The Flash - S3E6 - Shade

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Previously on The Flash, “Monster”

The Flash - S3E6 - “Shade” | Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanagh, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Keinynan Lonsdale, Tom Felton, Violett Beane

We Need to Talk About Wally

Barry is forced to tell the Wests about what happened to Wally in Flashpoint, thanks to Doctor Alchemy paying Wally visits in his dreams. Even though they all agreed they didn’t want to know about their Flashpoint lives, Wally still feels betrayed that he wasn’t told his was a speedster. On top of that, he takes exception with Joe being so dead set against him having powers. Joe cites the danger, but Wally just sees it as Joe not trusting him the way he trusts Barry.

This is a valid criticism, and not totally unsurprising. Parents treat their kids differently because they’re different people, and Joe just happens to be overprotective as hell. Thankfully, Joe is able to explain to Wally that he doesn’t trust what’s happening because Alchemy is involved, and because Wally can be just as reckless as Joe was at his age - not because he cares about Barry more.

While the team tries to focus on stopping a meta-human named Shade, who turns into a giant shadow form and kills people, Alchemy continues his assaults on Wally’s psyche, eventually showing him what happened when The Rival mortally wounded him. Joe reluctantly allows Wally to act as bait for catching Alchemy. Since his mental attacks are becoming stronger and more frequent, this course of action is all they have.

Despite the assistance from CCPD SWAT, Alchemy gets away, Wally is seduced into picking up a stone that will restore his powers and is immediately encased in a cocoon; and Barry is gripped up by Savitar, the God of Speed. Something tells me Savitar won’t be inviting Barry to sit and talk about his feelings.

Cold Comfort

Caitlin finally reveals her powers to Cisco and asks him to vibe the future. He lies and doesn’t tell her that he saw the two of them fighting each other. Much like he did when he first got back from Earth-2, Cisco begins to act weird around Caitlin until she finally gets him to admit what he saw. Later, Cisco goes back on his word and forces Caitlin to admit her abilities to the team.

She eventually forgives Cisco, but it felt way too soon. As she pointed out, it wasn’t his secret to tell. Still, the friendship between the two is one of the more endearing parts of the series, so it’s nice that they’re not going to be at odds over this.

Go Be Joe West

Joe finally has a date with Cecile, but it’s with other members of Team Flash, including HR - who straight up dirty-macked on Joe’s date.

Face Off

HR’s contribution in the team comes in the form of re-opening S.T.A.R. Labs as a museum with him as the face of it. When the team breaks the news that Harrison Well’s face is supposed to be dead and a murderer, HR uses tech from his home world to temporarily change his face, and later gives everyone on the team a cornea alteration that allows them to see Harrison but everyone else sees the very handsome face of his Earth-19 business partner. This is a silly gag, but it works. And HR’s new goofy persona is growing on me.

Quick Hits

• HR was downright giddy when confirming Earth-19 has psychic gorillas like Grodd.
• HR is a sexual freak and I’m here for it.
• I’m also here for giving Wally West more to do.

Speed Bumps

• I’m calling shenanigans on a grown-ass black man asking others to ride shotgun on his first date.

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