The Flash: The Darkness and the Light
November 4, 2015 9:39 PM - Season 2, Episode 5 - Subscribe

Barry learns a new breacher, Dr. Light, has come through the portal and sets off to capture her. Jay tells Barry that Dr. Light was not a threat on Earth-2 and that Barry can reason with her. However, during a fight with The Flash, she blinds him and drops some shocking news about Zoom. Meanwhile, Barry and Patty go out on a date.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich (26 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I loved the date. I generally hate that sort of scene and end up feeling a lot of empathetic stress and embarrassment during them (It's for that reason that I don't watch many sitcoms), but Patty nipped it in the bud and I almost cheered out loud.

There was a noticeable lack of King Shark in this episode, and I feel like that needs to be addressed at some point this season.
posted by brundlefly at 10:21 PM on November 4, 2015 [5 favorites]


Liked it, mostly. Random thoughts:

* Joe isn't handling this well - shooting Wells on sight was a dumb move, and advising Iris that shooting Wells wouldn't be a crime because the world thinks he's dead is... yeah. Not so good.

* The date was pretty funny, but it seems like Barry could've made up an excuse for why he couldn't see a little sooner, instead of having a seeing-eye Cisco. Still, it was funny, and I'm glad they have Barry with Patty instead of going back to the skeevy Iris thing. (I hope they continue to just buck continuity there.)

* Earth-2 Wells cracked me up. This show is at its best when Tom Cavanaugh is being awful. I loved him calling Cisco 'Crisco,' and protesting that he never killed 'Ricky' in particular.

* Glad Cisco's secret is out. I'm not sure why he's freaking out about the possibility of turning evil so much, given that he's worked with a number of good metahumans. (And given that he displays no offensive powers - I get the 'I don't want to see horrible stuff' angle, but I don't know what harm he thinks he's even capable of.)

* I'm unclear why Doctor Light needed to kill her Earth-1 counterpart to fake being her. Seems like just fading into the background without the murder would've worked even better.

* I'm still uncomfortable with their unsupervised, unlicensed, toilet-free detention facility, but it seems like that's not going anywhere.
posted by mordax at 10:22 PM on November 4, 2015


There was a noticeable lack of King Shark in this episode, and I feel like that needs to be addressed at some point this season.

Should've previewed, because I need to agree with this with more than a single favorite.
posted by mordax at 10:22 PM on November 4, 2015


Glad Cisco's secret is out. I'm not sure why he's freaking out about the possibility of turning evil so much, given that he's worked with a number of good metahumans.

He mentions that he's worried because the powers came from Wells, but didn't he get them with from accelerator explosion along with all the other metahumans? That bit confused me.
posted by brundlefly at 10:26 PM on November 4, 2015


I get that they can't trust Wells because he looks just like the Wells they knew, but what bugs me is that the Wells they knew wasn't Wells. Their distrust would make more sense if their Wells and Earth-2 Wells were parallel worlds version of the same person. But they're not. Their Wells was killed and replaced by Thawne. The guy they hate is Thawne.

But, okay, Earth-2 Wells looks and sounds just like him. And has mannerisms just like him, too. That would freak them out. I'd just like more people pointing out that their Wells wasn't actually Wells.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:48 PM on November 4, 2015


But I'm worrying about who Zoom is. There were a few moments in this episode where I suddenly feared that Patty was Zoom. I'd hate that. But there's this television trope where there's a new person suddenly and everyone likes them and there's a secret villain and, wow, they're the same person. That worries me.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:50 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]


Also, Earth-2 Wells is a hilarious dick, which while I love it as a viewer is probably not fun to actually interact with.

Re: Dr. Light needing to kill Earth-1 Linda Park, I feel like the way she said her life depends on it, and they way they deliberately pointed out that Atom Smasher also seemed compelled to kill his counterpart, means there's going to be a clear explanation for why that's a thing. It also makes me suspect that Zoom -- the guy who's irrationally compelled to kill Barry -- is Earth-2 Barry.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:32 PM on November 4, 2015 [6 favorites]


There was a noticeable lack of King Shark in this episode, and I feel like that needs to be addressed at some point this season.

