The Flash 6x1 : Into The Void review

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

The Flash returns for it's sixth season and with not only an impending Crisis coming we're also introduced to some new characters. The episode begins 4 months after season 5's finale where we see Cisco and his girlfriend at Star Labs. On the outside we see a very familiar coat of white lightning running throughout the city. Godspeed has seemingly returned and he's come from the future as Cisco says. The Flash is soon after him and the two run throughout Central City. Flash ends up catching Godspeed and removes his mask. The man underneath is not August Heart like he was last season. In fact according to Cisco this is like the fourth person under the Godspeed get up that has arrived in Central City since the summer. He ultimately says it's a problem best saved for later. And that problem hopefully does get resolved at some point this season. As for the entire beginning itself it did feel sort of pointless but given that Cisco said it'll be hopefully resolved gives me some hope that things will work themselves out. Soon after this we're introduced to who will become this season or at least half of the season's big bad in Ramsey Rosso. A scientist he is friends with Caitlin and at the funeral for his mom we're fully introduced to him. Later at Jitters him and Caitlin share a coffee as he shows her something that he has been working. Ramsey says that he made up everything what he said about his mom at her funeral. He tells Caitlin that she was weak and instead of trying to cure herself she just ticked things off her own bucket list. He basically says she is a coward. But people won't have to die at the hands of cancer anymore he says as he's found a way to defeat the virus. He just needs one thing from Caitlin..access to Dark Matter which when used with what he already has he think can cure cancer entirely. Caitlin straight out refuses however and says it is too dangerous. Ramsey shoots back by saying it wasn't too dangerous when Caitlin was using Dark Matter for the meta human cure. He gets up and leaves without even saying goodbye. Caitlin goes to do the same but as she goes to walk out a giant black hole appears out of thin air. It's gravitational pull forcing everyone and everything inside to hang on for dear life. This black hole also appeared a bit earlier when Iris was at the junkyard looking for her old suit that XS would grow up to use. It's withered and torn but gets sucked into the black hole as it appeared before her and at the guy working at the junkyard. Iris puts her investigating skills to good use and finds out what is just actually causing the black holes to appear throughout the city. 

Chester P Runk. That is the name of a local guy in Central City and it is he who is the cause of the black hole's showing up. He used various parts found in the junkyard to create a device which he wanted to use or at least try to communicate with other life. Irish shows up at Star Labs and shows everyone else the video clip of him using the device. After turning it on it almost immediately goes haywire as a small black hole appears before Chester. He touches it with his finger before the video clip ends. So somehow both him and the black holes that have been appearing throughout the city are connected in some way. Iris goes and pays Chester a visit (Iris is really good in this episode by the way) and learns that he is basically half brain dead. Where's the other side of his brain?? well it's inside the black hole. Back at Star Labs Barry and Cisco come up with a way to stop the black holes from appearing but after learning that Chester is literally a part of them Barry refuses to go the way Cisco suggests. He wants to do it the right way and after some debating he and everyone agrees that he go inside of the black hole, stop it's gravitational pull and save Chester's mind. But before all of that happens we see Ramsey again by his mom's grave. He stands over it as a guy arrives with a case, we soon find out that the case does indeed contain Dark Matter after injecting himself with it at his lab Ramsey's hand begins to turn all black and ooze starts flowing and it looks like he can extend his arm as a way to use it. And that is how Bloodwork is born. Not the most original origin but it worked and did so quite well. The actor portraying Ramsey / Bloodwork is really good here and I think he'll be a great villain going forward. Certainly has the potential to be a whole lot better than last season's disappointing Cicada and Cicada 2.0.

The episode comes to a close with The Flash's drive into the black hole. Backed by the Flash song by Queen which Cisco plays as The Flash runs up walls, the city and more to gain momentum Barry who is sporting a new suit by the way (really comic accurate) he goes into the void and retrieves the rest of Chester's mind and also a little something for Iris. This entire scene was the highlight of the episode easily as while silly it was highly entertaining. Chester is saved and The Flash once more saves the day. Side note Killer Frost is sporting a new outfit and it is amazing. Really suits her a lot. Back at Star Labs and Barry has a surprise for Iris. Not only did he save Chester from the black hole but he also salvaged Iris's suit that got sucked in earlier. They both miss Nora so much but agree to work together to overcome their grief and somewhat guilt. But the episode isn't over yet oh no, as the lights go out in the time vault and none other than The Monitor himself appears. He tells Barry and Iris that on December 10th 2019 The Flash must die in order to prevent billions of lives being lost. Of course Barry won't die but given how Oliver made his sacrifice to save both Barry and Kara from the impending Crisis I can't help but wonder how this will all play out come the giant crossover event. And that was The Flash's season 6 premiere. A whole lot went down and it all worked together really well. The beginning with Godspeed was a bit needless but if it gets resolved later in the season than I guess it's fine. The Flash vs the black hole was proper exciting, Ramsey looks to be a great villain and the revelation that The Flash will die come December 10th was enthralling. What an episode to come back with and what a way to begin season 6. Welcome back once again Team Flash!

★★★★