When getting ready for an event such as New York Comic Con puts a hold on doing recaps for our favorite shows. But now that the dust has settled, here’s a double dip of recaps for The Flash covering both the season three premiere and this past Tuesday’s episode. Warning, spoilers ahead…
After going back in time to prevent the Reverse Flash/Eobard Thawne from killing his mother, Nora Allen, Barry set into motion an alternative timeline that includes imprisoning Thawne to subdue his speed. Things in Central City are quite different from the one Barry left. The good is that Barry’s parents are alive and well and Cisco has become a billionaire tech-magnate challenging his inner Tony Stark. Caitlin is a pediatric ophthalmologist but then there is Joe West who in this “new reality” has little to no relationship with Wally and Iris.
In addition to everyone’s personal lives being altered, there is a new Flash in town called Kid Flash which turns out to be Wally. Kid Flash is dealing with his own nemesis called “The Rival”, Edward Clariss. As Barry uses his own speed, he begins to lose his memories of the original timeline. Thawne teases Barry stating that the faster he goes, so does his past memories. Regardless, Barry teams up with Wally to take out The Rival. Unfortunately, Wally is critically injured in the process. Barry makes the decision to return to the original timeline as it was meant to be which means saying goodbye to his mother yet again. In order to make this happen he needs Thawne’s help. They both return to the present but the “original” timeline isn’t what Barry had hoped for. Joe and Iris haven’t spoken in years and Clariss is taunted by a mysterious being that leaves a cryptic message of “Alchemy” on his mirror.
Episode 2: “Paradox”
In the second episode called “Paradox”, Barry learns that the reason why Joe and Iris don’t talk is due to Iris hasn’t forgiven her father for not telling her that her mother was indeed alive. And that’s not the only personal issue Barry is dealing with as Cisco is upset with him for not altering the timeline in order to save his brother Dante from being killed. Realizing that this timeline is no better than the one he left behind, Barry decides to travel back once again to fix the damages he has caused. Barry gets intercepted in 1998 by Earth-3 Flash, Jay Garrick (John Wesley Shipp). Jay tells Barry that no matter what he does, the timeline as he original remembers, will never reset to what was and that he has to deal with this fact and learn to live with his mistakes. Barry ends up telling the team about what he did and hopes they will forgive him. Cisco takes the news the hardest.
Meanwhile, Clariss is having visions of his own from “Flashpoint” and comes face to face with the mysterious being from the season premiere called Alchemy who restores Clasriss’ powers as The Rival. Barry confronts Clariss at an abandoned warehouse where Alchemy also appears and states his purpose of “preparing this world” for a future event. Cisco shows up and helps Barry and the two defeat Clariss who is sent to Iron Heights where Alchemy attacks him. It is determined that Alchemy is attempting to create an army of metahumans. In the end, Cisco and Barry reconcile as does Iris and Joe. Barry and Iris finally have that romantic moment they have longed for and everything in this new timeline seems to be back in order except for Caitlin. It is revealed that she has gained ice powers ala Killer Frost.
One addition to this timeline is the introduction of Barry’s new CSI partner, Julian Albert (played by Harry Potter alum Tom Felton). Julian doesn’t like Barry because he doesn’t trust him which the possibilities endless for these two. I can’t wait to see more.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
