It’s a new year, THE FLASH fans! It has been a horrible, horrible hiatus without our favorite show, but it sure gave us time to stop and really think about what has happened on our screen and analyze it to death. In order to do that, I got a few colleagues and fellow fans of the Scarlet Speedster together so we could sit down and discuss the best and worst of season 2 so far. A lot has happened up until December – Zoom! Jay Garrick! Wally West! The crossover! – and you’ll see that we had wildly different opinions about some of the topics we chose to talk about, which just made for an even better roundtable.
Now, without further ado, let’s get this show on the road.
Best/Worst Episodes
LUCIANA MANGAS: The very best episode of the season for me – possibly of the entire series – was “Enter Zoom”. It was equal parts shocking, entertaining and suspenseful and established the main plot of the season quite nicely. Also, Zoom? I don’t think the word terrifying does him any justice. It goes way beyond that.
The cast brought their A game in this episode and their performance, as well as the direction, writing, special effects and the editing were all phenomenal. There is only one other episode that comes close to how amazing “Enter Zoom” was, and that was the season 1 finale.
As for the worst episode, I am not even going to classify it as the worst because that’s a very strong word. But the one I liked less – and that was probably due to my high expectations – was the crossover episode. “Legends of Today” was supposed to be the launch platform for LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, but it seems like they just forgot to make this episode about the THE FLASH’s main characters. They focused on Hawkgirl and her backstory and just put everything else aside. Even though I absolutely loved seeing Barry interacting with the ARROW team, the episode felt way too rushed and it didn’t even feel like I was watching THE FLASH. I also hated what they did to Felicity in this episode, even though she is not (technically) a main FLASH character. It felt like they were trying to inject humor through her, but her lines just fell completely flat, like they were trying too hard to be funny. Oh, and don’t even get me started on how they broke Cisco’s heart. That was just not cool.
MELISSA SMITH: Best episode for me this season so far has been “Legends of Today.” Everyone in the episode gave their full potential, even when the odds were against them. Jay took the Velocity-6 serum to save Wells. Cisco put the good of humanity above his love for Kendra. Barry fought hard to keep the team on track, even when Oliver couldn’t focus. I love that the Legends of Tomorrow and Vandal Savage were there to Rock the Kasbah, and I anxiously am awaiting the LEGENDS OF TOMORROW premiere.
Worst episode of this season for me was Episode 1, “The Man Who Saved Central City,” and this is just a small issue for me. I know that THE FLASH is “the kid” in the Justice League DC-verse and sometimes is more emotional than the other heroes, but the Singularity was six months prior to Episode 1. I really wanted Barry to “cowboy-up.” I know he was stressed by another loss, but there was a bit too much hand-wringing for me. Just take the key to the city and move on. And he did. That is what superheroes do. They do not inspire people because they can run fast or fly high. They inspire us because they have big hearts, a desire to do the “right thing” and try their hardest to overcome adversity.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Let’s deliver the bad news first. The worst episode in the first half of the season — and probably for the entire series for me if we’re being totally honest here — was “Legends of Today.” It featured heartbreak for Cisco, terrible life choices by Oliver Queen, and a backdoor pilot for LEGENDS OF TOMORROW that did absolutely nothing for either ARROW or THE FLASH in the process. Total disappointment. One could argue that Grant Gustin’s first appearance on ARROW was just a backdoor pilot for THE FLASH, and they wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. But the difference? Barry actually fit in well with that cast and was only a piece of the puzzle, rather than forced on viewers as the main (and only) focal point. Usually, when there’s a Flarrow crossover, I find myself falling in love. This time? I found myself falling in loathe.
On the other hand, “Enter Zoom” was an instant favorite. The episode boasted the first face-off between our hero and the season’s Big Bad, some of the best special effects I’ve seen on the series yet, and a shocking opening that made it impossible not to want to stay tuned for more. Bonus: Malese Jow rocked it as Linda Park.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: Best – 2×08 crossover “Legends of Today”. Suffice it to say that my bias towards Arrow impacts my best episode choice greatly. I haven’t been the biggest fan of The Flash’s first stretch of episodes this season, and the crossover episode (The Flash half) was without a doubt my favorite. The episode was fast-paced, featured fantastic character interactions, and great action. That said, it felt much more like an Arrow episode than a Flash episode, in that the only non-Legends storyline that really featured prominently was an Arrow storyline. (Oh wait – there was something about injecting a chemical into Jay/Barry, wasn’t there? I can’t really remember, I probably zoned out during that part.)
