The Flash - Recap: With Great Power...

The story centers on the arrival of a metahuman named Farooq (Michael Reventar), better known in the comic books as Blackout. Transformed into a meta that can control electricity as a result of climbing a radio tower at the time of the Particle Accelerator explosion, Farooq is tormented by his abilities. In a broad sense, he's not necessarily a bad guy, so much as he is a tortured one. Reventar does a great job with what could have been a one-note role, as he imbues the character with the pathos of a man who can't take the burden thrust upon him. Unlike Barry (Grant Gustin), Farooq never wanted these abilities. However, not unlike Barry, his abilities have led to those he loved getting hurt. His friends, who were with him at the time of his accident, tried to get him help. But his lack of control over his powers resulted in Farooq's friends getting electrocuted. This introduces a new level of responsibility regarding superpowers, as Farooq is now responsible for the deaths of his friends. So it's no surprise that he's on a revenge quest to kill Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), the man he deems responsible for this curse of his. In a lot of ways, Farooq's story is an inverse of Barry's, as Barry loves being The Flash, loves using his powers for good (as evidenced in a wonderful opening sequence in which he strips a would-be mugger and drops off a policeman to arrest him), and understands the responsibility thrust upon him. Barry believes what Oliver Queen told him in the pilot, that he was chosen by the lightning bolt that made him into The Flash. Farooq, however, feels it was all Wells's doing, which adds an extra layer of irony because, at least in Barry's case, he's right.

Credit: The CW

This is a rare situation where the Case of the Week is as much about the villain as it is about Barry's development as a superhero. I admit, I was a bit surprised that the show went to the "Temporarily Stripped of Powers" well already with Barry, but it resulted in a fascinating conflict, as Barry must now come down from the high of being special. Sure, he's still a good guy at heart, but he's no longer The Fastest Man Alive, and he's no longer in the unique position to fight crime in ways the police can't. It's a crushing blow to Barry, not simply because he's lost a cool power that made him feel awesome, but because he's lost an ability that allowed him to affect greater change in his world. And it's all because of Farooq, who absorbs Barry's powers, feeding on the energy not unlike Electro fed off of Times Square in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, as an example. This makes him an even greater threat, as Barry must figure out a way to get his powers back. That involves kickstarting the altered cells in Barry's body, a mission that gives the episode much of its plot momentum, since it relies on ingenuity rather than brute strength.

Credit: The CW

That said, the resolution is great, with Barry regaining his abilities and rescuing Wells before Farooq can kill him. There's even some poignant continuity in the story: Tony Woodward is killed after being released by Wells as a last resort to stop Farooq. Tony was never a particularly sympathetic character, but Barry's reaction to his death, and his disgust with Wells's culpability in causing it, goes a long way in illustrating the extent of Barry's empathy. He even cares about the bad guys, which is why he's so horrified by Wells, going as far as to accuse him of not caring about anybody. Of course, Barry later apologizes when it's all said and done. But even if he hadn't, we know that Barry's accusation isn't true. Wells does care about someone: he cares about Barry, and about Barry's role in the future. We get a little more insight into Wells's mission, as he seems to be simultaneously trying to ensure Barry's future as The Flash AND prevent whatever actions result in him going missing in 2024. To this end, he gets a genetic sample from Farooq at the end of the episode, since he's interested in figuring out how Blackout was able to siphon The Flash's powers. With each week, Wells grows more sinister, even though his reasons center on protecting Barry.

Credit: The CW

The B-story this week is far less interesting, although it at least features the welcome return of Tockman (Robert Knepper) from Arrow. Here, he takes over the precinct and terrorizes everyone there, including Joe (Jesse L. Martin) and Iris (Candice Patton). He even shoots Eddie (Rick Cosnett), putting his life in peril, although it's hard to believe they would kill off a major character this early in the season. Knepper's manic intensity, and Martin's anxiety-stricken performance (he seriously looks like his world is about to end when Tockman takes Iris away at gunpoint) are the only highlights, however, as there was never a sense that any of these characters were in real peril. But I can't really blame the show for that, considering how early into its run it is. Sure, not every conflict can be believably high-stakes, but the show can't simply be conflict-free. So I appreciated The Flash's attempts at giving these characters something to do that actually had potential to hold interest amid all the Barry/Blackout drama. But, ultimately, it just wasn't as engaging as the A-story.

Still, this wasn't enough to derail the episode, which was among the show's best so far. "Power Outage" is The Flash at its most compelling, exhibiting what it means to be a hero, and exploring the extent of personal responsibility. For a show so early into its run, The Flash continues to impress.