The Flash – The Reverse-Flash Returns

• Title: The Flash – The Reverse-Flash Returns
• wiki: link

The return of the Reverse-Flash (Matt Letscher) is only one of many storylines in an episode that also features Patty‘s (Shantel VanSanten) farewell, Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) helping Cisco (Carlos Valdes) unlock his powers, the return of Amanda Pays as Tina McGee, a little bonding between Iris (Candice Patton) and her brother and the deteriorating health of their mother, and the show touching on the idea of Earth-1 and Earth-2 doppelgangers (which it will no doubt continue to explore over the rest of the season).

Of course it is the main storlyine that grabs our attention as the Reverse-Flash, from earlier in his timeline before learning the Flash‘s (Grant Gustin) secret identity, arrives in Central City. Already angered by Patty’s choice to leave, Barry takes his aggression out on his nemesis and is able to take down the super-villain, imprisionnig him in the pipeline. To do so, however, the group relies on Cisco’s gift and cheating fate which proves to have dire consequences for both the timeline and one particular member of the team.

It’s good to see that the show is willing to bring back the Reverse-Flash from time-to-time and the episode continues to stress an important idea already explored in the series that time, while malleable to the Flash, isn’t something to be messed with. Patty’s exit is handled well, and allowing her to uncover Barry’s secret on her own but still choose to leave is a nice touch. I still think the show is making a mistake letting the character leave, but it does allow Patty to part in style (and hopefully not for good).