The Flash season 6, episode 2 review: A Flash of the Lightning

“If that article can change, then that means we can still change the future.” Spoilers for The Flash season 6, episode 1.

Barry and Iris have discovered that a Crisis is looming and Barry’s disappearance has now been changed. Reluctant to take this as is, Barry begins to search for a solution while the rest of the Team Flash is oblivious.

Meanwhile, Killer Frost is being taught by Ralph how to be a normal person, while Cecile attempts to help another metahuman.

To find a crisis

Crisis on Infinite Earths really feels like it’s going to be nothing like we’ve seen before in the Arrowverse. It already feels like its going to be worthy of the comic it’s adapting. This may just be early set-up for what’s to come, but what happens in this episode is exciting to witness yet chilling at the same. It’s dark and unrelenting, which feels like it wouldn’t fit within the context of the show, but it’s building up the stakes that are to come, as well as Barry’s potential sacrifice with a sequence straight out of the comics.

Probably the most exciting thing that doesn’t have to do with Crisis on Infinite Earths is the return of Jay Garrick and the introduction of his wife, Joan. Just as Jay’s doppelganger on Earth-1 is Barry’s father, Joan is the doppelganger of Barry’s mother. This is such a little detail that manages to really allow for some heartwarming character moments for Barry.

And then the fallout from Barry’s mind venturing into the future is heartbreaking. His realization that he needs to die is so perfectly The Flash. His understanding of what needs to be done is not what he wants to hear is so relatable. And the reason why this is so impactful is due to Grant Gustin and Candice Patton’s excellent performances. They get better and better as each week passes. And it doesn’t hurt that another one of Joe’s patented features is present in this episode.

Fair justice

Yet again, The Flash is relying on the meta-of-the-week trope that it’s used for the past five seasons. However, just like the premiere, it’s doing something different with the trope. This episode is used as an examination of the American legal system and how it is often not up to finding true justice. And by using Cecile, the District Attorney, as the arbiter of this storyline, it creates a decent look into how the justice system can fail.

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Cecile has often been put off to side due to the focus being on the rest of the cast. However, this is really the only way that this episode could’ve worked though, seeing it from Cecille’s point-of-view. While it could’ve been better, what’s being explored in this episode is something that we haven’t really seen in the Arrowverse, let alone the superhero genre.

It’s refreshing use of the trope that always demonstrates something that is very topical in both an intriguing and entertaining way. Plus, this looks to lead the way for Cecile pulling a Matt Murdock and becoming a defense attorney.

Frost in the open

The episode stumbles a bit though when it comes to the Killer Frost elements. Now that Frost is out on the surface, it’s essentially like learning to watch an all-new character. Yes, we’ve known her for several seasons, but never in normal situations. This is a side to Frost that we’ve never seen, so it takes a bit of adjustment.

These scenes do bring a bit humor to the episode that it desperately needs, which is nice, but the actual story feels like its right out of the Disney Channel. Frost is being dismissive of other’s art because she can’t express herself. Sounds like an episode of any number of Disney Channel sitcoms. Really though, this C-story could’ve been a lot worse as it’s leaps and bounds better than the C-stories last season.

Despite a lacking C-story, the two main stories are both very strong with excellent character moments, making for another strong episode of The Flash.