The Flash Review: The Man Who Saved Central City (Season 2 Episode 1)

Premieres serve two essential purposes.

They tie up the loose ends from the finale and set up the new season. The Flash’s Season 2 premiere, “The Man Who Saved Central City,” ties up the loose ends from the finale, but takes the time to examine in-depth the emotional fall out. Unfortunately, the premiere falls flat in setting up the new season, but it was the lesser of two evils. Let’s dig in…

First, they kill Eddie. Now, they kill Ronnie. There should be a “Don’t Kill Amells” rule at The CW. It could have saved Robbie Amell’s job. Despite strong affection for Ronnie Raymond, I wasn’t a puddle of tears. Perhaps it’s because the show has killed Ronnie already.

Or perhaps it’s because, yet again, The Flash has left room for Ronnie to come back (maybe the X-Files won’t pan out for Robbie). Or perhaps it’s because comic fans warned me of Ronnie’s impending demise. For whatever reason, Ronnie’s passing is a bit of a blip. A downside of a six month time jump. That said, the grief over both Eddie and Ronnie’s passing is still palpable, thanks in large part to strong performances from Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker and Grant Gustin.

In Season 1, The Flash tended to toss the word “hero” around too casually without the necessary sacrifice that comes with earning the moniker. In “The Man Who Saved Central City,”The Flash takes a harder look at what it means to be a hero.

While the city is lauding praise on Barry, he is understandably struggling.  Barry blames himself for Eddie and Ronnie’s deaths, believing he could have prevented both. Given their ultimate sacrifice, Barry feels whatever he did to save Central City pales in comparison. Barry is right. This is the darker side of heroism. It’s not all titles, parades, keys to the city and glory. It is loss, guilt, pain and sacrifice.

This is a very different Barry from a year ago. The Barry of a year ago, or even two years ago when he first appeared on Arrow, was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when it came to heroism. He saw the importance of doing good and the glory that came with it. Unfortunately, Barry’s youth and inexperience left him ill prepared for the darker side of heroism. In the world of superheroes, it is seldom the hero that dies. Rather, it is those closest to them that pay the ultimate price. The superhero must contend with the guilt and feeling like they are anything but a hero.

Barry doesn’t want to put any more lives at risk, so he chooses to work alone. Superheroes tend to have a God complex, because they have the power to save lives. Unfortunately, not every life can be saved. More importantly, some losses are heroic sacrifices. A choice made by an individual to put themselves in the line of fire. To sacrifice their life for the lives of others. To die, so others may live.

Both Eddie and Ronnie made the choice to stand up and fight back. To sacrifice themselves, so others may live. So Barry may live. They are not victims, but heroes.  It is a choice Barry doesn’t have the right to take away from any person on the team. A point Iris makes when she, Cisco, Joe and Martin return to Star Labs. It is their life. Their choice. Barry doesn’t get a vote.  Iris is right..

In fact, Iris is the real hero of the episode because she gets the others moving forward. It’s a testament to her strength in the face of very real grief. Joe asks Iris to speak with Barry, hopeful he will listen to his best friend. Iris complies and gives it her level best, even telling Barry she believes in The Flash.  Iris’ belief is Barry’s yellow sun and typically all he needs to hear. Not this time. This time Barry’s issues run a little deeper.

What Iris does next is truly fascinating and points to how well she knows Barry. If she can reach Joe, he can reach Barry.  Iris pushes back on her father and demands he get off the sidelines. The reason Barry is able to push them away is because they’ve allowed him too. This propels Joe into action. After Barry is nearly killed by the Atom Smasher, Joe delivers one of his quintessential “father/son” heart to hearts.  It is Joe’s speech that snaps Barry out of his funk.

Iris understands the importance of Barry’s relationship with Joe. One of The Flash‘s greatest love stories is the one between Barry and his dads, Joe West and Dr. Henry Allen.  Barry’s relationship with all his father figures, Wells included, play a vital role in shaping the hero he’ll become. Last year, Dr. Wells played a dominating in role in creating The Flash. In “The Man Who Saved Central City” Joe utters those famous words, “Run Bary run” making it clear he will be the father with the most influence on The Flash in Season 2.

While Barry’s guilt is justified, Joe tells Barry he doesn’t have a monopoly on guilt. The entire team feels guilty and it’s simply something they must learn to live with. The point is to move forward, as Martin Stein so elegantly says in his toast. Moving forward is how Barry and Team Flash honors heroes like Eddie Thawne and Ronnie Raymond.

Barry’s first step in moving forward is following Joe’s advice and rebuilding the things that matter. What Barry wants to rebuild is… Caitlin Snow. She left Star Labs because it was a constant reminder of her guilt. Caitlin doesn’t blame Barry or Ronnie or the team. She blames herself. She wishes she left Central City when Ronnie asked her to. Like Barry, it is a guilt Caitlin must learn to live with.

Being strong doesn’t mean doing everything by yourself. It means knowing when you need help and being brave enough to ask for it. Cisco asks for Caitlin’s help in stopping a meta-human. Barry admits he’s too scared to watch Wells’ video. By asking for help, both Barry and Cisco begin the painful process of moving forward. They appeal to Caitlin’s good heart and nudge her forward as well.  Asking for help rebuilds Team Flash and they are the stronger for it.

In the video, Wells confesses to Nora Allen’s murder. Barry’s father is free. With all the loss, this is an important win. Barry and Team Flash need some good news. However, Henry leaves town. It felt out of place, but there’s a reason. Henry worries if Barry is too focused on being his son he won’t become the superhero he’s destined to be.

The question is, why does Henry Allen leave town? The answer is… because he’s sick. At least that’s my guess. The champagne didn’t go to his head. Something is physically wrong with Henry Allen. He doesn’t want Barry focused on saving him, like the last fifteen years. Henry wants Barry focused on saving others. Henry is making a choice to put other lives before his own. It is another heroic sacrifice.

The weaker parts of the episode are the procedural elements with Atom Smasher as the “Bad Guy of the Week” and setting up this year’s Big Bad. The Atom Smasher feels silly with the alarm bit and hastily slapped together radiation chamber solution. While the mention of Zoom and Jay Garrick are sure to thrill comic book enthusiasts, they feel a bit tacked on.

Still, it’s preferable The Flash focus on the emotional elements of the story versus the procedural elements. In the interest of time, the right decision is made.

Stray Thoughts…

• Cisco working as the technical advisor for Joe’s Metahuman Task Force is GENIUS. Cisco in the police department means increased Joe and Cisco interactions which, as tonight proved, are gold.
• Apparently, Team Flash is getting comfortable with killing meta-humans, because that’s exactly what they do while barely batting an eyelash.
• Eddie cameo! So sad…
• Grant Gustin is the master at the single tear. Demi Moore level buddy. Bravo.
• Dr. Stein and Cisco geeking out over meta-human names was the best.
• The little stuffed lightning bolts were extremely cute.
• Barry’s new costume is a nod to the white light and is fitting to Barry’s personality. Still… it was a little lame.
• Bruce Wayne wants his light back Cisco. The wink and the nod was appreciated, however.

What did you think of this week’s episode of The Flash? Share your thoughts in the comments below!”

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The Flash airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.