The Flash - S3E3 - Magenta

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Previously on The Flash, “Paradox”

The Flash - S3E3 - “Magenta” | Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jesse L. Williams, Tom Cavanagh, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Keinynan Lonsdale, Tom Felton, Violett Beane

With the introduction of Flashpoint, The Flash has given itself room to tweak character personalities and motivations. That seems to be the case with Wally West this week. In Timeline C (that’s what I’m calling it cause I’m grown), Wally really wants to be a speedster. So much so that he’s pretty salty when he learns that Jesse Wells has the Speed Force from the same dark matter he was hit with. (Click here for an actual artist rendering of Wally when he finds out Jesse has speed.)

At one point, Joe tells him, “I know you want this more than anything.”

Really?

In the original timeline, Wally was addicted to speed (drag racing, not the drug) and flirted with becoming a vigilante as well after The Flash gave up his powers to save Wally’s life. In Flashpoint, he was Kid Flash, but he doesn’t know that. This new desire to be a speedster seems a tad incongruous with the Wally from the original timeline, but I’ll allow it since we know he will most likely end up being Kid Flash again. But how?

Jesse’s powers kicked in when she was about to be hit by a car. Thinking his powers are latent too, and just in need of a jolt, Wally stands in the path of a speeding car. Thankfully, Jesse is there to whisk his behind to safety. He mentioned dreaming of being a speedster, but it’s not clear if they were just normal dreams or Doctor Alchemy visions (like Edward Clariss). If it’s the latter, why hasn’t Wally said anything? He’s an active member of Team Flash and he knows all about Alchemy, the husks, etc. If Alchemy is reaching out to him, now would be a great time to tell the team and ask Barry about his Flashpoint life for confirmation. As it stands now, after receiving several lectures, Wally seems to have accepted his fate, but something tells me he’ll be seeking out Doctor Alchemy soon enough.

By the way, assuming Doctor Alchemy doesn’t know The Flash’s real identity, he does know that in he worked with Kid Flash in Flashpoint. He may not be interested in restoring power to a meta-human that would be on The Flash’s side.

Of course, it wouldn’t be The Flash if Wells and Jesse didn’t bring some of their adorable dysfunction with them. He doesn’t want her to be a speedster and enlists Caitlin’s help in trying to talk Jesse out of using her new powers. When Caitlin tries, Jesse assumes it’s because she’s a girl. Why can’t she immediately start helping people the way Barry did? She totally has a point, but if there’s been one consistent character trait on the show, it’s Wells’ (and Joe’s) habit of being #TeamTooMuch when it comes to protecting their adult children. The two will be sticking around Earth-2 for a bit longer (yay!), which will give Jesse plenty of time to train in her new suit, courtesy of Cisco.

The meta-human of the week was pretty bland. Frankie Kane (Joey King) received her bending/moving metal powers from Alchemy, but there’s a catch: She only uses them when she’s Magenta, a darker side of her that puts their abusive foster father in the hospital with a flying light post. Frankie has to battle to keep Magenta from taking over completely, and she does just that with a bit of help from Team Flash.

Flash Points

• On the podcast, we wondered if Eobard Thawne taking over Wells’ life actually happened in this new timeline due to Reverse Flash helping Barry reset Flashpoint. The only reason he became Wells was because he’d lost his powers after killing Nora Allen and was stuck in that time. After he dropped Barry off, where did he? I suspect the reveal at the end of the Legends of Tomorrow premiere will come into play when we get that answer, but as it stands now, Timeline C is definitely behaving as if it happened.

Up to Speed

• Julian’s still a creep, but I like him. It’s nice having a character on the show who doesn’t think Barry walks on water… even though he totally can.
• Caitlin’s still keeping mum about her powers. Another personality tweak seems to be Caitlin’s lower tolerance for taking people’s shit.
• Great to see Iris actively being a member of Team Flash and using her journalistic connections and skills to be helpful. It would be such a shame to waste Candice Patton’s talents as just the love interest. Glad season three seems to be utilizing her more.
• Love that they keep putting Wally in that mustard color.

Speed Bump

• I know the WestAllen relationship is a central component of the storylines this season, so I suspect they’ll mirror what’s going on in other areas of Barry’s and Iris’ lives. As they try to figure out what kind of relationship they’ll have (Do they keep shop talk in S.T.A.R. Labs? Should Barry turn off being The Flash when they’re alone?), it makes sense that their first few dates would be a bit awkward and unsure. That said, I’m gonna need more sparks, y’all. Just saying.

But Wait; There’s More

Iron Heights tried to keep Clariss’ death a secret, but Joe, Barry, and Julian view the security footage that shows Clariss being killed by something invisible. He does yell out, “Alchemy” a few times and Julian remarks that hearing that name made Barry look as if he’d seen a ghost.

Leave your thoughts on the episode below or on our Facebook post for this review, and we’ll read them on tonight’s podcast for The Flash!