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The Flash – S5E1 – Nora

Previously on The Flash, “We Are the Flash”

Photo: Katie Yu/The CW

The Flash executive producer Todd Helbing recently told The Hollywood Reporter about some key changes in the show’s structure in season five. He acknowledged that season three was too dark and that playing one storyline through all 23 episodes may not be the right move. Considering those are the very issues I cited in my critique of the past few seasons, I was optimistic for season five after reading that. Tonight’s premiere, “Nora,” did nothing to lessen my optimism.

The premiere was a return to the balance the show so deftly achieved in season one. It was the right amount of action, humor, and heart.

Nora West-Allen is stuck in the present after helping The Flash destroy the satellite in the season four finale. That’s her story and she was sticking to it until Barry gets the feeling he’s not in Nora’s life in the future; he confronts her and she confirms that when he went missing in the future he never returned.

After Team Flash figures out a way to send Nora back, Barry makes an excuse for her to stay, possible damage to the timeline be damned. It’s exactly the kind of call season one Barry would have made, but you can forgive him for it now. He knows what it’s like to grow up with a missing/dead parent. How can he deny her the chance to spend time with him? He can’t.

Image Credit: The CW

On the surface, Nora is more Barry than Iris. Like Barry, Nora is impulsive and has a mind for science. She also goes off on rapid-fire tangents, which are used in this episode to deliver most of the Easter eggs. Watching them interact, near mirror images of each other, only makes it more apparent to Iris that she and her daughter haven’t connected at all. Of course, Iris doesn’t know what Barry does. It appears that however Iris coped with Barry’s disappearance it affected her relationship with Nora. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out since explaining their lack of connection will most certainly involve revealing that Barry has been missing for 25 years in the future.

Schway

It’s always great to see Wally and I have to remind myself that his sporadic appearances on the show are due to Keiynan Lonsdale’s request for time to do other things and not because the writers have no idea what to do with him.

We finally got the suit in the ring! The new suit is a bit… red, but I don’t hate it.

I lost count of the number of name drops and Easter eggs, but two that definitely stuck out were: finding out that Ryan Choi (Atom) made Barry’s new suit in the future and that eventually King Shark will fight Grodd.

Not enough shown or known about the mysterious villain who appeared in the stinger to kill this week’s evil metahuman, and I’m okay with that. I’ve always been more invested in the relationship dynamics than anything else, and I haven’t been impressed by a Big Bad on this show since Zoom.

Speed Bumps

Why do we need Ralph? It certainly doesn’t help his case to learn that he apparently didn’t pay attention to anything that went down last season and is just now realizing there are multiple Earths and time travel. As long as he sticks to helping Caitlin uncover the secrets from her past, I guess it’s okay. Just keep him away from anything that actually matters please.

What did you think of the premiere? Leave your thoughts below or on our Facebook post for this review and we’ll read them on tonight’s podcast. 

The Flash S5E1 Review Score
  • 8.5/10
    Plot – 8.5/10
  • 9/10
    Dialogue – 9/10
  • 9/10
    Performances – 9/10
8.8/10

"Nora"

The Flash – S5E1 – “Nora” | Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Tom Cavanagh, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Keinynan Lonsdale, Hartley Sawyer, Danielle Nicole, Jessica Parker Kennedy

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User Review
4.33 (3 votes)
About Nina Perez (1391 Articles)
Nina Perez is the founder of Project Fandom. She is also the author of a YA series of books, “The Twin Prophecies,” and a collection of essays titled, “Blog It Out, B*tch.” Her latest books, a contemporary romance 6-book series titled Sharing Space, are now available on Amazon.com for Kindle download. She has a degree in journalism, works in social media, lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves Idris Elba. When not watching massive amounts of British television or writing, she is sketching plans to build her very own TARDIS. She watches more television than anyone you know and she’s totally fine with that.

7 Comments on The Flash – S5E1 – Nora

  1. For The Podcast:

    Hey Nina, Donnie and John!

    Well here we are. Nora is adorable and it’s funny seeing Barry have to deal with a speedster and fuck ups as Barry always and probably still will mess things up.

    I’m not here for the stretchy guy who died last season and is back again (we still not saying his name right?)

    Lastly poor Cisco I hope this heart break doesn’t last forever.

    Love the podcast!

  2. For the podcast:
    This was a much needed welcome back to the show I love. I honestly can’t find a fault not even Ralph. What made the flash good (Barry, Iris and all things that deal with them aka Nora), were shown. I was left with some questions though. Where is Wally in the future to train Nora? The 2049 headline shows Iris never re married as her byline is the same, so was she paralyzed by grief and couldn’t be there for Nora all the way? Or maybe she was overprotective? I want to see that explored, when she inevitably finds out Barry’s fate. Also, what the hell is up with Joe?

  3. For the podcast

    I definitely enjoyed last night’s episode. Ralph wasn’t even really annoying. Just pointless. Less Ralph please!

    Nora is so her father’s daughter! The West-Allen family is adorable & I love them! Poor Iris tho. Do you agree with Barry keeping his 25 year future absence from her?

    Cecile still has the mind reading. Do you think that’s why Joe is at this lounge? And where did that joint come from? That’s a nice spot.

    That’s it! Looks like the Flash is getting its groove back. I’m definitely looking forward to this new season. Can’t wait to hear the podcast!

  4. For the podcast: Welcome back ya’ll!

    I’m so hopeful and hyped about this season. I know it’s only the first episode back, but the episode had all the warm fuzzy season 1 feels.

    Very few things bothered me and I may have even giggled at a Ralph line.

    I was way too emotional about Nora and Iris’ lack of connection. I hope we get to see them build a special relationship.

    I’m so excited to hear what ya’ll thought about the episode and the future of season 5. I’m officially back on Team Flash ⚡️

  5. I know I’m in the minority here but I was disappointed in who Nora turned out to be. I hyped her up in my head. I just knew she was the baddest chick that had ever stepped foot in the speedforce and she was going to come in and show her dad a thang or two. But then she revealed she couldn’t even phase through shit?!! So they expect me to believe her super smart CSI ass couldn’t figure it out without Wells seductively whispering it in her ear?? Hopefully we get her doing some cool shit in future episodes. Right now, she’s acting like she’s just a girl standing in front of a boy (who happens to be the younger version of her dad) asking him to love her. And I ain’t here for it!

    Super excited to hear your thoughts, thanks for the podcast!

  6. Welcome back guys!
    I just wanna say 4 things:
    1) Still not used to how much Jessica looks like Candice and Grant.. Like damn. Even her voice is similar to Candice’s
    2) Ralph wasn’t annoying. That’s progress
    3) I’ve watched the ep three times and still don’t know wtf Crustlin was talking.. Guess my brain just blocked her ??
    4) That thing Cisco used to read if she was connected to the speedforce or something like that is bullshit! How tf can he know anything abt it? ? And do not let Crustlin near Nora with needles, I don’t trust her!
    Thanks for the podcast! ?

  7. For the Podcast: I’ll keep this short in case yall already finished podcast. It was a pleasant episode but im glad y’all are back.

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