The Flash 5x05 "All Doll'd Up" Episode Review
Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please Read with Caution.
Iris West-Allen is becoming the woman I liked back in season one. She was brave, a bad ass, and a compassionate friend. Granted, she was still all those things, but through her renewed interest in journalism and commitment to being a better (future) mother, those character traits feel more natural and not forced in STAR Labs.
The episode had a typical villain of the week, but Rag Doll’s appearance only served to parallel Iris’ struggle with the future. She is conflicted about Nora’s perception of her and how cruel she got to her own daughter. In all fairness, it’s difficult to fathom Iris this way, but it must’ve been how she adapted after Barry went missing in the Crisis.
I’m surprised the show hasn’t touched on that subject yet. Barry disappears for 20+ years in a fight against the Reverse Flash, leaving Iris to raise their daughter on her own. This sounds a lot like the Savitar prophecy and how Future Barry became a train wreck without Iris in his life… except the Iris-Nora tension works profoundly better.
Future Iris had to cope without Barry and shut down on Nora, which is probably why she didn’t like talking about her past. But Iris and Nora, by episode’s end, have found new ground. Nora has been discussing her problems with Cecilia and comes to understand that Present Iris is not her future mother… she shouldn’t punish Iris for being someone she hadn’t become yet.
Nora and Iris begin to bond after they both come to terms with not letting the future affect the present. I hope this is put to rest for the most part because Nora is still hiding secrets from her parents… Why did you help Barry destroy the satellite? I HAVE TO KNOW!
Everyone else was pulled into Caitlin’s search for Thomas Snow. Cisco is experiencing technical difficulties with his powers but keeps it a secret from the team to help Caitlin. She is touched that he hurt himself to help her, but she doesn’t want him doing it anymore… she’d rather have her friend alive. Cisco-Caitlin friendship is so underrated. I love them so much.
Overall, I was most impressed with Barry being the middle man between the women in his life and how he’s trying his best to support Iris. Another note: Iris jumped off a freakin’ building to save Barry!! That’s crazy! Such a bad ass move AND she didn’t drop the key. Thank goodness she didn’t drop that damn key.