The Flash: What's Past Is Prologue
December 4, 2018 7:18 PM - Season 5, Episode 8 - Subscribe
Barry and Team Flash come up with a plan to stop Cicada, which calls for Barry and Nora to travel back in time to gather some key necessities.
The only misstep was that Cisco didn't breach Cicada's dagger to another universe instead of just space.
I wouldn't say 'only misstep' -- taunting the super villain with exactly where he'd breached it to was Barry-Allen-level dumb.
And in this episode we got several flavors of him: smug exposed Thawne, friendly but sinister Thawne-as-Wells, and incarcerated Thawne in the future.
That was a really impressive number of Thawne/Wells incarnations for an episode that Cavanagh directed.
posted by oh yeah! at 4:55 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
I wouldn't say 'only misstep' -- taunting the super villain with exactly where he'd breached it to was Barry-Allen-level dumb.
And in this episode we got several flavors of him: smug exposed Thawne, friendly but sinister Thawne-as-Wells, and incarcerated Thawne in the future.
That was a really impressive number of Thawne/Wells incarnations for an episode that Cavanagh directed.
posted by oh yeah! at 4:55 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
Taunting instead of taking action is kind of expected from these people by now, though. Next to tender hallway conversations and keeping secrets from each other, it's kind of their thing.
Don't miss this interview with showrunner Todd Helbing that explains some of the details on this episode and what to expect moving forward.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Don't miss this interview with showrunner Todd Helbing that explains some of the details on this episode and what to expect moving forward.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
For that matter, the Flash has super-speed. He is a speedster. Why stand around between "he's calling the dagger back from orbit" and the dagger landing rather than getting (a) a few punches in or (b) everyone out of there?
posted by Karmakaze at 8:11 AM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 8:11 AM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
The one [stupid, I know] thing I couldn't get over is that there seemed to be a lot of running around in civilian clothes that didn't suffer an iota of damage despite being subjected to all the harsh conditions speedsters encounter when travelling at the type of speed necessary to time travel. Wasn't that the whole point of the Flash suit in the first place? To withstand the effects of incredible speed much better than fragile everyday wear?
I guess it made sense to send the dagger to space rather to another dimension because it's a powerful weapon you don't want randomly falling into some villain's hands and wrecking havoc on a different universe. I suppose empty space would be a somewhat safer bet. As for taunting Cicada, yeah, that's typical Flash-levels of dumb.
posted by sardonyx at 2:06 PM on December 6, 2018
I guess it made sense to send the dagger to space rather to another dimension because it's a powerful weapon you don't want randomly falling into some villain's hands and wrecking havoc on a different universe. I suppose empty space would be a somewhat safer bet. As for taunting Cicada, yeah, that's typical Flash-levels of dumb.
posted by sardonyx at 2:06 PM on December 6, 2018
yeah I agree on all points. some truly dumb stuff in this episode, but surprisingly, none in the time travel parts. I was expecting at least Nora to do another dumb thing to fuck up the timeline, but nope. I'm super tempted to go back and watch the episodes with those scenes and see how the actors looked then.
Who was the guy standing next to Caitlin during Thawne-Wells' speech before turning on the accelerator? He was definitely not Ronnie, but the camera's framing made it seemed like he was someone we should remember, but I don't recognize him.
I'm so glad Thawne's back, because Sherloque is not enough Cavanaugh for me.
posted by numaner at 4:49 PM on December 6, 2018
Who was the guy standing next to Caitlin during Thawne-Wells' speech before turning on the accelerator? He was definitely not Ronnie, but the camera's framing made it seemed like he was someone we should remember, but I don't recognize him.
I'm so glad Thawne's back, because Sherloque is not enough Cavanaugh for me.
posted by numaner at 4:49 PM on December 6, 2018
oh yeah overall that was a pretty great 100th episode! some great memories there.
posted by numaner at 5:05 PM on December 6, 2018
posted by numaner at 5:05 PM on December 6, 2018
The one [stupid, I know] thing I couldn't get over is that there seemed to be a lot of running around in civilian clothes that didn't suffer an iota of damage despite being subjected to all the harsh conditions speedsters encounter when travelling at the type of speed necessary to time travel.
That one has been fading for quite some time. If it were only the suit providing protection the costume should have been full face, and Flash should not be able to carry people at superspeed. Jay Garrick's hat should have fallen off all the time. The superpower handwavy explanation is that greater control over the speed force allows protection to extend over whatever a speedster is carrying or wearing, but heroes still need the special suit for telemetry, tracking, and protection from things like getting thrown across pavement by a mighty punch or skidding as a result of dropping out the speed force too quickly.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:48 AM on December 7, 2018
That one has been fading for quite some time. If it were only the suit providing protection the costume should have been full face, and Flash should not be able to carry people at superspeed. Jay Garrick's hat should have fallen off all the time. The superpower handwavy explanation is that greater control over the speed force allows protection to extend over whatever a speedster is carrying or wearing, but heroes still need the special suit for telemetry, tracking, and protection from things like getting thrown across pavement by a mighty punch or skidding as a result of dropping out the speed force too quickly.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:48 AM on December 7, 2018
I just wish that the writers would make a token attempt to do the handwaving for us. Just give us a throwaway comment that indicates they know they've revised their initial explanation as their theory has been updated as they gain more experience with speedsters being able to control the Speed Force. I just get fed up of doing all the mental gymnastics necessary to make the "logic" of these shows work.
posted by sardonyx at 9:17 AM on December 7, 2018
posted by sardonyx at 9:17 AM on December 7, 2018
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88 miles per hourEobard Thawne was coming back! And in this episode we got several flavors of him: smug exposed Thawne, friendly but sinister Thawne-as-Wells, and incarcerated Thawne in the future. Great stuff!The only misstep was that Cisco didn't breach Cicada's dagger to another universe instead of just space. They almost won that one! Such a shame.
posted by Servo5678 at 4:31 AM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]