Nonetheless, I was mostly riveted during episode 2×08, and I find that interacting with Oliver and Felicity brings out the best in Barry. Of course, fan favorites Cisco and Felicity also got to have a couple great scenes, which didn’t hurt. While I personally didn’t care for the Hawk-duo storyline, I do enjoy when certain characters get to share the screen with others, and the majority of the character dynamics in this episode were ones I enjoy watching. My biggest complaint about the episode is the lack of Iris, and I felt that some of the Central City scenes could have at the very least included her.
As for the worst episode, “Gorilla Warfare” wins the prize. I don’t really have much more to say, other than any episode with monster sized animals who can kinda-sorta speak and maybe have a crush on Caitlin? Not for me. I know this is a major comic storyline, I understand that, but I still don’t feel that it translates well onscreen. It felt hokey, contrived, and just overall silly. Maybe I’m not the target audience for an episode like this one, but it didn’t feel at all accessible or enjoyable for me.
On the next page: best/worst characters….
Best/Worst Characters
LUCIANA MANGAS:It is no secret that Cisco is my absolute favorite character. Much like Felicity on ARROW, he is the heart of the show. I love his sense of humor, his loyalty and I am so glad they are giving him a juicy storyline this season. I absolutely can’t wait to see him explore the full potential of his newfound powers and I hope the heartbreak he went through didn’t mess him up too much.
As for the worst character, Jay Garrick wins hands down. I am not versed in comic canon – so all I know is based on what the show is giving me – and Jay has been mostly useless so far. I know he is an iconic DC character and he’s even more popular than Barry Allen, but they have essentially ignored him thus far. He is just there and he sometimes helps and gives advice. I hope they fix this and soon, because I really haven’t been able to connect, nor understand the purpose of his storyline so far.
MELISSA SMITH: Best character for me is Cisco. Carlos Valdes has taken the role of Cisco Ramon from “fun sidekick” and morphed it into “the guy who inspires.” I love how he overcomes his discomfort at having vibe powers and keeps maximizing his potential, regardless of any insecurity.
Worst character, in my opinion, is Harrison Wells of Earth-2. Tom Cavanaugh is a brilliant actor who can play “evil” so deliciously that you still love him. We need to get that personality from the Earth-1 Wells and get Cavanaugh back to his smarmy-but-loveable potential. There were glimpses of Wells’s emotional attachment to Team Flash when he and Caitlin were fixing the Velocity-6 serum.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: There are bad characters on THE FLASH? Could’ve fooled me. I mean, even Grodd is amusing. Sort of. Maybe he’s the worst character? We’ll go with that so we can get to the good stuff.
Zoom is, hands down, my personal favorite character this season. He’s just so evil, and his introduction has brought a whole new dynamic to THE FLASH that I really appreciate. The series continues to be much lighter than ARROW; but with the darkness Zoom’s particular brand of evil badassery brings to the table, the stakes are much higher now, which (I hope) is going to allow for significant growth for our hero. Also, there’s this:
Enough said.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: This was easy. I have always enjoyed seeing Cisco on my screen. Carlos Valdes is a gem, and it’s almost impossible to believe that he’s a novice actor. While the vast majority of his work on The Flash is comedic, he has also knocked his few dramatic scenes out of the park. He has chemistry with every member of the cast, and his interactions with Wells/ParaWells, and with Joe, are some of my favorite. I think my favorite Cisco scene to date is when he acted as Barry’s eyes on the latter’s date with Patty. I was laughing out loud the entire time. He often saves the episode for me, acting as a bright spot in an otherwise humdrum (and sometimes silly) installment.
As for the worst – Can I say Grodd? Or King Shark? No, but, for real. Any monster-sized animal is going to get this distinction from me. I don’t think this needs explaining.
On the next page: best/worst relationships….
Best/Worst Relationships
LUCIANA MANGAS: I’ll be honest here, guys, I don’t think I can choose. The thing is, THE FLASH is essentially a show about relationships and that’s what makes it so successful. Sure, we have metahumans and super powers and superheroes, but what really drives this show are the relationships within. Whether it’s Barry and Joe or Barry and Patty or Cisco and Harry, most of them are such a joy to watch. I have always loved how they handle Barry and Joe’s relationship and I like that even better than Barry’s relationship with his own father. They have such a tremendous amount of respect for one another and they love each other unconditionally. Also, Grant Gustin and Jesse L. Martin? They make magic happen on my screen every week. What’s not to love about them?
