THE FLASH 7.13

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.13:  "Masquerade" 

It's a new era for Team Flash, as they now push on without their heart-and-soul, and all-around Vibe-tastic companion, Cisco Ramon.  Cisco has left the keys to the STAR Labs engineering kingdom to Chester P. Runk.  And Chester is excited to bring his own flare to the team, while honoring what Cisco had done.  We also have Joe...no longer a cop...still investigating Kristin Kramer, who's now assumed command at the CCPD in the wake of his resignation.  Joe knows something is off with her, and he's digging up everything he can about her....with Cecile's help.  And as for our super-couple---Barry and Iris have finally decided that it's time to start a family.  But this week....we have two people who face their own trial and errors...can they make it through?  Let's see how these two fared

Starting with Chester---who's now remaking Cisco's workshop into his own when Caitlin pops in.  He tries to get her to groove to his new sound system, but it shorts out.  He goes to get some parts from the storage facility when he hears a strange noise, and sees a fallen part on the ground.  He then unfortunately stumbles upon Barry and Iris---who're in the midst of a little baby making hanky panky...and they awkwardly try to make excuses for being there.  Both leave, and Chunk wonders why Cisco didn't warn him about these things.  

Cecile and Joe are at home, and Joe has been investigating Kristin Kramer, trying to get more background on her---since most of her military record is redacted, and classified. She tells him that he should follow a lead she got, and he's out the door...though he feels something is a tad off with her.  As he goes, we see that the Psycho Pirate has taken over Cecile's mind, and she's locked in a white room that looks like it's from a sanitarium.  Cecile is cowered in the corner. When Barry left STAR Labs, he was answering a call from Cecile.  It was about a case she was working on, but Barry feels they've been down this road before with another case.  It was just a ruse, however, as Psycho Cecile used her powers to whammy Barry, and trap him in Cecile's mind, to get him out of the way, so she could execute her master plan.  She then brings Barry back to STAR Labs, where Caitlin surmises that he's in a coma.  Chester suggests Cecile try to read his emotions...but she fakes it, and says she can't get a read....but she gets an image....of a gold mask.  Chester recognizes that from one of Cisco's files....that Psycho Pirate had a gold mask.  But according to Caitlin, he's locked up in Arkham.  But it turns out that during the Arkham breakout, the original Pirate was captured once again, and the mask was taken from him, and given to the Central City Museum.  According to legend, the mask is seeking a new host, and is feeding off of someone's mind.  We all know that's Cecile.  Cecile then suggests why don't they try to get it from the Museum.  If it'll help save Barry.  The longer Barry is in his coma, he will die in the real world.  So far, Psycho Cecile's plans are working. 

Cecile keeps influencing Chester to see if he can come up with a plan to get the mask out of the museum...for Barry's sake (she lies), and he says he's called in a favor for help:  Sue Dearbon.  Apparently, Ralph is busy, and she also found a good excuse to check in on Central City.  Chester then goes over the plan to obtain the mask with Sue, and there are some roadblocks:  guards.  Chester suggests Cecile could use her powers to emotionally push them to do something else in order for Sue to grab the mask.  Cecile plays her part, and agrees to go on the mission with Sue.  Chester thinks he's got it all figured out, and planned down to the minute detail, but Sue feels that something is off...and it just seems too smooth a plan.  The plan is going smoothly for the most part, as Sue breaks into the vault where the mask is, and easily works her way around the laser beam security using some nifty dance and acrobatic moves....something she learned from dance class, apparently.  Cecile then stumbles her way in, and she gets the guard to go away with her powers.  It's then things go wrong, as Psycho Cecile grabs the mask, puts it on, and manages to mind control Sue into subduing herself with a knockout dart.  She then takes off, ready to wreak havoc on the  city with her powers.  Later on, Sue manages to get back to STAR Labs, and they discuss everything that went down, and Sue immediately roasts Chester for not listening to her when she had her suspicions.  Chester feels guilty when he realized that Psycho Cecile preyed upon his fears about replacing Cisco, and took advantage of him.  He feels he failed, and doesn't deserve to be a part of Team Flash, and he bails.  

Back in Cecile's head, Barry is trying to find a way out, because he knows if they die in her mind, they die out in the real world.  Cecile seems extremely afraid to get out, and is helpless against the fear.  Barry makes an attempt to escape, but another version of Cecile in a straightjacket pops up, and it's Psycho Pirate, trying to prevent Barry from leaving...zaps him once again, and he winds up back in the cell.  He realizes this is a sanitarium, and Cecile confesses it's one in Houston, Texas.  She had a stay there when she was in law school, because she studied so hard, and didn't come home when her mother got sick with cancer.  Her mother ended up dying without her being there, and that has weight heavily on Cecile the whole time.  She felt guilty and ashamed, and decided the only way to deal with it was to lock it away, and focus on her work.  It got her to where she is at, but she never really coped with the loss of her mother.  Barry let's her know that he understands all too well about what it's like to feel hopeless and helpless when losing a mother.  But he says she can escape this realm, but only if she finally confronts her guilt and fears.  When he DID ask how she got there earlier, she did mention she wound up there after the lightning strike, but that was two weeks ago.  So, they definitely have to find a way out...and Cecile HAS to do it.

