Would it truly be an episode of The Flash if Barry wasn’t pining over a girl he didn’t think he deserved, Wells wasn’t working some ulterior motive, Caitlin and Cisco weren’t being the literal heart of the team, and someone discovered Barry’s secret?
Picking up right after last week’s fast-paced episode, Flash is proving it’s not afraid to throw some gut punches. Patty is clearly aware that Barry is avoiding her and goes to confront him in his lab. Despite his resolve to share his secret with her in the last episode, he’s changed his mind and isn’t going to share his secret, not wanting to hold her back. Though Iris is less than amused, she’s got some devastating news of her own: her mother’s last moments are rapidly approaching.
Meanwhile, at S.T.A.R. Labs, Wells is working on notes from the matter he took from Turtle, trying to isolate his power to slow down Zoom. In an effort to divert Cisco (and Jay) from his trail, he announces he’s figured out Cisco’s trigger: fear. Startling him by dressing up as the Reverse Flash, Cisco promptly vibes to the real one, whom he’s just realized is here in Central City and about to take a hostage.
As Wells works on a pair of goggles to help trigger Cisco’s vibes in a more controlled manner, Cisco begins to have more vibes of the Reverse Flash (Eobard Thawne) -- this time, murdering Dr. Christina McGee after she finishes working on a tachyon particle accelerator of sorts to get him back to his appropriate time now that he’s figured out which time period The Flash is from. However, after he comes back to, Cisco and Wells have a realization: Cisco can see the future.
Having a revelation of their own? Patty. She’s been doing some research to try and see why Barry’s being so sketchy and discovers that he’s been working cases that only have The Flash involved -- because he’s The Flash. Though Joe tries to cover for him, Patty sees through it. Yet, when Joe goes to warn Barry about Patty’s knowledge of his secret, the team manages to track down Reverse Flash, forcing Barry to shelve the conversation.
Through some quick maneuvering, Barry and co. manage to lock up Reverse Flash and save Dr. McGee. While Barry wants to confront him and ask why he’s antagonizing him so much, Wells explains that Barry shouldn’t give him any more information than he already has; he’s already figured out when he’s from, why give him information regarding who he is, too?
Like usual, Barry only listens to Wells’ advice for so long and decides to confront Reverse Flash anyway. Turns out he’s been obsessed with him for his entire life and recreated the events of the particle accelerator accident to gain Barry’s powers for himself because he wanted to be his enemy; his only goal has been to take everything away from Barry. Their confrontation is cut short, however, by Caitlin summoning Barry back to their headquarters.
In their med bay, Cisco is seizing; turns out, their capture of Reverse Flash has disrupted the time continuum that saved his life despite Eddie sacrificing himself at the end of season one. With the Reverse Flash captured and unable to return back and start the events of season one, Cisco’s life is being altered in an incredibly negative way. As Wells goes to talk to the Reverse Flash, it’s revealed that this is the exact moment in which the Reverse Flash figures out just who they all are, which prompts the events of season one and his stealing of Wells’ identity early on.
Eventually, the team realizes that the only way to save Cisco’s life is to return Reverse Flash to his own time. Barry and Thawne work together to get him back to his proper time, saving Cisco’s life. Though he’s not happy to note that Thawne is gone when he wakes, Cisco is thankful.
Meanwhile, Iris has been dealing with her own crisis. After visiting her ailing mother and giving her the forgiveness she needs, Francine West admits that she’s still very worried about her children, Wally especially, as he hasn’t been in to see her in a while. While Wally is not interested in Iris’ attempts at bonding and trying to get him to go see his mom, he comes around and eventually asks Iris to go to the hospital with him.
On a similarly positive note, the episode ends with some closure for Patty and Barry; when a panicked Patty calls Barry asking for assistance on her train out of town, he races to her rescue -- only to find it’s been a false alarm. Though he low-key admitted to loving her earlier in the episode and high-key proved it when he saved her life and revealed his secret to her, it’s still not enough for them. They share a sweet smile and a sad goodbye.
My thoughts? I have been really enjoying the Wells and Cisco dynamic this season; I like how Wells is still taking on the role of a mentor for Cisco, albeit much more begrudgingly. I’m also really sad that Patty is gone and hoping this wasn’t the last we see of her! I’ve also very much enjoyed seeing Iris as more than just a love interest for Barry -- seeing her with her brother and ailing mother really proved just how talented Candice is as an actress and seeing her have a plotline outside of Barry and/or Eddie has been just what her character needed.
The Flash airs Tuesdays 8/7c on The CW.