The Flash Review: Dead Man Running (Season 6 Episode 3)
Third time’s the charm: The Flash Season 6 Episode 3, “Dead Man Running,” more than proves that this season is something special.
Let’s be honest, as a series, The Flash has had its fair share of ups and downs. Villains have been poorly conceived or sloppily executed. Fan favorite characters have disappeared from the canvas and major story arcs fizzled. Character development was an afterthought at best in some cases.
But Season 6 seems determined to address all our complaints about recent seasons. And then some.
The arrival of new showrunner Eric Wallace has been a shot in the arm for the show, as has its decision to focus on smaller, more manageable stories instead of 22-episode arcs.
And its balancing act, story-wise, is really something to behold.
This season of The Flash deftly weaves the upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover into the season’s larger story, facing the impending specter of Barry’s death and disappearance in each episode and reminding viewers of what’s coming.
But it’s also brought Caitlin and Killer Frost front and center at the same time, while strengthening Barry and Iris’ relationship in the wake of Nora’s disappearance, hinting at the arrival of Ralph’s soulmate Sue Dearborn and managing to find more for Cisco, Cecile and Joe to do than they’ve had in months.
Oh, and the show has also managed to introduce a new Big Bad in Ramsay Russo, who not only has a truly freaky set of powers, but who serves as an intriguing dark mirror for the place in which Barry finds himself.
It’s pretty great all told.
You’d think after however many years its been full of various Team Flash members putting themselves, their friends and the entire city in danger because of the fact that they love keeping secrets from one another, these people would learn to just tell the truth to each other.
But…you’d be wrong about that, as Barry and Iris immediately decide to stay silent on the whole death prophecy problem and leave literally everyone they care about in the dark, a move which is not only stupid on its face, but will undoubtedly come back to bite them when the actual “Crisis” rolls around.
Surely, they should know that by now? It’s only happened half a dozen times. As a trope, it’s more than a little tiring.
Much of this episode follows Barry and Frost as they struggle to trap down an undead metahuman who’s driven by the need to consume dark matter. Not entirely clear on the how or why of the whole “zombie” angle, but we haven’t had an episode where Grant Gustin and Danielle Panabaker have gotten to pair off in a while, and for the most part it’s a fun ride.
Sure, we’ve all seen some of this before — there’s literally no character on the show that hasn’t experienced one of this patented lessons about heroism and helping others. Now that Frost is trying to forge her own path in the world, it looks like it’s her turn.
But I’m always down for a training montage, and there’s something about Frost’s cynicism that pairs nicely with Barry’s relentless optimism. It’s why the fact that she figures out his “Crisis” secret makes so much sense.
The two of them as crime fighting parters is something I hope we see a lot more of as the season progresses.
So much of this season of The Flash feels as though it’s about Barry – and, in a way, the show itself — stepping into the role of the elder statesman of the Arrowverse.
With Arrow ending and star Stephen Amell hanging up his hood in just a few short months, someone has to take on the mantle of grizzled, wise Arrowverse veteran and at the moment, it doesn’t feel that role could go to anyone other than Barry.
Honestly, watching this season, it feels as though the role was destined for Barry, who is facing the prospect of his impending death with all the brave grace we could have ever expected from him.
In many ways, it feels like The Flash characters are all truly growing up this season, facing a world with challenges and dangers they can’t control and may or may not be prepared for.
But I can’t wait to see what the show looks like when they’re done.
Stray Thoughts and Observations
- As much as I’ve personally come to enjoy Ralph Dibny over the past year, I cannot tell you how much I don’t care about this weird subplot with his mom about how she’s apparently told him that every boyfriend she ever had…died? What is wrong with this woman?
- Wait, wait, Ramsay’s power is literally controlling blood?? Y I K E S.
- Killer Frost’s birthday party! I can’t! It’s so cute!
- “Dead Man Running” also introduces our latest incarnation of Harrison Wells, this time a multi-dimensional treasure hunter with a distinct Indiana Jones vibe. I already like him better than Sherloque.
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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Lacy Baugher
Lacy is a pop culture enthusiast and television critic who loves period dramas, epic fantasy, space adventures, and the female characters everyone says you're supposed to hate. Ninth Doctor enthusiast, Aziraphale girlie, and cat lady, she's a member of the Television Critics Association and Rotten Tomatoes-approved. Find her at LacyMB on all platforms.