The Flash - S1E20 - The Trap

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Previously on The Flash, ‘Who is Harrison Wells?’

Gideon Spills All The Tea

In the Secret Chamber of Lies, Barry gets a little truth and more than a few shocks. The newspaper article not only reveals The Flash disappears into a ball of light in 2024, but that his uniform is different as well. It’s a little disconcerting that Cisco seems more blown away by that than anything else they’ve learned. The article also reveals Iris is still a reporter in the future, and she’s Barry’s wife.

Then Gideon speaks up and we learn that Barry is the Director of the CSI division of the Central City police department in the future and also the founding member of… then Barry cuts her off because she can say, “The Justice League.” !@#$% She doesn’t reveal Wells’ real name because she doesn’t understand the way Barry phrased the question, but she does tell him Wells killed his mother because he was angry that Barry “escaped.”

Wells arrives at the labs because of course he does and Cisco is alerted by the tracker he placed on Wells’ wheelchair. As Wells gets closer to the secret room, Cisco briefly wonders if he can access Gideon’s mainframe to wipe all trace that they were there. That’s too complicated and will take too long so Barry simply asks Gideon not to tell Wells they were there. And she agrees because she is programmed to obey his every command - Barry built her. BOOM.

They make it out just before Wells arrives. Gideon tells him that all is well.

Father, May I?

Eddie meets with Joe at Jitters and asks his permission to propose to Iris. Joe delivers a stone-cold, thoughtful no. They don’t have time to argue about it because Joe gets a message that Barry needs them.

“I don’t need your permission, Joe,” Eddie says to Joe’s back because he’s already halfway to the car.

Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Time Travel

At Joe’s house, he tells Barry and team that it was extremely stupid to go snooping in Wells’ Chamber of Lies. But it’s all good because guess what? Wells is from the future. Bring up time travel and that’s all anyone wants to talk about… finally. Eddie may believe that Barry came move faster than the speed of sound, light, and everything else, but time travel? Pffft. Bridge too far. Not so, says Cisco. He explains they know for sure adult Barry will go back to the night his mother died. Then Barry FINALLY tells them about going back in time when he tried to stop a tsunami and that was weeks ago. Maybe that’s the day Cisco was killed by Wells and those are not dreams, but memories.

Okay, I gotta stop here. Why haven’t they had this conversation before now? Some people mentioned on Twitter that maybe Barry didn’t tell them because he didn’t want to risk changing anything. One, he already changed shit. Major shit. Two, he could have told them before - just as he did now - without giving up all the details. Three, considering it was his traveling back in time that changed Mason’s fate and tipped him off about Wells, you would think the first time Eddie, Joe, Cisco, or Caitlin asked, “Why do you think Wells is evil?” that would have been his answer. Finally, it should have come up the moment Cisco started talking about his dreams. Clearly, this is a case of delaying important conversations that should have happened just to have a major reveal late in the game. And I’m going to forgive it because this show is awesome.

Anyway, Barry isn’t sure how Cisco remembers that day, but he does. And it has given him a really bad idea. They’re going to use Cisco’s memories to get Wells to confess to killing his mom so that Barry’s dad can be released from jail.

Let Me Save Your Son

Three weeks into Barry’s coma and Joe hasn’t left his hospital room. When Barry starts to code, Joe and Iris are pushed out the room. Iris runs off in tears. As Joe watches the confused doctors try to save Barry, Wells appears and offers to help. Joe is skeptical. Wells’ machine blew a hole in the city. Wells insists he has the technology to save Barry. He can make him stronger. Faster. Better. Sorry. Wrong show.

Always Here to Help

At S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin explains some science stuff she’s come up with to help Cisco recall those memories. Wells rolls up because HE FUCKING WORKS THERE. They recover by giving him some bullshit excuse about metahumans and he comes up with the final piece of the puzzle to get Caitlin’s device to work.

Barry in the Middle

At the precinct, Captain Singh is being uncharacteristically nice to Barry. He’s having pre-wedding jitters. Speaking of jitters, Iris arrives and needs to talk to Barry, but he’s too busy to talk to his future wife and asks if it can wait. Then Eddie shows up because Barry doesn’t have enough stress in his life right now, and he has to watch Eddie kiss his future wife. He needs to talk to Barry as well. Once they’re alone, Eddie shows Barry the ring he bought for Iris. Now Barry knows which ring NOT to buy when he proposes to HIS FUTURE WIFE. Eddie is hurt and confused by Joe’s denial and asks Barry to talk to him. Barry looks like he’d rather walk over hot coals using normal people speed, but he agrees. Mainly to just get the hell away, I bet.

Dream a Little Dream

In Barry’s lab, Cisco prepares to sleep and use Caitlin’s device. Once he’s under, they’re able to talk to him and ask questions. He describes what happened that day: Caitlin left so Cisco could investigate the containment field, he discovered the Reverse Flash was just a recording, Wells caught him, revealed his real name, admitted that he was there to kill Barry and not Nora, then Wells kills him. Caitlin manages to wake Cisco up while he screams for help and his vitals spike.

And not one of them asked what kind of name is Eobard.

Barry realizes his mom’s death was his fault. Then he almost shits himself when Wells calls and creepily asks, “Where are you?”

I Believe in You, Barry… I Guess

Wells is calling to tell Barry about a fire in the building where Captain Singh’s fiance works. Barry rushes on the scene and finds the fiance and others trapped by the fire. Wells urges him to swing his arms really fast to create a wind tunnel to suck out the air (and the fire). Barry tries and fails. Until Wells tells him to try again because he believes in him. The eye roll Wells gives before he says that was epic. Barry puts out the fire and everyone is fine.

