Paradox
- Episode aired Oct 11, 2016
- 42m
Barry discovers that the effects from Flashpoint are greater than he thought. In the meantime, he meets his new co-worker who has an immediate disdain for him.Barry discovers that the effects from Flashpoint are greater than he thought. In the meantime, he meets his new co-worker who has an immediate disdain for him.Barry discovers that the effects from Flashpoint are greater than he thought. In the meantime, he meets his new co-worker who has an immediate disdain for him.
- Dr. Harry Wells
- (credit only)
- Patron
- (as David Lee Forts)
- Doctor Alchemy
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst appearance of Julian Albert (Tom Felton).
- GoofsJay gives Barry a lecture about how changing the past (creating a "flashpoint") can alter the future. This ignores the fact that the entire show takes place in a "DOUBLE flashpoint," created when Eobard Thawne changes the past by first killing Barry's mother and second by killing and replacing Wells. By stopping Thawne in the first place, Barry doesn't create a "flashpoint," he actually PREVENTS the creation of two "flashpoints" and allows the timeline to proceed as it should have.
- Quotes
Felicity Smoak: There's a whole new guy at work that you didn't even know about?
Barry Allen: Yeah. And he's worked there for almost a year. And he doesn't like me very much, apparently.
Felicity Smoak: Well, that's impossible. Everybody likes Barry Allen. You're like pudding. Everybody likes pudding.
- ConnectionsFeatured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Arrowverse Crossover Episodes (2017)
- SoundtracksRunaway Train
(uncredited)
Performed by Soul Asylum
This of course, is in reference to him having to be the comedic relief to Team Flash after the Flashpoint ramifications took impact. I was happy last week when that particular timeline only lasted one episode, but I was also glad that there were consequences to the mistake Barry made. Those mistakes seem to be almost put to rest in one episode. Iris and Joe have made up, as has Cisco and Barry patched up what was keeping them apart. That was a big surprise. Granted, it seems like the big villains of this year, Alchemy and maybe The Rival (still alive?) are remnants of the timeline paradox, but I would have expected some issues to last a bit longer.
With that said, I'm actually glad it didn't last that long. I don't want to see this universe stay in limbo, I would like it to move forward, which has pretty much been the theme this year. I am, however, a bit disappointed that Diggle's kid is a boy named John instead of his baby girl Sara. It doesn't really matter in the big picture, but them naming Sara after the canary's death was a nice moment for the Diggle family. Oh well.
Barry spent the majority of the episode figuring out how to fix what he had done, and I liked the guest appearances from Felicity Smoak and Jay Garrick/Earth-2 Flash to give him some advice. Both didn't factor too heavily in the bigger picture of the episode, but both felt appropriate for the difficult moments he was going through. Garrick's speech about having to live with some mistakes never being fixed gave Barry the words he needed to deliver a rather emotional speech to Team Flash. Definitely the episode's finest moment.
We all got the Alchemy/Rival/possible Mirror Master tease last week, but Alchemy served a bigger role this week as he attempted to take out The Flash for good. It's also clear that he knows Flash changed the timeline. How much this will play into his motivations for doing what he's doing is still unclear. But I'm definitely intrigued at the fact that he isn't a speedster. It's going to bring a different vibe to this season.
Last but not least, I should mention the presence of Julian Albert, played by Tom Felton. Although a brief introduction, it's pretty evident Felton will play a major role this season, otherwise why cast Felton? I'm still sticking to him being Dr. Alchemy, but the theory that he's a Thawne is always a possibility. After all, how does such a random person appear in Barry's life after a timeline change?
On a side note, Caitlin's little Killer Frost introduction felt very random and out of place. The proposition of Killer Frost as Caitlin's alter ego is an interesting one, but I didn't feel like now was the right time.
+Gustin's performance
+Felicity and Jay's cameo
+Tom Felton
+Alchemy brings a different vibe
-Killer Frost reveal
9.3/10
- ThomasDrufke
- Oct 11, 2016
Details
- Runtime42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD