Oh man, I loved this episode.
And since we are talking flash, I am going to give my unsolicited review of the show and its series. Why, because shutup, that's why!
I admit the first few episodes kind of were meh bordering on dumb. I was underwhelmed, though the graphics were top notch. First episode was campy and very expository. You the Audience learned who everyone was, and what motivated them, but it felt awkward and unrealistic. And By God, this Flash is super emotional and lovey dovey. Having tear jerking emotional speeches with everyone about how much they mean to him. It Felt like a Network Pilot that was never meant to see the light of day, but would be redone with some critiques and polish.
But I think it was about the episode where we finally see the main villain, spoiler, that things started getting awesome.
I think that was about episode 8-10.
It had a slow burn at the beginning, but holy crap it escalated fast. And suddenly all that campy stuff started to fit as the drama was mixed in and it found its balance. Such good Comedy, and as a contrast to Arrow, so light and fun, while that's all broody and dark. Its like trying to compare the tones of Superman and Batman between people. They're both good stories, but you expect different things. Somehow flash has made it possible to have a light-hearted DC Universe exist beside the gloom of Arrow.
At first I thought the show was needlesly altering the DC Universe, and was disrespecting its source material spoiler, But holy Crap no these writers are fans. These writers aren't disrespecting the flash, and its source, they are paving a timeline. A alternate history that fits miraculously well with the events of spoiler.
They're kind of Brave as well. They aren't watering themselves down and holding stuff back for later seasons. They aren't trying to pull a smallville and have people try to guess if Lex will turn evil yet or not. Main Villain is here, he's bad, the Fight is epic and the stakes are epic already. They are using a late story plot point to start a series, and are going balls to the wall. Its hard to believe how much has happened in what, 14 episodes? maybe the last 5 really letting loose.
And Then Mark Freakin Hamil. There is a reason his laugh will forever be the voice of the joker in my head. He made a character who in all rights could have become a joke, turn into someone horrifying. And his acting made me believe him.
I didn't even know there was a earlier flash TV show. And I'm just impressed that Barry's Dad was the original Flash, and that Hamil was in there too.
So many Tangents to go into...
Theories of where they are going with this.
At some point they are going to save Barry's mom. that's a given. Then they can do the flash point storyline. The only problem with that is the scale, and the other heroes who were part of that. It feels like a waste, unless they can incorporate the other heroes like Batman, and Superman. That's why I think they would be hoping for that to be a 5th season thing.
I think they are going to explore the multiverse. This is Post Infinite Crisis, so that means they are all unified. That's why the firestorm universe is mixed in with the Prime universe. But they left a clue.
Flash Has just traveled back from a different timeline. And from what we have seen of Wells Newspaper, The Universe still exists after Flash traveled back, thus, he left this universe and created a new timeline to exist in.
So that means, While Barry did travel back in time, the occupants of his original universe, where spoiler still exists. And he aint there no more. We don't know if his speed barier saved the city.
And What happened to Previous Barry.
Because we have inconsistencies. Future Barry Travelled back and existed along side Child Barry, but we haven't seen him since. Did he die, did he travel the timeline again, did he cease to exist.
But then, The Barry we know just travelled back and time and is seemingly the only Barry in this timeline. What happened to the Barry who was there. Did they merge, Why didn't Child Barry Merge with Adult Barry?
Either Flash will merge with himself, or more crazy, the flash is still in this timeline and there are multiple Barry's. I thought spoiler.
I don't know if that was a error, or if that is a future plot point. Either way, I trust these writers.