The Flash Review: Paradox (Season 3 Episode 2)
Barry lies and schemes his way through his uncomfortable new reality until an old voice sits him down for some corned beef hash and Dawson’s Creek.
“Paradox” explores the full consequences of last week’s revelations that things weren’t exactly where Barry left them after his three month vacation. He visits professional B.S. detector and the queen of common sense, Felicity Smoak, to ask for advice on setting right what once went wrong.
The events of this episode aren’t as catastrophically eye-rolling as the season premiere, though there are a lot more important bombshells dropped here that pale in comparison to the news that Iris and Joe aren’t speaking, namely: Cisco’s brother is dead, Sara Diggle has been erased from history, Draco Malfoy is employed by CCPD (and has been for over a year), and Caitlin is beginning her Queen Elsa-ficiation.
That Caitlin is finally getting a storyline that has nothing to do with some himbo-of-the-week is such a relief and, frankly, far more exciting than anything else The Flash could dream up at this point.
Seeing an ally and best friend become a villain is one of the most heartbreaking tales to watch and whether she goes the Willow Rosenberg route—turns evil, hurts people, goes to rehab in England—or the Grant Ward route and stays evil forever, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that we’ll be closely monitoring every heart-wrenching moment.
Barry, meanwhile, remains the hard-headed loner that gives The Flash its forward momentum. His refusing to tell anyone that the timeline has changed is a dick move for sure, but rather than living with the lie like a normal human, or even telling them the truth from the get-go, he chooses to surreptitiously manipulate his friends into adopting the circumstances of his previous timeline.
At this point, everyone in this reality only knows this reality, so Barry’s attempts at “fixing” this world come off as earnest but incredibly self-involved; he’s only seeing things from his point of view. Think about it: if your best friend, a known time-traveler, told you that they went to a world where you and your father are on speaking terms, you’d shrug and be like, “that’s nice, I guess.”
Iris, Cisco, and everyone else don’t know any other truth but the one they’ve experienced. For Barry to go back and “fix” it is hubristic, a sentiment captured perfectly during the the diner date with dead dad’s doppleganger.
Jay Garrick: We’re not gods. We’re men who for whatever reason have been given extraordinary abilities.
Since Barry discovered time travel, this god-level ability, he’s had a bit of a chip on his shoulder about the fact that he can’t play with it as much as he’d like. Everyone, from Iris to Dr. Wells to the woefully-underused time wraiths, tells Barry that time isn’t something to be trifled with, a lesson Barry refuses to learn (and even admits as much to Jay).
So here’s hoping that we let go of time travel for a bit and get to sit back and watch some stories in a world without a reset button. Y’know, a world with consequences.
Bechdel Test Score: U
Not only did the only two females not speak to each other, The Flash effectively erased another female from existence. RIP, Sara Diggle. You never stood a chance on this show.
Husks
- Felicity’s small “no” when Barry’s shockwave messes up her papers is everything you need to know about why she’s the realistic kind of amazing.
- “Man, I hate when that happens.”
- “Everyone likes pudding.” I’m more of a custard fan myself.
- Did Barry get his CSI job from nepotism? Draco Malfoy walked into his crime scene and actually, y’know, investigated while Barry stood by with his mouth hanging open.
- Poor Wally was left at the dinner table while the rest of Team Flash sped off.
- Edward Clariss lived in a world where the only speedsters were he and Wally. If only.
- I need that clear dry-erase board in my apartment to explain to my roommates why they can’t eat my food and replace it with a completely different brand.
- Barry was a little condescending when telling Cisco to accept things and move on. You were trying to alter time itself five minutes go, Barry! Let that man grieve over his dead brother, ya uppity bastard.
- If Iris weren’t around, nothing would ever get done. She’s been Barry’s number one fan/psychiatrist since day one and she doesn’t get enough credit for it.
- So many people know Flash’s secret identity that Tom Felton’s I’m-going-to-find-out-who-you-are character is almost pointless.
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The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8/9c on The CW.
James A. Windley
James A. Windley, Writer, Virgo, Loaded couch potato. James' love of television began at the intersection when Saturday morning cartoons met to Xena: Warrior Princess syndications, and his head has been a mess ever since. He loves superheroes, drama (in life, not television), and misses when very special episodes were a thing.