In the real world, Chester is in his workshop when Iris pops in, and tries to give him a pep talk.  He said he never wanted to replace Cisco, just work WITH him.  And he doesn't feel like he belongs on Team Flash.  Iris disagrees, and says that they all make mistakes, and that he can't feel guilty about it.  Chester said he hardly knows them, and she says that while Cisco was the lynchpin, it took time for all of them to get to know each other.  He then said he'd work harder to up his game, and it's then he gets a revelation.  The chair he's in with the speakers...amplify.  He says he knows what Psycho Cecile's plans are to keep Cecile has a host for a long while---The Thinker's Chair in the basement of the building.  Just then, Psycho Cecile has found the chair, and sits in it---activating it, ready to amplify her powers. He says he's got a crazy idea, but Iris says crazy will work at this point.  He has her run interference, blasting her and distracting her while he executes his plan.  So, Iris plays hit and run with Psycho Cecile, as she tries to destroy her. 

Back in the Dreamscape, Barry and Cecile try one more time to face down Psycho Pirate...and know that the portal will open, but only when Cecile faces her fear.  Pirate takes out Barry again, because his powers don't work...only when Cecile can overcome Psycho Pirate that she would escape.  Cecile DOES manage to overcome he fear and guilt...not allowing the death of her mother haunt her anymore...and they destroy the Pirate in her head...this allows Barry's powers to activate, and they make good on their escape back to the real world.  At that moment, as Psycho Cecile tries to kill Iris, and protect herself, Chester leaps from out of nowhere with a katana blade, and impales the back of the chair...shorting it out, and ending Psycho Cecile's threat.  At that moment, Barry wakes up, and Cecile comes back.  

Caitlin is seeing the mask to ARGUS in Star City, and Cisco is building a psychic proof shield around it, to prevent it from trying to take over a new host.  Sue apologizes to Chester, and she says that she's going to stick around Central City for awhile, and invites everyone to her place for a party.  Everyone agrees, but Cecile has to rain check, because she needs to clear things up with Joe.  Barry and Iris make sure that Chester comes along, but he DOES warn them NOT to be around the lab if they wanna get freaky.  Back home, Cecile informs Joe of everything that went down, and told her story to him.  He's understanding, and says that she should never fear of telling him anything.  They agree to no more secrets.  He fills her in on what he's been doing with his investigation into Kramer.  Turns out, she led her group into an ambush, and she was the only one to come out alive.  She set her platoon up to be killed by the metahuman.  Joe and Cecile realize that she's working for the enemy.  

I give TOTAL props to this episode to Danielle Nicolet---the woman was given a great story for Cecile, and she nailed it---both as Cecile and the Psycho Pirate.  She has GREAT facial expressions when she's being evil or mischievous.  She played her part to the hilt in this episode, and it was fantastic work.  Also, kudos to Brandon McKnight, who's really starting to develop Chester a lot better, and giving him some meat to chew on this episode.  Chester, of ALL of Team Flash...has the hardest adjustment:  he's STILL the new guy, and he has to get to KNOW these people better....and he's gotta live up to Cisco's reputation...and that isn't easy.  His first real mission, and it backfired....but he realizes that the team has his back, and that they'll be more mistakes.  But now he does realize the show is his...and when he DID need to step up...he did.  

How great is it to have Sue Dearbon back?  That was a surprise this episode, and it's cool that she's getting to feel and be a part of Team Flash for the meanwhile (at least until they cast a new Ralph), but it'll be interesting to see Sue's dynamic with the team.   And yeah...we're all laughing at Barry and Iris, as they are ALL over the place in the baby department.  We needed comical moments from them, and this is a good start.  Kind of miss the lightheartedness between Barry and Iris...too much has gone down, and they haven't had a breather---so, I'd really like to see more of THAT kind of chemistry between our married heroes.  And as for Joe's investigation----we ALL knew something was fishy about Kramer and her story---and Joe's hit a goldmine of info.  Now...how long before they're able to nail Kramer to a wall?  It's going to take something catastrophic before the exposure of Kramer happens, but when it does...who WON'T be cheerleading?  Woman's a bitch, and a traitor...simple as that. 

This was a good episode, and we needed this after the last storyline...which I wasn't a fan of.  Now, I'm hoping we can start kicking things into high gear before the season finale.  Godspeed is still around the corner.  And when does Frost get back?  We need her banter around the team.  

So, everyone...did YOU like what y ou saw this week?  Subscribe and leave a comment below...most interested in what YOU have to say on the matter of the Fastest Man Alive.  

Until next time....Keep on running! 

BATWOMAN 2.16

 

RECAP - BATWOMAN  2.16:  "Rebirth"  

Gotham is heating up, and it doesn't look like there will be ANY calm for the forseeable future. Even with the Crows now shut down, it won't stop Black Mask from continuing his vendetta against Jacob Kane.  He's gotten his Sionis back...in the form of Kate Kane.  But he plans on killing Kane...and his daughter Mary.  So, thanks to Alice...they've been warned.  Meanwhile, Luke is recovering from his near fatal shooting at the hands of Agent Tavarov.  But he's got much on his mind.  Batwoman continues her quest to take down Black Mask, and Alice is now on a quest to save Kate....and has her father in tow.  

This episode gave us a look at Luke going through some serious deep thinking about his life and his place in the world.  He's not exactly feeling it, being  a part of the Bat Team at this moment.  So much so, that when Batwoman tries to save a man from being killed by the returning Tatiyana to Gotham, he's not around when she needs him to alert the medics to get help for the poor guy who almost got gutted.  He pretty much told Ryan that he wasn't happy that she woke him up.  He didn't WANT to come back.  She and Mary decide to give him space, but he's really not feeling life right now.  This leads us to him meeting up with Tavarov in a bar after he finds out that Tavarov was released on bail.  While he's in the bar, he meets up with Tavarov, and they have words.  Luke is going on no fear in the moment, and decides to get into a poker game with him....all the while, this other man sits at the bar with him...chatting mildly, but keeping some sense of conversation with him.  The man eventually sits with him at the game, and watches Luke beat Tavarov, who was playing the house, and Luke knew the house cheated...so, he cheated back.  This gets him and Tavarov out in the ally, and they start to throw blows, and Tavaorov, being the former Crow and cop, easily handles Luke.  This brings out the other man, who we know is John Diggle.  Diggle breaks it up, and Tavarov threatens "Star City" with some violence, but John easily puts him down, and tells him to beat it.  John sits with Luke, and knows him as Lucius Fox's son.  Luke talks about how he was shot by Tavarov, and that in his subconscious, he saw his dad, and he didn't want to wake up.  He didn't want to be in a world where he was getting shot at, or anyone else for that matter.  Diggle talks about his dad dying overseas when he was serving in the Marines.  John says that Luke needs to take the anger he has and bottle it up, and use it for good.  John is in town to get a nurological scan (apparently, he's had some headaches, and we are wondering why).  But then we see the Bat Signal shining in morse code, asking Luke for help.  Diggle sends him on his way. 