Later, Wells questions why Barry doubted himself. Barry says he was just worried he wasn’t able to save everyone. Wells gives him his usual pep talk, but knowing what we know now, it’s creepy as hell. Barry says he wouldn’t have been able to do any of the the great things he’s done without Wells. Wells feels the same.

At home, Barry admits that it’s weird to look at Wells, knowing what he knows, but still liking him. Joe never liked his ass. Barry wants to use Cisco to recreate the moment when Wells busted him so they can get Wells to confess. Joe feels like this is all his fault for letting Wells take care of Barry to begin with. Barry insists it’s Wells’ fault, and he will pay.

Setting the Trap

Dr. Wells is attending a lecture downtown so Team Flash have time to set their trap. Cisco has reversed engineered the containment field to keep a speedster out and will use it to keep Wells from killing him. They test it on Barry and when Barry goes flying across the room, they know it works. Everyone has a job to do except Eddie. He just needs to keep Iris safe, says Joe. Eddie takes offense and stomps off.

Alone with Joe, Barry tells him why Eddie is so butthurt. Joe admits to shutting Eddie down, but he did it because he knows Iris really has feelings for Barry. She will say yes to Eddie and regret it later. Awwww. Joe got your back, boo! He says Barry knows it, too. And Barry proves it almost immediately by rushing out when Iris sends him an emergency text.

At his lab, Barry thinks Iris is about to confess her true feelings for him, but instead she says she’s been investigating all of the strange occurrences in Central City and none of them pre-date the explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs. She thinks something was released into the atmosphere that night and it gave some people powers. Barry then lies to her face, saying he was exposed and doesn’t have powers.

Oh, Barry. Then he brushes her off and rushes out.

I Do Dumb Things Like That When You’re Not Around

Iris sits by Barry’s bedside at S.T.A.R. Labs while he’s in a coma. She tells him about accepting Eddie’s date and refers to it as a “dumb thing.” Mmm hmm. She needs him to wake up. When she touches his hand, a spark of electricity zaps her fingers.

Dr. Wells is Playing Chess; Everyone Else is Playing Clue

Wells arrives at S.T.A.R. Labs and Caitlin tells him Cisco is working in the containment field. He’s had some kind of breakthrough. Wells is going to mosey on down there to see what’s what. He pauses outside the door, takes off his glasses, and his face totally looks like, “Okay. They really gonna make me do this shit.”

Wells walks in on Cisco and the scene plays out almost exactly the same except Barry and Joe are hiding in the room, Wells’ hand doesn’t vibrate when he threatens Cisco, and Cisco stumbles into the containment field thinking it will protect him. It doesn’t. Wells walks right in. Joe jumps out and fires off three shots. Barry catches all but one of the bullets which finds its way into Wells’ chest. He’s dead and there goes Barry’s chance to free his dad. Then Wells morphs into Hannibal Bates.

Team Flash Stay Fucking Up

Wells is not there, but he speaks to them via speaker. Suckers. He taunts them that their lives are all better because of him. And he’s not going to kill Barry, because he needs him. And he’s not going to free Barry’s dad. Cisco’s tracker picks up Wells in the Chamber of Lies, so Barry rushes off.

He finds the Reverse Flash suit is gone, an empty wheelchair, and a wall of surveillance videos of his house, his lab, Eddie’s house, the newspaper, etc. Iris is in trouble.

Iris is going on a nighttime stroll with Eddie when he stops to propose on a bridge. Before he can, Reverse Flash snatches the ring, and then slams Eddie to the ground. Iris confronts him for killing Barry’s mom. Before he can hurt her, The Flash arrives and RF takes off with Eddie. The Flash, distorting his face, but still sounding like Barry Allen talking into a fan, tells Iris to go home and promises to bring Eddie back. Their fingers touch before he speeds away and a spark of electricity jolts Iris.

And just like that, finally, she knows Barry is The Flash.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Eddie confronts RF, saying he knows it’s Wells. Wells reveals his real name and Eddie assumes this has all been about him. Wells is all, “Aww. Slow your roll, stupid. This is bigger than you.” Eddie is just his insurance.

While Barry is in his coma, Wells speaks to him about how easy it would be to kill him. But he needs him. And even though watching Barry for 15 years haven’t shown any signs of the man Barry will become, he will still kill Barry eventually. Barry is not forgiven for whatever the hell it is he has done to this man.

Barry’s Possible Offenses Against Eobard Thawne

• Barry wouldn’t let him join The Justice League.
• Barry didn’t give him the big piece of chicken.
• Eobard really wanted Iris to be his great-great-great-great grandma, and he resents Barry for marrying her.
• Eobard was in love with the real-life Gideon and Barry is responsible for her death. He added insult to injury by modeling his AI after her.
• Eobard is a dick and picks on people will real names that don’t sound made up.

Overall Thoughts & Questions:

• Eddie is such a goober. A lovable, destined to lose the girl, goober.
• Did I not tell you he had cameras everywhere?
• We still don’t really know how Cisco was able to remember the day that never was.
• Until now, we’d not seen Wells use speed after being trapped, but before getting the blood sample from the metahuman who could take Barry’s powers. Now we know that he retained his speed after being stranded (or at least got it back before Barry woke up - maybe in the explosion?).
• I hate the way they piece together things they should have already known or suspected. Caitlin: “Maybe he knew the explosion would make you The Flash!” Uh, you guys speculated about this already and it seemed to be the obvious answer. Sure, you don’t yet know why, but you already said this!