The Flash Review: Invincible (Season 2 Episode 22)

In a Flash episode entitled “Invincible” it’s a guarantee somebody is going to die. Sadly, the “shocking” death is not remotely shocking, but it is a necessary one.

Zoom kills Henry Allen. We knew it was coming. Sometimes I wish The Flash wouldn’t telegraph their punches so much. They are absolutely terrified the audience won’t get it.

Trust us, we do. Henry had “Dead Man Walking” stamped on his head since the premiere. Barry has THREE father figures. That’s too many.

Sure, The Flash made me think “maybe Joe” for an episode, but then I got real. It’s not a slight on John Wesley Shipp because I’m sorry to see him go.

Henry Allen is the least visible character of the three, but delivers the emotional punch. In the words of Rachel Greene, he “lifts right out.”

Zoom believes he and Barry are the same, but Barry was protected from the horrors Zoom suffered. To Zoom, the nurturer makes the man not the nature.

I did agree a little bit with Zoom in “Invincible.”

It’s alarming when you agree with a sociopath, but hear me out. The writers said from the beginning that while Oliver Queen and Barry Allen seem different, they are actually very similar.

Both Oliver and Barry are light and dark. The difference is, Oliver’s light is underneath his darkness. Whereas, Barry’s darkness is underneath his light. Oliver’s journey is about discovering the light within, whereas Barry must eventually face his darkness.

Zoom can see Barry’s anger deep inside, “You think your anger is dirty somehow. You want to be seen as pure. The hero.”

Zoom is dropping evil truth bombs. Barry does judge those who struggle with darkness *cough*OliverQueen*cough* while ignoring his own.

Barry suffered, but Joe and Iris were like a protective shield around his light. The way he became a hero is very different as well. Barry was given powers. He wasn’t sent to hell. It impacts his hero evolution.

Barry Allen does have the same anger as Oliver Queen.  Zoom wants Barry to tap into it, so he becomes a villain, but that’s not the point.

Barry must tap into the anger, so he no longer hides from his darkness. Once Barry accepts his darkness it will no longer have power over him. He’ll evolve into the hero he’s destined to become.

Essentially, Henry Allen is to Barry what Moira Queen is to Oliver. The Flash tries to create a similar trauma to what Oliver experienced for Barry, but it falls short of Slade Wilson’s nightmarish choice.

Perhaps, it’s because the death is so anticipated. Maybe it’s because Henry isn’t a series regular like Moira. Or because Zoom is an uneven character compared to the menacing, and sometimes sympathetic, Slade Wilson.

While The Flash tried to connect Barry and Jay it pales in comparison to the rise and fall of Oliver and Slade’s friendship.

After his experience with the Speed Force, Barry is acting like he just saw God, because… that’s basically what happened. His new invincible attitude is giving everyone the wiggins. Everyone is warning Barry the stakes are high.

Barry’s confidence and faith deepened from his Speed Force experience, but he’s ignoring a crucial piece of advice . Yes, the “universe” is with Barry, but his mother (aka the Speed Force aka God) told Barry that won’t stop bad things from happening.

It’s an important lesson we can apply to our own lives. Just because we experience loss doesn’t mean the universe, or God, or whatever your spiritual belief is, has abandoned you.

Our darkest moments often make us reach towards the light. Loss is as much a part of humanity as joy is. A superhero represents the best of humanity, but they must face the worst to evolve into that.

As painful as Henry’s death is it will force Barry to confront his darkness. It will make him a better man. It will make him a better hero.

Black Siren’s appearance in an episode where The Flash examines invincibility seems more than coincidence. The primary argument for Laurel Lance not dying on Arrow was, “She’s the Black Canary.” In other words… Laurel Lance is invisible. As both Arrow and The Flash prove, she is not.

The Flash went out of their way to reiterate Laurel Lance is dead. Black Siren said it. Caitlin said it. Cisco couldn’t stop seeing dead birds.

Even Barry refuses to contact Quentin or Sara Lance about Laurel’s doppelgänger. The “THIS DOES NOT IMPACT ARROW” message is coming in loud and clear.

I did enjoy Katie Cassidy’s Black Siren, but that’s not surprising. I’ve enjoy so many of Cassidy’s other villanous portrayals.

I am stunned Black Siren didn’t show until 30 minutes into “Invincible. It felt like The Flash was checking off the few remaining Black Canary requests (a metahuman cry and a costume much closer to her comic book counterpart.)

Black Siren has very little real impact to the plot. She ends up in the pipeline, but that’s where all metahumans go. Perhaps, The Flash leaves the door open for Cassidy’s return, but I didn’t see a future arc in “Invincible.”

Zoom drops Caitlin off, which is good because Team Flash didn’t have a rescue plan. Caitlin suffers from some serious Oliver Queen level PTSD, but I don’t see the trauma in her time with Zoom. He basically just talked to her to death.

I never liked the Jay/Caitlin romance because it felt too fast after Ronnie. Caitlin being destroyed over a guy she kissed a couple of times is a hard sell for me. Did they even go on a date?

Caitlin handled her husband’s death better. TWICE. Rather than show me Jay and Caitlin’s deep connection, The Flash just continues just to tell me. As a result, Caitlin’s emotional spiral is falling flat for me.

Stray Thoughts

• There are lots of ways Wally can be a hero without fighting metahumans. Dude, you have no powers. Deal with it.
• Caitlin saying they loved Laurel is another false emotional moment. The two characters never spoke. Nobody from The Flash went to the funeral except for Barry. Cisco should have said the line. He’s the only one from The Flash with a real connection to Laurel.
• I cannot believe they made Katie Cassidy say the “Bye Bye Birdie” line. The Arrow fandom is going to want writing credit for their Twitter tagline.

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

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

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