The Flash Review: Shade (Season 3 Episode 6)

The Flash faces his worst enemy yet: the consequences his decisions have on his family.

The Flash Season 3 Episode 6, “Shade,” is very much about the journey of Flash’s supporting characters without whom many of his successes could not have happened.

For having an entire episode named after him, and his far more substantial characterization in the comics (he literally controls darkness), Shade is probably one of the most throwaway villains the Flash has ever faced. His weakness: fog lights.

Cisco: What did he do? Side-eye his enemies?

But like his role in Alchemy’s plan, Shade is a distraction from the other storylines happening in this episode and provide The Flash with its network-mandated villain-of-the-week while we get to explore what’s going on with the rest of the Flash family in the wake of Flashpoint.

“Shade” is the story of two people struggling to understand their powers and what they should do with them, something we’ve never gotten a chance to see with anyone but Barry (and Jesse, who actually adapted quite quickly).

While Wally wants powers more than anything, to go zooming through Central City as a hero, Caitlin would love to go back to being mousy Dr. Snow who keeps her head down and goes on about her work.

[Un]fortunately, thanks to Barry’s meddling with the time line, normal is not an option to which either of them can return ever again.

We first begin with Wally, who is having fantastical dreams about zipping across the city in his Kid Flash gear saving little girls from the laws of Darwinism. As it turns out, these aren’t dreams, but memories similar to what Alchemy’s other victims experienced right before their transition to their Flashpoint personas.

And Joe is having none of it.

During their argument, Wally brings up a valid point, that Joe’s reluctance to allow one son to become a superhero is a bit hypocritical when the other son has been doing that very thing for the last three years.

So what’s the real reason, Joe?

From the moment Wally appeared in the show, he’s been very vocal in his goal to be a hero a la the Flash. In fact, unlike Barry, who accepted his role as Central City’s savior with a bit of trepidation and a sense of duty, Wally is downright gleeful about the prospect of saving lives.

Joe’s unwillingness to accept this more than likely comes from the same place as his hesitance to go on a date with Cecile: it’s too much change too quickly. All this change comes at a time when he (and the rest of the audience) was/were just getting used to the status quo of Barry—and only Barry—putting himself in harm’s way.

And then there’s Caitlin, doing everything she can to stop her powers from manifesting, literally cuffing herself to keep her evil alter-ego at bay. Like Joe, Caitlin is understandably afraid of the future.

Having dealt with metahumans for the past three years, Caitlin is wary of becoming one herself. Outside of Barry and Cisco, there have been few good examples of a metahuman fighting crime, and, as Julian pointed out on the previous episode, using their powers for the greater good.

But it’s entirely possible for Caitlin to be the exception and this is hopefully something that Advice Barry (the best Barry) can convince her of.

Then again, she gave Barry quite the subtle death glare upon finding out that her powers are a result of his selfish time-traveling. So we shall see.

Bechdel Test Score: U

Iris does address Caitlin and Caitlin responds. However, they aren’t talking directly to each other as there are several other people in the conversation.

Cisco’s Pop Culture References

• “Did you just neuralyze us?” alludes to a device in Men in Black used to erase people’s short term (or long term) memories.
• H.R.’s “Patience” poem is a children’s poem by Anna M. Pratt:

If a string is in a knot,
Patience will untie it.
Patience can do many things—
Did you ever try it?

If it was sold at any shop
I should like to buy it.
But you and I must find our own—
No other can supply it.

–Anna M. Pratt

Sonic Booms

• Two steps forward, one step back. Julian is inexplicably still a jerk despite completely opening up to Barry on the last episode.
• Ironically, I respect Barry’s decision to not tell anyone about their pre-Flashpoint identities unless they asked. Unfortunately, like everything else, that comes back to bite him.
• Cisco has to be, like, selectively blind to not see those giant ass cuffs on Caitlin. Even sleeves couldn’t hide them.
• Cecile has an 18-year-old daughter. Can we meet her, please? This show desperately needs more women. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned that.
• “There is no Flash without Iris West.” Hopefully this conversation isn’t just lip service and actually foreshadows some more Iris-centric storylines.
• Cisco’s hacking into car computer is one of the more scientifically dubious ideas. That assumes that everyone in Central City has, like, post-2005 cars.
• I’m glad Caitlin called Cisco out for exposing her secret without her permission. Shame on you, Cisco.
• Over the summer, the producers of the Arrowverse teased that a character on either The Flash or Supergirl would be exploring their sexuality. The previous bulletpoint proves that The Flash currently isn’t capable of handling a storyline with that level of nuance.
• They stole the power-granting cocoon from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• I hope Savitar is the actual God of speed and not just another speedster because, God, we do not need more of those.

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? Do you think this show’s version of Savitar is evil or just some chaotic neutral god who’s had it with Barry’s antics? 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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