The Flash - S3E14 - Attack on Central City

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Previously on The Flash, “Attack on Gorilla City”

Valentine’s Day came late to The Flash, but it was worth the wait because Iris West and Barry Allen are engaged! Well, she hasn’t said yes yet, but she will. She better.

But before we got to that WestAllen goodness, we had to sit through yet another hour of gorilla shenanigans. Grodd sends a mind-controlled Gypsy to attack Team Flash as a diversion. His real target is a military general with access to nuclear launch codes. Under Grodd’s control, the general begins a launch that Barry is, thankfully, able to stop.

Grodd finally decides to do as he threatened last week and attack Central City with his army. The three speedsters have a tough time holding them off, but Cisco eventually arrives with Gypsy and they’ve brought a friend: Solovar.

Solovar beats the brakes off Grodd, earning back the respect of the gorillas to lead once more. Barry stops him from killing Grodd, and convinces Solovar that they’ll make sure Grodd doesn’t return to Earth-2. Barry arranges for Grodd to be held by A.R.G.U.S. since they’ve done such a stellar job holding metas. That’s sarcasm, by the way.

Speed Bumps

The idea of killing Grodd first came up earlier in the episode, with both Iris and Harry telling Barry it’s a bad idea and not who Barry is, but… Barry has already killed. Off the top of my head, he killed the meta from Earth-2 in the season two premiere. He knew that his plan to stop the meta would result in him dying from radiation, and he did it anyway. And what did Barry think was going to happen to Hunter when the Time Wraiths came for him? Also, this is a little late in the game for the series to have the Oliver Queen talk. Is it possible the writers don’t consider those kills? I mean, this is the same episode in which Barry said Harry would kill for Jesse as if it’s a possibility, and not something that already happened in season two. #RIPTurtle

Up to Speed

Gorilla stuff aside, I enjoyed this episode. Harry’s quick acceptance of Wally and Jesse’s news was followed up with him allowing Wally to think he’s dying so Wally would convince Jesse to go home. I’m glad this only lasted for one episode considering the team made a No More Secrets pact a few weeks ago. It was an entertaining last ditch effort by Harry.

Cisco and Gypsy have great chemistry; hopefully they’ll figure out a way to make this character a semi-regular. Cisco is long overdue.

H.R. is such a quick and subtly funny character. If you’re going to rewind a scene (other than WestAllen goodness), it’s most likely to catch a quip from H.R. His interactions with Harry did not disappoint. How much individuality Tom Cavanagh has managed to bring to four iterations of this character is seriously underrated.

His line of the night was, “You know what I always say: a man who can’t tell the difference between balls and lanterns is going to be in trouble when the lights go out.”

And, of course, the proposal. The episode opened with Barry surprising Iris with an elaborate breakfast, and ended with an even sweeter romantic gesture. Iris returned home from work to find their loft alight with candles. On one knee, and offering his great-grandmother’s wedding ring, Barry asked for Iris’ hand. The cliffhanger is most likely just that, and not an indication of any hesitation from Iris.

I’m holding out hope that The Flash won’t fall into the same pattern of some of its current and past The CW counterparts. We don’t need to have a different obstacle for this relationship each season. We don’t need to see an entire season of these two apart, only to have them reunite the next. What we need is a refreshing approach to a union that has already been iconic, but is now also socially relevant.

Let this interracial couple flourish. Do not sideline the black female lead, who also happens to be one of the strongest actors on the show. In other words, don’t pull a Sleepy Hollow. You see how it’s doing, right? Give Iris storylines independent of Barry’s, while remaining the inspiration for all the good he does.

Just let them live, writers.

Don’t fuck this up.

But Wait; There’s More

Jesse sends Wally out for some Big Belly Burger and he runs into Savitar, just chilling on those Central City streets.

Leave your thoughts on the episode below and we’ll read them on tonight’s podcast.