The Flash 7x6 : The One With The Nineties review

 

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

I have been thoroughly enjoying The Flash since this whole ''Forces'' storyline began a few weeks back but with this episode I think I may have found my absolute favorite overall episode in some time. The episode begins with Central City in complete chaos. From a plane in the middle of the road, to a middle aged man to a freaking dinosaur it sets itself up brilliantly. Hours before we get this moment however we're shown the exact lead up to it all which includes Cisco and Chester for the most part. Barry is pretty much non existent in this episode which I didn't mind as to be honest it didn't need him apart from the ending as we learned of the fourth and final force the Still Force. Speaking of Chester and Cisco they come up with a new invention that lets them read incoming isotopes that signal when a Force is within range. They set off to test it in the field. Outside of their van they place the device in hopes it works but of course things go wrong and it explodes within seconds of activation. Cisco looks to sort the problem but things are about to get a lot worse as when he and Chester turn around a wave of green energy flies past them and stops at a certain point. What's odd is that there phones are gone, the van is gone and the sensor in the device now works. Upon further inspection and after a trip into the local town they realize that they've time traveled to the past. 1998 to be exact. 

Cisco and Chester are left confused, cautious and downright dumbstruck as they're now in 1998 of all times. With Chester's device now working they set off to find the cause of all of this and of course it turns out to be the 4th and final force the Still Force which turns out to be a high school student and aspiring football player Dion but more him a bit later. As Chester and Cisco get closer and closer to cracking the case they're brought back to the beginning all over again by yet another green wave of energy. Cisco at first doesn't know where he is as his mind seemingly reverts back to when he was 7 years old for a moment. Chester manages to get through to him but it looked bad there for a moment for our pal Cisco. With the two back on the same page they come to realize that they're indeed stuck in a time loop and unless they find a way to fix things they will relive the same day over and over again...Groundhog Day style!

The episode draws to a close as Chester and Cisco look for a way to fix their broken device that was fried upon impact with the green energy wave. Chester who was holding it at the time got shielded from the energy while Cisco's mind was wiped back to his 7 year old time. With the device now fried if they don't find a way to fix things they are going to be stuck in the loop or worse..could even die. So it's shopping time for some parts as Chester and Cisco go into a store. Inside Cisco learns that they just sold a part that they need to a man who Chester sees and immediately freezes. The man is infact his dad and as Chester puts if they didn't exactly have an amazing father - son relationship while he was growing up. So much that Chester felt neglected for a time but that all came crashing down as his dad was killed in a car accident. On the outside and Cisco says he will go see him and get the part but ultimately it is Chester who goes to see his dad. What follows is a soft, tender and emotional moment that really is what just made Chester a true real important member of Team Flash for me. Chester actually bonds with his dad here. His dad who just thinks Chester is some kid looking for a part for a project. The two have a inspiring and poignant talk that ends with them both constructing a new device that will help them with finding whoever houses the power of the Still Force. And find him they do as back at the school Dion who I mentioned earlier reveals himself to Cisco and Chester. He has the power and ability to reverse, go forward and even stop time in it's tracks. He may very well be the most powerful of the forces as stated by Barry later. It turns out to be Chester who is the hero here as he talks Dion down stating that he can't change his past, present of future rather he should focus all that anger on something else. Dion restores everything back to normal but then just disappears seemingly gone into hiding for the time being. What was funny about all of this however was everyone back at Star Lab's clothing design as they went through a whole different amount of time periods from Iris's black power look to Joe's musical inspired getup from the Supergirl / Flash musical crossover a few years back. The episode ends with Chester now becoming a important member of the team and the hunt for the Sage, Strength and Still forces continuing. Man what an episode. I know it didn't sound like a lot but this episode had pretty much everything you could want from an episode of The Flash. Time travel, funny moments, emotional moments and a strong narrative running through it all. This is easily the best episode this season and proves that when The Flash is on true form it can blow every other DC show away. 

★★★★★