The Flash - Recap: Classical Gas

And it's a good thing The Flash is confident about the sort of series it is, because not many shows can get away with having a red streak fight an ex-death row inmate capable of turning into a cloud of toxic gas -- a man whose birth name is Kyle freakin' Nimbus. Yeah, I know, Kyle Nimbus is Mist's name in the comic books, but the "birth name is what their superpower does" naming conventions just feel silly in 2014, even on a show as self-assured as this one (although, to be fair, I have the same problem with Edward Nygma on Gotham. Of course, there's no way in seven hells they'd change The Riddler's name just because some random guy on a blog complained about how silly it sounded). The show attempts to play this with a straight face, which makes it seem even sillier, somehow. Yet that's exactly why this story ended up working. That sort of straight-faced commitment is part of this show's charm. There's no real wink-and-nod reference, no indication that the audience is supposed to be in on some sort of joke. The threat is treated seriously by our characters, without any fourth wall-breaking eyerolls. And that results in a story that can be taken seriously, in spite of its inherently wacky premise. After all, if you're watching a show about a man who can run faster than sound, then willing suspension of disbelief probably comes naturally. But even if it doesn't, "Things You Can't Outrun" is an episode that succeeds mostly thanks to its exploration of heroism.

Credit: The CW

This is the episode that gives us the backstory on Ronnie (Robbie Amell), Caitlin's late fiance who died stopping the Particle Accelerator from destroying Central City. His story parallels Barry's, in a way, as he's shown to be an upstanding guy who inherently cares about people and is willing to sacrifice himself in service of others. As structural engineer on the Particle Accelerator, he was the only one who could redirect the energy the Accelerator was releasing, sending it into the sky and away from Central City. But, in the process, he forced Cisco (Carlos Valdes) to lock him in the Accelerator to prevent that energy from escaping. He dies a hero, although Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) admits she didn't want him to be a hero, she simply wanted him to be her husband. It's a poignant story, but narratively fruitful, in that it parallels Barry's story thematically. On the one hand, it illustrates the consequences of heroism. Ronnie gets himself killed saving Central City, and Barry nearly gets himself killed trying to stop Nimbus. In both instances, these perils are caused by the heroes storming headlong into danger, without thought of their own well-being. For Ronnie, there was basically no other choice. But Barry has an entire team willing to help him, which is why it's often so frustrating when he decides to go it alone. Thus, the episode seems to suggest that being a hero is as much about being smart as it is being brave, since it's teamwork -- coupled with a more savvy, intelligent approach -- that defeats Nimbus, not brute force. The final confrontation with Barry is legitimately impressive by CW standards, with Nimbus taking the form of a massive green cloud, and Barry doing his damndest to tire him out so he'll no longer be able to maintain his gaseous form. It's an awesome confrontation with solid visual effects, and an encouraging indication of what the show is capable of accomplishing. And, at a character level, it shows Barry is learning. Being a hero doesn't have to mean being a martyr.

Credit; The CW

Granted, not everything in the episode worked. Joe (Jesse L. Martin) being Nimbus' final target felt awfully contrived. Of course, since we only know two cops in this entire show, it really wasn't going to be anyone else but Joe when we learned that Nimbus intended to kill the man who originally put him behind bars. That said, it was still a good episode for Jesse L. Martin, who had a great scene with John Wesley Shipp, as Joe vows to free Henry from prison. It's a good sign for the show that not every emotionally resonant scene needs to have Grant Gustin in it. It's indicative of a strong ensemble. Well, mostly strong. Candice Patton and Rick Cosnett are doing perfectly fine as Iris and Eddie, but I don't particularly care about their relationship in itself. I only care about it in relation to Barry, so the choice to spend so much time on Iris and Eddie deciding to reveal their relationship to Joe felt like a misfire, in my opinion. Less would have been more, in that situation.

Credit: The CW

Hell, the "less is more" approach is doing wonders for the intrigue surrounding Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), as we continue with the trend of learning one new, sinister thing about him in the post-credits scene each week. Here, we learn that Harrison basically engineered the Particle Accelerator's failure in order to create the lightning bolt that would turn Barry into The Flash. At least, that's the implication, as we see a flashback of Harrison watching a live video feed of Barry's loft just before the lightning struck. The lightning hits Barry, the feed cuts out, and Harrison smiles, "See you soon, Barry." Seems like an awful lot of work and damage to one's own reputation just to turn some guy into the Fastest Man Alive. So what's his angle? It's a fascinating mystery, and while I'm sure the answer is in the comic books, I have no trouble waiting for the show to explain it all. And that's a pretty big mark in the The Flash's favor, I'd argue. If a show is based on already-released source material, yet I'm so invested in the show I'd prefer to see the show's interpretation first, then the show is getting it right. And that's exactly what The Flash is doing, in my opinion.