- Title: The Flash – Grodd Lives
- wiki: link
Although the search for the Reverse-Flash (Tom Cavanagh) and the missing Eddie (Rick Cosnett) remain a priority for Barry (Grant Gustin) and his team, things get a bit more complicated when a new player emerges. Teased earlier in the season, Grodd gets a proper introduction in “Grodd Lives” as the capture of a mind-controlled gold robber, who turns out to be General Wade Eiling (Clancy Brown), leads Barry, Joe (Jesse L. Martin), and Cisco (Carlos Valdes) into the sewers underneath Central City where they find the gorilla who was Eiling’s old experiment augmented by the Accelerator explosion and is now able to bend others to his will.
I have to say I was very impressed with the look of CGI Grodd who is certainly the most menacing physical threat the Flash has faced. Different from both the classic and New 52 versions of the character, Grodd’s origin on the show makes sense for several reasons as it ties the creature not only to Dr. Wells (who uses Grodd here to keep the Flash off his back giving the villain time to complete his plans) but also S.T.A.R. Labs. I’m also intrigued to see the character’s mental abilities (which Barry barely manages to fight against) continue to grown make Grodd even a more formidable threat in the future.
“Grodd Lives” also doesn’t waste any time as Iris (Candice Patton) immediately confronts Barry about his secret life as the Flash. The scene (having her basically walk right into S.T.A.R. Labs without anyone noticing) isn’t as dramatic or rewarding as the pair’s conversation on the beach in the alternate timeline, but thankfully the show doesn’t wallow in the hurt feelings either allowing the entire group to work together and move on. And with all the secrets now on the table the show can continue to work on storytelling with everyone now on the same page. It will be interesting to see how Wells’ reveal of Iris’ future husbnad effects Eddie and his relationship with the show’s other core characters; could this be his super-villain origin?