That said, I absoultely adore the love/hate relationship between Cisco and Harry. Carlos Valdes is my absolute favorite, but the way he and Tom Cavanagh play off of each other is just spectacular. Their chemistry is just off the charts. So I’ll leave this with a tie between these two wonderful relationships. Please, don’t make me choose.
Now, the worst relationship for me this season has been Caitlin Snow and Jay Garrick, and that’s mostly due to the fact that I still don’t know what the point of Jay being there at all is. I get that they’re both scientists, but I don’t see anything else in common or any chemistry between them, so this whole thing has just been annoying for me.
MELISSA SMITH: My actual favorite Flash relationship is Barry and Felicity because the actors have such great chemistry. But since the crossovers may slow down now with Legends premiering, I’ll go with Cisco and Caitlin. I know he had a crush on her for awhile, but now they’ve settled in to BFF mode. She’s “one of the guys” and there’s no crush, no expectation. Just 100% “I’ve got your back” dependability and no “like a girl” restrictions on Caitlin. They’re team members, friends and heroes to each other, regardless of superpower status. Just like we all want our BFFs to be.
Worst relationship for me is Barry and Wells. There was such a strong dynamic with Wells from Earth-1, and I know that there is a basic distrust, but with Barry’s dad off finding himself and Joe about to become a father to Wally, Barry will need someone to fill that void. I think Wells can do the trick with a couple of slight tweaks.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: I ship so many things on so many shows, but as far as romance goes on THE FLASH, I’ve yet to find something that interests me. I feel like the strongest, richest relationship on the series is easily the father-son dynamic between Barry and Joe. But the most interesting may just be the antagonistic, yet grudgingly warming, dynamic between Cisco and Harry.
Considering my distaste for all things related to the backdoor pilot for LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, it should come as no surprise that my least favorite relationship during the first half of season two was the fiasco that was Cisco’s romance with Kendra, if it even deserves to be called that. I’m all for angst and broken hearts when they serve a purpose, but this flat out didn’t. Cisco finally gets a girl to go out with him, it’s sweet, he thinks he’s in love… and oh, yeah… She’s got this history with someone else that spans practically all of time. She’s not even who Cisco thinks she is. How lovely.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: One of the unique things about The Flash, for me, is that I don’t really ship anyone with anyone. That isn’t to say I think anyone is particularly bad together; quite the opposite. I can see potential in pretty much any and all of romantic relationships. Barry and Iris? Sure! Go for it! Barry and Caitlin? Why not? Barry and Patty are lovely and sweet and boring. Caitlin and Jay? I mean, I guess. I liked Eddie and Iris. I really did, but that may be at least 87% due to my love for Rick Cosnett. So now, I’m really not married to any ship.
Now the friendships and family relationships? That’s a totally different story. At least when it comes to the male characters (more on that in a minute). The father/son dynamic between Joe and Barry is fabulous. The friendship between Barry and Cisco is perfect. The hilarious interactions between Cisco and ParaWells are to die for. This show has built up some pretty solid non-romantic relationships, to the point that I would argue this is their biggest strength. And whatever else happens – the lifelong friendship between Barry and Iris remains the central and most important relationship on the show.
That said, what this show is sorely lacking is female friendships. We got a hint of it with Iris and Linda Park, but just a hint. I don’t always love Caitlin, but if the show is going to have Iris act as part of “Team Flash” the least they could do is spend some time building a believable friendship between those two ladies. Or just… give each of them someone other than the occasional visit from Felicity Smoak.
On the next page: best/worst storylines…
Best/Worst Storylines
LUCIANA MANGAS: The very best storyline for me is how ridiculously terrifying Zoom is and what his agenda actually is going to be. Everything about this storyline has been handled in a terrific way and I really hope we get to see more episodes like “Enter Zoom” down the line.
The worst storyline is actually a tie for me. Jay Garrick, for reasons previously stated; and the whole Kendra/Hawkgirl thing was just not handled well.
MELISSA SMITH: The best storyline is definitely Barry being the “glue” that held the team together in crossover episodes. His emotional strength was strong enough to penetrate even Oliver’s hard shell and to back down Malcolm Merlyn. Not bad for “the kid.”
