherever she can. When both Flash and Thawne wake up, he tells her that Meena has a heart condition, and that he put her in the chamber in order to save her life.  By this time, Flash realizes that this is the Eobard Thawne from Flashpoint.  He has Chester ask the Legends about him, as this Thawne just wants to save her life---because he loves her.  Flash is convinced and they agree to help her out.  So, the only place Meena can draw massive amounts of power from is Keystone Dam.  As she heads there, Team Flash with Thawne, and Flash  himself race out to confront her.  He battles her for a bit, and nearly avoids a Negative Speed Force blast, but he's hit anyway.  It nullifies his speed, and Eobard then has to try and talk her down....let her know that killing the Flash is NOT her destiny.  She manages to come back to her own self and the threat is over.  Flash then gives her his watch that monitored his speed, and it will help Meena monitor hers, and her connection to the Negative Speed Force.  As long as she has this Eobard as a beacon, she'll be okay.  Afterwards, Ray Palmer is in touch with the team, informing them of what happened to the Thawne from Flashpoint.  He was killed by the Black Flash, but somehow brought back by the Time Keepers to watch over the timeline.  But when the Legends ran into him on their way home, he was killed.  Ray believes this Eobard got a second chance after serving his penance, and trying to protect time. 

As for the OG Thawne, after Barry left, Diggle pays him a visit, looking for his scientific genius to help him figure out how to open the box that has the power ring in it.  It hasn't opened for him, and he's tried every avenue (as seen in flashbacks), but to no avail.  He hears voices calling out to him, and Thawne believes a greater voice is beckoning him.  He tells John to focus on what he wants, and Diggle does...and he sees the universe...the voices calling out to him.  The power so great.  It allows him to finally open the box and see the green glow.  Now, Thawne had a deal with him:  if John got the box open, he got to see what was inside.  Thawne told him of all the power he could have, the worlds he could have.....but this whole journey that started with him when Oliver died has taken him all over---and away from his family.  John's marriage has suffered because of it.  So, he relents the power, and tosses the box away, and it disappears.  Thawne is upset that he did that, knowing that the box could hold the key to him escaping and having power again.  But Diggle says that there is no power greater than that of his family, and he leaves, calling Lyla as he does, letting her know he's coming home. As for Thawne...who reminisces about having changed the timeline in his favor, only to have it snatched from him by Barry...seethes.  It's then that Dion shows up, telling him that he's ready to fulfill his destiny.  

Outside of THOSE plots...we had something new happen to Cecile this week, as she was at the bank, when robbers came in looking to loot the place.  She ended up using her powers in new ways, as she managed to take full control of people's minds, and force them to give up.  Once the robbery was stopped, she had herself checked out, and Chester told her that her powers leveled up.  She says she feels fine, but Barry wants more tests done....he's got his suspicions.  Towards the end of the episode, we see a woman being attacked by a mugger...only for Cecile to show up and confront him...using her powers to incapacitate him.  He takes off, and Cecile is pleased to have saved a life....as she leaves, we see that SOMEONE is watching her.

And in one final tidbit from this episode, Mark Blaine returns to Catilin's apartment, talking to her as she's with her mom Carla, trying to get over the loss of her sister.  Mark, however, wants her to come back, as he's found a way to bring Frost back.  She says it's not possible because Barry destroyed her work.  But Mark shows her the Chamber....one that looks like the one Eobard built at Fast Track Labs.  

It was great getting some flashbacks today from various characters---Eobard, Flashpoint Thawne, Diggle, and Ray, which helped us all catch up on events that led to this point.  For Diggle...we got teased YET AGAIN about him becoming Green Lantern...only for him to throw the box away...but then it disappears.  Was this the last shot at us EVER seeing Diggle put on the ring, and fulfill his destiny?!  It looks like it.  I HOPE this means that they'll pull the trigger on Hal Jordan.  Enough was enough with the tease about GL...producers have pissed us off enough about this.  Either make it happen or NOT---it's been nearly 3 years...do something, or bury the idea altogether. 

I don't know how Flashpoint Thawne is going to be able to co-exist with OG Thawne once the OG gets his speed back.  You know it's going to happen, and Dion is going to help him, because THAT bastard has gone rogue, and is now looking to ensure The Flash suffers apparently. What happens next is going to be interesting in the next couple of episodes.  And where does Iris fit into all this?  You know, Eric Wallace...the woman that has stood steadfast by Barry all these years?!  The woman you've literally pushed to the side all season long?  It's been SHAMEFUL how Candice Patton has been treated this season.  Iris is practically the CORE of this show next to Barry.  The show LACKS without her to help inspire and drive Barry forward.  If there's ONE thing that's pissed me off about Season 8----it's been the mishandling of Iris West-Allen.  

Mark looks like he has a plan to nab Meena's chamber in order to bring back Frost, but does that bring back Caitlin before the season finale?  This has been a subplot for a couple of episodes, so VERY interested to see what happens. 

Cecile's powers getting an upgrade.  Last year it was Barry himself, and Allegra.  Now, Cecile?  What's in the water in Central City?!  But I wonder at what price Cecile's upgrades come with?  And just WHO was watching her from afar as she played hero at the end of the episode?  

Meena still remains a little bit of a wild card, what with he connection to the Negative Speed Force.  I hope she keeps true to her convictions, and uses her powers for good.  Flash looks like he'll need all the help he can get.   But one thing STILL bugs the hell outta me:  WHERE THE HELL IS WALLY?!  I get he's been doing his Zen thing....but at THIS critical a time, Barry NEEDS Wally now more than ever...especially with Iris sick.  These are little things that have irked me with Wallace's running of the show.  And when Frost died...and Caitlin was going off the ledge...THAT would've been a good time to have the Cisco appearance to help out.  Just soooo many little things that could make these plot points and stories BETTER, but they're dropping the ball here.  I just know the last two episodes BETTER bring their A game to please me.  Last year disappointed me to NO END, and they need a strong finish.  

What did YOU all like about the episode?  What did you NOT like?  Subscribe to the blog, and leave a comment below.

Until next time....keep on running.