Flash Facts – “Flash Back”
This is the most contrived comic book plot ever, man…
And normally, I’d be all for Flash Back’s particular brand of shenanigans but Barry is being exceptionally stupid in this episode. No part of his plan to travel back in time to get Eobard Thawne (disguised as Harrison Wells) to help with the speed force equation is, as Harry points out, asinine and guess what? Barry fucks up everything!
Well, okay, that’s not entirely true but being discovered and having to deliver a Batman Gambit to ensure you don’t die isn’t the best situation. Still, it’s sort of entertaining to see Eobard lose his shit with Future Barry because he’s convinced that Barry is there thwartin’ his plans. The frustration and anger on display is testament to Tom’s comedic acting ability and it’s great to see him play Eobard again.
Flash Fact: The speed equation that Barry is working on – 3×2(9yz)4a – was used by speedster Johnny Quick to gain his powers and was later used by his daughter; Jesse Quick. Hmmm.
Your villain du jour is a Time Wraith, a creature not unlike the paradox-eating Reapers from Doctor Who. While compared to a Dementor, the Time Wraith has a particular beef with speedsters and even looks to have a decomposed mask as part of it’s design. Would this be the show’s equivalent of the Black Flash, a grim reaper type entity that chases down speedsters approaching their demise? Could very well be!
Apart from his main objective, two good things came out of Barry’s jaunt to the past though; one of which being Hartley Rathaway’s face turn and the other being a video message Barry recorded for Iris. Rathaway seems to be an ally to the team in this alternate timeline which isn’t such a bad thing, considering his comic counterpart’s switch to the side of good. It’s also great to Rick Cosnett as well, not having seen him in since a dream sequence at the start of the season and gives Iris a much needed kick up the arse to get closure.
Flash Fact: Interestingly, this episode is clearly set before the Worlds Finest crossover I reviewed yesterday as Barry has yet to construct the tachyon emitter he wore in that episode but receives the plans for it in this episode from Thawne. Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey.
Flash Back, for how dumb it is, does set up some much needed plot points and we at least get to see some fan favourite characters return for a brief spell. Next week we charge headfirst into darkness as Barry comes face-to-face with “Jay” in Versus Zoom.