Worst storyline: Jay Garrick’s lack of story. I was so excited to see Jay cross over, and I realize that he is a Flash that comic book readers know from a different age, but I screamed out loud when I saw the helmet foreshadowing his arrival because I was so excited. (Embarassing, but true.) There is so much that could be done with him. I hope they will exploit his non-speed talents to keep him on the canvas. Maybe he can take over the lab and morph Caitlin into Killer Frost.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Short and sweet – The worst storyline goes back to everything I said about the crossover. Let’s just pretend it never happened. The best has been the season’s overarching mythos with the introduction of the Earth 2 characters. It’s a nice nod to the comics universe and presents endless possibilities.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: The only storyline that I can really say I care about this season is the West family drama. I’m interested to see how Joe and Iris go about acclimating to this new person in their family; bringing him into their lives and getting to know him. I’m interested to see if this impacts Joe’s (and Iris’) relationship with Barry. I’m excited to see Iris get a new love interest. I enjoy watching her as a kick-ass reporter. I think Jesse L. Martin and Candice Patton are two of the stronger actors on the show, and when they are onscreen I don’t find myself checking Twitter. Give me more Iris and Joe, and sure throw Barry in there, too – he is the main character after all. I’d much rather watch that than Caitlin flirting with a guy from another universe, or ParaWells walking around all suspicious and stuff.
Anything Earth-2 related just causes me to shut down and stop paying attention. I don’t care about these people who live in an alternate universe, and I’m being generous when I say I’m only mildly interested in what the main cast of characters looks like in doppelganger form. But even more than that? The monster-sized animals. That drives me batty. I don’t get it. I don’t like it. I don’t want it on my screen. And my eyes nearly rolled out of my head at the pseudo King Kong stuff they tried with Caitlin and Grodd.
On the next (last) page: expectations for the rest of the season…
Expectations For the Rest of the Season
LUCIANA MANGAS: I can’t wait to see what they have in store now that Wally West has been introduced. Also, the fact that Harry is now working as a double agent for Zoom, in order to save his daughter’s life, has so much potential and I think they are going to do a fantastic job with it. Also, Killer Frost. I am so ridiculously excited about this and so curious about how they are going to introduce her. My best bet right now is that she is going to be from Earth-2, maybe? I don’t know. Whatever it is, I just want them to give Caitlin something better to do. Danielle Panabaker has so much potential and they just don’t explore it. Give her a juicy storyline and I am sure she is going to knock it out of the park.
MELISSA SMITH: My expectations for the rest of the season are for Team Flash to exploit its many assets now that the Legends are off to their new show. I hope that Iris will become a more integral part of the team (she is destined to marry Barry, remember). I look forward to seeing what role Wally West will play and hope that he will take on his role as Kid Flash, allowing Barry to become a mentor. I definitely want more Vibe storylines and hope that Danielle Panabaker (Caitlin) gets at least 1 episode as Killer Frost.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: I don’t really have any expectations, other than more solid episodes that entertain me without making me think too much. My hope is that the Zoom threat will have some sort of conclusion that makes for a satisfying end to the season but manages to leave enough open for future confrontations. I just want to keep seeing this whole world blossom.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: More story for Iris. Make ParaWells actually fit into the landscape meaningfully. Same with Jay Garrick, if he is sticking around. No more monster sized animals, please? Maybe FLASH can carry some of the crossover/series-launching burden so that ARROW can focus on ARROW’s characters and storylines.
Maybe these aren’t my expectations so much as… my hopes.
One More Thing….
And last, but most definitely not least, let’s talk about the more technical aspects of the show. As someone who has been involved in the entertainment industry behind the scenes, one of our writers wanted to share their two cents:
MELISSA SMITH: The best technical asset…Shooting the establishing shots in primary colors. For us comic book people, could there be any more astounding tribute to our years of collecting graphic novels than having an HD version of that spring into our living rooms?
The worst technical asset… An underachieving soundscape. Why not make THE FLASH sound as great as ARROW? A very wise man, George Lucas, said that sound is 50% of the movie-going experience. So, he created THX. Smart guy. The same goes with television.
The difference between THE FLASH and ARROW is the sound. You may not notice it or know why ARROW seems more developed technically, but my guess is that you are missing the extra layers of sound and just don’t realize it.
For me, it’s the difference between a show that is 90% perfect (THE FLASH) and 100% perfect (ARROW). It also is the difference between me time-shifting THE FLASH to speed past commercials and sitting down with my popcorn to watch ARROW at 7:59pm and watching the commercials.
Please, producers, use the ARROW sound team on THE FLASH (and SUPERGIRL). You’ll get 18 more minutes of my time, and I promise to spend it watching commercials. The music on THE FLASH is great, but superheroes need super sound effects, not just a pretty melody!
Thanks for listening (pun intended)!
THE FLASH returns with all new episodes on January 19 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.