The Flash Season One: Rouge Time

The Woman With The Golden Gun

As Barry deals with the consequences of time travel Captain Cold and Heat Wave return to wreck havoc in Central City however this time Cold has brought along his little sister; Lisa Snart AKA Golden Glider (Peyton List).

For a whole week I have been wondering how well they where going to deal with the consequences of time travel and I think this episode proved that it was handled really well. I have read comments that some are disappointed that all of last episode's developments are gone now but I myself really didn't mind because that is how I expected time travel to work in this. Firstly I didn't mind too much that Weather Wizard was defeated in a few seconds because he is such a major member of the Rogues (and played by a well known actor) that I am sure we will see him again soon. Next Wells did a good job of explaining the dangers of time travel and I liked how similar things happened this episode but turned out differently such as Iris rejecting Barry and Wells telling Cisco he is like a son to him but not killing him in the end. Plus Barry's actions did lead to the death of Mason who uncovered more than he should of; I both liked and disliked this because it was cool we got to see Reverse Flash phase through objects (a skill Speedsters have in the comics) but I did like Mason and it is a shame he is out now when he hasn't been in it for that long. Finally this also gave Eobard Thawne a chance to remain Wells for a little bit longer now however that might not last for long with Barry now suspecting him but I doubt he is going to just come out and say something straight away. As for the other Thawne Eddie may have apologised for punching Barry but maybe there was more to it than just Iris, maybe he was affected by the change in the time line?

Always great seeing the Reverse Flash 

Now this episode also saw the return of the Rogues and it is always great to see Captain Cold and Heat Wave and I really liked the debut of Lisa. I liked the banter between her and Cold and how she tricked Cisco (can't blame him though) however if I am honest her gold gun was a bit silly which she does not have in the comics. I also liked the pact Cold made with Barry because it is similar to the way the Rogues work in the comics in that their main goal is The Flash and that they once killed a member for killing a civilian. This was also a Cisco heavy episode again and we actually got to find out more about his family which is something I wanted to learn more of for ages. I liked the rivalry that existed between Cisco and his brother and that Cisco, despite complaining about his brother a lot, still cared enough about him to reveal The Flash's identity. Who could really blame him because Cold was really damn brutal with his torture but Carlos Valdes did an awesome job of showing how much Cisco was tearing himself up over it. My only gripe with the Rogues and Cisco arc of this episode is maybe there could have been more action, the casino scene was basically the only one.

"A few more members and we can have our own biker gang; The Rogues"

Overall I think this was a great follow up to the last episode and it is always good when Cisco has the central spotlight.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Return of the Rogues and debut of Lisa
                   Showing the consequences of time travel
                   Cisco heavy episode

Let - Downs: The gold gun
                      The death of Mason
                      Could have used some more fights

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/     

The Flash Season One: The Sound and the Fury

No Meta - Humans this ep again

Well's former protégé Hartley Rathaway (Andy Mientus) returns to seek revenge after being affected by the particle accelerator and becoming Pied Piper. Cisco recalls his first day at S.T.A.R labs and Iris is hired by the Central City Picture News but gets off to a rocky start with reporter Mason Bridge (Roger Howarth).

This episode saw the introduction to a really great villain from the comics, Pied Piper, and I was really impressed with how he was portrayed; Andy Mientus did an awesome job. First off I liked how closely weaved in he was to the origins of the particle accelerator and the staff at S.T.A.R labs which was seen in the Flashbacks. This also gave Wells and Cisco a character who was close to them in their past which is good because unlike the other characters we don't know anything about their friends and family (especially Cisco). Back to Pied Piper I really liked his sonic based weapons, that he was affected by the explosion in a more negative way because of his hearing and how much of a challenge he posed to Team Flash because of his genius and the cool mind games he played with them. It is also good that he is the first gay character in the series and they didn't go overboard with that and made him a gay comic - relief. If there is a negative to say it is that while I liked his weapons and his plan I didn't like the way he was defeated because the whole cars with satellite radio was too convenient and a weak way to defeat him.

