The Flash Review: Armageddon Part 2 (Season 8 Episode 2)

The Flash Season 8 Episode 2, “Armageddon Part 2,” examines the effects stress has on our mental health. Barry withstands a lot of loss throughout the episode, which takes a major toll on him and the rest of the team.

As the episode begins, Barry rushes to a crime scene where a guard has gone temporarily insane. Already being warned of mental instability by Despero, Barry is intrigued by the case. But before he can sink his claws into the evidence, Kristen Kramer stops Barry in his tracks.

Kramer informs Barry that he is suspended from the CCPD due to being under investigation. This is Barry’s first loss of the episode. 

Losing your job is a big deal. Having no source of income to provide for your family is enough to send many people into a downward spiral. At least once a year, we hear about someone getting laid off and then coming back to shoot up the building. 

A quick Google search reveals that 453 people died due to workplace violence in 2018, that doesn’t even include the 20,790 that were injured. I have to assume half of these violent acts were caused by someone who didn’t care about what they did for a living — imagine what kind of turmoil a person who loves their job would be going through. 

As we know, Barry Allen is practically married to his job. It isn’t just a food source for him, but a way to better serve Central City as The Flash. With the suspension of his privileges, Barry is seriously sidelined in every way imaginable. While it is a stressful situation, Barry tries to stay positive.

He knows that there has to be something going on behind the scenes that he doesn’t know about. Staying positive and on task can keep us from twisting reality into some sort of dark web. Sticking to the facts will help us remain grounded when the world turns upside down. 

Before Barry can get too far into his underground detective work, he gets a call concerning Star Labs. The whole place is being shut down. 

Barry: We got to have faith. Not just in me, but in each other.

After a fair amount of questioning, Barry learns that there is some sort of undetected radiation leak in the building. It hasn’t amounted to much yet, but if not dealt with things could become pretty hairy for Central City. The only way to prevent this fallout is to quarantine the building and dismantle it. 

Ouch! Team Flash’s home away from home is being taken away from them. This lab isn’t just some random hang-out for them — it is their scientific sanctuary. 

This loss on top of the other one makes it twice as devastating. It doesn’t only affect Barry, but the rest of his friends as well. This must seem like a total deprivation of power. 

Barry, Iris, Allegra, Caitlin, or Chester can’t do anything to stop the destruction of Star Labs. They only have to live with it.

Being scientists, they know the seriousness of a radiation leak. All they can do is pack their bags and go. 

At this moment, it would be easy to admit defeat. Nearly every resource Barry has at his disposal has been confiscated from him, snatched up right from underneath him. But Barry refuses to draw a line in the sand. 

Instead, Team Flash picks up all the remaining pieces and carries on. In these moments, this is all you can do. 

We win some, and we lose some. The trick is to not let your losses defeat you. Grab what you can, and carry it to a safe place. 

Nobody truly wants to rebuild. It is a difficult process that will take tons of time. Honestly, it will never be the same, but there isn’t much alternative. 

Not everything goes as planned. Barry begins to act out of sorts, bringing him under the watchful eyes of his friends.

Caitlin, Chester, and Allegra confront Barry about his dangerous actions. Lashing out during these critical situations isn’t uncommon, but keeping your friends close by to call you out is never a bad idea. 

Team Flash arm themselves against Barry and guide him back to his safe place. That is when it is revealed that maybe many of these issues are being set in place by a meta named Zotar. 

Unfortunately, everyone places their belief in Zotar being the ultimate enemy. Her superpowers affect her victim’s mental stability, so she must be the culprit.

In life, it is rare for all your eggs to fit into one basket. If something sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. Being a weekly television show, we are led to not think too much about it, but we are sideswiped just as much as Team Flash is when Barry’s final loss is revealed.

Losing your job and sanctuary in one day is a lot to take in. It is enough to send anyone reeling into despair, drinking, or whatever vice you favor. But neither of these losses compete with death. 

Nothing compares to losing a loved one.

Everywhere you look, you are reminded of them. A song comes on the radio, and you are immediately transported back to their side. Even walking past their favorite restaurant can sour your stomach. 

Barry feels all this suffering simultaneously, but the pain is magnified by confusion. 

When did this death take place? Who or what caused it?

The questions multiply on top of each other, giving Barry no answers — only fear. 

His friends and family all look at him with confusion. How can he not remember? He was there right beside us.

Barry experiences a sense of betrayal. Worst of all, it is a betrayal of his own mind. 

When everything goes wrong, we tend to rely solely on ourselves, pushing others away and taking the road less traveled. It may not be the healthiest coping mechanism, but it is something we all choose at least once in our lifetime.

Like Barry, we eventually prove unreliable to ourselves. We must shut off our selfishness and reach out for our greatest source of strength. For some that strength is religion, to others, it is a therapist, to Barry, it is Black Lightning.

Yeah, you read that right, Black Lightning.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love Black Lightning. Season 3 was an absolute masterpiece. However, Barry choosing this particular person seems quite odd. 

Although they have run into each other a handful of times, it never seems as though they made any kind of special connection. Barry and Jefferson never seemed to be anything more than acquaintances. 

Nonetheless, Barry does the right thing. He reaches beyond his realm of everyday companions and approaches someone removed from the situation. 

Jefferson will be able to look at things more objectively than Iris or Cecil can. He is in no way affected by this death, so his views will not be skewed by emotion. He can give a less biased opinion and help Barry in ways his immediate friends may be blinded to.

I challenge you to do the same. 

Overall, this episode is quite exciting. The plot paces much more quickly than in the last episode, keeping us on our toes until the credits roll.

The idea of The Flash going insane and taking down the world is rather intriguing. Unfortunately, we are never fully convinced that this will happen. This isn’t the dark and somber Arrow, after all. 

The Flash’s lighter tone never fails to give us hope even in the gloomier story arcs. We know everything will turn out just fine, but we stay excited for the road to recovery.

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? Who is really behind this mischief unraveling in Barry’s life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Gift Ideas for TV Lovers