The Flash 4x23 "We Are The Flash" Review
WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE REVIEW!!
Hooray! Season Four concluded last Tuesday, and we have a lot to look forward to for the upcoming Season Five. While the DeVoe conflict did not end the way I expected, the reveal of the Mystery Girl was a nice touch, and a Wally West sighting is always welcomed.
The best part of tonight's episode was the miraculously return of Elongated Man. When Barry entered DeVoe's mind to find his good half, he found Ralph instead and happily reunited. While I had mixed feelings about Ralph's addition onto the show, they were all expelled seeing their dynamic and friendship front and center.
Ralph's humor and Barry's seriousness work well. They learn the Good DeVoe died, but Ralph is the key to defeating DeVoe. If they can get Ralph through the portal (aka the exit to the real world), he can take control back of his body.
The fighting clones scene did not match up to the entertaining opener in the last episode, and the stakes did not feel high enough. DeVoe's ultimate defeat fell flat when he resurfaced as a hologram in the Thinking Chair. His wife pulled the plug to stop him... that's literally how the great Thinker was beaten. DeVoe had so much potential, but he could not sustain a whole season on his own.
Cecile had her baby daughter in this episode as well. She lost her telepathic powers, but it was whatever. The whole pregnancy equals superpowers never made sense. I hope she gets promoted to series regular or shows up more often because I think she can contribute to the family theme the show will explore for next season.
Joe West did not contribute much either. I wonder if they plan to kill off Joe in the future because he became forgettable during the whole season. It's starting to look like the parents are overstaying their welcome (I mean, Quentin Lance! RIP).
Harry Wells succumbed to his condition. It felt emotional and sad, but when you use his condition for cheap laughs, it was hard to invest real feelings into it. Cisco-Harry friendship is too strong.
After DeVoe is defeated, they conveniently restore him, but his incredible intelligence is gone. He takes his leave to reunite with his daughter and has an awkward goodbye with Team Flash.
I'm guessing we'll get a new Wells next season... I don't know how I feel about this.
Caitlin Snow... why are we avoiding the Killer Frost reveal? I understand they'll explore it next season, but no mention at all about her alter ego? I appreciate they didn't try to push a love interest on her this time. I was scared a Ralph and Caitlin pairing might happen...
The reveal of the Mystery Girl is saved for the final scene. She is Nora West-Allen (named after Barry's mother) and she comes to Team Flash for help. Nora tells her future parents (Barry & Iris) that she made a grave mistake. Another Flashpoint?
I'm disappointed that they went with the obvious approach, but I appreciate the change up from Dawn Allen to throw off comic book readers. The theme for next season is family, but I hope they don't fudge it up like Arrow season six did.
Overall, The Flash ended on an interesting note, but the arc with DeVoe failed. Hopefully, the show learns from this and gives us a better non-speedster villain for next season. With a future daughter in play, I'm sure they'll be able to come up with something fun.