But he was right there, in the recap.
Apparently (and I read this on io9, from somewhere) King Shark was the most expensive sequence they've ever shot, so I doubt we'll be seeing him again any time soon.

Otherwise: Grodd Vs King Shark, please.

Speaking of which, I agreed with everything io9 said: this was a great episode, even the annoying date tropes were fun (and smartly handled), Patty has real chemistry with Barry, I loved the nod to Dr Light's actual costume (not that they made her Linda), Art Deco Earth 2, and, finally... am I crazy, or is Tony Todd the voice of Doom?
posted by Mezentian at 11:41 PM on November 4, 2015


"It also makes me suspect that Zoom -- the guy who's irrationally compelled to kill Barry -- is Earth-2 Barry."

Ooh, that's an interesting theory. You could be right.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:42 PM on November 4, 2015


Also, here's a source on the thing with King Shark being too expensive to showcase for more than a scene. Although they are leaving themselves an out by saying that since there's an Earth-2 King Shark, there's also an Earth-1 version running (swimming) around somewhere who could show up later.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:52 PM on November 4, 2015 [2 favorites]


Damn... that article just reminded me they can't use Suicide Squad because of Juggalo Joker.
So.
Damn.
Annoyed.
posted by Mezentian at 11:56 PM on November 4, 2015


am I crazy, or is Tony Todd the voice of Doom?

I had the same thought. I think you're right. If it's just the voice he's doing then maybe it will turn out to be Barry-2 under there, since that theory does make sense...
posted by Pryde at 12:32 AM on November 5, 2015


I get that they can't trust Wells because he looks just like the Wells they knew, but what bugs me is that the Wells they knew wasn't Wells. Their distrust would make more sense if their Wells and Earth-2 Wells were parallel worlds version of the same person. But they're not. Their Wells was killed and replaced by Thawne. The guy they hate is Thawne.

The characters probably know they live in a comic book universe where people don't stay dead, and are worried that Earth-1 Wells somehow managed to write himself back into existence and is pretending to be Earth-2 Wells.

am I crazy, or is Tony Todd the voice of Doom?

It is indeed!
posted by brundlefly at 12:45 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


If Tony Todd is the voice alone, I will be a sad panda.
posted by Mezentian at 2:58 AM on November 5, 2015


Also, Earth-2 Wells is a hilarious dick, which while I love it as a viewer is probably not fun to actually interact with.

I really love this, and I loved Cisco calling it out. Tom Cavanaugh makes a great asshole, which is weird because I still kind of see him as Ed, bowling alley lawyer, but less and less.

It'd be a shame if the King Shark was just a one off, because damn it, there's a shark-man loose in your city and really you should be addressing that!

Joe pulling out his gun and just firing at Wells is horribly out of character. I can give him more of a pass on giving Iris a gun because he is super protective, but just randomly firing into a room full of the people he cares about, none of whom seem bothered by the presence of Wells? No. Pull his gun and start barking orders, sure, but not fire.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:32 AM on November 5, 2015 [2 favorites]


Zoom is totally Earth-2 Barry, no question. Even my 14-year-old daughter figured that out just from the next week's previews. That's why Wells-2 (Wells-3?) is there trying to get Barry to confront him.

I kinda wish Jay would get his powers back. i also wish we were seeing more Earth-2 in general.

I laughed out loud when Joe pointedly said "I'd better go tell Iris" about Wells-2. Clearly everyone has finally learned that lesson.

Also really like that Wells-2 is a completely different sort of asshole than Wells-Thawne. Thawne was *almost* likable as he clearly had come to develop almost-paternal empathy for Barry and Cisco. But Wells-2 sure is a dick, and Tom Cavanaugh is awesome.
posted by briank at 5:53 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


Harrison Wells as a Steve Jobs-style asshole who gets things done is the best! I was enjoying the show fine without him, but having Cavanaugh back just elevates the whole thing.

