[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×14: “Fallout”

Kevin and Bixby have their marching orders. Grab some pizza and make yourselves comfortable, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


KEVIN

The problem with two-parters that aren’t really two-parters is that they still feel like the second half of a story. This is not normally an issue, of course – there’s nothing inherently wrong with two-part episodes – but it does bring the issue of having to make the continuation of the base storyline also self-contained, to stand on its own.

“Fallout” does a pretty good job of it, all things considered, but it really is dependent on the previous episode, more so than any other episode in a serialized drama. I feel like they should have just called it a two-parter and been done with it.

Then again, even with more obvious continuations, they still don’t do that with the titles. The closest they come is in the Season Two mega-crossover that also sets up the soon-to-be-spun-off Legends of Tomorrow: “Legends of Yesterday” and “Legends of Today,” respectively.1

Let’s take a closer look at the fallout from last week’s episode oh I just got that.

Though this episode is old, spoiler warnings are still in effect after the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×13: “The Nuclear Man”

Kevin and Bixby are burning up with excitement for this week’s episode. Try not to bite off more than you can chew, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


BIXBY

One of the reasons that I like The Flash so much is that its characters seem very real. I have met people like Cisco, like Caitlin, like Joe, like Barry (minus the super-speed). The way Barry interacts with his friends and family and colleagues and even his enemies is believable – he acts like a real person. An idealized real person, but he feels real. When we say a character is relatable, we don’t just mean that they seem like us, but that they seem real like us.

The show doesn’t have a 100% success rate. Sometimes the characters step out of “real” into “dude, what?” Harrison Wells sometimes seems to be taking his cues from Snidely Whiplash.

The character whom the show fails the most often, does the most harm to, and treats much more like a lamp with a name tag than any other character is Iris West.

Spoilers under the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×12: “Crazy For You”

Kevin and Bixby have no bars on their expectations for this week’s episode. Sing out when you’re ready, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


KEVIN

People do a lot of crazy things for love. This is a known fact, proven true time and time again across the multiverse. Love is what binds the universe together. It’s the power the Dark Lord knows not. It inspires people to hide swords in rocket launchers. It lifts us up where we belong, where the eagles cry on a mountain high.

It’s a curious thing. It makes one man weep and another man sing.

There are so many songs about it that Meat Loaf decided that a twelve-minute song about what he wouldn’t do for love was, in fact, the shorter list.1

There’s a lot going on this week, but about 95% of it comes back around to what we would do for love.

Though this episode is old, spoiler warnings are still in effect after the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×11: “The Sound and the Fury”

This week’s episode shattered all expectations. Put on some music and relax, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


BETHANY

Before we get really rolling, I wanna let y’all know that this is the last episode that I have previously seen. Starting next week, we will be getting into episodes that I have not seen at all, which I’m excited about.

This episode, however, I’m having trouble getting excited about. Spoilers to follow after the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×10: “Revenge of the Rogues”

This week, Kevin and Bethany are ready for a prison break. Check under your seat for explosives, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


KEVIN

You know what I miss? Frostfire Bolt. They replaced it with Flurry, which functionally works roughly the same, but it doesn’t look nearly as awesome as the shard of ice wreathed in flame.

…wait, sorry. The new Warcraft expansion dropped last week and I’ve been kind of hyperfocused.

Though this episode is old, spoiler warnings are still in effect after the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×09: “The Man in the Yellow Suit”

Kevin and Bethany are all dressed up with nowhere to go. Hang your stockings and get ready for some unseasonably-warm Midwestern winters, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


BETHANY

Sorry about last week, guys, it was rough for both of us and neither of us could get anything done. We are gonna work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

There’s a lot to cover this week, so let’s just go ahead and hit the ground running, all right?

Spoilers under the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×08: “Flash vs. Arrow”

This week’s crossover episode was all the rage when it aired. Kevin and Bethany promise to get to the point quickly, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


KEVIN

Dark and broody, pitted against bright and cheerful. Vengeance, in comparison to hope.

No, I’m not talking about a particular movie I finally saw a few weeks ago, but the formula is the same.

  1. Take a couple of heroes
  2. Smash them together
  3. ???
  4. Profit

Felicity Smoak has been on The Flash before, and pre-lightning Barry was a not unimportant part of Arrow‘s Season Two plot development – and the Science Siblings for an episode, too – but this is the first time since that cryptic conversation in the pilot that Oliver Queen has shown up, and he brought his trademark angst with him.

This episode may be old, but spoiler warnings are still in effect after the cut.
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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×07: “Power Outage”

Bethany and Kevin are simply shocked at the content of this week’s episode. Dim the lights and check the time, because it’s time to take a look at CW’s The Flash.


BETHANY

Do you ever run into a situation where something you normally can do fairly well…and then suddenly you can’t anymore? It can be anything – you try to stand up after sitting in the wrong position for too long and your legs just won’t work right. For me, it’s whistling. When I got dentures, I had to relearn to do everything with my mouth. Chewing, biting, talking – I had to figure out where my new teeth were, and I still can’t whistle. It’s a kind of dumb thing to miss, and I was never particularly good at it, but it’s still something I can’t do anymore. (I still try because I’m stubborn.)

It’s easy to take certain things about ourselves, our abilities, for granted, and it’s really hard when those abilities fail us. When you reach for that tool in the toolbox and find yourself grasping air.

Barry Allen hasn’t had his powers for very long, but they have already become part of who he is, and how he identifies himself. We know how he reacts when he’s just not quite fast enough, what happens when he’s not fast at all?

As usual, spoilers under the cut.

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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×06: “The Flash Is Born”

This week, Kevin and Bethany are going old school. Put on some heavy metal for this one, because we’re taking a look at CW’s The Flash.


KEVIN

What do we remember the most about our childhoods? There are the exceptionally good moments that stand out – fun trips, close friends, memorable holidays – but usually those fade with time. I can remember with absolute clarity certain birthday presents, and a couple fun moments of a trip to the Wisconsin Dells1, but the rest are sort of a mishmash of scattered faces and songs and scenes that I can pick out with a minor amount of effort.

Stronger than that, however, are the bad memories. Broken bones, family difficulties. A lot of these are specific to the individual, but one thing that a majority of children have in common are the neighborhood and/or school bullies.

I don’t remember most of the people I went to school with, aside from a handful of friends (some of whom I still keep in contact with), but I can still describe the biggest bullies on our block with forensic detail.

Some things stick with you. Some things are hard to leave behind.

The episode may be old, but spoiler warnings are still in full effect after the cut.


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[Review] The Flash (2014) – 1×05: “Plastique”

Bethany’s blowing up her social media about this show. That’s more of a general reaction, though, but this week in particular is fairly explosive. Put yourselves at ease, ’cause we’re taking a look at CW’s The Flash.


Hey, guys, Kevin’s having a rough week, so he’s not gonna be joining me this time. The plan is to see him next week. You know what that means? You’re stuck with me, and only me! MWAHAHAHAHA!

This week: we meet a cool new metahuman and I am angry about everything. Spoilers under the cut, guys!


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