Now, while Batwoman was dealing with Tatiyana, and wondering why SHE was back, Alice and Luke managed to kidnap Sersi Sionis (Kate), from her plush apartment out in Los Angeles, where Black Mask had set her up as some kind of model, and out of Gotham City prying eyes....along with a new PR gimmick to erase ANY of her insane past at Arkham.  Safiyah is in town to clear up some business, and she and Black Mask have been working together a little.  Safiyah asks how he got Sersi's face on Kate, he says that Alice did it.  Safiyah calls him and idiot, because Alice is Beth Kane...much to Roman's surprise. With Kate now with her sister and dad, they begin to try and reconnect her memory.  Kate does begin to show flashes of her past, as she imagines herself in a locked room, with Beth on the other side, letting her know she's there.  Ocean comes in with a box full of objects and things to jog Kate's memory.  He also takes the time to introduce himself to Jacob....he actually wants her dad to like him.  However, Tatiyana and Safiyah's goons crash the party, and while Alice gets Kate to safety, she's captured, along with Jacob.  Jacob is taken by Black Mask, who wants to avenge the death of his daughter.  So, the goons he had capture Jacob are actually cops on the take, who arrest him for aiding and abetting Alice---and Roman plans on ruining Jacob by exposing Alice as his daughter.  Alice herself is taken by Safiyah....who wants her island paradise back, because Alice burned hers to the ground.  

Batwoman and Mary are on the hunt for Tatiyana, and they come across another former victim of Sersi Sionis, due to the fact that Jacob finally told Mary that Kate is alive.  So, the search for Kate begins, as Jacob is now in jail...going to Metropolis in a transfer to keep him out of danger. He makes Mary promise to reunite her sisters.  And that he loves her and is proud of her.  That being said, Batwoman goes to check on the lawyer of Sersi's, only to find him dead, and his eyes gouged out.  Tatiyana is on the scene again, and her and Batwoman fight once more, but Tatiyana says this is not her fight, and bails. 

While trying to find Luke, and get him back to the Cave, because they need his help....Batwoman actually runs into Kate.  She takes her back to Wayne Enterprises, where Mary is overjoyed to see her, but Kate doesn't remember her.  Sophie soon arrives, and Kate remembers her, and they hug.  They try to get Kate to remember, but she's having a hard time.  They need Alice, but she's nowhere to be found.  Turns out, that knowing Tatiyana is in town, Safyiah must have Alice.  So...in order to get Kate back, Ryan decides to bargain with Safiyah for Alice with one thing---the Desert Rose.  Mary protests, but Ryan knows it's the right thing to do. With Alice captured by Safiyah, she sees the news report of her father's arrest, and he admits that she is his daughter, but for the public not to judge her, but look at HIS failures as a father.  So, Batwoman locates Safiyah, and offers her the plant...knowing it will restart her little island empire.  Batwoman says the plant was the only thing to tie her to her adoptive mother, but she's willing to give it to Safiyah in order to spare Alice...so that her friend can have her sister back.  Alice is freed, and she feels she's got it all...but Safiyah tells her she should know better.  Alice understands the ominous tone Safiyah took with her, and when her and Batwoman leave, Alice wants to go find Ocean.  She ditches Batwoman, and heads into the subway tunnel to their subway car to find Ocean.  She runs into Tatiyana, who is there to finally kill her off.  But Alice kills her instead.  She then reaches the subway car, where she finds Ocean...dead for real, this time. Safiyah's ominus warning coming true. 

Kate and Sophie try to connect, but Kate is still fuzzy, and needs a drink.  She tells Sophie where to get it---from her desk in her office.  When Sophie returns, Kate is gone.  Kate has gone back to Roman...stabbing his hand to the chair...wondering WHY that IF she is Sersi Sionis...that she has Kate Kane's memories.  Roman tries to play it off...but she's not buying it. Safiyah shows up, and says that Roman should tell her the truth---let the woman decide. Luke arrives back at the Cave, and Ryan tells him that she doesn't regret that she saved his life.  They hug, and it looks like they're closer now. Mary then let's Luke know that Kate is alive.

Sure, it's a jumbled way to recap what went on this week, but everyone had their story to tell.  First off...GREAT to see Diggle again!  I thought it was cool that he helped out Luke through his situation with being back among the land of the living...but angry about how he was treated, and how Tavarov walks around like he did nothing wrong.  Also thought it was nice that Diggle put Tavarov down without much effort.  Tavarov has ZERO idea just how badly Diggle could mess him up.  But what worries ME...is what in the hell is wrong with Diggle that he's in Gotham to get his head checked out?  What is THIS stemming from?  And is it something that we'll see on another show?  He DOES live in Metropolis now...so, maybe he'll figure it out with Superman?  I'm curious where THIS goes.