I wanted Cisco to say, "I lied about my powers because I thought lying and keeping things from each other was our thing, y'know? Its what makes us a family. Well, a family who's paternal figures are Joe West and Eobard Thawne...."
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 5:58 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]


Also, I'd be happy with them reusing that King Shark footage in every episode for the rest of the season.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 5:59 AM on November 5, 2015 [3 favorites]


It also makes me suspect that Zoom -- the guy who's irrationally compelled to kill Barry -- is Earth-2 Barry.

Yeah, I gotta say, having Dr. Light be determined to kill her alt sent me straight to a Stargate SG-1 place (entropic cascade failure if duplicate present?) and as soon as I was there, and started comparing alts (Dr. Wells dead, no problems with alt, Jay Garrick present in Universe for 6 months, alt probably dead or never existed) then I quickly ended up at: Earth-2 Barry wants Earth-1 Barry dead so he can rule both universes. Isn't willing to risk entropic cascade failure personally, sends henchmen. Chose Zoom as name because Garrick nabbed Flash out from under him and there was no Cisco to help with names or costume design. (Good lord that costume is just a rubbery blob).

But they've locked Dr. Light in their basement (STOP DOING THAT) and her alt is still alive -- I haven't seen the previews for next week, but if this theory is true, shouldn't that become an issue for her pretty quickly?
posted by instead of three wishes at 7:34 AM on November 5, 2015


I hated the awkward date but that's a thing for me. I love new Wells being a dick (but agree that it's not fun for the team). I'm not grooving on Jay being scared, though it's nice of him to admit it, and I'm hoping this means he's going to rescue Wells' daughter (what is all that about?). I keep thinking she looks similar to, but not duplicate-alike (and has a different actress) Caitlin.

Also yeah, that was totally soon-to-be Hawkgirl that Cisco was hanging out with at the coffee shop. That should be amusing.
posted by immlass at 9:07 AM on November 5, 2015


I tried to find a legitimate free version of those digital comics, especially the one featuring Earth-1 King Shark, but failed. I'll have to see if I really wanna put down 99 cents for it.

The date was totes adorbs, and I'm glad they had Patty actually be a competent detective (this shouldn't merit mention for TV, I'm sad that I have to) and stop the awkwardness. Although then she should've been like "how were you seeing some of the stuff you did? is someone helping you by attending our date??"

I'm also convinced Zoom is Earth-2 Barry. However it's weird that his suit is super similar to Black Flash.

Wait wait, OMG it's Earth-2 Eddie, an actual Thawn!
posted by numaner at 9:17 AM on November 5, 2015 [1 favorite]


You might be able to get the print collection of Flash Season Zero at the library.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 9:59 AM on November 5, 2015


SPOILERS AHOY: So ComicsAlliance got a collection of pre-effects stills from the next episode that show Zoom's body and eyes, which we haven't had a clear look at before. I can't tell for certain if they give anything away about exactly who Zoom is, but there's definitely clues.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:54 AM on November 6, 2015


* I'm still uncomfortable with their unsupervised, unlicensed, toilet-free detention facility, but it seems like that's not going anywhere.

It's gotten annoying how oblivious all the characters seem to be about the situation. It's lazy writing.
posted by homunculus at 12:21 PM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]


Let me say that I only started watching this show because all of you are so enthusiastic about it, despite being a big DC fan for many, many years.

I almost teared up a bit at the beginning of this episode seeing the Earth - 2 Flash in that original costume with the Mercury headgear.

Is it possible Zoom is from the future like the silver age version, or do we have enough info from episodes I haven't watched for this to be impossible?
posted by wittgenstein at 12:23 PM on November 6, 2015


...and I'm glad they had Patty actually be a competent detective...

I don't know; maybe she should have realized having your eyes dilated doesn't make you blind. I wish Barry had just said he had some vision thing going on, but don't worry, his doctor assures him it will clear up quickly. Instead of something almost every grownup realizes is wrong.
posted by ktkt at 8:56 PM on November 22, 2015


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