The Flash Season 9 Episode 9 Review: It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To

Oliver Queen returns to the streets of Central City bringing us a more satisfying conclusion to our favorite green vigilante than what we originally received. His final team-up with Barry also brings the shot of adrenaline Season 9 so desperately needs.

On The Flash Season 9 Episode 9, “It’s My Party And I’ll Die And If I Want To,” Barry is celebrating his 30th birthday once again. As we all know, birthdays bring about old memories, and with memories come regrets. 

Throughout the series, Team Flash has lost many members and friends to death. Oliver Queen, Frost, and Ronnie Raymond are just a few names that jump to mind when we count the heroes we have lost. But like Barry says, “I got three extra years for fighting a mad scientist.”

This is what we call survivor’s guilt, and I imagine every hero has it.

Barry fights with these ideas throughout the episode, punishing himself for the lives taken in his presence, but he isn’t the only one strolling down memory lane. Wally’s ever-present struggle to reach complete enlightenment brings him down a dark path that Bloodwork uses to his advantage. 

As we all know, our enemies tend to strike while we are at our lowest. If they see a weakness in us, they will do everything in their power to exploit it. Bloodwork is no different here — he sees the hurt among the two brothers and festers it. 

After all, there is nothing more ineffective than two heroes working against each other. 

When we beat ourselves up, we tend to take others down with us. We may not mean to spread the misery, but that is exactly what we do. 

As planned by the villain, the misery spreads like a virus among Team Flash creating zombified versions of our favorite heroes.

Allegra has to be the creepiest in the group with her black eyes and vicious snarl. It is good to see her do something more than make googly eyes at Chester.

The overpowered team turns on the few who aren’t yet brainwashed and does their best to bring them to the dark side. The most important one to turn is the peace-loving Wally. 

Wally has had a truckload of trauma in his life. A dying mother, a father he was separated from, and petty crimes shape Wally’s past and personality. Bloodwork reminds him of all these shortcomings to manipulate him to give in. 

Wally fights it for as long as he can, and kudos to him. I doubt I could fight my inner demons for as long as he does. 

Eventually, Wally caves to the pressure. The darkness takes hold, and his rage is taken out on Barry. That’s life — we hurt the ones we love most.

A less-than-traumatizing death brings Barry to the same forest Oliver Queen’s spirit resides in.

What and where this forest is has never really been explained. Could it be the afterlife or Purgatory? Most likely it’s a combination of the two.

Oliver Queen: Barry, what did you do now?

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for since it was announced that Stephen Amell was going to make an appearance on the final season. Barry and Oliver embrace like two brothers that have parted ways years ago. 

Let me tell you, it feels good — it feels really good. 

The Flash hasn’t hit this kind of emotional note in quite some time. You are heartless if you don’t feel some kind of spark in your chest as the two reconnect. Their bond rivals the one between Iris and Barry.

After all the feelings subside, Barry recognizes what this reunion must mean. He is no longer a part of the land of the living, which also means his friends and family are not currently protected. 

When we let ourselves down, we also let down others. Those we love count on us to be the best we can be. When we are not, everyone suffers.

Of course, a pep talk is given to build up Barry before he is sent back to where he needs to be. I’m typically over this kind of dialogue. After hearing a “go get them” speech nearly 179 times, they start to wear thin — but I have to let this one slide. 

Oliver returns along with Barry to help set things straight. The fight that ensues truly brings us back to the glory days. 

Unlike Oliver’s fight at the beginning of Crisis, we see him gracefully dispose of brainwashed cops like nobody’s business. Barely a hit is taken by the Emerald Archer, but the damage he deals is plenty. This is what superhero fans want to see!

Stephen Amell truly gets to shine during what is more than likely his final outing as the Green Arrow. 

I feared going into the episode we were only going to get “forgotten” flashbacks and regurgitated storylines that would be a pathetic excuse to bring back the man who started the Arrowverse. Thank God I was wrong!

As the episode dwindles into its last moments, the message is pushed home that remorse and regret can be used for the benefit of everyone. Are we doing the best we can with the lessons we’ve learned? Are we teaching others not to make the same mistakes we’ve made? 

That is what life is truly about, using our hurts to help others. If you’ve been through it, you can help someone else through it as well. We all need a hand-up sometimes. As the Good Book says in 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

What did you think of this episode of The Flash? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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

Think Fast, Here Comes ‘The Flash’ Quiz!