The Flash 8x1 : Armageddon, Part One (Crossover Event)

 

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

The Flash for it's Eight season and it begins with not only a big five part crossover but it begins with quite a stellar episode that in my opinion was the best episode in quite some time. The episode begins as we're shown Central City in the year 2031. The scene is narrated by someone as we see the city in absolute chaos. This person turns out later to be none other than the big bad of this crossover Despero. With the city in pure chaos and destruction did he cause this? or is something else at play? we're soon back in present day and see Barry and Caitlin going for a coffee at Jitters together. Just as they sit down and after Caitlin says that she is ready to start dating again The Flash gets called into action as a train disaster is imminent. In a manner of only 12 seconds The Flash saves everyone on board and is back with Caitlin. He has leveled up in a big way and theme of leveling up is very prominent throughout this episode. Speaking of leveling up we see a former enemy of the Arrow himself Oliver Queen. Way back in season 1 of Arrow he had to deal with a gang named the Royal Flush Gang. Well here they return are leveled up themselves. Now sporting powers including heat ray vision and the ability to mind read the four in the gang are seen at Mercury Labs where they steal a piece of tech that is a computer chip capable of doing pretty much doing anything. Speaking of tech none other than the former head of Palmer Tech Ray Palmer shows up at Iris and Barry's doorstep. He says that Barry said he could crash at their place whenever he was in town and he is in town for the first Tech-Con where he is being honored with an award. He will also be being interviewed by Iris who now not only has a podcast with her Citizen reporting company but she also now has more employees including Alegra who she gives a promotion to. 

We're soon back with Barry who is trying to find out The Royal Flush Gang's reasons for stealing not only the high piece of tech but also he learns that they were behind the train almost crashing also. With some help from Chester back at Star Labs and after a break in at Iron Heights to kidnap a prisoner that can crack any online security they find out that The Royal Flush Gang haven't changed much, instead of robbing actual money they're now in the crypto currency market and with all of the pieces of the puzzle in their possession it looks like they're about to cash in their chips. The Flash arrives just in the nick of time and enters Flashtime to stop them. He not only is able to stop the Queen of the gang from reading his mind but while in Flashtime he makes all the other members hurt one another in a truly great scene that felt very much like The Flash of old. So with the Royal Flush Gang now in custody everything should be a-okay right?? well..

The episode draws to a close at Tech-Con where Ray is doing his interview with Iris. They're both speaking on a stage as Ray who had earlier talked about wanting a more balanced life says that maybe they will all see him there again next year with a new project perhaps. As the interview wraps up and Ray gets a round of applause someone teleports right behind them. This is none other than Despero in his human like form. He tells everyone to run which they don't end up doing at first but when he begins to use his psychic power everyone soon evacuates the building just as The Flash turns up. The two have a fight in the building but Despero is far too powerful for The Flash. This leads to Ray suiting up as The Atom after not putting on the suit in quite some time. As the fight continues to the outside The Flash gets some help from The Atom but Despero proves pretty much indestructible. Nothing phases him as he not only physically overpowers Flash and Atom but he also does so by messing with their minds. The real kicker comes however when Ray shrinks down to size to try and find his weakness. While doing so Despero tells The Flash just why he is here in this time and place. Upon using his third eye he shows The Flash a future where he creates something called ''Armageddon'' we see The Flash running through Central City leaving nothing but destruction in his wake. Could Barry really be responsible for that future version of Central City we saw?? and if he is just why would he do that?? Despero tells him that he is here to prevent that from happening and that he will kill him. As he says this his belt begins to malfunction and he is teleported away just before he can land a final blow on The Flash. Back at Star Labs and with Despero now in an unknown time what did it all mean? and can it be prevented?? Barry seems to think so and as the episode ends we see him reveal his true identity to Despero in an act of defiance and truth. Despero likes the courage of Barry but is still unconvinced that he won't do what he does in the future. He leaves Barry with a warning. He will give him 7 Earth days in which if he can prove himself as not being the enemy. If he is unsuccessful he will return and kill him. ''To be continued'' flashes on the screen as the episode ends and man was this good. It felt really fresh but in a very impressive way. Gone was the awful feeling of season  and in it's place was a grounded at times just fun episode of The Flash. This is part one of 5 so who knows what is coming down the road in the next 4 weeks. With all of that being said however I really did enjoy this. Despero was really well done even his true form looked okay and his warning of a future that ends in chaos and destruction was very intriguing indeed. This isn't The Flash at it's absolute best but it's pretty close. 

★★★★