The Flash 7x17 : Heart of the Matter - Part 1 review

 

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

The first of a two part season finale of The Flash season 7 begins in 2049. We see Godspeed tearing through the city with Nora West Allen (XS) hot on his tail. She ends up stopping him with a speedforce like whip which takes him to the ground. It doesn't last very long however soon enough Godspeed is back on his feet and ready to unleash his energy on XS. Another speedster then zips in by phasing right through Godspeed. This of course is Bart Allen (Impulse) and he stops Godspeed right in his tracks by doing this. Godspeed does end up phasing himself. He phases through the ground as they get a report that Godspeed is heading straight for The Flash Museum. Inside both Allen kids arrive but they're too late. Godspeed can be seen using the Cosmic Treadmill to travel back in time. The speedsters both follow him which is how they've ended up in the current timeline. Now in the present day they all meet everyone in Star Labs except for Iris who is still somewhere in the Still Force. As of right now there is no way back home for Barry's son and daughter so they're to stay and help with the Godspeed problem. And that is what they all do as the three of them all team up together to try and stop the latest Godspeed Clone attack. As they do Barry notices that they only seem to target Bart which is a cause for concern. Nora ends up getting attacked by the Godspeed Clones as Bart is forced to run to get away. Back at Star Labs and Barry demands answers from his son. Why did the Godspeed Clones only seem to target him?? as it turns out Godspeed is what Reverse Flash is to The Flash. He is the arch nemesis of Impulse in the future which is why the Clones were intent on killing him. 

Barry is forced to process all of this information that technically he shouldn't even know about. He goes into the time vault and asks Gideon for help but is surprised to see Iris turn up right behind him. Dion has let her out of the Still Force for the time being. Turns out Iris had seen everything about her and Barry's kids from inside of the Still Force. The all eventually end up meeting up together at Star Labs as we're shown none other than the original Flash himself Jay Garrick in Keystone City. He has a giant portion of his powers back and intends on helping Barry with the Godspeed problem. Well as it turns out said problem is about to come to his doorstep as he ends up getting attacked and then taken hostage by the Godspeed Clones. Back at Star Labs again and after Barry sort of lashes out at Bart telling him he is pretty much being benched going forward the speedster runs out of Star Labs. Nora who has known Bart for 19 years while Barry has known him like 19 minutes rushes off to find and talk to him. It's here where we learn of what Godspeed is the arch nemesis of Impulse. It's because Godspeed killed Jay Garrick. The original Flash right in front of Impulse. A sworn enemy was made on that day and that is why the Godspeed Clones were targeting Bart so heavily. Nora eventually talks her brother round and they go back to Star Labs to help once again.

The episode draws to a close as another battle between the Flash family and Godspeed Clones take place. Thanks to Chester and somewhat Alegra who is still reeling after the death of Ultraviolet Barry and his children are made a device that can help stop the Godspeed Clones in their tracks. Given that they're made up of kinetic energy and not real speedforce the device zaps them of their speed which in turns gives the team an opening to stop them. Of course this doesn't work because instead of Alegra charging the device which is known as a Solar Encryption Engine Barry steps in to charge the battery as Alegra's powers don't seem to be up to scratch at the moment. By charging the battery with his energy it basically stopped the Godspeed Clones yes but then re jolted them with kinetic energy which allowed them to get back up and running within moments. It's Barry's mistake and it's something he takes the blame for. Back at Star Labs once again and everyone finally learns about Jay Garrick and his whereabouts. It's basically a trap Bart gets warned about but he goes along anyway ending up in a church. It is a trap but Bart gets some help from The Flash but ultimately he does end up getting completely taken out by the Godspeed Clones falling into a coma. Jay Garrick is saved but it's at the cost of Bart falling into this coma which could mean trouble going forward. Even Mecha-Vibe (Cisco) turned up here to help which was a nice touch. He'll also be around for next weeks finale I presume. With Bart out of commission Barry is soon tasked with having to enter the mindscape of August Heart who after being found last week is still struggling with his memory. Barry gets hooked up to the machine and enters the mind of the God like speedster and ends up walking into the same church from earlier. Was this church the birthplace of Godspeed in the future?? the more Barry walks inside the more and more we see as ultimately right on the altar we see a pedestal which is where Godspeed or should I say August Heart has been waiting for The Flash to arrive. The episode ends with August saying that this is going to be so much fun as the words ''To be continued'' flash on the screen. Next week is about to get pretty chaotic it seems. This was a fun episode. Nothing amazing or anything but much like the past 2 weeks it's been so much better than what we were getting from this show. It's still flawed but it's showing signs of promise. Bart Allen is great as both himself and Impulse and it was great to see Jay Garrick back even if it was just as hostage fodder a lil bit. He did work with Barry towards the end as Barry prepared to go into August Heart's mindscape so that was something at least. So yeah overall this wasn't a terrible episode and it wasn't amazing. It was a solid fun time which is what The Flash should be all about right? not taking it self so seriously but at the same time maintaining a strong level of seriousness. Next week is this season's finale like I mentioned so I look forward to that. See you then Team Flash!

★★★