Jacob being arrested for Alice is bogus, but this goes to show how deep Roman's pockets run, now that he's practically exposed as Black Mask.  And we see now how close the working relationship betweeen he and Safiyah go.  But LOVE how she had to practically smack him upside the head when she told him that Alice was Beth Kane.  And we KNEW retribution was coming for Alice.  As much as she wanted Kate back, it wasn't coming without a price...and that price was her heart.  Her love for Ocean, as Tatiyana did Safiyah's brother in to prove a point to Alice...and for probably failing to get the Desert Rose back for her.  It took barganing with Batwoman---whom she has no quarrel with---to get a plant back...to start growing again. But Safiyah was going to nake Alice suffer.  And once she finds out that Tatiyana is dead at the hands of Alice...I've no doubt that Safiyah might sink her claws in to Kate...warping her mind MORESO after Roman and Enigma did their job turning her into Sersi Sionis.  

Speaking of Kate, it was pretty interesting how we see her battling the Sersi persona in her head while Alice, Jacob, and Sophie try to reach her.  She is now the trapped girl in the room, and Sersi is the psycho trying to keep her locked away.  So, the last two episodes will be very interesting to see just where Kate goes from here...and whether or not she can be saved.  Jacob confessing about Alice, and admitting his mistakes on the news was his one way of telling Alice he was sorry...and it didn't go unnoticed.  Alice actually took it to heart.  As much anger as she has had at her father....and how miserable she's made him...at the end of the day....that's her dad...and whether she likes it or not...she's still got a soft spot for him.  It was also something to note that while Kate did connect with Alice...she didn't get a chance with her father...and Mary seemed like a complete stranger to her.  But she instantly recognized Sophie.  So, how Kate battles Sersi for control of her mind and sanity will be the crux of everything going on in the next two episodes...aside from bringing Black Mask down. 

As for Luke....glad he was able to work through his issues a little...with Diggle's help.  What this means for him going down the road?  Hard to say...but hopefully, he'll be recommitted to the Bat Team from here on out.  They're going to need him....the big fight for Gotham is just ahead.

So....what did YOU all think of this week's episode?  Did it get you hyped up about the season finale?  Has this season of the Scarlet Knight far surpassed last season?  Subscribe and lemme know what you think!

Until next time...the Signal is OFF!

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 6.6

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  6.6:  "Bishop's Gambit"  

Well, it seems that the quest to find Sara has hit a snag, as well as Sara herself trying to make her escape from Bishop and whatever HE has planned.  While the rest of the team is at John's, planning their next move, and hoping Mick finds Sara, our intrepid leader has been captured by Ava's creator, Bishop.  And Gary is out there somewhere, trying to figure out how to rescue her.  And...we have a powerless Constantine.  Things are looking up....right? 

Sara's attempt to kill Bishop didn't go exactly as planned, as she finds out that he cloned himself, so it doesn't matter what she does, he'll just clone himself again.  He says he's got the master plan to restart the human race...and make it BETTER.  And he needs Sara's help doing it. And whether she likes it or not....she WILL get on board.  At this time, Kayla and Mick arrive on the planet, and scope it out, and Kayla finds HER ship, but it's damaged, and she knows she needs a new fuel cell for it.  Mick is there to get Sara, and nothing else.  However, he ends up getting captured by the Ava squad, while Kayla just sits back...playing it smart and close to the vest.  She then sees Gary around the vicinity, and she sees him making a beeline for one of the fuel cells...calls out to the guards, and ensures that he's captured as well.  She had planned on stealing the Waverider, but it mysteriously takes off without them.  

The team has holed up at John's, and falling into their usual routines, much to the dismay of John.  John also is hiding the fact that he is now powerless, and needs Astra's help in getting it back.  Astra's training herself to learn magic, and she's improving little by little.  Ava uses whatever technology she can to get Gideon up and and running in the house, so that she can keep track of the timeline issues, while hoping Mick gets back with Sara as quickly as possible. She learns of a massacre at a mental institution back in 1956, and the woman at the center of it used the name Sara Lance.  Not leaving anything to chance, she grabs the troops, and they head back in time to find their resident alien----only to discover they've got Amelia Earhart.  They bring her back to John's, and Spooner and Behrad try the good cop/bad cop routine.  She tells of her past, and what happened to her.  She also mentions Sara briefly.  She also says that she would like to go back to her ship...and gives the team the exact location as to where it's at.  Ava and Nate go and find out that the ship she came in was the Waverider.  They try to get more out of her, but she can't remember much more.  John says there's a spell they can use to get more info, but it'll be up to Astra to cast it and control it.  Once they enact the spell, however, they discover that once Amelia got captured, she got experimented on.  The strain is hard on both Astra and Amelia, and the skin from Amelia, and she attacks.  They managed to keep her locked inside the lab once Astra breaks the spell, but Spooner can hear the alien in her head, and actually was able to communicate with it.  

While the team figures out their next move with the Amelia alien, Sara is being spied on, and blocks the camera.  But Gary somehow slithers his way through the pipes in the building, and comes through her toilet to try and rescue her.  He tells her that he found a fuel cell, and Sara orders him to go back out, and secure one of the fuel cells, so that they can get off the planet.  She has plans to end Bishop's plan once and for all.  So, when she chats him up, she puts on the charm, and says she's on board with whatever he's doing.  This makes him especially happy.  So, as he breaks down his plans to recreate humanity, we pick up to where Kayla had called out Gary, so that he'd be caught...leaving the fuel cell all to herself to get off the planet...which was her plan to begin with.  Gary is captured by the Ava guard, and taken to Nurse Ava.  He informs them of what's going on, and says that his Ava is a strong warrior, and that he takes orders from her.  He ends up having an effect on them, because now they're curious to know more about his Ava. 

