The Flash Review: Death Falls (Season 8 Episode 13)

The Flash Season 8 Episode 13, “Death Falls,” is by far the most intense episode of the season thus far. With each member of Team Flash cornered by the ghosts of their past, they must counterattack their grief with the eternal power of love and happiness. 

The episode starts similarly to the past few episodes. Any given member of the team is shut off from the others while an apparition speaks unsavory memories to them. At first, I give a bit of an eye-roll because at this point it is getting a tad stale.

But this time, things are a little different. These imaginary demons are relentless. Everything Barry, Iris, or Chester say to combat them is met with even more sinister thoughts.

Deathstorm simply isn’t taking no for an answer. 

It turns out that Deathstorm is pulling out all the stops to emotionally destroy the team and transform Caitlyn into his bride. His loneliness has gotten to him, and he is not above playing the dirtiest of tricks or saying the most hurtful of words to get the job done.

What a suitable situation for the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month!

In real life, we don’t need a supervillain to remind us of all the evil and hurt we have caused others. We are perfectly capable of doing it ourselves.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve laid awake at night reliving the personal attacks I’ve thrown at friends, families, and even sometimes, strangers.

Being in my forties, I know I have at least ten years’ worth of baggage in this head of mine. All it takes is a moment of silence for one bad memory to seep out from between the cracks. 

Since The Flash isn’t your typical drama show, it is more interesting to put a face to the evil voices in Team Flash’s heads. This way they can have an actual battle, instead of just a mental one. 

And trust me, these battles are fierce!

Every mental punch Allegra, Sue, or Joe throw is deflected and given right back to them. Several times throughout the episode, I feel like I would just throw in the towel. Seriously, how much grief can one person take?

It takes some time, but our heroes finally realize that you can’t battle grief with bitterness — it has to be beaten with love.

The funny part is the constant onslaught of verbal abuse is what brings them to this point. Once driven to the edge of defeat, each team member makes peace with the situation. After that step is made, they can appreciate the lessons they learned during that time of turmoil. 

That appreciation becomes a sense of happiness within them, giving them the strength to carry on. This is similar to how you feel the day after being sick. Your energy and appetite return and the sun appears to shine brighter. 

The truth is without pain, loss, and grief, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy things like love, health, and prosperity. Each one of these attributes and emotions exists to verify our humanness. 

This is exactly why Deathstorm mentally aggravates Frost to a more extreme measure than the others. He knows that if he can convince her that she is only a mere copy of Caitlyn’s emotions, then she will lose the willpower to fight him. He knows she is the only one capable of defeating him. 

No matter who your enemy is at the moment, even if it is yourself, they can be overcome easier by love than hate. As the good book says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

It is easiest to return hate for hate, but what does that gain us? Certainly not understanding and appreciation. Nothing but more pain and consequences.

One by one, Team Flash overcomes Deathstorm’s tricks and manipulation, but it isn’t until Frost confronts the lies that she was told that she can transform into the best version of herself. 

Nora: Your legacy isn’t heroism, it’s heartbreak.

Like Frost, we can be beaten down by the lies we believe about ourselves. We aren’t good enough, strong enough, or even pretty enough. Lie, lie, lie.

If we can find it within ourselves to look past these lies, we can become the truest forms of ourselves once and for all. 

As Hellfrost and Deathstorm battle it out, I am at the edge of my seat. This new version of Frost is powerful but unfamiliar with her newfound strength. Deathstorm is an entity from the beginning of time — it’s easy to see which one would have the upper hand. 

With all their eggs in one basket, Team Flash watches as the two struggle for victory. It is a short, yet satisfying fight. There is ultimately a winner, but at what cost?

When the credits roll it is easy to see that Team Flash will never be the same. They have won the war, but the price is heftier than they ever could have imagined. 

Sadly, the ending of the episode takes us down a notch. For every moment the script uplifts us, it seems almost counterproductive with the way the ending tears us apart. 

I think the message could have been more worthwhile if we were left hanging until the next episode. Instead, we are left feeling hollow and overwhelmed with loss. 

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? How will the team recover from this loss? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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