The Flash 7x7 : Growing Pains review

 

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

After a season best episode last week can The Flash continue that vein of rich form this week?? the episode begins at Barry and Iris's home as we see Nora (Speedforce) making breakfast. Barry gets asked does he want juice but as he goes to pick it up his hand begins to shake and vibrate out of control. The glass breaks right in his hand leaving him to want to get to morning beverage elsewhere. Is the speedforce getting to him? 2 weeks ago we met a new character in this show called Kristen Kramer who said that Killer Frost was a fugitive and that she was on a meta most wanted list for murder, kidnap and other crimes. Well in this episode Kramer really takes the fight to Killer Frost from the get go as Frost ends up getting blamed for a crime that was done by an ice meta. It couldn't really be Frost though could it? 

Barry, Chester and Joe get called to the crime scene which was the death of a van driver who was seemingly killed by someone with ice powers. A new meta? Frost? Kristen Kramer soon turns up and immediately points the finger of blame at Frost but Barry and Joe try and back her up stating that the ice crystals left behind are different to hers. Chester examines the area for dark matter and it's off the charts..literally as on his device the charts are spiking high. So just what happened here?? well back at Star Labs Frost sets out to try and find out just what is happening and why everyone apart from the team thinks she is to blame for what happened. She ends up going to a bar where she worked before and what follows is one of the worst, most cringe worthy scene I've seen in one of these shows in a while as the bartender who is obviously this new ice based villain from the get go seems super interested in Frost and Caitlin too. As the two talk they are interrupted by breaking news. Breaking news that says Kristen Kramer has placed a 100 thousand dollar bounty on any and all info on Frost. Everyone in the bar soon surrounds Frost and a giant fight breaks out. The bartender saves her and we learn that his name is Matt. Covered in booze and sweat he removes his shirt as the scene transitions to slow motion while the song ''It's getting hot in here'' plays. Frost is stunned into almost a shock like state as the scene soon returns to normal. Just a horrible scene that was not needed at all. It felt so out of place and random especially with the song playing it was just cringe worthy. 

The episode draws to a close as Joe is tasked with assembling the anti meta human task force to hunt down not only Frost but Caitlin too as someone has left an anonymous tip that the two are related in some way. Caitlin then is shocked to find the CCPD and the task force knocking down her down. She is taken in custody as Frost is sent on an errand mission of sorts to find something that will help in tracking down this new ice meta. Well it would help but it's all a set up by the bartender from earlier as is behind it all (shocker) as back at the bar Frost learns the entire truth. His name is actually Matt Blaine or as he likes to be known Chillblaine. He isn't a meta human rather just a standard human who has replicated Frost's abilities and framed her for his crimes. A fight ensues that Frost wins thanks to her ice healing ability as she stabs both herself and Chillblaine. Frost heals but he doesn't stating that ice healing is something that can't be replicated. The Flash soon arrives with Alegra but the CCPD and task force soon surround the building demanding that Frost surrender herself. She ultimately agrees to do so even though she has Chillblaine on record stating that it was him who committed the recent crimes. Frost walks out of the bar with her hands above her head as she is taken into custody. The episode ends back at Star Labs as we learn why Barry has been stand offish with the Speedforce. As expected it's because all he sees is his mom which is to be expected. But he knows that this is also a force of nature and with both her and him now fully back to health they agree to set out and find the new forces together. And that was the episode. I really did not like this one I'm afraid. Not only did it feel like filler it just wasn't funny, engaging and was filled with so much throw away dribble. So much so that I won't be watching this episode anytime soon or perhaps ever again. Not only the worst episode this season but one of the worst episodes of The Flash in general in my opinion. C'mon Flash I know you're better than this!

★★