The Flash Review: Into the Still Force (Season 8 Episode 15)

With all the negative emotions currently surrounding the Flash, he is feeling a sense of self-doubt. These emotions get him in a predicament that he may have otherwise avoided. It isn’t until he rediscovers faith in himself that he can break the endless loop he is stuck in.

The Flash Season 8 Episode 15, “Into the Still Force,” opens up with Barry searching the entire city for his wife. His negligence in protecting her from this time sickness weighs heavily on him. 

We all have goals and duties in life. Brush your teeth, walk the dog, and hopefully get a little exercise in along the way. 

Once we get married or find a partner, these priorities can change to center around another person. Giving them enough attention, helping them meet their daily goals, and finding enough time to cuddle. 

When all these wants and needs combine, things can start to feel pretty hefty. After all, there is only so much time in the day. 

Eventually, one or two things go out the window and we feel like a complete failure. 

For Barry, his lack of looking after Iris during her time of need is crushing. I know I’d most likely feel the same given the circumstances.

Now that she is missing, Barry has to place everything aside to bring her back home. The only problem is that he cannot do it alone. He needs Dion’s assistance. 

Normally, Barry would configure a well-thought-out plan before leaping into action, but his self-doubt tells him to rely solely on everything Dion tells him. 

The problem is that Dion has been infected with Iris’ time sickness also. Although he means well, Dion can’t be thinking clearly. His world has been turned upside down, and he is acting on emotions instead of logic.

Typically two heads are better than one, but when both minds are being affected negatively, they make chaos instead of peace. 

Joe uses his voice to try and reason with Barry. He acts as a surrogate to Barry’s instincts. 

Unfortunately, Barry heeds no warning and jumps headfirst into the Still Force alongside Dion. Things get twisted quickly — leaving them both in a world of pain.

This is an excellent metaphor for what our world can look like when our minds are out of order: past, present, and future run together. People around us appear different than how they are. 

To be honest, the world becomes quite terrifying. 

Dion: Welcome to the Still Force — what’s left of it.

Dion and Barry do their best to track down Iris, but they keep getting sidetracked. An image of Allegra with a co-worker and an appearance of Tinya’s mother force their focus elsewhere. Barry’s sense of selflessness lures him away from the big picture. 

When we are weak, it is easy to become divided. Our attention span crumbles, and we focus on the minute details instead of what it all means. 

Yes, Barry could take the time to search for Renee. It almost seems like a good idea. But if he keeps his attention on finding Iris, the entire puzzle can be solved. 

We have to weigh our options and lean in the direction that would likely resolve the most problems simultaneously. 

Unfocused, Barry falls into one pitfall after another until he is completely trapped. His self-doubt has put him in a corner, leaving him nowhere else to go. 

This is simply called suffering. We relive the same moment over and over again in our heads — unable to escape our incorrect decisions. We know exactly what led us here but are clueless as to what can lead us back out.

Enter Nora.

Nora represents hope. Not empty and wishful thinking, but actual hope. 

She is a glimpse of good things to come, the product of positive achievements. 

When we are at our lowest, God gives us these glimpses of what we can achieve once we get past our hardships. All we need to do is have faith. 

Dion is used as the god-like figure in this episode. Although not all the actions he takes are understood, Dion places Nora in Barry’s path at exactly the right time. When all signs point to giving up, you are faced with the ultimate choice — surrender to your circumstances or surrender to God. 

Nora’s voice is the vessel to rebuild Barry’s faith. It breaks through the layers of doubt covering Barry. Through experience, she knows what to say to make the most impact. 

I’m sure there is someone in your life who can do the same. All you need to do is listen. 

Break down each word they say to you and look for the overarching theme. Chances are they are only telling you what you already know. 

This episode covers a rather hefty topic but doesn’t seem to do much to advance the plot. Barry breaks free from what is holding him back, yet he only ends up in the same place at the end of the episode. This isn’t to say he isn’t wiser from everything that unfolds though.

Chester and Allegra’s side story doesn’t add up to much. It feels like there is a chunk of the plot lying somewhere on the editing floor. I can’t say that I’m disappointed though, the two have done very little to excite me lately.

As this season begins to make its way towards the finale, I look back on how far we’ve come. Honestly, it seems like a jumbled mess.

I miss the days when The Flash had a season-long arc with some fillers thrown in for good measure. Now we are only getting a handful of episodes with a lukewarm ending before launching somewhere completely different. Hopefully, the finale can reign it all in together in some masterpiece worthy of all the praises — somehow I highly doubt it. 

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? Will Nora return before the finale? 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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