Finally the Speed Force is confirmed!

The other highlight was Wells who continues to be more and more interesting and we actually got to see him use his speed but that he couldn't use it for long. That was really interesting and it could be that like some other Reverse Flashes from the comics his speed did not naturally come from the Speed Force and he acquired it through other means. I am really glad they finally mentioned the Speed Force which is (keeping this spoiler free) a form of energy that grants a Speedster their powers and Barry plays a really large part with it in the comics. A Reverse Flash from the comics used technology to grant him powers from the Speed Force which could explain Well's wanting the tacion device, like with everything Wells does I want to know more and more about him. As for his role in the rest of the episode it does seem he generally cares for Barry, Caitlin and Cisco which still makes it hard to believe that he is a villain and I liked his confession about the particle accelerator because he also seems to regret ruining the lives of the citizens of Central City such as Caitlin. I tell you if this is all an act by Wells to hid his evil intentions then it is a really good one.

You should really wear a suit to your first day Cisco

As for the rest of the episode I wanted to first mention that the cameo of the Royal Flush Gang that appeared in Arrow was really cool, obviously it isn't the same gang but they could have inspired others and I kind of hope they touch on this a bit more. Iris actually had some strong material to work with this time and I enjoyed the scenes she was in at her new job. It isn't anything new (new reporter trying to prove themselves at the job) but it is something good for her character and now she will either want to find more information on the Flash or prove she can write other stories all the while trying to impress Bridge who I did like as well. One thing I didn't like was the moment between Joe and Barry when Barry says how good he was at raising him which I felt came completely out of no where. It's always good when we get a heart warming scene from these two (like in the last few episodes) but it just felt really out of place this episode because they had no conflict or anything throughout. As for Joe seems he is back to not trusting Wells but I wonder if his investigation will lead him getting killed in the end?

"Your time is over Bridge"

Overall great introduction to the Pied Piper and I hope he becomes a regular villain like Captain Cold. Looks like next episode could focus on Firestorm or not; I'm sure the Americans would know because their three episodes ahead of us! You know how hard it is to resist the temptation on reading what happens on Arrow and The Flash every day!

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Pied Piper debut
                   Wells and the Speed Force
                   Iris had a good plot for once

Let - Downs: How Pied Piper was defeated
                      Barry and Joe's scene was just out of place

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/  

The Flash Season One: Going Rogue

The episode begins with Barry testing is multitasking skills against Caitlin, Cisco and Wells; he beats the first two but loses in chess against Wells. Meanwhile a armoured truck is being robbed by an unknown group and Barry quickly rushes to the scene, he manages to stop the robbers but they get away because Barry was busy getting a guard who was shot to the hospital. When the police arrive Barry says to West that he saw the leader's face and West identifies him as Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller), son of a dirty cop and professional thief. Later Iris tells Barry she has started a blog on The Streak but before Barry can talk her out of it they run in to Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) who has arrived from Starling City to check on Barry.

"Do you really think you can beat me at table tennis now?"

Snark meanwhile kills a member of his gang because of his slip up in killing a cop but says he has figured out The Streak's weakness. Barry shows Felicity is power and even takes her to S.T.A.R labs which is permitted because she works with the Arrow, elsewhere West is still having a hard time accepting his daughter dating his partner. Snark later receives a high powered flamethrower and a cold gun from a janitor who works at S.T.AR labs and kills him with the cold gun, now becoming Captain Cold. Iris and Eddie later invite Barry and Felicity to trivia night and are surprised with how much they have in common however back at S.T.A.R labs Cisco discovers that the cold gun is missing which angers Wells who orders him to find it. Captain Cold later uses his cold gun to break into a museum to steal the diamond at the beginning of the episode, Barry arrives but is shot by the cold gun that slows him down and makes him fail to save a guard.

