After revealing Jay’s secret identity as Zoom, I worried that The Flash may have revealed it too soon or not fleshed out the character enough to create an interesting villain and I am very glad to announce that I have been completely wrong. “Rupture” is the next in a line of strong, well fleshed out Flash episodes (“King Shark” aside) that have been genuinely interesting; Jay is more than just your typical super villain that wants to take over the world (despite that being exactly what he wants). He’s been given an actual history that does somewhat explain why he is the way he is, especially with Caitlin.
Plus, I have a feeling I was right about a lot of other things so let’s get started, shall we?
The Flash...Returns?
Cisco is watching from S.T.A.R. Labs as there is a high speed chase in downtown Central City, a red streak following close behind. In a separate room, Barry is running on a treadmill; turns out the Flash following the criminals through the city is a hologram that is being controlled by Barry and Cisco from the lab. They manage to stop the criminals but their celebration is short-lived as Wells comes back in and starts to try and convince them again to recreate the particle accelerator explosion.
Iris, Barry, and Cisco try to point out the possible shortcomings of this but Wells pulls out the trump card: saving Caitlin. Without his speed, Caitlin won’t be saved and Zoom will continue his rampage through Earth-1 and 2.
Needing some advice, Barry makes his way up to his father’s remote cabin. He tells his father everything, including Wells’ idea to recreate the particle accelerator explosion. Despite being proud of Barry’s growth since becoming the Flash, he wants Barry to be sure about this and to make the decision on his own.
In the lab, Wells presents his mockup of the newest particle accelerator, resulting in a fight between him and Cisco. When Wells calls Cisco by his last name, his protestations are cut short when he vibes on the name and sees a dark vision of his brother, forcing him to run off worriedly. As Cisco leaves, however, Barry and Henry show up, ready to help Wells.
Zoom’s Dark Promise
In the CCPD, Joe and Wally are heading out when they’re interrupted by an appearance of Zoom. Immediately, the officers have their guns trained on Zoom but the standoff is interrupted by Caitlin’s pleas to not hurt them. Zoom gives them orders to tell everyone he’s there and the city is his; though Joe is hesitant to do so, Caitlin gives him a nod of reassurance and they evacuate, the only thing saving their lives.
He makes his way back to S.T.A.R. Labs where Joe is telling Team Flash about their encounter with Zoom. Wells isn’t sure if they understand the gravity of this situation; Zoom started doing the same thing on Earth-2 at the beginning of his reign. He’s positive the only solution is for Barry to get his powers back.
In his new base of operations at CCPD, Zoom has Caitlin cuffed to a desk. When she questions his plans and motive, he tells her that he’s keeping her so that he’s not alone anymore. When she tells him he’s wrong, Jay tells her that she’s seen the darkness inside of her, the way it was with Killer Frost. Fortunately, as he leaves her to go terrorize Central City elsewhere, she manages to sneak a phone out of one of the nearby evidence boxes.
Cisco manages to track down his brother at a bar. Despite their bonding experience after being captured by Snart last season, Dante and Cisco are not any closer than they were before. Frustrated at his brother’s lack of response, Cisco is ready to leave when he sees the warning about Zoom on the news and makes a hasty exit, Dante on his heels. They’re headed to Cisco’s car when they’re attached by a dark figure with a magi sword? The Grim Reaper lookalike makes his way to them slowly, greeting Cisco with his metahuman name. Despite his confusion about the metahuman blaming him for the death of his brother, the Reaper takes off his mask, revealing himself to be Dante’s doppleganger.
They barely manage to escape, making their way to the labs. Wells reveals that his name on Earth-2 is “Rupture” and once they’re alone, Wells tells Barry he knows what he needs to do. Barry stalks off, making his way to the particle accelerator, Iris on his heels.
Realizing Zoom is not going to stop until he gets control of Central City, Joe and Wells lock Jessie and Wally inside of Wells-1’s secret room, hoping it will keep them safe. He makes his way to Wells, where Henry interrupts the two of them discussing the particle accelerator. The three of them discuss Barry’s best interests, trying to decide what’s best for him before they realize Barry’s been listening in. He doesn’t give a decision just yet, asking for time to make the decision on his own time.
Iris follows him down to the room housing the particle accelerator and tries to talk to Barry about the accelerator and his decision; she admits that she’s not sure what she would do if something happened to him again. When he senses something else is bothering her, she tells him that she’s developed feelings for him. “I need you to know that it doesn’t matter to me if you’re the Flash or not; you, Barry, you’re the one I want to have a future with,” she says before walking off.
Getting by With a Little Help From Their Friends
Back at CCPD, Caitlin has managed to turn on the cellphone from the nearby evidence box. Right outside, Reverb meets back up with Zoom, admitting that Cisco escaped. Though he wants to go back after him right away, Zoom tells him to wait; knowing the police have set up camp inside of Jitters, he wants Rupture to help him teach them a lesson first. After Zoom runs off, Caitlin uses the phone to text the team about the attack.
At this news, Barry makes his decision: though being the Flash is the best way to take down Zoom, there are too many potential variable factors that could makes a second particle accelerator explosion even worse than good. Until there’s a way to know it’s contained, they’re going to need to find another way.
Barry and Joe make their way to Jitters, ready to assist the police against Zoom regardless of the fact that Barry no longer has his powers. Though he’s starting to doubt his decision, Joe reminds him he’s going to have to live with the choice regardless.
Cisco is working to find a way to stop Rupture when Dante comes in with a letter that Cisco wrote before he left for Earth-2. He tries to avoid the conversation but Dante won’t let him; eventually, Cisco admits that he’s gained powers, which Dante has a little trouble accepting. Dante manages to put the pieces together that Cisco “vibed” on Dante, which is why he called him. The conversation is terse and Cisco leaves, nothing more resolved.
He heads off to Jitters, where he and Barry are in an outside van while Rupture makes his way inside. The duo manage to distract him using the Flash hologram, which helps Joe to shoot the anti-metahuman cuff at him, effectively disarming the meta. As Caitlin watches the news joyfully, Jay is furious, asking how she warned them. Angry, he runs off, rushing to Jitters to take care of the job himself. Instead, the camera catches as Zoom kills all of the officers at the scene, minus Joe, the Chief, and Rupture.
Barry runs in, pleading with him to stop. Instead, Jay kills Rupture and sends a warning: anything like this happens again and his affection for Caitlin won’t stop him next time.
In captivity, Wally and Jessie are trapped inside, hoping to find a way out. Wally wants to get out, hoping that Jessie and he can work together for a solution.
Better Luck Next Time
Inside the main room of the labs, Wells is trying to convince Barry again to recreate the explosion. At the realization that more metahumans are going to come out of the woodwork with the knowledge that the Flash is no more, he decides to take Wells up on his offer.
Team Flash is working on finalizing the accelerator; Wells and Cisco have reworked the accelerator to only recreate the explosion on Barry, not the rest of the city again. Cisco makes his way to the roof, ready to act as the lightning rod to fully complete the entire accident.
Barry is strapped in, calm despite the possibility of something terribly wrong happening. Henry tells him that he doesn’t have to do it but Barry wants to; the Flash has become “the best part” of him and he needs to be that again.
Wells starts the replication of the accident while Jessie and Wally work on opening the door. As they work on recreating the entire night, Zoom watches in anger as Cisco manages to direct the lightning in. Unfortunately, a malfunction has Barry being ripped apart like Professor Xavier in X3: The Last Stand while the explosion reaches Jessie and Wally, knocking them out as well (subtle, Flash).
At this moment, Zoom runs in, seeing the destruction and thanks them for taking care of Barry for them before leaving once more.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.