The Flash 5x19 : Snow Pack review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it.

After last week's almost best of season episode The Flash returns this week with another really solid episode. Beginning where the last one ended almost we see Barry standing in the pipeline. After just sending Nora back to the future Iris walks into the pipeline and confronts him. The two argue about his decision in what really was an intense scene with some really impressive acting by both parties. Iris says she is not worried by Thawne helping Nora which was a bit selfish in my opinion. After all he did kill Barry's mother practically right in front of him as a kid. Speaking of Thawne in 2049 we see Nora and him talking again. Nora mentions how he has been able to use the speedforce without being detected by other speedsters for years. Thawne says that's because he has created his very own speedforce. The negative speedforce which has allowed him to traverse time and space without being detected by anyone.  Nora says she has to teach her how to use it and while hesitant Thawne agrees. Icicle returns in this episode. After escaping very early on in the season Caitlin's dad turned ice monster returns and he wants one thing. A family of ice persona's as his own. After stealing some cryo tech from Caitlin's moms lab he ends up kidnapping them both almost killing The Flash in the process. Barry enters a state of hypothermia and is only saved by Sherloque Wells and Joe. Back at Star Labs and inside of the Time Vault is Iris who intends on going to the future. Ralph is not far behind her and learns of her plan. To use the time sphere and go to the future to see Nora. 

Far away from Star Labs Iris with Ralph's help does indeed travel the future. And with Ralph's further help by changing into the security guard Iris talks to her daughter and Thawne. This sets Nora off completely however as earlier she tried and failed to enter Thawne's negative speedforce. Iris showing up on her own without Barry triggers something in Nora and see runs off. Running straight into the negative speedforce Thawne tells Iris that she has gone back to 2019. So Barry really did it huh? he drove his daughter to the brink and pushed her into the dark abyss. Back at Star Labs Barry, Joe and Sherloque are tasked with finding where Icicle has taken both Caitlin and her mom. Barry manages to find the location even if computer skills isn't exactly his strong suit. So at the location Icicle who had earlier taken some of Caitlin's blood uses it along with the stolen cryo tech to begin the process of turning Caitlin's mom into her own ice persona. The Flash turns up obviously and Killer Frost breaks free (literally) and chases after Icicle leaving Flash to save her mom. Icicle and Killer Frost then do battle in the skies with ice loops and ice paths being created. As it looks like Icicle is going to kill Caitlin with an ice pick through the heart he stops. Why? well Thomas Snow managed to somehow break through his ice persona just as Icicle was about to kill his own daughter. A bit of a cop out I thought as the fight scene just ended with him turning back to normal. Back inside though The Flash manages to save Caitlin's mom but just as he does Cicada 2.0 shows up. Throwing Barry to the other side of the room she is then greeted by Killer Frost. The two duke it out but as Cicada throws her dagger at Killer Frost her dad steps in front of it. Hitting in right in the back he falls to the ground and dies saving his daughter. He became a villain but died a hero's death. His character really went full circle which I liked a lot. 

The episode comes to a close as Cicada 2.0 takes the cryo tech that Icicle stole before jumping off. We skip to an open area in some random street where a red breach opens and a speedster runs out of it. It is Nora who is now complete with red eyes and little bits of red lightning running throughout her own lightning. I do think Nora has eclipsed Cicada 2.0 as of now to be honest. Her story is just much more compelling. Cicada died with Orland Dwyer for me and while this Cicada 2.0 is far more powerful she just isn't that interesting. The episode does end with her however as she kidnaps her younger self and stands over before saying ''soon Grace soon..'' All in all though this episode was really good if a bit chilly (sorry that was terrible) I didn't expect Nora to just snap like she did and use the negative speedforce and I'm now more invested than ever in her storyline. Cicada 2.0's storyline probably won't end till the finale but I just hope it gets more interesting from the next episode on. The rogues return next week with characters like Rag Doll, Weather Witch and even the Bug Eyed Bandit who I didn't expect to ever see again. Until next week then Team Flash!

★★★