The Flash 9x1 : Wednesday Ever After review

 

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

The final season of The Flash is here and while this review is a little late due to me being extremely under the weather I did manage to finally take in the season 9 premiere and found myself enjoying it from beginning to end in what was I think a pretty much flawless episode. The episode begins with the threat of a familiar villain in that of Tar-Pit. He is easily dispatched by Team Flash but as they look set to celebrate everyone begins to pass out infront of The Flash including Iris. This is when Barry wakes up in a total panic and we see that he was having a nightmare. The following morning is soon upon Barry and Iris and all seems well considering what transpired for Barry over the the course of the night. He seems happy as he goes to work and Iris too gets ready. Barry tells her one final thing before leaving and that is just say yes. To what?? well Iris soon finds out that it is her answer to the impending question that Alegra soon presents her with. She tells Iris that Cat.Co media wants to purchase Central City Citizen Media. It's a blank cheque offer with Iris just having to say yes hence Barry and his words earlier. But Iris doesn't exactly seem too happy about the situation even though it's a chance for her to totally revamp and improve her organisation. While Iris is left to ponder her question and situation Barry has a proposal of his own for Captain Kramer and it is one of him becoming Director of the CCPD Crime Unit. He seemingly gets her backing but is interrupted by an officer who informs them that a robbery is taking place downtown. The Flash races to the scene and is met by Captain Boomerang which in this case is a far more comic accurate version of the character at the very least in a visual manner. The two square off with The Flash being killed..wait what?? as when Flash gets hit with an explosion from some sort of bomb type device on the back of a truck he is transported right back to where this episode began in bed with Iris on Wednesday February 1st. 

So it's a time loop huh? you're absolutely right it is. And immediately I loved this. Of course we get the usual montage stuff of Barry and Iris trying to escape the loop with each attempt ending in more and more extreme ways. But we do get some info on the device that caused it in the first place. What Captain Boomerang was stealing was the battery to a device that is similar to the Particle Accelerator so when The Flash interacted with said device it caused him to get stuck in the loop. As Barry and Chester attempt to expose the battery and take it apart to find out more they're just thrown and tossed around the loop with each and every attempt. So what is there to do?? well for Iris there is nothing to really do as her attitude takes a real downturn and she just accepts that nothing is going to happen. This really upsets Barry who has their entire future mapped out in a notebook which even says that Iris will get pregnant within the next three months. When Barry goes to see Joe and Cecil he is told that the future isn't something to just predict and let happen, you gotta take control of it yourself and make your own memories and happiness. 

The episode draws to a close as The Flash now armed with a new wealth of knowledge attempts to get out of the loop once and for all for him and Iris especially who has now distanced herself even further from him. The Flash arrives to battle Captain Boomerang whose name is Owen Mercer by the way, he tries to stop him and actually does so by phasing right through the Accelerator device as a wave of energy builds up then releases throughout the city putting an end to the loop but they forgot one thing this time and that is the battery which we see later Captain Boomerang has in his possession for his partner. Yes that's right he's working with someone but more on that in just a second. The episode ends with two final things. Firstly back at Star Labs and we see that Barry has gotten a distress call from Caitlin's phone. He arrives in the gathering room of Star Labs where Caitlin is seen standing look out the window directly at the city. The two begin to speak as Caitlin turns around to reveal this new version of herself. She isn't Caitlin or Frost rather an entirely new persona complete with blue streaks running through her hair. She will tell Barry everything and that's how the episode fades out but in true Flash style we're not done yet as we get one final big reveal to kickstart this final season. We're with Captain Boomerang again in a warehouse who is talking to someone, he says he has delivered on his end of the bargain so he expects to get repaid. He does and it is a box of new boomerangs. What happens next however is truly epic in my opinion as none other than the Red Death finally arrives and even though it's just a black / red faded shadow for now it showcases the true hate and evilness of the character in such a unique way. Red Death says they're here for The Flash as the episode ends with Red Death charging at the screen as a broken bat symbol appears on screen covered by what is seemingly negative speedforce energy. Wow. This is obviously going to be Batwoman as this show's version of Red Death which I'm fine with but man I am excited to see where this goes. The Flash season 9 premiere is in the books and what a great way to begin the final season. Everything from the time loop, to the action to the Red Death reveal at the end was great. If the season can maintain this sort of quality then I think we'd be in for a very fitting farewell that's for sure. Roll on next week!

★★★★