The good news is that the Cicada conflict as it's existed since the beginning of The Flash Season 5 is over. The problem is that this week's episode doesn't do much to suggest the next phase will be much different (or better). The buildup to Barry's final confrontation with Orlin Dwyer was strong, especially in terms of the Nora./Iris relationship. Unfortunately, the anticlimactic ending and predictable plot twist managed to end things on a very sour note. The series needs to quickly find a way of distancing the new Cicada from her predecessor.
17 Reviews
A new villain that does nothing!
garabedian12314 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So the new Cicada? Kills the nurse but leaves everyone else unharmed...For some reason? Does she want to kill all humans and turn everyone into metas? Its pretty hard to believe considering how much she hates metas...she admitted that herself a few episodes ago...And where did she come from..
Overall it was kinda a boring episode because we spent so much time saying goodbyes prematurely. that it was rather boring. I mean last episode the cure still needed some work and this episode it just works?...Last episode they proved to us that Cicada can take away FROST powers..but this episode he cannot? WHAT? AND WHERE THE HECK IS RALPH?
Overall it was kinda a boring episode because we spent so much time saying goodbyes prematurely. that it was rather boring. I mean last episode the cure still needed some work and this episode it just works?...Last episode they proved to us that Cicada can take away FROST powers..but this episode he cannot? WHAT? AND WHERE THE HECK IS RALPH?
The Flash closes one door and opens another.
jaythezoomster12 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"Failure is an Orphan" is a great ending to the character of Orlin Dwyer.
After loving him in the first half and falling out of love to the point of disinterest in part of the second half, it's safe to say Cicada has been a wild ride. And a ride that has come to the end in this episode of the Flash.
This episode works so well because of the moral backdrop to the episode and the dialogue is handled perfectly. I think Chris Klein falters a bit on the acting for the episode but he manages to sell it just enough to where I'm not actively taken out of the episode. The writing also saves most of his scenes.
The stuff with Thawne is fantastic and it truly shows how much he adds to Season 5 (hell, without him during the episode 10-12 area, I might've given up on 5). The emotional moments with Sherloque and Nora grappling with leaving the team also added to the sense of finality of this episode.
The scenes with Dwyer in Star Labs were all I wanted with Savitar's scenes in the season 3 finale so I'm happy we were able to finally see what that'd be like. The twist at the end of the episode is a tad frustrating but it's also an interesting angle to take.
"Failure is an Orphan" closes one door and opens another in terms of Cicada but it does so well at closing that single door that I can't think of a better way for Orlin to bow out as main antagonist. Hello Thawne and Grace...? I think?
After loving him in the first half and falling out of love to the point of disinterest in part of the second half, it's safe to say Cicada has been a wild ride. And a ride that has come to the end in this episode of the Flash.
This episode works so well because of the moral backdrop to the episode and the dialogue is handled perfectly. I think Chris Klein falters a bit on the acting for the episode but he manages to sell it just enough to where I'm not actively taken out of the episode. The writing also saves most of his scenes.
The stuff with Thawne is fantastic and it truly shows how much he adds to Season 5 (hell, without him during the episode 10-12 area, I might've given up on 5). The emotional moments with Sherloque and Nora grappling with leaving the team also added to the sense of finality of this episode.
The scenes with Dwyer in Star Labs were all I wanted with Savitar's scenes in the season 3 finale so I'm happy we were able to finally see what that'd be like. The twist at the end of the episode is a tad frustrating but it's also an interesting angle to take.
"Failure is an Orphan" closes one door and opens another in terms of Cicada but it does so well at closing that single door that I can't think of a better way for Orlin to bow out as main antagonist. Hello Thawne and Grace...? I think?
Great Ending
jdtech13 March 2019
Why is everyone acting like they predicted the plot twist?
portalsasfilipe13 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
LOL! Everyone is like: "I knew it! I knew it! I knew Grace was Cicada". Well, maybe because it was already revealed on 5x12. No, seriously, wtf, did you guys forget this episode?
Overall, it was a pretty good episode, but it deserves a 10 more because of the final minutes and some organic story-telling way.
But really, you didnt know Grace was Cicada until 5x12. Now you are like: "I predicted it. Im a genius." C'mon guys
Overall, it was a pretty good episode, but it deserves a 10 more because of the final minutes and some organic story-telling way.
