UK VOD TV review: The Flash Episode 10
Review Overview
Action
7Supervillain team-up
8Story and character development
8Amon Warmann | On 13, Feb 2015
The final 2014 episode of The Flash capped off its first nine episodes in style, with revelations aplenty pushing a number of big story lines forward. As such, we were anxious to see how things would progress in the mid-season premiere. Thankfully, Revenge of the Rogues is a strong return for the series.
Even though it is a super-villain team-up which takes centre stage (more on that later), the effects of The Man in the Yellow Suit – whom Cisco has now officially dubbed the “Reverse Flash” – are very much felt in this episode. That Barry is conflicted between becoming faster in order to be better equipped to defeat his nemesis and fulfilling his hero duty to Central City makes sense, even if it is obvious that our speedster will wise up by episode’s end, and Gustin plays it brilliantly.
Barry’s arc also heightens the tension between Joe and Dr. Wells. The latter continues to be a fascinating character, one who’s not all good and not all bad. Week to week, it’s interesting to see which direction the secretive Doctor will take.
Wentworth Miller’s Captain Cold left a memorable and favourable impression with his first appearance on The Flash, and it is great to see him make a return this week, along with the debut of his new partner, Heat Wave. In what is a, um, cool (pun intended) Prison Break reunion, Heat Wave is played by none other than Dominic Purcell, and he is clearly enjoying himself in the role. The conclusion of this episode makes it clear that we’re one step closer to having a full set of rogues, and although Barry’s villain roster isn’t as colourful as Batman’s – and really, whose is? – this can only be a good thing.
For the most part, the action sequences are typically strong, from Barry’s training to the climactic showdown. With that said, it’s getting harder to suspend disbelief when our hero is in battle; there is no good reason why Barry can’t disarm both villains in seconds. Alternatively, the cops could easily resolve their standoff by taking out the villains, while The Flash is distracting them. It just feels a little too lazy; going forward, the writers would do well to figure out legitimate reasons as to why our speedster isn’t ending these confrontations more speedily.
With that said, the encounter does put The Flash in the public eye and, if nothing else, it’s great to see the show not holding on to cards like that for too long. It also gives Cisco a chance to mend fences with the CCPD, and Carlos Valdes – who has been getting better and better over the course of this series – is really effective in these scenes.
Lastly, the dynamic between Barry and Iris was in need of a stir-up and here, we finally have it. As Iris sees Barry in a new light, their relationship is more interesting to watch and it’ll be fun to see how it changes in the season’s second half.
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.