Zari comes in to check on Astra and John, and John lies about his powers being fine....Astra covers for him, but they're wiped out after the spell.  Behrad is chatting with  Spooner, who's in fear of her powers growing...especially since she can communicate with the alien, and might turn out like it.  Behrad assures her she'll be fine.  The alien calls to Spooner, and she enters the lab to talk to it.  Spooner shows no fear towards it, and the alien says that Spooner has an alien in her too, and that it'll come out eventually.  The alien calls humans weak, and that the Amelia part of her is gone, and now it's just the alien.  The alien attacks Spooner, but Behrad uses his powers to fend it off.  Ava ends up killing her, and wanted answers about Sara's whereabouts....but according to Spooner...the alien said that Sara is dead. 

Sara is enacting her plan to end Bishop and dash his dreams of his new human race on the rocks, when she finds out Mick is on the planet to rescue her.  Bishop then lowers the force field, letting out all of the oxygen, and starting to kill anyone who needs it---including Kayla and Mick.  Some of the Ava Squad is also in danger, but thanks to Gary, he saves one or two of them.  Mick is trying to hang on, as Kayla is trying to drag the fuel cell to her ship to take off, when she all of the sudden can't breathe.  Mick catches up to her, and they share an oxygen mask to try and survive.  She wonders why Mick went after Sara, and why humans think it's worth the effort...he says that humans do suck...but Sara is different.  Next thing they know, is that the other life on this planet isn't friendly, and they're night stalkers.  So, Mick and Kalya hide in one of the ponds.  She admits she's a bit scared, but Mick says there's one way to deal with it....and they both get hot and heavy in the pod they hid in. 

Sara takes down Bishop, and drags him to his lab, where she plans on destroying all his work, and sees his body in a containment unit.  He tries to still convince her of his plan, but she tells him that every scar she's had is a reminder of what happened to her in her life...good and bad...and they make her who she is.  Bishop brings up the fact that he can't see any scars....at least not on THAT body, but points to the body on the table....which is that of Sara's....dead. Bishop manages to get one up on Sara, as she is in shock at the sight of her own body---dead from the wounds inflicted by the Amelia alien.

This is, arguably, the best show of the season.  We got to dig in a little more about Spooner, and who and what she might POSSIBLY be....but we DO know that she's going through some changes, and I'm curious to see what happens to her.  But the fact that she has a fear of becoming the very thing she's hated her whole life is throwing her world into a tizzy.  

As for Ava....she's crushed right now.  With Spooner delivering the Amelia alien news that Sara is dead, where does that leave her?  She still going on the mission to find her?  Just to bury her?  How will this effect her ability to lead?  They still have aliens floating about time, and they have to be able to stop it. 

Will John eventually get his powers back to full form?  Will Astra be able to help him?  It was great to see Astra chip in this week, and be more of a team player.  They're going to need her down the stretch her to deal with any threats that come by until John gets back to himself.  And how long will John be able to tolerate his mates crashing at his pad, and making it their own....essentially wrecking it. And it's breaking into his downtime with Zari.  

Will Gary manage to convince the Ava Squad to join up with him to overthrow Bishop before he puts his master plan to good use?  And what about Sara?  How will SHE cope now that she realizes she's a clone, and just saw her dead body.  And the other question we gotta know is this:  Just how hot and steamy was that little romp in the pod between Kayla and Mick?  We'll have to stick around find the answers.  And the best way for YOU to do that, is to subscribe to the page, and feel free to drop me a comment if you like----love to hear from ya!

 

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

 

SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.9

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.9:  "Loyal Subjekts"

It looks like Morgan Edge is looking to finally execute his master plan---especially with Lois Lane getting much closer to exposing him, and Superman always at the ready to take him down.  So, this week, he decided to start playing his trump card...and it was QUITE a revelation to the Man of Steel.  Also, this week, we see just Lois and Jonathan in danger, and Jordan has a new issue to deal with in regards to his continuing emerging powers.  Lana gets dangerously close, and Sarah finally has her debut.

We got ominous from the start, as Leslie Larr had entered Edge's office, but we're seeing everything from a mystery person's point of view.  This tends to be a mystery until later on in the show.  But when the reveal happens, you kind of expected it...and it will be VERY interesting to see what the consequences are from it.  So, while Edge is talking to this mysterious person, we got Lois, Clark, and Chrissy back at the Smallville Gazette, going over the evidence they have collected so far on Edge and his plans for Smallville.  They discuss the X-Kryptonite, all the times he bailed the other towns, and left them hopeless.  They're still trying to connect the dots, but they're getting closer.  After Edge is done with our mysterious person, he bumps into Emily, who is all excited for this new opportunity.  He asks her if she wants to improve her life...and she's all for it. So, Edge puts her through the process of gaining Kryptonian powers.  

Lois feels Clark is the only one who can reach the townsfolk, because he's from here.  Jordan walks in, and he says he's going to be there for Sarah at the talent contest, and they tease him about it. Superman gets called away to Mexico, where there's a bank heist in progress.  For the most part, he's downed a few of the robbers, but one gets a few shots in on him...and he actually falls!  Superman feels off, and he's taking shots to the body with bullets like crazy.  However, he manages to recover and finally end the threat.  One of the bank employees asks if he's okay, he replies he is, and flies off.  At this time, Lana, Lois, and Chrissy continue to work out Edge's game, and Lana talks about Emily being recruited for this "team building exercises".  Lois goes to confront Edge, and she is going to expose him, but he calls her out for lack of proof...and he begins to threaten her, but she says she'll call Superman.  Edge certainly hopes so.  When she gets back home, she notices tons of bruises on Clark, and she knows he doesn't bruise.  It appears that the Kryptonite gas he inhaled last week hasn't fully worked out of his system yet.  

