TV Talk Week: Tuesday Night Shows, Recaps and Reviews Part 1.

Time to Put on Our Thinking Caps…

The Flash: Season Four

There are so many reasons as to why I love The Flash, and why it is easily becoming one of my favorite shows of all-time. It brings me back to those days of watching Smallville, it's absolutely hilarious, and I adore the characters oh so much. I also think Grant Gustin is doing a stellar job, portraying Barry Allen as The Flash! Season three was one of my favorite seasons of The Flash, so Season Four had a lot to live up to for me. While I think it started off a bit slow, it is really starting to pick up for me, and becoming a very interesting season. So, without further ado, let's get into the review!

Plot:

This season, Barry Allen has escaped the Speed Force, with the help of Team Flash. After a mysterious Samuroid, as Cisco dubbed the robot Samurai hybrid, enters Central City. With only one thing on his mind, and of course that's wanting The Flash. Because, what's a season without a Meta, wanting The Flash in return for world domination? Team Flash, knew the only way to stop the Samuroid, was to do as he wishes. And so, they save Barry Allen from the Speed Force, using the Speed Gun. But, of course nothing ever comes easy in Central City, when it comes to getting Barry Allen out of sticky situations. After meeting a few Meta's, Team Flash realizes that these Meta's were nowhere near the particle accelerator explosion. In fact, they were all on a bus, that was on the same street where Barry Allen had escaped the Speed Force. Finding out, that the Speed Force opening, created a mini particle accelerator explosion. Hitting the bus full of normal people, with traces of dark matter. Making Team Flash believe, that they were the one's responsible for creating these new Meta Humans. When they eventually found out that someone had actually devised this entire situation, his name, Clifford DeVoe aka The Thinker.

Review:

So far, I am really enjoying this season of The Flash, even though it started off a bit slow for me. At first, I wasn't really intrigued by the Meta's this season, but there were little and very important things within the season that had me enjoying this it more than I thought I would…

Clifford DeVoe aka The Thinker: Clifford Devoe's name had been thrown around a few times, last season. As a warning for Barry Allen, for someone to watch out for. When Team Flash finds out that Clifford Devoe has been the one behind creating these new Meta's, we get more of this villain's background. Which was something I wasn't expecting, with his five minutes of fame at the end of each episode this season.

In the most recent episode, before Crisis on Earth-X, we get a look into Clifford's past. We find out why he is in this elaborate wheel-chair, that is connected into his brain. And that's because his assistant, Marlize DeVoe (Kim Engelbrecht), who we actually find out is his wife, created this cap. Which is essentially a Thinking Cap, that allows Clifford to know everything possible, that everyone has questions about. Basically, this Thinking Cap makes him know the answers to everything, without having to research it. It was a scientific breakthrough, having a few complications. Every time Clifford uses his Thinking Cap, it would actually harm his brain. Anytime he puts the Thinking Cap on, his body would suffer from ALS at an accelerating rate. If he didn't stop using the Thinking Cap, he would eventually die in less than two years. But, his wife comes up with an idea, to make this Thinking Cap a part of him. To make it a permanent entity of him, which is why he is now completely one with his Thinking Cap. The Thinker is becoming one of my favorite Flash villains, as I find him to be very interesting and thought-provoking (No pun intended). I loved seeing his background story, and was completely surprised that his assistant is actually his wife. I am very interested in seeing how his involvement with Barry develops in the rest of the season. Since, I thought we found out about who he is and why he is so interested in creating these Meta's, very early on in the season.

Ralph Dibny aka The Elongated Man (Hartley Sawyer): I was really excited to find out that we were going to be introduced to The Elongated Man this season, because I know that he is a very central character in the comics. However, I just learned that he isn't portrayed the same in the TV show as he is in the comics. Ralph Dibny, is a former employee of Central City PD, who was a part of the same forensics department as Barry. We find out that he actually tampered with evidence, during a major case. Barry was the one to find out about the tampering, turning Ralph into the police. Which eventually ruined Ralph's career, even though he was trying to do the right thing. The two rivals are reacquainted, as we find out that Ralph was on that same bus that was hit with the dark matter. When we are first introduced to Ralph, we meet a rude and pudgy man, with terrible eating habits and a bad drinking problem. When in the comics, Ralph Dibny is supposed to be an extremely well-liked and kind man. He rubs Barry the wrong way from the start, because of their past. But, eventually Ralph uses his stretching powers for good, to help save people. Instead of caring about getting the bad guys caught first, which is what he does as a P.I. He now learns to save people in a different way, that he's not used to, to help out Team Flash as much as he can. Now, at first I did not like Ralph Dibny, I thought he was obnoxious, with a crude sense of humor, and I didn't receive good vibes (again, no pun intended) from the start. I was hesitant just like Barry, but after the episode, "When Harry Met Harry," my feelings startedto change. Because he finally decides to use his powers for good, instead of for bad. I am really interested in seeing how Ralph Dibny's relationship with Team Flash develops in the season, as he becomes more of an unlikely hero.

