Last week left us with some pretty high expectations after introducing the cutest Barry Allen ever, the introduction of Killer Frost (Caitlin's alter ego with Elsa hair and shimmery blue lipstick), and the dilemma of a captured Barry locked on the wrong side of the breach after a malfunction on the S.T.A.R. Labs side. While I am still heartbroken over the death of Ronnie-2 (maybe I'm not over Eddie and Ronnie sacrificing themselves last season, okay), I have to say that I really enjoyed the setup of Earth-2 and was looking forward to the continuation of their escapades on their own parallel earth.
Zoom is on the hunt for Harrison Wells, leaving the message burning on the side of a skyscraper (he’s got a flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he?). Wells decides to evacuate the building to save the occupants but he and Cisco are determined to track down Wells and Barry. They’re momentarily distracted by Barry 2, whom they still have trapped. As they’re trying to get everyone out, though, Zoom crashes the building searching for him. Barry 2 is properly freaked out, demanding answers.
Meanwhile, Barry tries to remain optimistic whereas Jessie, Wells’ daughter, is decidedly less so. Barry’s trying to explain to her why Wells is better than the man she claims he is but Zoom thwarts his efforts by explaining all his heroics are useless anyway; once Wells gets Zoom Barry’s speed, they’re both dead.
After Zoom leaves them, they get back to try and decipher what their fellow inmate is trying to tell them. Barry finally starts to realize it’s potentially a code used by former prisoners of war, which brings a breakthrough. Turns out their fellow inmate is spelling out Jay but Zoom comes in and threatens him not to speak with them again about Jay. Though Barry is insistent he’s going to get out of there, Zoom gets a few jabs in before running back off, having given Barry the key to getting out.
Earth-1 is only slightly more optimistic. Caitlin and Jay have managed to re-stabilize the breech, allowing for twenty hours to jump back over. There’s also other bad news: Jay’s cells are reacting poorly with the Velocity 7 he originally used. Also facing trouble? Iris, whose new editor is less than thrilled with her consistently peppy stories on The Flash and wants a new story on his disappearance and how he’s not the hero they thought he was. Iris manages to persuade him to put that story off with a promise of an exclusive piece with the new Flash.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin manages to catch a break and finds a potential fix to the Velocity serum, which she and Jay are discussing as Iris comes in, hoping to ask about that interview. However, the metahuman from last week, Geomancer, comes back with a vengeance, hoping to draw “the new Flash” out of hiding to take him down. Jay takes the new Velocity serum giving him a temporary fix to his speed problem. He manages to evacuate a building the Geomancer sent tumbling and makes it back to S.T.A.R. Labs, exhausted but happy with the results.
As Caitlin’s running tests, she realizes she may have found a way to save Jay’s life. As she calls him up, the Geomancer comes trouncing in, sending parts of S.T.A.R. Labs tumbling before the girls take him out. Joe takes him away to Iron Heights as Jay feels guilty for not coming to their rescue earlier. He’s distracted, though, as they realize that Geomancers tremors destabilized the breach once more.
Iris on Earth-2 is also annoyed; her actual husband finally reappears and introduces her to Wells and Cisco, who explain their reasons for being there. She puts aside her annoyance to help them track down Killer Frost, whom they’re hoping helps them find Zoom. Iris and Barry-2 decide to join them, which is less than exciting for them.
In the Woodlands, Wells, Cisco, Iris-2, and Barry-2 manage to find Killer Frost, who’s not quite as willing to jump over to their side as they hoped. Though she tries to take them out, she’s stopped by Iris and Cisco. Cisco tries to appeal to her, using her devastation of losing Ronnie to get her to reveal where Zoom is hiding Jessie and Barry. She decides to show them to Ascension Cliffs, which is where they’re apparently hiding. Killer Frost channels her inner Elsa and builds a set of stairs up to the lair’s entrance.
Inside, Barry’s trying to get past the walls but is having trouble. Jessie suggests the trouble may be that he’s not operating at the correct frequency, which means Barry has to run faster. Before he can manage that, the squad manages to make it to them, releasing Jessie but getting stuck when it comes to releasing Barry. Barry tries to get them to leave him behind but Barry-2 is determined to get him out. “I know if I can do the impossible today, so can you. I’m just Barry Allen but you’re The Flash,” he reminds him. The pep talk does the trick and he phases through.
Before they can release the third inmate, Zoom crashes their party. Turns out, Killer Frost double crossed them and told Zoom they were headed up, which explains why it was so easy to get Jessie free. When Zoom threatens Jessie, though, Caitlin has a change of heart and holds him off in an effort to help them get out.
The struggles with the breach, though; they’re not sure they can fix it and so Joe and Jay try to manually fix it, which happens right before Jay’s speed runs out again. The Earth-2 crew says their goodbyes to Barry and Cisco, though Wells and Jessie decide to join them on the other side.
The Flash Squad makes it through the breach safely...before Zoom pops back with Wells. This gives Wells the perfect opportunity to give Zoom a serving of the serum they’ve been working on to stop Zoom’s speed. They place him back on the other side and Barry brings Wells over right before Jay throws the last of the bombs to destroy the breach. As the crew is cheering, Zoom grabs Jay right through the chest and brings him back over before the breach is closed -- forever.
Personally, this episode felt like it was setting up several big plots but otherwise felt a little flat. I loved Earth-2, don’t get me wrong, but other than the adorable Barry and the always amazing Iris, there wasn’t much in this episode that actually stood out. Of course, with the appearance of Lyla and John Diggle next week, there’s a lot to speculate on in regards to the man in the mask (awfully similar to Earth-1’s Spartan (aka Dig), no?) with them in the mountain and his mention of Jay. Many theories have been floating around, several of which speculate that under Zoom’s own mask, Jay’s face is there. I’m not quite sure he’s Zoom, but I’m also not entirely convinced he’s all that great, either. Thoughts?
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.