The Flash Season 9 Episode 13 Review: A New World, Part Four
The Flash Season 9 Episode 13, “A New World, Part Four,” is a somewhat satisfying finale that ultimately comes off as sappy. A rushed battle never seems to hit a climax making the threat less than believable.
After Eddie’s confrontation with Team Flash in Season 9 Episode 12, he has fully embraced the dark side. Essentially, it was a given. How else could they come up with a big bad with such little time left?
With rage seething in his heart, Eddie devises a plan that seems good at the time. Reuniting all the evil speedsters from over the years appears to be the best way to overcome the world’s fastest man. But then again, I don’t recall these guys being so wimpy.
Silly me, I thought I remembered Zoom and Savitar being formidable foes that took well over 10 episodes to overcome. Not only did they have speed on their side, but they also had sinister schemes for days.
Apparently, their glory days are gone because each nemesis is quickly dispatched in a matter of minutes by members of Team Flash. I understand this is done to show the team as a well-oiled machine, but it doesn’t feel that way. It’s like biting into a day-old donut, the excitement is there but the flavor is just a bit off.
Eddie then resorts to recooking an old Reverse Flash strategy. Traveling to the Negative Speed Force to gather all of its energy isn’t the worst idea if you are an egomaniac, but at least learn something from the demise of a co-worker.
Team Flash is quick to point out the flaws in his plan, and everyone except Barry appears fine with what the most likely outcome will be. If Eddie is willing to sacrifice himself at the altar of power, so be it.
Barry refuses to let that happen.
Originally, Eddie died a hero. He sacrificed himself to save his friends, family, and possibly the world. Barry doesn’t want to see his hecatomb blasphemed because of an all-consuming gem.
Ultimately, Barry is right.
Let’s face it, all Barry needs to do is stand aside and let Eddie defeat himself. He can run back to the hospital, watch Nora be born, and be home in time to watch the evening news. But what kind of hero would that make him?
The answer to that question is a cowardly one.
Heroes do the right thing even when it is the most difficult. This is the exact reason why Barry never chose to end the life of Eobard Thawne. Honestly, it would have simplified his life, but it would have diminished his character.
Character matters more than anything else.
Finding a lost wallet filled with cash or telling a white lie to stay out of trouble both seem nominal in the grand scheme of things. No one will notice after all, and it can get you out of the pickle you are in.
This is a really important message to push home as the series ends, but unfortunately, they go a different route.
Zoom: You got a screw loose, I like that!
Instead, we get some wishy-washy mumbo jumbo about coexisting. Khione’s advice to Barry is nothing less than new-age preaching that means a whole lot of nothing.
I will admit that violence is an endless cycle. The more violence we commit, the more will come back to us until we are either badly wounded or dead.
Meaningful discussion is the best way to overcome violence and misconstruction. However, I don’t agree that merely coexisting is the solution to all problems. Some things in this world are worth fighting for, and over the years The Flash has shone a spotlight on many of them.
Barry has always fought to keep his family safe. Should he have simply stood aside when Savitar tried to kill Iris? Or maybe he should have slapped Zoom’s hand and asked him nicely to stop doing all the naughty things he was doing.
Don’t get me wrong, coexisting is fine as an ideal. Many political stances can be met in this way and hearts can be mended when we choose to heal instead of hurt. Yet things like religious freedoms, abortion, and gender affirmation often need to be met head-on.
Eddie gives Barry the beating of his life. Blood smears the walls, but Barry refuses to do anything but talk.
His words eventually penetrate the wall Eddie has built, and they agree that although they won’t always see eye-to-eye, they can coexist for the greater good. I feel deflated.
In typical finale fashion, the action is wrapped up in 30 minutes or less leaving time to tie up everything in a neat little bow. Sadly, not much happens to make us feel like this is truly the last moment we will see our friends.
A party, a proposal, and a goodbye to a character that never really made an impact. Nothing too shocking or out of the norm.
Sugary sweet kisses are exchanged, and everybody takes turns holding the baby.
With this being the final episode of the series, I leave feeling okay but not completely satisfied. More cameos and flashforwards would have been appropriate to send off our heroes in the right direction.
I’m sad to say I wasn’t even able to shed a joyful tear for our titular hero as he received his happy ending — the birth of baby Nora.
What did you think of the final episode of The Flash? Which character would you most like to see have a spinoff? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Flash airs Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW.
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Charles E Henning
Charles E. Henning lives in a quaint town of Illinois with his ever-loving wife since 1998. He is new to writing reviews, but has over thirty years of fictitious writing for his own personal fulfillment. His interests range from science fiction to character-based dramas, but he is a sucker for anyone in a cape.