Jordan and Sarah are talking about the talent contest at school when Jordan sneezes, and it's ice that forms in his hands.  It's like he's got a cold, and has to bail on Sarah, saying that he's not feeling well.  When he gets home, he shows what happened to his parents, and they immediately quarantine him to his room.  Meanwhile, Sarah runs into Jonathan at school, and inquires about Jordan, saying he left in a rush.  She's worried about him, and Jon says he'll check it out.  He gets home to find out what happened, and says that Sarah is worried about him.  He's supposed to watch her sing that night, but Lois and Clark forbid it.  

Lana bumps into Emily, and tries to get answers about the "team building" that she's doing with Edge and his new "employees", and she says she can't discuss it, but she's felt better than she ever has.  Edge calls Lana into his office, and says he's caught her snooping around, and giving Lois information about what he's up to.  She denies it, and says that she hired him, so she felt she should know what's happening in order to help him.  Edge then offers her the same choice he offered Emily---and he says that whatever decision she makes will GREATLY affect her family. 

Back at the Kent Farm, General Lane arrives, and says that he's got the DoD working on an antidote to the K-Gas, because whatever affected Clark has affected Jordan.  Things get worse for Jordan, as the oxygen in his lungs start freezing up, and Clark can't wait on the DoD to save him, so he flies him off to the Fortress to be able to help him with Kryptonian technology.  At this time, Lois decides to have a chat with her father, and rips him a new one about how he always put duty first before her, and now that his devotion to that duty has put the lives of not only her husband in danger, but her boys.  She's through with him.  So, after this is over, she doesn't want him around anymore.  Clark has Jordan at the Fortress, and Jor-El says that Jordan is going through what Clark did at his age...and that the only way to help him, is to let the process work through...but Clark is panicking, and decides to use the lasers in the Fortress to essentially "melt" the oxygen in Jordan's lungs, thus alleviating the situation.

Sarah and her family arrive a the show, and she's still concerned about Jordan.  She doesn't feel she can perform without him.  As she goes up to sing, she can't do it...and Kyle finally steps up with is guitar to help her get through the performance.  After that, Emily daughter goes up to sing, and as she does. She mysteriously gets up, and walks out of the performance, saying she'll be right back.  Lana finds this suspicious, so Kyle decides to go talk to Emily and see what's up.  We find out that Edge has "activated" Emily to go after Lois since he found out that Superman is weak.  At the farm, Lois is so stressed out because she feels she can't protect her boys, and Jon says it's okay...he gets it.  It's the price they pay being in a family with super-powered beings.  Then, things get amped up, as Sam is out in his car, still awaiting word from the DoD about the test results to help Clark and Jordan.  But he sees dark figures entering the Kent Farm, and he goes to take a look.  Emily and another companion come in, and they're there to kill Lois and Jonathan.  The Kents make a break for it, as Sam comes in, gun aimed at the two killers to be.  He drops a K-Gas capsule on them, and yells for Lois and Jon to run.  Jon leads them to the barn, where he managed to snag a few weapons from John Henry Iron's RV.  Sam gets taken down, and Emily and her partner crash through the barn, ready to take out Lois and Jon, when Jon blasts them, knocking them out of the barn.  Kyle immediately shows up, and checks up on them....but then instantly turns on them, and is ready to use his heat vision on the two.  

While this is happening, Clark is holding onto Jordan and the Fortress, as the lasers do their work.  Once done, Jordan is better, and the situation is better.  Clark apologizes to Jordan about everything, and Jordan lets him know that everything will be okay.  However, it's just outside the Fortress when both of them hear Lois calling for Superman....they both take off, heading back home.  As Kyle is about ready to kill Lois and Jon, Superman enters the bar and takes out Kyle...and he disappears.  Superman does a quick scan with is x-ray vision, and doesn't find the super-powered trio anywhere.  Later on, Lois talks to her dad, and says she came to Smallville to get away from all the craziness for the boys.  Sam says he's gonna stick around until all this is over.  Lois informs her father about what John said about a war coming...and Morgan Edge is bringing it. 

Kyle winds up at home, and lies to Lana about not knowing where he was at before, and mysteriously waking up in a field out in the middle of nowhere.  What we DO find out, is that the mysterious figure Edge invited into his office was, in fact, Kyle.  Kyle has now been recruited by Edge to be a part of his army.  

Chrissy calls Lois, and tells her that the real reason for Edge being in Smallville ISN'T for the Kryptonite....it's the PEOPLE.  Leslie Larr and several others...who are now under fake names, were once Smallville residents who went through Edge's process, and are now recruits for his army.  Clark knows that when HE came to Earth, there were meteor showers across the world, but a good chunk of that Kryptonite fell in Smallville.  So, they know what Edge's game is finally.  Clark then hears Edge in his ear...calling to him.  He flies off and finally meets with Edge.  It's here that Edge finally reveals that he is NOT from Earth...but Kryptonian as well.  

Business picked up this episode, and now the cards are on the table.  Edge's master plan has been revealed fully.  And we also discover that HE is, in fact, a Kryptonian.  And I'm sure Morgan Edge isn't his real name.  What it is....hard to say, but I've no doubt we'll find out next week.  Admittedly, the plot WAS rather easy to figure out, but that doesn't mean we're not excited to find out what happened.  To know that several of his recruits are former members of Smallville...Leslie, Emily, Tag, and many others...as well as some from the other towns he plundered, are a part of his army.  The WORST part...is that he's now got Kyle mixed up in it.  His desire to get involved with whatever Edge had planned has now led him to take the job that Lana tried to keep him from.  And now...with Kyle in his fold...WITH super powers...Edge's warning to Lana about her choices affecting her life has come to fruition.  What happens to the Cushings as Kyle now becomes a brainwashed soldier against Superman and his family.  How will this work out for Lana and their girls?  Is this a process that can be reversed?  And will we see John Henry Irons again to help stem the tide?  It's going to be a fun ride the next few episodes, as this first season winds down.  And another thing....will Sarah and Lana eventually find out about Clark, Jordan, and what they're capable of?  Looking forward to having all these questions answered in the next 4 or so episodes.  

