Flash ‘Family of Rogues’ Review

I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of Barry Allen’s weekly escapades. This show is the epitome and definition of a true comic book show. Every week, we the viewers are given the perfect balance of meta-human crime solving with a dash of science, and it’s exhilarating.

I actually felt a serious ting of tension this week. This entire episode was based on family. Considering Barry Allen has resolved the death of his mother, and has evidently come to terms with the fact that his father is imprisoned for the time being, it would only make sense that Barry would throw his helping hands into helping out another family. Last season we were introduced to Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Golden Glider (Peyton List), a brother/sister duo of maniacal thieving proportion. Golden Glider appears randomly to the STAR lab team begging them for help. The team is a bit cautious considering that this sob story could be considered a long con. Her brother has returned to a life of crime with their father Lewis Snart (Michael Ironside). This is a bit of a shock considering that the two siblings hate their father. It becomes evident that their abusive father has placed a bomb inside of the head of Golden Glider, and is using Captain Cold to execute a heist. If Cold refuses, Glider gets her head blown off. That’s some sadistic stuff. Barry infiltrates Snart’s trust posing as their tech guys, Sam. Once Lewis, Captain Cold, and an undercover Barry get to the control room, and Barry opens the lock, Lewis shoots Barry. I almost lost my mind.

A perfectly timed commercial left me thinking that Barry Allen was dead with no understanding of what I just saw. When the show resumed we saw that Barry had in fact caught the bullet, faked death, and caught up with the father/son duo right as they are trying to make their escape. Meanwhile in the lab, Cisco is whipping up a way to extract the bomb that is located in Golden Glider’s neck.  When Cisco succeeds and sends word to Barry, alerting Captain Cold that his sister is safe, Cold promptly kills his father. Barry asks him why he did it, and he swiftly replies “He broke my sister’s heart. Only fair if I break his.” We jump to scene of Captain Cold in Iron Heights Prison and a speech from Barry that dotes that he can still change his life. This whole scene is a perfect set up for Legends of Tomorrow.

This plot arch isn’t the only one that deals with family this episode. Francine, Iris’ mother, shows up wanting to see her daughter. This shows that Joe has been lying to Iris about the death of her mother. In a heart to heart with Barry it become known that Iris’ mother was a drug addict who was in and out of rehab. Barry urges Joe to tell Iris, which he does and things get a little emotional.

Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) create a way for Jay to get back to Earth-2, but the team convinces him to stay for a bit longer.

Remember last week when Professor Stein collapsed? Well, it happens again, but not before his body ignited in both red and blue flames. Do I sense Firestorm coming?

Last episode left us with a cliffhanger of Earth-2’s Harrison Wells appearing in an open elevator with no resolve, and his appearance wasn’t made known at all this week. We also see him appear out of the Speed Cannon again this episode with no explanation. Perhaps next week will prove to be a little more enlightening.

Here are some definite things that we learned this week:

• Cisco and Golden Glider totally have a thing for each other, but who knows when she’s going to show up again.

• Barry now has thermal threading in his suit. This creates a way to survive in subzero temperatures as well as the ability to melt ice.

• A Speed Cannon has been erected, so now there is a way to jump between Earth and Earth-2.

• Patty and Barry are starting to form their relationship, and it is awkward as hell, but in a cute way.

• Stein screamed “Excelsior!” and it was amazing.

• This might be the last time we see Professor Stein as himself, he is slowly changing into Firestorm, the nuclear man. For those of you who are not familiar, you can read up on the history of the character here.