Kaitlin Snow/Killer Frost or Killer Frost/Kaitlin Snow: Another aspect that I am really enjoying this season, is Kaitlin's development as Killer Frost. Last season, we saw her struggling to choose one personality over the other. This season, Kaitlin is finally accepting Killer Frost as a part of her. But, in a different way, to where she doesn't have to be evil when she is Killer Frost. She can still be Kaitlin, but a little extra with her powers. Since Kaitlin is accepting Killer Frost as a part of her, she can control this part of her, instead of having it take over her. I am loving Kaitlin Snow this season, as I think she is developing a lot more as a main character. I am also looking forward in seeing Killer Frost as a hero, instead of a villain.

Relationships:

Barry Allen and Iris West: I love the dynamic between Barry and Iris this season, we are starting to see that they actually aren't the perfect couple. One of my favorite moments of this season, was when Barry and Iris go to couples therapy, and they start to realize how dark and depressing their life really is. After couples therapy, I thought their relationship grew stronger and we finally saw development between this "perfect couple." Because in reality, nothing is perfect in a relationship.

Cisco and Gypsy: I absolutely adore Cisco and Gypsy, as I have been rooting for Cisco to finally get a girlfriend for three seasons. And I love that he is in a relationship with a sassy, kick ass, viber, which is the complete opposite of Cisco. My favorite episode this season, was when Gypsy's father visits Earth-One, and basically hunts Cisco down. But, Cisco showed that he is fully capable of being Gypsy's boyfriend, which we already knew from the beginning. I really hope that we get more Gypsy and Cisco this season, because it is one of my favorite dynamics of this show.

The Many Faces of Harry: One of my absolute favorite moments of this season, was when Harry decides to call his doppelgangers for help. To figure out a way to stop DeVoe and find out more of who he is. This is one of my favorite aspects of this show, whenever we meet Harry's doppelgangers from the alternate universes. It really showcases the comedy of this show, and Tom Cavanagh's acting/directing skills. In the episode, "When Harry Meets Harry," Harrison Wells of Earth-Two, invites his "friends" to S.T.A.R. Labs. Cisco and the Team are very surprised that Harrison was able to make friends, only to find out that they were hologram doppelgangers of himself. We meet an android Harrison Wells from a post-apocalyptic version of Earth-One, an incredibly smart yet egotistical, German version of himself, and lastly a crude, drunk publisher who has no shame, version of himself. This episode was extremely hilarious, and I had myself laughing out loud during these scenes. But, what I thought was exceptionally brilliant, was when Harrison realizes that his hate and annoyances for the hologram doppelgangers, was actually what he dislikes in himself. As Cisco points out that, these different versions of himself were really just amplified versions of Well's own annoying traits. This just showcases the amazing directing of show, which is another reason as to why I love it so much!

Final Thoughts On:

As you can probably tell, I don’t have a ton of bad things to say about this show. There was a reason as to why it made my most anticipated shows of 2017, and one of my favorite shows of 2016 and of all-time. I feel that we are getting a lot more development from the characters, that we haven't seen yet, which I am really excited about. I am really looking forward in seeing why Clifford DeVoe is The Flash's supposed worst enemy, a part from creating these new Meta's. I also can't wait to watch Crisis on Earth-X, to see Barry and Iris's wedding. I saw a picture of it on Danielle Panabaker's Instagram, and it really reminded me of Clark and Lois' (Smallville) wedding. I am also hoping we get more Cisco and Gypsy, and I really can't wait to see Joe grow as a new parent! All in all, this season is certainly exceeding expectations, and I can't wait to see how the show continues on!

Thank you all for reading my recap and review on Season Four of The Flash! The other show I watch on Tuesdays is, American Horror Story: Cult, but I won't actually include it in this post. I want to do a full in-depth review on the second half of that season, in another blog post. Which I will probably be up next-week, because that season has already concluded. These posts are just to catch-up on shows that are currently still on. So, stay-tuned for a separate post on American Horror Story: Cult. I also plan on doing a full in-depth review on the crossover: Crisis on Earth-X, next week. But, for now please do enjoy this review and recap of the most recent episodes of The Flash (I can't help, but hear Grant Gustin's voice, whenever I write The Flash)!

TTFN,

Chynna Williams @TheCWTorch!