The Flash Review: The Last Temptation of Barry Allen Part One (Season 6 Episode 7)
It’s difficult to evaluate The Flash Season 6 Episode 7, “The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Part One,” on its own merits.
The episode is so clearly a piece of a larger story, and so much of it is exposition of the situation in which Barry finds himself, as well as the choice in front of him, that it feels unfinished. Because it is.
But it’s such an amazing showcase for star Grant Gustin that it’s hard to be too upset that right up until the ending twist the story feels kind of like it’s pulling its punches.
At least the revelation of zombie-eyed Dark Barry fully lands, and the image of The Flash kneeling before new master Bloodwork is disturbing enough to stick with us until next week when, presumably, we’ll get the rest of this story.
Gustin, though, is honestly such a remarkable performer. It’s rare that we get an episode that shows off that fact quite so well as this one, which allows him to play rage, desperation, hope, despair, and resignation all in the same hour.
And, well, Barry crying always me want to cry, is what I’m saying.
This episode with the Biblical-sounding title is certainly Barry’s Gethsemane, as he begs the universe to let him not have to suffer the ending that “Crisis” has promised.
It’s particularly heartbreaking, given how stoic and strong Barry has been about this up until his point, counseling and comforting his friends over the prospect of his own death.
But it’s a moment that’s long overdue.
And that’s why the fact that Barry so strongly considers — and eventually chooses — aligning with Ramsey. At the end of the day, he just doesn’t want to die. He doesn’t want to leave Iris, their future daughter and everyone he loves.
It’s just so darn human, even if we all know that things will inevitably be reversed somehow next week.
The flaw in this story, however, is that it revolves around yet another anthropomorphization of the Speed Force. Which is clunky and weird at the best of times, and downright bad at worst.
This, quite frankly, is pretty terrible.
We’ve been down this path before, and no matter how much great work Grant Gustin puts forth, it can’t overcome the fact that there’s really no way to argue that the Speed Force is either demonstrably good or particularly interested in Barry’s well-being. Certainly beyond how it can use him for its own end.
The Speed Force, as we’ve known it thus far, is kind of a jerk. Putting Barry’s mom’s face on it for an extended amount of time doesn’t change that.
But when the alternative is Bloodwork, well. Suddenly we all feel a lot kinder towards the Speed Force, I guess.
The other thing that’s weird about “The Last Temptation of Barry Allen” is that it’s also clearly the end of Ramsay Russo’s story — but it also sort of feels like his reign of villainy only just got started.
There’s a lot of loose ends to tie up regarding this character and only an hour left to do it. Because one has to assume that once “Crisis on Infinite Earths” kicks off, that’s probably the last we’ll see of Bloodwork.
Even Ramsey himself points out that he didn’t appear in any of Barry’s visions of the future after all.
So how Bloodwork’s story can possibly be wrapped up in the limited amount of time left in this piece of the story is…well, let’s just say I’m concerned. Prove me wrong, The Flash.
Stray Thoughts and Observations
- Props to Iris for figuring out immediately that Barry wasn’t Barry.
- First let me say that I’m thrilled that The Flash seems to want to give the all-girl trio of Iris, Allegra and Kamilla their own plotlines at the Citizen. I want more of this – just a better version of it. (Maybe we’re all just going to have to accept that the CW doesn’t understand what journalism actually is?)
- It’s honestly great that Iris is (maybe?) finally sorting out some of her emotional issues about Barry’s impending death in “Crisis”. But the idea that the show decided to play this out by having her talk to Allegra, a character we’ve all known for five minutes, versus Joe, Cisco or, heck, Barry himself, is WILD.
- Loved Allegra’s reaction to the fact that Kamilla knew Barry was The Flash, though. Sorry, girl, everyone knows.
- Remember when Iris used to refer to The Flash as The Streak? Memories….
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.
One thought on “The Flash Review: The Last Temptation of Barry Allen Part One (Season 6 Episode 7)”
They really have not dealt with Iris pain and struggle and fear of losing Barry. Everyone else has which is strange for this couple. It’s as if she has no real feelings about what is happening. Also to skip the Joe/Iris and Barry talk and for what, we could do without KF anxiety attack. I don’t know but they are loosing views bc they miss the WA content. What could they be thinking although GG was amazing.
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