The Flash Review: Welcome to Earth-2 (Season 2 Episode 13)

“Welcome to Earth-2” breathes some life into The Flash‘s lack luster second season. It’s doppelgängers galore, but who we didn’t see may unravel the season’s big mystery.

There are so many Easter eggs in “Welcome to Earth-2” it’s difficult to know where to begin! In an excellent promotion for their upcoming crossover, Barry zips past Supergirl. A Green Arrow appears who is not Oliver Queen, so I am choosing to blatantly ignore it. Floyd Lawton is back as Deadshot, but he can’t shoot. HA!  Barry also has an impressive contact list on his phone: Bruce, Diana, EDDIE and Hal. As a die hard Batman and Wonder Woman fan, my joy is real. It’s probably the closest we’ll ever get to a Bruce Wayne/Diana Prince guest appearance. I’ll take it.

Overall, it is a kick to see the doppelgängers. Iris is a detective and she’s married to Barry (because of course). Caitlin, Cisco and Ronnie became their comic book counterparts and Joe is a lounge singer. Anytime The Flash lets Jesse L. Martin sing it’s going to be a winning episode.

Best of all… Barry’s mom is alive. Cue the tears. The Flash never tires of giving Grant Gustin heart wrenching Mom scenes and the phone call ranks high. What is so extraordinary about the scene is how mundane and normal it is. Phone calls about Iris, grand babies, and thank you’s are everything Barry missed and so much more. Grant plays Barry’s intense joy over the unexpected gift of speaking with his mother against his deep sorrow perfectly.

After nearly a season apart, “Welcome to Earth-2” features Barry and Iris interacting for the entire episode. Miracles happen! However, it is the scene before Barry leaves for Earth 2 that is particularly telling. Iris is concerned Barry may stay on Earth 2. After the phone call with his mother it’s easy to understand why. She reminds Barry he is loved and has a wonderful life to come back to. Barry reassures Iris he loves her, Joe, his career and being The Flash. On the surface it is platonic endearments, but underneath there is something more.

While The Flash enjoys teasing Barry and Iris in alternate timelines and universes, eventually the time will come where they explore their romantic relationship in real-time. That time may be approaching faster than we think and it is fun to watch Barry and Iris enjoy domestic bliss on Earth-2. Still, it’s almost like skipping to the last chapter of a book. My preference is for The Flash to show us the journey rather than the destination.

Life on Earth-2 isn’t perfect. Joe hates Barry, which is just crazy-town and proof we’re in a different universe. Then, Joe dies and it is basically the worst thing that could ever happen. That’s your one, writers. No more killing Joe.

Caitlin, Ronnie and Cisco are Killer Frost, Deathstorm and Reverbe respectivelly and all super villains. It’s a kick! Surprisingly, I ship Caitlin and Ronnie even when they are evil. My love for them is real. So, you can understand my rage when The Flash kills Ronnie AGAIN. Killing Robbie on any universe is not okay and The Flash has done it three times. The CW owes me a new Robbie Amell show.

Killer Frost is an interesting change of pace for Danielle Pannabaker, who’s finally given something to do this season. The Flash‘s villains tend to be campy in nature and Killer Frost may be the campiest of them all. I adore how Pannabaker revels in the role. While there is a hint of Catwoman’s slink and Vampire Willow’s insanity-induced indifference, Pannabaker puts her own stamp on Killer Frost. Happily, she is the only one to survive Zoom’s rath. This means more Killer Frost without actually turning Caitlin Snow into her. Win-win.

I know my intense dislike of Jay Garrick is somewhat irrational. He’s not a bad guy. My only concrete objection is the speed in which Garrick moves in on Ronnie’s girl, but even that is personal perception. In general, Garrick annoys me on a basic level and, while I may lack concrete reasons, it is what it is. That said, after Jay saves Caitlin I did consider liking him for an episode.

Then, he spoke and my good will evaporated.

For an entire season, I listened to Garrick whine to Caitlin about how Zoom stole his speed. It’s literally all he’s talked about. It turns out Zoom didn’t. Garrick used Velocity 6, which took his speed and made him sick. But hey, that’s just details. WHAT? I don’t even care he uses Velocity 7 to save Central City in Barry’s absence. Garrick is a liar liar with his freaking pants on fire! Since I irrationally dislike him I’m going to irrationally withhold any forgiveness for lying to Caitlin.

The big season mystery is who is Zoom? He must have an Earth doppelgänger. The Flash eliminates most suspects by revealing their counterparts. There were only two characters we did not physically see on Earth-2. Barry’s father Henry and Jay Garrick. Barry’s Earth-2 phone contacts list “Mom and Dad,” so it’s possible Henry is eliminated.

Obviously, Jay Garrick is from Earth-2 and he is busy saving Earth when Zoom shows up. What about Garrick’s Earth doppelgänger? Is Hunter Zolomon Zoom? We know The Flash leans heavily on the comics and in the comics Hunter becomes Zoom. After “Welcome to Earth-2” doppelgängers galore, he’s is the prime suspect.

Stray Thoughts… 

• All my favs die on Earth-2 so I’m summarily rejecting it on principle.
• Killer Frost’s electric blue lipstick is almost as bad as Black Canary’s black lipstick. Lip color doesn’t have to reflect comic name. That’s not a thing.
• Why don’t the bad guys attack Barry at the same time? They take turns. It’s as illogical as monologuing.
• There is a universe where Iris’ parents and Barry’s parents are alive, double date and argue over who’s going to babysit the grandchildren.

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

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

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