But really, you didnt know Grace was Cicada until 5x12. Now you are like: "I predicted it. Im a genius." C'mon guys
Ranking/Reviewing every Flash episode: Failure Is An Orphan
lbramson16 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Team Flash give Cicada the meta power cure, but his neice comes from the future and kills him! This is one of the few great episodes this season. The ending made it! Most of the episode is sorta intense, but the ending was genuinely awesome! Grace Gibbons beating the crap out of Team Flash was the only time she was the only time she was a good villain. While Orlin Dwyer sucked here, Grace made up for it. Awesome episode that kept me on the edge of my seat, which is rare for the fifth season. Going under Elseworlds, but above Death of Vibe. These past few episodes have ALMOST redeemed this season, keep it up!
8.7/10-Great!👍👍
8.7/10-Great!👍👍
Failure is right
rorygunn14 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So I guess from now on instead of fighting and capturing the bad guys Barry is just going to tell them who he is and beg them not to be bad guys anymore..What is the point of this show if he's not going to do what is needed to defeat his enemy...It's so sad that what started out good has degenerated into a bunch of SJW groupthink nonsense...Why did Barry ever need a team anyway??He is supposed to be the fastest man alive but yet can't take down a simple adversary.By the way since when did Cicada jr become a Jedi deflecting the attacks and using the Force to disable her enemies?I wish someone would just end the series now...
S05E16: Use the good to beat the dad
asb_deutsch18 March 2019
As I mentioned in my last review: Time to concentrate more on Cicada and press the pedal. Finally, after 15 episodes they showed some result!
Killer Frost fight at the end seemed a little queer but I don't want to spoil the fun...in short, Flash Team was quite immature. But a "window of opportunity" has been created to extend it to Season 6.
My ratings (based on what I marked on IMDb): Season 1: 200/23 = 8.69; Season 2: 193/23= 8.23; Season 3: 188/23= 8.17; Season 4: 146/23= 6.65 and Season 5= 113/16 = 7.06
Verdict: The episode ending was the icing of the cake! (7.5/10)
Ok....
ryanhoffpauir18 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The show has been ok for a while now. I don't particularly like the adult versions of the kids showing up, just seems so random.
While I suspected the girl was going to play a part, I expected her to have mind powers and actually be controlling the people around her (cicada, the doctor, etc). Her coming in as an adult...well, I guess I'll wait for the explanation.
I do think CW doesn't quite understand how powerful being super fast as well as time travel can be.
While I suspected the girl was going to play a part, I expected her to have mind powers and actually be controlling the people around her (cicada, the doctor, etc). Her coming in as an adult...well, I guess I'll wait for the explanation.
I do think CW doesn't quite understand how powerful being super fast as well as time travel can be.
Grrrr me angry person
musicforhours22 March 2019
What was the point of this episode?
jacksutarno13 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is my second review for season 5 of the flash, and I have to say that I am still disappointed. This pains me because I love this show, i come back to my TV every week hoping that it will get better, but it hasn't. I don't understand the point of this episode, they build up this episode as the finale between the Flash and Cicada, and then...they replace Cicada with Cicada Jr. I am personally tired of the Cicada storyline and thought that they should have switched to Nora/Reverse Flash storyline after the mid season break. After seeing the promo for next weeks episode, it does appear that this is going to happen, but knowing this show they will probably delay it another episode. The reason I gave it a 5/10 is because I was semi happy with Barry and surrounding characters this time, although I still struggle with how a team of scientist can be so dumb in so many situations. Cicada's down...but wait, lets not capture him because there's 45 minutes left in this episode. I am also convinced that the writers have no concept of science themselves, how does one block a lightning bolt...I didn't realize that one could spin around with some flare faster than lightening can travel. It also confuses me how Barry can't just put the meta-human cuffs on her. I don't believe anymore of this crap that he's not fast enough to make it across the room, this is the same man that just a season ago, ran to Tokyo and back before a camera turned. I beg that the writers move on to the more interesting storyline that they have been teasing this whole season, because I just don't feel like these episodes are anything more than fillers at this point, where the team starts and ends in the same position. Speed it up Flash and get rid of Cicada.
Dont lose the great reputation
tmr_jy3115 March 2019
What the heck Chris
abnormaldonado21 May 2021
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