Well after another unnecessary few week break for The Flash, it's finally back. While this episode nowhere near lives up to its intriguing title 'Versus Zoom', I was happy to see the show head back into the Zoom conflict, because it's been awhile.
So I guess Barry has lost his speed. It's funny because I remember back when Zoom originally took part of Barry's speed in the fall and the ending had me shocked. Whereas this episode when Zoom officially took Barry's speed, I just felt confused. I understand that it seems unlikely, but shouldn't we at least consider the possibility that there was some sort of plan involved in the speed exchange? I've just seen the whole trickery thing one too many times on Arrow, Flash, Legends, or really any TV show to not think Team Flash had something up their sleeve.
With that said, we got plenty of Zoom material this week. Some good, some, not so good. I really dug the Zoom centric flashbacks from this episode as we got to see shades of why he is who he is. At the same time, I felt like Teddy Sears' shift in his performance of Jay/Zoom in the latter half of the episode was a bit off-putting. For a while, I believed Zoom to be a terrifying presence, but ever since I found out who he is under the mask, I haven't been too intrigued by anything he does. The whole explanation for the multiple Jay's was kind of a letdown. When he says that he creates hope to only tear it down feels very 'big bad villain'-esque, but the delivery of the lines just didn't feel right.
Wally took on a bigger role this week as he not only moved in at Joe's place, but he also became a Zoom related culprit later on. He's another character that has struggled due to diminished screen time, but perhaps that can change. I'm not overly sure as to why he couldn't find out who Barry is after Zoom took him, but I guess that's for another episode to deal with.
His sister, Iris, on the other hand, didn't have much to do tonight. That is, besides having perhaps the most cringe worthy scene in the show's history. That being her heart to heart talk with Caitlin midway through the episode. I understand the entire theme of the episode dealt with destiny and her ending up with Barry plays a part in that, but that scene was just awful. It's typical CW cheesiness, but the writing could have been a whole lot better. Wow.
As much as we all know that Barry will regain his speed at some point, the ending to this episode just felt weird. Why did Zoom need to take Caitlin? And who is this "you'd never believe me" guy in the iron mask? With 6 episodes to go, still plenty of questions this show needs to answer. Even if this episode didn't entirely live up to what I wanted, I enjoyed certain aspects. It was interesting to see the Zoom & Barry relationship be examined like the Daredevil-Punisher relationship was in that show. Flash very well could have ended up like Zoom, and I like seeing that as a parallel. With that said, it was still just as much of a letdown watching Sears take a different spin of the character. In all, I'm still hopeful for this season, but it isn't heading in the best of directions.
+Zoom flashbacks
+Wally moves in
-Horrific Caitlin/Iris scene
-Sears spin on his performance
7.0/10
So I guess Barry has lost his speed. It's funny because I remember back when Zoom originally took part of Barry's speed in the fall and the ending had me shocked. Whereas this episode when Zoom officially took Barry's speed, I just felt confused. I understand that it seems unlikely, but shouldn't we at least consider the possibility that there was some sort of plan involved in the speed exchange? I've just seen the whole trickery thing one too many times on Arrow, Flash, Legends, or really any TV show to not think Team Flash had something up their sleeve.
With that said, we got plenty of Zoom material this week. Some good, some, not so good. I really dug the Zoom centric flashbacks from this episode as we got to see shades of why he is who he is. At the same time, I felt like Teddy Sears' shift in his performance of Jay/Zoom in the latter half of the episode was a bit off-putting. For a while, I believed Zoom to be a terrifying presence, but ever since I found out who he is under the mask, I haven't been too intrigued by anything he does. The whole explanation for the multiple Jay's was kind of a letdown. When he says that he creates hope to only tear it down feels very 'big bad villain'-esque, but the delivery of the lines just didn't feel right.
Wally took on a bigger role this week as he not only moved in at Joe's place, but he also became a Zoom related culprit later on. He's another character that has struggled due to diminished screen time, but perhaps that can change. I'm not overly sure as to why he couldn't find out who Barry is after Zoom took him, but I guess that's for another episode to deal with.
His sister, Iris, on the other hand, didn't have much to do tonight. That is, besides having perhaps the most cringe worthy scene in the show's history. That being her heart to heart talk with Caitlin midway through the episode. I understand the entire theme of the episode dealt with destiny and her ending up with Barry plays a part in that, but that scene was just awful. It's typical CW cheesiness, but the writing could have been a whole lot better. Wow.
As much as we all know that Barry will regain his speed at some point, the ending to this episode just felt weird. Why did Zoom need to take Caitlin? And who is this "you'd never believe me" guy in the iron mask? With 6 episodes to go, still plenty of questions this show needs to answer. Even if this episode didn't entirely live up to what I wanted, I enjoyed certain aspects. It was interesting to see the Zoom & Barry relationship be examined like the Daredevil-Punisher relationship was in that show. Flash very well could have ended up like Zoom, and I like seeing that as a parallel. With that said, it was still just as much of a letdown watching Sears take a different spin of the character. In all, I'm still hopeful for this season, but it isn't heading in the best of directions.
+Zoom flashbacks
+Wally moves in
-Horrific Caitlin/Iris scene
-Sears spin on his performance
7.0/10