The Flash Review: Armageddon Part 5 (Season 8 Episode 5)

As this spectacular event comes to a close, Barry and his friends face a major moral dilemma. Should they save Thawne from fading from the timeline, or do they simply stand aside? The choice is all up to them.

The Flash Season 8 Episode 5, “Armageddon Part 5,” covers a theme that is very familiar to the show — choices. Every decision we make ultimately shapes our lives one way or another. Our character is defined in these moments.

I’ll admit it, when The Flash Season 8 Episode 4 ended, I didn’t see a real point in having an additional chapter to the event. Things were tied up fairly nicely. Thawne’s plans were thwarted, and the original timeline was restored.

Smile, sing a happy song, and roll credits. Nothing more to see here.

I’m sure I would have been just fine without giving things any additional thought. After all, there are always some dangling threads of plotlines hanging out somewhere — especially in a superhero show.

But alas, I was wrong. This ending is much more glorious than simply defeating a villain.

When the episode begins with Thawne nearly begging Team Flash to save him, things get extremely interesting. His desperation seeps through his words and actions, but that doesn’t mean each one of his moves isn’t calculated.

The thing that strikes me as funny is that Barry doesn’t hesitate. He knows he is the hero and that he is in the lifesaving business. Right is right, even in the most perilous of circumstances. 

It isn’t until Thawne begins to reveal his manipulative games that the tables begin to turn on him. 

Reminding Caitlin of everything she lost is a low blow for even Thawne. How can he think that insulting one of his would-be saviors could be a step in the right direction? At the least, it could disrupt her thought process causing her to take more time to solve the problem. 

This gives us a great view of Thawne’s psyche, though. He truly believes that Team Flash is a group of goody-two-shoes without a reason to stray from their moral compass. This proves to be a weakness for Thawne in the end.

If only Thawne would give them space to think and sort out all the odds and ends, things wouldn’t have to happen the way they do. Team Flash would have more options. 

Unfortunately for Thawne, he can’t help but meddle. He is like a child pushing every button in the elevator just to see what happens. 

His actions change the team’s mind making them reevaluate the situation. Sure, they can play the whole hero card saving anyone who cries for help, or they could let Thawne’s consequences catch up to him.

Joe: You always have a choice!

I’m surprised that no one ends up pointing out how many lives will be saved by letting Thawne die, but maybe there just isn’t enough time to explore this aspect. It is one of the very few things that bother me about the episode as it wraps. Letting Thawne fade from existence would save countless lives and thousands of dollars in property damage. 

This would be the idea that would give me pause. Not his actions that were already reversed, but the crimes he will commit in the future. Every injury on bystanders would feel as though they were inflicted by my hand. 

Instead, Joe steps in as the voice of reason. He reminds Barry and Iris of what they already know. No matter how much Thawne deserves to die, they mustn’t allow it to happen out of pure negligence. 

Just like in real life, even the right answers can come with consequences. Their decision to prevent Thawne’s death cements Despero as a villain against Barry. He will not stand aside and let them destroy the planet by keeping Thawne alive.

We tend to think that if we do the right thing, everything will work out in the end. Sadly, that is far from the truth. Our best intentions go awry, oftentimes hurting someone else along the way. 

Despero uses every weapon in his wheelhouse to force Barry and his friends into a different way of thinking, but now their minds have been made up, and they will not stray from their convictions. We would do well to learn from them. Simply put, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. 

As a whole, this event has been one hell of a ride. Multiple team-ups, a handful of villains, and the rewriting of time itself prove that The Flash hasn’t yet lost its spark.

Things were looking a bit sketchy during Season 7, but this event has done much to break up all the monotony. Hopefully, our favorite speedster will stay on track giving us all the adventure we signed up for so many years before. 

Although a majority of the guest stars never really added too much, it is great to see familiar faces lending a hand if only momentarily. It helps expand the combined universe which they took much effort in creating. 

The same can also be said about the side stories. Allegra and Chester’s budding relationship may make for some semi-interesting foreshadowing, but a little more exploration into Despero’s origin may have been a better use of time. 

In the end, I’m just nitpicking here. This event more than makes up for the absence of last year’s crossover and nearly makes amends for the travesty that was Crisis on Infinite Earths.

If everyone involved in the Arrowverse takes notice of this event, maybe we can finally get back to the awesomeness we once had.

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? How long will it be before Thawne makes his return? 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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