What did YOU all think of this installment?  Subscribe to the blog and leave a comment, theories, and whatever ideas you have.  I'd love to hear from you. 

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

 

THE FLASH 7.12

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.12:  "Good-Bye Vibrations"  

Well...the moment has finally arrived.  'Tis a sad time for Team Flash, as we have to bid farewell to our favorite engineer, resident funny guy, and hero in his own right--Cisco Ramon.  After 6 plus seasons, Carlos Valdes is taking his final bow as the man formerly known as Vibe.  One of the OG's of Team Flash along with Barry and Caitlin, he's been the proverbial heart and soul of this team from day one....and now we have to tearfully say goodbye to Cisco, and his girlfriend Kamilla, as they depart Central City to pursue new avenues in their lives.  So, it's no surprise this week, we got one last adventure with our boy before he skips town for his new gig.  

This episode was pretty much a "one last hurrah" adventure before Cisco took off for Star City (of all places, but he'll only be 600 miles away from Central City), to work for ARGUS, while Kamilla will head to Florida for her photo art show, and then join Cisco later on.  And while the nerves were high for the departing couple, they didn't quite expect the response they got when they finally told the team they were leaving...the team gave them hearty congrats, and decided to start helping them pack and prepare to move.  It was something BOTH of them had found odd during the course of the episode, and really began to gnaw at Cisco, because he felt like they were kicking him to the curb.  Barry alone had already packed most everything Cisco had in his lab at STAR Labs, and, he was quite surprised at that.  Caitlin had asked him for his ID badge and all his access codes to the building and everything else.  Barry and Caitlin came off as somewhat dismissive to him during a good part of the episode, and it was something that built into anger on Cisco's part later on.  But for now, he was showing Chester around what essentially was going to be HIS lab.  

Now, mind you, things don't stop in Cental City because our main characters are busy.  We had this young lady in a rainbow jacket and boots head into the bank, and use her super powers to literally have the bank manager happily write her a check for 10 million dollars, and she walked out, as she manipulated his emotions to feel nothing but happines...and quit his job.  This colorful new villain DID get the attention of the team, especially Team Citizen, as Iris was there on the story with Kamilla and Allega.  Allegra managed to see Cecile talking with one of the officers, and went to grab a few words before heading back to the office to start the story.  Kamille offered to help Iris vet new candidates for the photographer position that is now open what with her departure.  Team Flash realizes they have a new meta to deal with in town, and Barry and Caitlin are doing research and planning on how to stop her, when Cisco strolls by, wondering why they're working without him in stopping this new meta.  He wants in on one last adventure before he leaves, and they're cool with it.  So, Cisco figures out that this is a brand new version of the Rainbow Raider.  So, Cisco figures that they can use the same weapon they stopped the original Raider, and use it on her.  However, once confronted, as she's trying to commit another crime, she blasts Flash and Mecha Vibe, and the weapon doesn't work.  While Flash manages to avoid getting whammied, the same doesn't happen to Cisco...who is now just on happy overload.  

While Caitlin and Barry try to figure out how to fix Cisco, Iris and Kamilla have been going through applications for brand new photographers, and Iris just hasn't made up her mind.  When Kamilla asks why she skipped over a few, Iris kind of snaps at her.  Iris apologizes, but we can tell that she can't keep up the brave face anymore.  It's hard for her to lose her friend....and her photographer.  Going back to STAR Labs, Team Flash gets another hit on Rainbow Raider 2, and he's off to confront her, while Chester and Caitlin try to figure out how to undo what she did to Cisco....who is just overdosing on joy.  Things go from bad to worse, as Flash tries to use his goggles to try and track and protect himself from Raider's attack, but Cisco rigged the goggles, causing cartoons to appear in them, and thus blinding Flash.  He crashes into a van, and as he tries to recover, Raider hits him with a blast of joy for himself.  He races back to STAR Labs, having been just as whammied as Cisco.  Chester DOES manage to resolve the issue using a device that he flashes into their eyes, thus counteracting the effects of Rainbow Raider 2's effects.  The team tries to brainstorm on how to stop her, and Barry suggests that Cisco use his newfound influence at ARGUS to see if they have something to stop her.  At this point, Cisco's had enough, snaps at Barry and Catilin, and storms off.  Barry and Caitlin talk to him, and they tell him that it's hard for them to see him go...they don't know what they're going to do without him.  They tried to put up a brave face for HIS sake, but they're sad.  Cisco thought they couldn't wait to be rid of him, and that wasn't the case.  Cisco finally opens up about what he saw as his worst fear when Psych zapped him:  Seeing himself still at STAR Labs 30 years later....still doing the same thing, while everyone else grew beyond him.  They hate the thought of him leaving, but they're not going to stop him. 

