What a depressing episode.
I wasn’t exactly expecting an explosive hour of The Flash this week because the show has set the bar quite low this season with half-baked storylines, lame villains and unimpressive performances (I’m looking at you, Danielle Panabaker). But I certainly didn’t think the writers assumed any of us really cared about Jay because this episode was centered on the notion that his death last week was tragic and heart-breaking when, in fact, it was far from it.
Caitlin distancing herself from the team is certainly realistic (she did just lose her boyfriend to a super creepy villain), but the execution was beyond horrendous. I had zero attachment to Jay Garrick because his character was so horribly written, it made Gotham feel like the superior show, and Caitlin and Jay had no chemistry whatsoever which made this entire storyline much more cringe-worthy. Their dynamic was always difficult to swallow.
Even King Shark made an underwhelming return because as much as the show has been truly embracing its comic-book roots this season, it’s doing so in the shallowest way possible: forgettable weekly villains. The half-man/half-shark was no exception, sadly, as his presence felt cheap and unthreatening (and for once I found the CGI quite unimpressive). Add to that a surprising albeit totally unnecessary mini-Arrow crossover (with Diggle and Lyla) and we have ourselves a weak episode.
The cliffhanger revealing Zoom’s true identity (it’s been Jay all along?) is shocking, but in a way that totally leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth. The confusion – how many Jay Garricks are there and why – is just not the sort of feeling you want to end your episode on, especially when the show is taking a month-long break. It’s quite astounding how much this show has been letting me down lately, and I am very glad it’s taking a couple of weeks off. Sadly, I can’t say I’ll be at the edge of my seat waiting for the final stretch of episodes.
Speedy Bits
– The C-subplot involved a little sibling rivalry between Wally and Barry, and it was more random than dramatic.
– Hilarious meta moment: Diggle mentioning that his helmet could use some improvements. Yes, Dig, it really could.
– For what it’s worth, I loved Diggle comparing a depressed Barry to Oliver Queen. Very spot-on.
– I really hated Wally not figuring out that Barry is the Flash especially since he just disappeared so quickly when King Shark attacked the house, moments before The Flash came. Very lazy writing.
– Caitlin and Barry making puns about sharks and swimming…oh dear lord, kill me now.
– So is Harry’s daughter part of the team now?
– I do wish the show will turn Caitlin into a Big Bad one day. But certainly doesn’t seem like it for the short term.
– It really seemed like this episode was supposed to air after Arrow this time: Barry asks Diggle why Felicity hasn’t been returning his phone calls – and that gets answered in the Arrow episode (sort of) when Felicity finds out Barry’s kept a secret from her that involves Oliver.
– The only action sequence I quite enjoyed was the final battle between Flash and King Shark in the ocean. Budget cuts perhaps?
Red Blurs & One-Liners
Cisco: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the suburbs, King Shark shows up at your house!
Wally: I don’t understand you people. Jaws busts through your house like the Kool-Aid man, The Flash shows up and y’all just act like it’s no big deal.
Iris: We’ve had a lot of weird things happen in Central City over the past two years.
Wally: Weirder than a talking shark wearing pants?
Diggle: You’re starting to do that thing Oliver does, Barry. Carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Diggle: This half-shark is very much alive and his biological imperative is telling him to do one thing. That’s kill you, Barry.
Cisco: We’re gonna need a bigger Flash.
Conclusion
A disappointing, gloomy and weak episode.
Chris Rating
C
I thought this was actually a good episode for the most part. Funny you didn't mention that emotional scene when Barry told Joe and Iris about what happened on Earth-2. But I agree that it was disappointing that Wally didn't piece together that Barry was the Flash which could have been something interesting that brings them closer together and Jay's death could have been more impactful if he was a more interesting character.
The ending with Zoom being revealed as Jay was a mind-boggling twist which blew my theory about Zoom being Earth-2 Wally West out of the water. I do have an idea of which Jay is which Jay that may ease your confusion. I think the dead (or possibly unconscious) Jay Garrick is Jay of the present while Zoom is Jay from the future. We know that present Jay Garrick has had a habit of using speed-enhancing drugs to make himself faster than he already was. Well, I think, in the future, he kept using on those drugs until they changed him into the speedster known as Zoom. Then he used his speed to travel into the past to change it with some purpose in mind. When he killed present Jay or made it look like that way and said “well, this is a complication”, I think he meant in terms of time travel which he has already twisted about enough as it is. It was my theory a while back that the Man in the Iron Mask was an imprisoned Jay Garrick. But now I believe he is Hunter Zolomon from Earth-1. Zoom abducted him so he can assume the man's identity on Earth-1 as a part of some plan Team Flash is unaware of. I may be right about this or future episodes may prove me wrong. Either way, this is the last Zoom theory I am going to make about until further episodes reveal what is what with Zoom.
Barry telling Joe and Iris about Earth-2 was actually emotional and good, you're right. But everything else was so mediocre in comparison, particularly Wally not figuring out The Flash's identity and King Shark's lame return.
And don't get me started on the Jay reveal! It's quite the head-scratcher, isn't it? I'm trying not to think so much about it but it makes sense that Zoom is Jay from the future. Still, this has been a horrendous season. So sad to see this show stumble like that!