The Flash 7x15 : Enemy at the Gates review

 

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

So here we are the final stretch of a season of The Flash that has had ups for sure but man has it also had it's many, many downs. Can this Godspeed arc salvage the season before it's too late?? we begin inside of Barry Allen's office. A familiar face is right away seen as Nora West Allen (XS) appears before her father. The two embrace but it's clear this is just a dream Barry is having. We soon see him wake up and immediately call Iris. ''I think we're pregnant'' he says which was a bit of an odd thing to say but given he had just seen his future daughter who seemingly disappeared from the timeline maybe that line isn't so bad after all. Upon rushing home to get samples to test back at Star Labs Barry is pretty giddy throughout major points of the episode here. He avoids Cecil who arrives at his place to remind him about lunch. She reads his emotions but doesn't quite understand what's going on. Barry lies and wiggles his way out of the situation only to be confronted again at Star Labs by Chester who too notices something is up with Barry. Chester tells Barry that Caitlin is using the lab today to help Ultraviolet so Barry won't be able to test his samples there instead he goes back to his office to test them. 

At the end of last weeks episode we saw that Joe and Kristen Kramer had formed a sort of partnership to work together on a case that Kramer was a part of. It didn't go exactly as planned as we know which has led to the pair forming an unlikely alliance of sorts. Their search ties into the very end of this episode so more on that in the ending section. As we know Godspeed would be appearing in this new story arc and two versions of the character show up in Central City. Having previously had to deal with clones Barry says that this must be the same. But just who or what is behind it all? will we even find out? the two Godspeed clones are then seen destroying property in the city and just causing general chaos. Barry who says that only he and Frost can be the line of defense as Iris is at home sick get to work and it's not long before The Flash comes face to face with one of the Godspeed clones. Godspeed emits a sort of high wave frequency that Chester can decipher back at Star Labs. The Flash ends up getting surrounded by even more clones of Godspeed but manages to escape setting off a force field around Star Labs to protect everyone inside if even for a little bit. 

The episode draws to a close as the Godspeed clones destroy the force field which leads to The Flash challenging the clones. He yells ''COME ON'' in a moment that truly felt like The Flash of old. Infact the entire second half of this episode felt like The Flash of old which was such a great thing to see. With The Flash taking the fight to the Godspeed clones throughout the city Chester gets to work on making a frequency of his own that when used will distract the clones leaving them open to attacks. He succeeds and The Flash fights back against the clones this time managing to actually damage them. He soon gets overwhelmed and ganged up on as we see the Clones attempting to steal his speed like previous Clones had tried to do. The Flash ends up getting saved by another 6 Godspeed clones who all attack the other Clones leading to a giant fight breaking out which leaves an opening for The Flash to escape. Back at Star Labs and everyone comes to the conclusion that a civil war between these Clones is happening which could literally mean anything going forward. The episode ends with two further developments. First is Barry who finally tests the samples from Iris at his lab but much to his disappointment it turns up negative. Unable to understand it he does get some comfort from Cecil who assures him that everything will work out in due time. Could Barry and Iris actually end up having a boy first this time? or will it still end up being Nora? it's the flip of a coin decision that will be interesting to see unfold. The other development is back with Joe and Kristen Kramer who can be see in a car staking out an area. Kramer who is on the hunt for a former colleague and someone who at once she held close is instent on getting revenge or in Joe's case justice for what happened years previous. A bright light is soon seen behind the car as Kramer almost immediately yells to get out of the car. But just as she does the car is engulfed in flames before in explodes. Are Joe and Kramer dead? (unlikely) but man this was an unexpected ending for sure. And that was the episode. It wasn't great, it wasn't even really good but it was such a big step in the right direction going forward. With only 3 episodes remaining this season surely all 3 episodes will just be non stop Speedster action? the first 20 mins or so here was rather dull and featured some really forced scenes especially in the form of Frost and Chillblaine. But the second half really kicked both the episode and this season ending stretch into full gear. Come on Flash I know you're capable of delivering a truly epic conclusion to a season!

★★★