The Flash season 7, episode 15 review: Enemy at the Gates

“In my dream, Nora said everything was going to work out.” Spoilers for The Flash season 7, episode 15. Spoilers follow.

After trying to start a family, it seems like Barry and Iris have finally gotten their wish in the most recent episode of The Flash season 7, but an old foe resurfaces as Godspeed (or multiple versions of him) returns to Central City.

Meanwhile, Joe West attempts to help Kristen Kramer find justice for her fallen team.

Here’s what happened in “Enemy At The Gates”.

Godspeed returns in The Flash season 7

It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen another speedster villain that isn’t the Speed Force, so when Godspeed once again speeds onto the screen, it’s incredibly exciting to see that white and gold suit once again. The times that he’s been used so far in the show have been…disappointing to say the least. Whenever he shows up though, there’s always a chance that he will live up to the terrifying visage that he has in the comics.

Sadly, this is once again a wasted opportunity for the character. There are plenty of moments and scenes throughout the episode that set up an intense showdown between him and Barry, but instead of doing anything with these scenes, the episode goes for the path of least resistance. When surrounded, Barry simply runs away and then hides behind a force field leading the several Godspeeds to… punch the force field? It just feels like the episode needed a villain, Godspeed was chosen out of a hat, and then they didn’t actually know what to do with him and used him to pad time in the episode.

We do get a decent fight scene toward the end of the episode, but it’s lackluster in comparison to the possibilities that it could’ve been and it’s over way too quickly. It literally just ends up being a lesser version of an Arrow fight scene. But hey, at least the ending is cool, does something interesting, and sets up some future Godspeed episodes.

Why is Chillblaine in this episode though? He adds absolutely nothing to it. He continues to be an absolutely terrible character in every aspect. He even gives a moralizing speech to Frost that simply makes you want to punch him in the face. Why, why do they continue to use him? He certainly adds nothing to the Godspeed storyline. None of this animosity means that Jon Cor is bad as Chillblaine though. He’s fine. The writing for the character is just so frustrating.

Awaiting a child

Probably the most enjoyable part of this episode comes early on with the comedy of errors that Barry faces when trying to determine if Iris is actually pregnant. It’s corny and cheesy and a ton of fun to watch as Grant Gustin chews the scenery – essentially by just talking to himself. Then, when Danielle Nicolet joins the fun, it gets even better. She and Gustin have fantastic chemistry and ever since she’s joined the show, Cecile and Barry’s scenes have often been the highlights of episodes that they’re in, and it’s the same here.

However, there’s really too much going on in this episode for anything to really get the focus that it deserves. You have Barry’s comedy of errors suddenly shift to a fight with Godspeed. Then you have Ultraviolet getting throat surgery from Caitlin. Then Joe and Kramer doing what they’re doing. And also Frost wasting her time with Chillblaine. It’s too much for one episode. And it’s all because the back-half of this season has been so unfocused and had so many different storylines going on so, now that the season is close to ending and all the stories need to converge, they do. And they do so poorly.

West and Kramer

Finally, there is momentum on the Kramer storyline though. Just kidding. It’s relegated to one scene early on and just completely forgotten about until the literal final minute of this episode. There is no reason for it to be in this one at all beyond just reminding the audience that the storyline exists. There’s no forward momentum at all. It’s just present to be present.

As for this one scene with Kramer though, the show is acting like we’re suddenly supposed to like her just because she gave Joe the case files and they’re working together. However, it’s so sudden that it just doesn’t mean anything and even though you’re suddenly supposed to like her, you really don’t because it’s too quick a turn and feels incredibly suspicious.

Despite a strong start, The Flash season 7 has yet another disappointing episode with a lackluster use of Godspeed and a bunch of wasted screen time simply due to Chillblaine’s presence.

What did you think of The Flash season 7, episode 15? Let us know in the comments below!