The Flash Review: The Darkness and the Light (Season 2 Episode 5)

Being a hero doesn’t require fearlessness, but it does require facing your fears. 

In ”The Darkness and the Light,” some members of Team Flash are able to do that, while some cannot.

Every human being has two sides, a light and a dark. If Earth 2 is a mirror world to Earth, then one might assume Earth 2 doppelgangers are the opposite of their Earth counterparts. Essentially, if Earth Dr. Wells was evil, then Earth 2 Dr. Wells should be good.

Well… it’s not that simple. Turns out Earth 2 Dr. Wells — let’s just call him Harry — is committed to stopping Zoom, which puts him squarely in the “good” column. As typical with any version of Wells, there’s some suspect behavior, which makes him potentially shady. Harry is also snarky, judgmental and rude. Overall, an A+ jerk. It’s awesome. The one line zingers alone make me a fan.  If I am supposed to hate him, well then, consider me a spectacular failure.

Sure, Harry outs Cisco as a metahuman, which is just wrong. Then he yells at Cisco, which is even MORE wrong. Nobody yells at Cisco. He’s the puppiest of all the puppies. But Harry’s firm belief that Barry is a better Flash than Garrick wins an enthusiastic thumbs up. Harry believes Barry should be teaching Jay, not the other way around. YES! Team Barry for the win! In fact, Harry makes Garrick look like a world-class chump. Harry gets to stay.

What’s my sudden problem with Jay Garrick? I don’t know.

The guy is just getting on my nerves. Perhaps it’s his ridiculous Flash suit (Sorry comic fans, but it is). Perhaps it’s because he’s constantly whining about losing his speed (Suck it up pal. Nobody cares). Or maybe it’s because he’s putting the moves on Caitlin Snow in the middle of a stake out! Keep your hands to yourself Garrick. That’s MRS. RAYMOND to you, fella, and she’s in mourning. All those in favor of Caitlin wearing all black, complete with veil, like Scarlett O’Hara, raise your hand? Good, we’re agreed. If my husband moved on this quickly, I’d haunt him. Amell needs to come back as Ghost Ronnie.

So, consider me pleased when Harry calls Garrick on his crap. Garrick admits to fearing Zoom, which is fine. It’s okay to be afraid. Healthy even. We all have something or someone we fear – a darkness inside that haunts us. Heroes face their fears though. Instead, Garrick turns tail and runs when Barry asks for his help facing Zoom. Ugh. Yes, Caitlin. You almost made out with the poor man’s Flash. Consider it a dodged bullet.

Barry’s been a bit darker this year, so it is nice to see him embrace the light in “The Darkness and The Light”. His sass is extra sassy, and he practically glows around Patty Spivot. The date, complete with blind Barry and nervous yet charming rambling, is a total win. In my notes I wrote, “Barry & Patty — I ship it. Crap.” Add another The Flash couple to the pile I already adore.

Also, purely for the hilarity, Cisco needs to monitor all of Barry’s dates from now on.

Unlike Garrick, Barry won’t let fear stop him from facing Zoom. Barry went through a crucible last year. Facing his greatest fear, the man who killed his mother, gives Barry confidence in the face of unbeatable odds. Barry’s been in the dark before. He knows he’ll find his way to the light no matter how terrible Zoom is.

Barry isn’t the only hero facing his fears. Cisco is afraid he’ll be like Wells if he gives in to his metahuman powers. When Harry challenges Cisco, it forces him to face his fears. Cisco is able to tap into his powers as Vibe, on command, for the first time. It’s how The Flash tracks Dr. Light. Cisco finally feels some control over his powers and embraces them in only the way he can… by requesting a code name. It’s fitting that Barry comes up with it.

Fears are a natural human emotion, but it is only by facing them that we find our way out of the dark. If any character on The Flash wants to be worthy of the title “hero”, then they must face the darkness inside.

Stray Thoughts…

• The Flash is on their A+ funny game in “The Darkness and The Light”. Favorite quotes:
• “It’s very strange to be reading your autobiography. Especially when you didn’t write it and it’s not about you.”
• “Our Wells might have been evil, but you’re just a dick.”
• “I know Zoom sent you here to kill me. Good news! You don’t have to do that.”
• “Her fiancé died because of him.” “Oh.”
• “I never thought I’d miss time travel.”
• Is Earth 2 suppose to be cheesier than Earth? If so… mission accomplished.
• I’m not calling our world Earth 1 because I live here. It’s just Earth.
• Someone needs to tell Patty the shark was not cool. Only kitten poker could have improved it (Name that Buffy episode!)
• Arrow already launched a successful spin-off, so The Flash is doing most of the heavy lifting for Legends of Tomorrow. Everyone wave hello to Hawkgirl, aka Kendra Saunders.
• Ah other timeline. Remember the other timeline? Iris and Barry make out in that timeline, but Cisco is also dead. Other timeline leaves me torn.
• Can Barry be blind every week? Not really, but you know what I mean. Blind Barry is the best.
• Iris thinks Patty is great. She thinks the date is great. She thinks Barry is great. Everything is great. Uh huh.
• Are we classifying Linda as an ex-girlfriend? Did Barry date her long enough to be a girlfriend?
• Does Iris get to be editor now?
• Is Harry a smoker on Earth 2? Because that is one raspy voice.
• Barry said “hero’. Everybody take a shot.

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

Jennifer Knutson

Wife, mother and TV enthusiast. She has a degree in Communications, a minor in English, a background in marketing, and a deep love for all story telling mediums. The TV obsession probably started from birth, but hit saturation level with Buffy The Vampire Slayer and hasn't dissipated since. She has a weakness for dark & twisty heroes and selfless love stories. When she's not working, raising her little human, or spending time with her spouse, she's writing, analyzing, tweeting, and obsessing about all things Arrow. You can check out her blog here: http://jbuffyangel.tumblr.com/ You can also follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jbuffyangel