Badass!

At S.T.A.R labs it is revealed that the cold gun can slow down Barry's speed and regenerative abilities and that Captain Cold isn't a Meta - Human. However Barry is furious to learn that Cisco designed the gun to stop Barry in case he didn't become a hero, Barry can't believe they never trusted him. Captain Cold later steals the diamond and Barry rushed to stop him, West and Eddie arrive first with Eddie managing to save West. Captain Cold then destroys a train and Barry uses his speed to save all of the passengers but is shot by the cold gun. Barry is saved however when Cisco and Caitlin, after a pep talk from Felicity, arrive to save him with a fake cold gun, Captain Cold still escapes.

Really like it when they slow - mo for his speed

Later when Felicity says her goodbyes Wells tells Cisco to never create anything like the cold gun ever again while at the police station West accepts Iris seeing Eddie. While Felicity is on the train Barry speeds in and they discuss the reason why they aren't together, he then leaves after they kiss. The episode ends with Captain Cold meeting an old accomplice and pyromaniac Mike Rory (Dominic Purcell) asking him for his expertise. He gives him the high powered flame thrower and Mike accepts becoming Heat Wave.

Now this could be the best team up of villain in live action ever!

Even though I know that there is a crossover episode coming soon called The Flash vs. The Arrow I guess you can call this the first one because of Felicity who played a larger role in this than Oliver did in the first episode (that was really just a cameo). I am really glad to see Felicity in this because she is such a great character; like Barry she is just a really likeable nerd and she is funny and has a sense of light hearted humour. She also plays a major role in this episode, she wasn't there just for the sake of it, and I liked how she compared Barry and his team to her, Oliver and Diggle. Also I just want to point out that Barry has made a major mistake not wanting to be with Felicity, I mean did you see her in that black dress!!

You should guest star more often Felicity

For another star in this show is Captain Cold and he is one of my favourite DC villains and they have truly done him justice in the show. He is just really cool in this and he puts up one hell of a challenge for Barry and great casting Wentworth Miller for him as well, he was great as Chris Redfield in Afterlife. His cold gun was just awesome as well and it is great that someone now has a weapon that is a TRUE weakness against The Flash, just like Cisco explained cold beats speed. Plus the end of this episode has me super excited for future ones since Captain Cold is recruiting Heat Wave, they usually partner up in the comics and I know they are going to cause mayhem here.

"The only thing that can save you now Flash is if a team of nerds show up"

Another part of the episode that I really liked was the conflict between Cisco and Barry and the fact that the cold gun was created as a counter measure for Barry. I kind of agree with both of them on this; on the one hand Cisco did have to prepare in case Barry did go crazy with his power but then again he still never told Barry about the gun even though he proved wasn't crazy and it cost a guard his life. I am glad they patched things up in the end, all thanks to Felicity who uses her own experience working with the Arrow.

"Forget The Streak my name is The Flash!!"

Small other things I want to mention is that I am glad the issue with West being okay with Iris dating Eddie is resolved because you see that in everything about cops, partners and their daughters and I didn't want it to drag on. Also Wells can be damn scary in this in the way that he kind of threatened Cisco about the cold gun. Since Wells has a way to see the future maybe he has already seen the damage Captain Cold will do and is angry at Cisco for allowing it to happen. One other small thing is that when they tested Barry's multitasking at the beginning and he lost against Wells, will that be significant in future episodes?

They learned now never to p*** Wells off

Overall this is defiantly my favourite episode so far and just proves that The Flash is off to a fantastic start. It had a great guest appearance by one of the best characters in Arrow and a great villain who isn't even a Meta - Human yet still beat The Flash. I am going to give this a perfect score because there isn't anything in this episode that I didn't like.

SCORE: 10/10 

Highlights: Felicity Smoak guest appearance
                   Captain Cold and possible team up with Heat Wave in future episodes
                   Everything else

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/