Amon Warmann | On 27, Mar 2015

Out of Time is only the 15th episode of The Flash, but in many ways it felt like a season finale. From the spectacular action to the huge revelations, the hour was packed with jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment in what was easily the best episode of a very strong season.

Perhaps even more impressive is that The Flash accomplishes this by keeping comic book fans satiated with names like Eobard Thawne, while still giving casual fans plenty to be intrigued by.

The series-altering mission statement of this episode did mean that, not for the first time, there wasn’t enough time to really flesh out this week’s villain – whom, in a neat touch, turned out to be the brother of Clyde Mardon (aka Weather Wizard) from Episode 1. Although Liam McIntyre did a solid job in the role, Mardon’s arc consisted of little more than revenge against Joe for killing his brother. Still, Weather Wizard 2.0 did pose a potent threat for Barry & co. to deal with throughout, and it raised the already typically high bar for action sequences. With three big action beats strikingly executed within the hour, The Flash continues to defy expectations when it comes to what they’re able to do on a TV budget.

Another big moment that transpired in the final 10 minutes (there were a few) was between Barry and Iris. If you’ve been following these reviews, you’ll know what a source of frustration the Barry-Iris-Linda-Eddie love quadrangle has been, and while the big declarations made in this episode were something we all wanted to see, it felt a little out of place with everything else that was going on – there’s a time and a place for big speeches, and it’s not when you’re searching for your kidnapped Dad. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that Barry’s reveal was just plain cool and long overdue.

Easily the biggest revelation, though, was (finally!) a clear-cut explanation as to who Harrison Wells really is and what his motivations are. That it was Cisco who found out was fitting (and ultimately heart-breaking), as the two men have grown to form a bond of sorts. (Indeed, one of Out of Time’s earliest scenes has Cisco and Wells enjoying movie night together.) When the truth is discovered and the two characters confronted one another, Tom Cavanagh and Carlos Valdes both knocked it out of the park.

Of course, given that we’re now tumbling down the time-travel rabbit hole, there’s a good chance that some of these events might not stick by the end of next week’s episode. However, even though the characters may not know what went down, the audience does; that The Flash is giving us an hour like this at this point in the season only has us excited for what else it’s got in store. Out of Time is about as good an episode of superhero television as you’ll see.

The Flash is available to watch online on NOW, as part of a £7.99 monthly subscription – no contract. Sign up before 27th September and new customers will only pay £1 for their first month.

 

Where can I buy or rent The Flash online in the UK?

The Flash is available to watch online on blinkbox, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play and iTunes.

 

 

Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

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