The team figures out that this new Rainbow Raider is named Carrie Bates...a meta who has seen the plight of the city, and isn't robbing banks for her own personal gain---but is acting like a modern day Robin Hood.  She stole a dirigible from Ferris Aircraft, and plans on dropping the loot on the city...including the stadium where a football game is being held.  They have to figure out how to get onto the blimp without Flash having to use his powers, and thus his ligthning, causing it to explode in midair.  With Vibe and Allegra in tow, Allegra can help counteract Raider's powers with her own.  Allegra uses her weapons in her bandalier to pop them aboard the ship, where Raider is ready to stop them from ruining her plan.  She's telling Flash that she's seen the plight of the city, and she's trying to do right---does he not see it?  Flash agrees, but can't agree with how she's going about it.  Allega and her battle briefly, but they manage to sneak the metacuffs onto her and dampen her powers, ending the threat.  However, in the process of the quick fight, they jacked up the control panel, and now the blimp is on a one-way collision with the football stadium.  Flash says he won't arrest Carrie, but she'll have to work off her prison sentence working in the Mayor's office trying to make the city a better place.  She likes that deal.  Cisco, however, sees that they're on an out of control ship, and people need to be clearned quickly.  Flash takes Allegra and Raider, and departs the ship, going to the stadium to speed save everyone in attendance.  Meahwhile, Cisco has connected with Chester to help him figure out how to land the ship without killing anyone. Cisco then uses the technology in his Vibe gloves to gain control of the ship, and land it safely into the bay, thus saving the city.  Cisco proves his heroic worth one last time for Central City.

Later on, Cisco manages to get Chester to admit they're throwing a party for him.  But before he goes, he essentially gives Chester the keys to the kingdom---asking him to take care of his friends.  Chester is beyond excited, and says he'll see Cisco tomorrow, and he now wants to rearrage his new lab.  Cisco looks around one last time before he leaves STAR Labs forever. We see that Team Citizen is having a private party, as they bid Kamilla farewell.  Kamilla thanks Iris for everything, and she wouldn't have gotten the chance to expand her career without her help.  Cecile shows up for the party, and Allegra asks her what she was doing at the bank earlier that day, and Cecile says she was talking to an old friend about a case.  They then go on to celebrate...especailly after Iris apologized to Kamilla about her earlier behavior.

Team Flash is having their own party, as Cisco bears gifts to Joe, Barry, and Caitlin.  Joe says that he's really going to miss Cisco, as they all will miss him dearly.  Cisco, however, wants one last karoke battle with Barry...using the song Barry woke up from his coma to---the Lady Gaga one.  So, they party, as we see them have one last fun time.  It's the end of an era as one more of the original Team Flash OG's departs.  

Later on, we see Cecile return home from Team Citizen's party, only to be greeted by some ominous voice as she enters the house.  She scours the house to find the focal point of the voice...and when she looks into the mirror...she sees a golden masked face staring back at her. Is it the Psycho Pirate?  We don't know...but this is how our show ends this week.

We got a fairly formulaic, but something of a proper send off for Cisco Ramon.  The episode was fairly campy and lighthearted, which is what Cisco brought to this series throughout most of its run.  The last year and a half has seen our engineer leave Central City for small periods, as he had begun exploring this New Earth in Post-Crisis...cataloguing what he could.  But he'd always return home to be with Kamilla and Team Flash.  But now, he's got a new job awaiting him at ARGUS....working with Diggle and Lyla, though they're in Metropolis, but will still communicate with them, but he'll be stationed in Star City.  It's cool to know that he'll be fairly close, but won't be in Central City.  Kamilla has her photography show, and a new career...and then she'll join Cisco.  We didn't get to dive much into Kamilla's life....she's just pretty much been photographer for the Central City Citizen, a friend to Team Flash, and Cisco's girlfriend.  It's a shame we didn't get to know more, or see this couple interact more often.  Now, we'll have to imagine, as they depart Central City for greener pastures.  It's weird to think that two of the original cast for this show is now gone....but things do grow and change as time goes on...and so does this team.  With the New Earth, it eliminated the need for a Wells...once all of them were amalgamated into the orignal Harrison Wells...who is now just a moment in time....living the life he wated before his untimely death.  Now Cisco....Vibe...our engineer, comedy relief, but stalwart best friend and hero.  

Chester now inherits Cisco's role, and that leaves Caitlin and Barry as the original members of Team Flash still left.  And, aside from Frost...who was out of town with their mother this week, Caitlin is the only one who's life seems to have stalled.  All of Caitlin's important stories the last few years have been wrapped around Frost.  Caitlin hasn't had her life grow since she married Ronnie back in Season 1.  I wonder how long it will take before they get Caitlin's life moving forward?  She's had little to zero love interest, and I feel that it's time for her to grow as a character. Allegra has shown more growth than Caitlin the last couple of years.  

Was cute to see a new Rainbow Raider---while her intentions were good and noble, her actions were misguided.  And giving her the name "Carrie Bates" is a nod back to former Flash scribe Cary Bates, who had written Barry Allen's adventures during the latter half of his series, just prior to Crisis.  So, love that they did that.  Also loved that we got another mention of Ferris Aircraft....always good hearing about that one. And I'm not sure if his is the Psycho Pirate or some other being toying with Cecile, but we're gonna get our answers next week. Like I said...it was a cute episode that had a tiny bit of emotion to it---Carlos is going to be VERY missed on this show, and that void will be IMPOSSIBLE to fill....but we've also had to bid farewell to Team Arrow last year, and we said "goodbye" to The Pierce Family, and Supergirl flies off into whatever HER destiny will be....the Arroweverse is changing.  And while our favorites will still be around in some capacity---we won't be seeing them from week to week.  So, I thank Carlos Valdes for the 6 plus years he's given us on this show.  He's been highly entertaining, and I wish him all the luck in future endeavors---can't wait to see what he does next. 

How sad are all of YOU to see Cisco gone?  What do you see happening for the future of Team Flash?  And what in the hell is stalking Cecile?  Subscribe below and gimme your answers.  

Until next time....Keep on running.