Run, Iris, Run might share a thematic similarity to last week’s Enter Flashtime, in as much as this is a story that could be pulled right out of the silver age of comics, but is so poorly paced that no single plot element really has a chance to fully develop.

Take for instance the crux of this episode; Matthew Kim aka Melting Point (played by Leonardo Nam who you might remember as the put-upon lab tech Felix in Westworld). This bus meta’s power is to transfer meta-abilities between hosts and seems to have a strong sense of right and wrong. With his ability, Matthew takes the flame powers of a would-be bank robber because he ‘doesn’t deserve them’.

He feels that metahumans have a responsibility to go with their great powers and he can make sure the system kinda regulates that, switching powers to those who he feels worthy. It’s a neat idea and his day job as an EMT certainly paints him as someone who wants to do good but we get basically no time with him in this episode.

In the B-plot, Harry wants to build a device similar to DeVoe’s thinking cap, which everyone agrees is a good idea… Except Cisco. I mean, he does have a valid point that DeVoe has clearly been sent mad by using it but we know he’s going to help anyway so unfortunately, a good ten minutes is devoted to this plot point going round in circles until Cisco relents.

Finally, we come to Iris gaining Barry’s speed thanks to Matthew’s abilities and it couldn’t come at a more convenient time because, for some reason, Ralph has decided to be a massive tool to Iris about being the non-powered woman in the chair. It’s such a bullshit conflict that serves no purpose than to make Ralph look like an asshole and to make Iris look weak when SHE apologises to HIM by the end of the episode.

Iris using the opportunity to prove to herself that she still has her courage is a good motivation for her this episode though. Ever since Savitar, she has been a lot less gung-ho, preferring to stay in the cortex as the team’s coordinator/leader and who is paying this woman? She doesn’t have a job, Barry doesn’t have a job… who is paying for their apartment? Hrm…

Anyway, with less of a field role, Iris has been feeling complacent and Ralph’s out of character comments got under her skin so she revels in having super speed, something we haven’t seen Barry do in a while. She gets a short amount of training before her first mission which goes pretty good, despite her getting trapped under concrete.

Barry, meanwhile, is doing an amazing job of being supportive while also having a massive moan. We get it, you feel inadequate, you should! I would rather watch any other speedster than you, Barry.

Iris, naturally, gets a costume and I do like that it incorporates the motorcycle jacket she was wearing earlier in the episode and that despite both her and Barry’s reservations in switching roles, they both perform admirably and take out a firenado while also nabbing Matthew Kim in the process.

In the end, everything is reset to how it was and now they have another meta they will inevitably lose for stupid-drama reasons.

I really wish the Matthew and Iris elements of the plot were given more time to breathe. More time talking to Matthew about the whys and wherefores of his creed and more time training Iris, giving her some valuable combat experience. Overall, just a touch over mediocre.

Flash Facts will be on a break until April 11th when we’ll see the return of Kevin Smith as director and I’ll be hoping the episode won’t leave me Null and Annoyed.

Seriously, why call this episode Shade when the titular character isn’t even the focus? Hell, he doesn’t get a civilian name, his motivation isn’t explained or if he’s even related to the Alchemy case. For fuck’s sake, writers… The primary focus is on Wally and Caitlin, both of whom are struggling with their emerging powers.

It’s good to see Caitlin finally confide in the team, even if it’s not exactly how she wanted to do it. Super-cool to see the future vibe with Cisco and Caitlin duking it out in full costume, even if it means Caitlin will be turning to the dark side. Interestingly, it’s not the powers or even the knowledge that she was evil on Earth-2 but Barry taking her aside and confessing that Pre-Flashpoint Caitlin never had powers. Nice one, Barry, you played yourself.

Meanwhile, Wally is getting his ass knocked out by Iris! Kapow! I loved that sequence but it really highlights how much power Alchemy has over the Flashpointers (because the show hasn’t given me a catchier name to work with). Even when Wally seems to have regained his senses, he jumps at the chance to become a speedster when Alchemy’s philospher’s stone calls out to him.

Notable by his absence is Julian Albert, who disappears at a crucial moment. It’s established earlier in the episode that he’s got a date with his girlfriend and I hope that leads to a comical reveal rather than what we’re lead to believe; that Julian is either Alchemy or…

This gorgeous Bayformer-looking badass; Savitar. Damn, what an incredible introduction to a new villain. Savitar is so fast that only Barry can see him, barely catching glimpses of his whitish-blue lightning before being bodied hardcore by the self-titled God of Speed.

Flash Fact: Savitar takes his name from Savitr, the Hindu god of motion.

While the episode is light on action, it’s steeped in character development and introduces, arguably, The Flash’s greatest nemesis. Candice Patton does a fantastic job but her coming to terms with her secret doesn’t really have the impact of, say, Alex Danvers in Supergirl this week. Still, a good episode and we’ll see Caitlin truly step out into the cold next week in Killer Frost.

The Runaway Dinosaur sees cult filmmaker and comic book man, Kevin Smith, stick his neck into our woods alongside Thor and X-Men: First Class screenplay writer Zack Stentz. What can these Flash newcomers bring to the table?

A pretty damn good episode as it turns out! While Barry finds himself undergoing an existential trial in the Speed Force, Team Flash has to contend with their grief and the reanimated corpse of Girder and while the jumps between scenes can be somewhat jarring, Smith’s directorial style actually improves the scenes themselves.

Flash Fact: There’s an iZombie reference twofer in this episode as not only does Cisco reference the show as a nickname for Girder but Greg Finley has also been a recurring character on that show too!

Both myself and others were concerned about Kevin Smith’s involvement in this episode because when was the last time he did something genuinely good? Clerks 2? That was A DECADE AGO! But, thankfully, Smith manages to deliver in both humour and gravitas, making every scene visually interesting and compelling. His comedic timing, coupled with Valdes and Cavanagh’s natural chemistry makes for some exceptionally funny scenes.

Something else that I noticed in this episode was Candice Patton‘s performance. I think this was the episode that Iris as a likable character to me. She has so much agency and sass in this episode that I actually really like her. Her friendship with Cisco, embracing her role as the self-rescuing princess and even her burgeoning relationship with Barry.

I’ve never been a fan of the WestAllen ship, mostly because it’s the expected canon so waiting for the inevitable is dull but now that we’re here, I’m looking forward to see how it builds on their friendship and the fun shenanigans Barry and Iris can get up to.

Grant Gustin absolutely kills it this episode, bursting at the seams with raw emotion and ugly crying. Again, Smith’s direction for these scenes is especially good and elevates what could have been a repeat of what we’ve seen before and makes something truly impactful. I also liked the inclusion of the “Sit, Barry. Sit.” inversion of the established line, forcing him to slow down and confront his issues.

The final scene sees Zoom give Caitlin an ultimatum before speaking with the LEGION OF JOBBERS! *dramatic stinger* But seriously, who are these clowns? The only one I could kind of guess at was Jack Knight due to the staff he’s holding but the rest look like they were caught in the crossfire of a simultaneous explosion at Hot Topic and that vintage thrift store across the street.

Overall, The Runaway Dinosaur is one of the better episodes of the season despite the potential to be one of the worst but with our boy Barry back in red and Zoom bringing his posse to conquer the city, we’re streaking toward the finale and the possible establishment of more heroes. I’ll catch you next week when we hear the Black Siren’s call in Invincible.