Amac Productions

GUILTY.

Last night’s return of the Flash gave a Barry Allen the guilty verdict. I wasn’t at all surprised by that verdict either. Honestly, there was so much evidence against Barry they almost had me believing he was guilty and I knew the truth. I would have been shocked if he were found innocent.

Poor Barry. Although, I must admit I like the poetic part where he ended up in his father’s cell. I wondered if it was Henry Allen’s cell the moment they led him to it.

The whole trial was well executed. The other lawyer was competent and completely believable. I hate when they make opposing enemies incompetent to make a story work. I love smart villains, backs against the wall, and good solid writing. They made a choice to frame Barry for murder and followed through.

Although, as an audience member I know it won’t last. They’ll find a way out, but the how they will is the most fascinating part. So often with comics or TV shows or movies based on books we know the conclusion, it’s easy to think with that knowledge the story itself can be boring. I find knowing the conclusion comforting but I’m still riveted by how they get there.

I enjoyed the trial. It moved at a good clip. Never felt dull or boring. Watching all the evidence piled against Barry being present one by one made an excellent showing of how well thought out the Thinker had gone. Even having an explanation for the pictures of her with ‘another man.’ It was a perfect frame job. With the lawyer carefully twisting everything so Team Flash couldn’t win was perfect.

I even enjoyed Barry’s resignation to it all. His unwillingness to lie on the stand. To go to jail because that’s the system he pledged as both a CSI for the CCPD and as the Flash. He would honor the people’s decision to lock him away.

I wholeheartedly ended up hating the judge at the end for calling Barry a cold blooded killer who used his position to take advantage of an ‘innocent man.’ That seemed ill-fitting even with the evidence pointing to him. All of it suggested a crime of passion since it was in his loft with a nearby weapon. Not well thought out because he hadn’t disposed of the body and was caught red handed. With his background he should have been able to easily hide the body and get away with murder. But he didn’t.

That was probably a fact that could have been taken into consideration. Also, I have a question was The Thinker’s wheelchair at the crime scene? If not, why wasn’t that brought up? Because – honestly – I don’t remember seeing it. And, I also think it was a little harsh for a life sentence without parole. A first time offence as a crime of passion should warrant something. They seemed perfectly fine with throwing the library at him because he was sworn to protect the city and ‘isn’t.’

I would also like to note I despise The Thinker with every fiber of my being. Especially, with his smugness at beating him. He thinks he’s won because the Flash is in jail. I say he can’t possibly win as long as Barry is still alive. Because now Barry and company will never stop fighting until The Thinker is behind bars or dead.

Barry spent years and years tracking down the man who killed his mother. He’ll never stop hunting the man who is trying to take him from Iris.

On that note, I am enjoying the juxtaposition of Barry and Iris with The Thinker and Mrs. Thinker. Both women are willing to do whatever it takes to help their husband.

Mrs. Thinker and The Thinker believe they are completely unbeatable, untouchable, and can overcome anything together because they know all. Here in lies their downfall. They’re too smart. And they do not have a true partnership as far I’m concerned. They may believe they do, but they don’t. I’ll explain.

They’re too smart. A major problem for genius level intellect is the normal everyday things. For example, emotions, interacting with other people. Sometimes they’re so smart the simple things elude them. This is a major problem because while Barry is smart neither him nor Iris are as smart as The Thinker. They look at the world differently. He might think he knows everything but no one ever can.

They don’t have a true partnership. If memory serves Mrs. Thinker has only ever done as her husband asks her to. The Thinker and her have started they are nothing without each other. Mrs. Thinker is the perfect housewife. One supplies ideas and the other executes. Codependent relationships are unhealthy. Losing your own identity because you’re in a relationship is a dangerous game.

Something Barry and Iris tackled early on this season. The idea of coping without each other. Working through their issues through therapy because sometimes it’s a good idea to get an outside perspective. Barry and Iris are formidable as The Flash. But they are formidable without each other too. They wouldn’t fall to pieces or be completely ineffectual without the other. Iris kept the city safe for five months without Barry. Barry was The Flash two years before they got together.

What would happen if The Thinker and Mrs. Thinker were separated? Could they still function? I doubt it.

What if Barry and Iris were? Like they are right now? I think they’d fight harder then ever to be reunited and save the city.

Side note, I loved Dibny’s true character growth by reminding Joe this isn’t who he is. It’s not the right thing even if takes down a monster. It won’t make it right and you won’t like who you see in the mirror. I loved him helping with the pictures but drawing the line at breaking the law. He learned his lesson. He was wrong. And he learned he could help someone else with his past failures. It was a pretty great moment.

I also loved Joe choosing to shut the door after Dibny gave him a choice. That’s what the heroes of Flash do. They choose to do the right thing even when it’s hard or seemingly pointless.

The radiation metahuman was a little much. The episode worked even with the breaks from the case. It also provided much needed humor with Cisco and Harry yelling at Killer Frost to show up for work.

It also provided the perfect set-up for how lost Central City can become without its hero. A meta attacked and he raced to save the day. But if he’s in jail: Who will save them now?

The ending with the judge tearing Barry’s character to shreds while the Flash was praised hurt. Because if only people could see the real Barry Allen. But honestly, I’m not sure telling anyone the truth would’ve helped his case. If The Thinker knew there was a 12 percent chance of Barry confessing he had a plan.

Overall, it was a kick butt way to return to Flash after the holiday break. I’m looking forward to Team Flash wiggling their way out of this way. Most of all, I’m looking forward to The Thinker to get his!

One last note, when will Team Flash remember they might already have a plan to defeat The Thinker? Last season Evil Barry mentioned after he failed to kill Iris when he wondered about where he would land in their life if they found a way to save him. He mentioned an inhibitor they came up with to stop The Thinker.

I hope that’s not a lost tidbit. It would be disappointing.

Read on!