Like it’s predecessor Arrow, The Flash has definitely picked up momentum in it’s sophomore season. Though it seemed hard to top Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne as the villain from last season and our hearts broke when Eddie and, subsequently, Ronnie sacrificed themselves for the greater good in the culmination of last season’s events, Flash has managed to bring us an interesting villain in the vein of Zoom, the Reverse Flash of “Earth 2,” where the actual version of Harrison Wells resided.
So, when the winter cliffhanger left us with Iris and Joe meeting Wally, Iris’s brother and Joe’s son, I was worried that so much potential had been lost. Ironically, this episode focused a lot on potential energy and kinetic energy, which kind of made me wish I’d paid more attention in science class as I was even more lost than normal when Cisco and Wells 2 were talking about “Turtle,” the metahuman who wasn’t fast, he just slowed the ones around him down.
The episode starts off with two moral dilemmas: Barry is having nightmares of Zoom killing Patty, consistently waking up from nightmares where she gets hurt and the West’s are having problems finding out how to shift their family dynamic with the appearance of Wally.
In a very nice twist to what could’ve been a very predictable scene, when Patty goes to Iris to ask her for advice on what to do with Barry, Iris is actually pretty nice, understanding, and supportive. She doesn’t sell Barry out or try to tear Patty down, which is how we normally see the whole unrequited/unrealized love trope happen; instead, Iris talks to her like a friend and we see just why this new generation of superhero stories are gaining so much recognition for their treatment of female characters.
However, Wally isn’t having any of the West’s charms. Though they’re making an effort and trying to relate to him, he's still distant and clearly uninterested in playing house. Their suspicions are exacerbated when Wally has a criminal call him out -- which prove to be true when they find him drag racing through Central City, Fast & Furious style. Wally comes clean about the fact that racing is the only thing that's been paying for his tuition and his mom’s medical bills but he doesn't apologize for it.
Cisco and Wells were a pretty strong team this episode. Cisco suggests that they've been going about the Zoom issue all wrong; instead of making Barry go faster, they should try and take Zoom’s speed down. This is where Turtle comes in; though he doesn't stop time, he manages to slow down everyone else around him to make it look like he's a speedster as well. He's been using this newfound ability to steal priceless items all around Central City and the team tracks his next move to a priceless painting being displayed at a gala in the museum downtown.
Dressed up, Barry and the STAR Labs crew scope out the event. Barry and Patty are having a pretty good time, all things considered and he decides he's going to tell her about his secret identity. Of course, just as he's opening up, he spots the Turtle and rushes off, leaving Patty alone -- who also spots the Turtle. Though she gives it a good shot, he skates past her and makes Barry choose between saving her or stopping him. He chooses Patty.
Once he comes to consciousness, a guilty Barry tries to make amends with Patty, who gives him an ultimatum. He leaves. However, Patty hears a knock shortly after and, thinking it's Barry, accidentally lets in Turtle. She's quick to defend herself but he slows her down and steals her away into the night.
Angry, Barry and the team try and trace Patty’s location. Narrowing down our villain of the week’s location, Barry rushes off to save her, originally being stopped by Turtle. He doesn’t plan on killing Patty but he does want to “make her [his] forever,” the same way he did with his wife when she tried to leave him. Flash zooms off and loops back around, pushing through Turtle’s pulses and knocking him unconscious, saving an incredibly grateful Patty.
Back at STAR Labs, the team has dispersed and Caitlin catches up to Jay, confronting him about an illness he’s been keeping a secret. Upset he let her get so close to him after recently losing her fiancé, she resolves to cure him.
In the precinct, Barry tries to to talk to Patty but she tells him it’s time for her to move on, both from Central City and from him. She’s headed off to school to become a CSI and Barry’s left alone and heartbroken. On the other side of town, though, Wally and Joe seem to settle in a truce, agreeing to take this father/son bonding thing a little bit slower.
The best moment of the night, though? Our favorite morally ambiguous character, Wells, attacking Turtle and... sucking out his brain? I’m still not quite sure what he did to him other than kill him but paired in direct contrast with a heartfelt memory about his daughter and when he realized he’d do anything for her, it served as a great reminder of just how great Wells is at playing the secret villain.
What was your favorite part? I’m torn over how much I do really love Wells as a villain but I’m starting to wonder if Patty is really as innocent as she seems. She has to know something’s up with Barry - no one can be that trusting - and I think that she’s one of Zoom’s accomplices. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of the Earth 2 villains, though! Caitlin as Killer Frost is what’s keeping me hooked.
The Flash airs Tuesday at 8/7c on The CW.