Season Flash 5 Episode 2 Review: Blocked

Todd Helbing … you're so schwaay, babaay.

After watching two episodes of The Flash Season 5, I can not help but wonder if this is the direction that Helbing wanted to take the series since he sat in the audience room. writers during Flash Season 1, but because he was not Showrunner, he could not call the shots.

He certainly calls them now, and I do not think The Flash could have hoped that someone else would do the job better.

Related: Season Flash 5 Episode 1 Review: Nora

After the first of the season, I was worried that Flash Season 5, Episode 2 will fall into the infamous "Second Episode Collapse". After Nora's initial introduction to the band, I was hoping that the story and Team Flash would not lose anything. of their momentum.

They certainly did not do it.

In terms of framing, this is perhaps one of the most successful flash episodes I've ever seen.

As far as conflicts are concerned, things may not be happening yet, but I have rarely seen a show find a way to separate its main actors and balance four scenarios in 43 minutes while allowing everyone from among them to have captivating arches that always pay fruitfully for his audience.

And what a good idea to do it early in the season, before the climate gets too intense.

The group broke apart in four different ways this week and, thanks to this, we were able to focus on developing real characters for almost everyone involved with Team Flash. Something show (even this one) focused on the plot tend to be missing quite often.

Because everyone had the same chance to pass the screen during their consecutive arcs, it's a challenge for me to declare what was the "A" scenario of the hour. However, for all practical purposes, we will follow the story of Barry and Nora.

He's the flash, after all.

Jessica Parker Kennedy has once again delivered an incredibly strong performance, and I still struggle to understand how they managed to interpret this role perfectly.

Her bizarre, intelligent, extravagant and intrinsically naive portrayal of Nora is nothing short of phenomenal, and her chemistry with father on screen, Grant Gustin, only hovers over every scene they share.

Beyond the pleasure of seeing Nora strive so hard to be the perfect speedster, it's particularly interesting to see Barry understand how to become a father. He is so upset by his general presence and eagerness to please him; it does not show him how similar they are.

It is however registered for the public and it is what makes it so amusing.

He records to Joe too.

The scene between Joe and Barry walking backstage – allowing Barry to recognize how much he was a hero for Nora, just like Joe was for him – was charming. Joe giving Barry advice on how to become a parent was such a beautiful and new way for them to connect.

Speaking of Joe West, this leads to the less developed, but still extremely well executed scenario, with Cecile and her struggle to lose her head reading.

Although Cécile's powers have generally been used for humorous purposes in the past, mainly by Joe's disdain, writers have really taken advantage of them to link them to real life and the fears they feel when they fear not be good enough parents. for their child.

Related: TV Reports: The flash in mind The gifted

Ceciles panicked about the failure Jenna was too easy to understand, and I can not wait to see the mother of superheroes that Cecilia becomes for her daughter as the season advances (even though she did not more his powers.)

Parenting was a general theme that lasted all the time and we still have not seen Iris and Nora connect to a deeper level. At the very least, it becomes clear that their disconnect must go beyond Nora's desire to spend time with her father before she disappears.

And while I'm very excited about their story, I was happy the story was not over yet.

Because what we had, Iris was much, much better.

As I said last week, the Flash Season 5 Episode 1 m dropped with the lack of journalism in Iris's story. I was afraid it meant that they would drop her completely and that would become another missed opportunity for her character.

Oh, I was wrong.

In this new showrunner, I must have faith. Because the journalist Iris is back! And she is better than ever.

I love the fact that, to really be able to focus on the dynamic Barry / Nora, the writers have created a little procedural villain for the week.

Not only did it emphasize our heroes rather than the metas they fought (so small that she had never even had a proper name), but that allowed Iris to take the place of the driver for the great serialized bow of the season: the discovery of Cigale, our season 5 Big Bad.

Iris has been a complex member of Team Flash for quite some time (although I know it has been quite discussed), leading the team from the Star Labs bar, while allowing him to come back to the team. writing, gives it an active narrative agency. advance the plot, and you do not even have to give him the powers to do it.

The power of Iris East his intelligence. It's nice to see that recognized, especially with Iris who is a strong black female head.

Related: Black Lightning Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Black Jesus Blues

To interview all the people involved in the death of Gridlocks, use Barry's lab to uncover security images, collect sounds similar to those of a cicada that she had heard about the pictures and during the attack on Barry, Iris was the true hero of this adventure. episode.

Who were the heroes here? Vibe and The Elongated Man is who. I guess they're not responsible, they arrived a little too late to help beat "Block" (a depressed Cisco is an uncreachable Cisco) and Cicada stole their powers before they had the chance to defend yourself.

However, this is neither here nor there for me, as they may not have been involved in superhero action, but they were still busy with their own, delicious storyline.

Writing for Cisco Ramon has always been one of the best aspects of The Flash. But this season? There is not one aspect of his dialogue that is not an absolute iconic gold.

I do not know who writes his lines, but whoever it is, this guy needs an increase.

What I especially liked, is that we had so many different versions of Cisco. We got our typical Cisco, a spiritual and sacrastic boat. We had desperately the love and the broken heart of Cisco. And we also had Cisco, our caring and caring best friend.

It was a real treat from Cisco Ramon.

One of the best things about Cisco's character (in addition to the way Carlos Valdes aptly describes it) is the endearing relationship that he cultivates with all the people with whom he comes in. contact, whether they are positive or negative.

For example, Ralph may not be my favorite character in this series, but I still appreciate his dynamics with Cisco. Whether it's for Ralphs or Cisco's sardonic nature, it works. It works really well.

And Cisco with Caitlin?

They tore my little sender's heart straight on my chest, I swear.

In addition to Iris' commentary "Team West Allen", the scene against Jitters is perhaps the purest moment of the episode.

I can not help but think that Cisco will say that Gypsy is not that one, because if she was there, she would still be there, it's a forerunner, he finally realizes that the woman who Caitlin is not going anywhere in his life.

Caitlin, the woman who is finally get his story late. I can not wait to see where everything is going. How her mother is involved, where her powers come from, if her father is still alive, if he is a meta too.

Writers could take us anywhere, and I trust them to do it right.

The episode, however, did not attract all the characters. The flash made its first face the nemesis scam of the season, while viewers could see the face beyond the mask.

And my boy, was it a scary face? Chris Klein will kill this role.

Once again, I think the idea of ​​slowly introducing Cicada into history is a wise decision. Not only so that we can spend more time working with Team Flash, but also so that the show does not fall into the same mistakes it has made in recent years.

Related: Arrowverse: The Elseworlds Crossover Poster Reveals the Roles of Two Heroes

In other words, we do not want them to drag the main storyline for the 22 episodes in a way that makes the viewers lose interest. My god, Savatar was so boring.

I'm really intrigued by who the Cicada is, what he wants, what his motivation is, why he got up and walked away when he saw XS and why he seems to be black as concierge during his free time.

I am also totally terrified of him, which is a feat that few network television shows are able to achieve. I do not know if it's the portrait of the character, the writing, the cinematography or anything mixed up in the hands of the veteran, but so far, Cicada is a scary villain.

I'm 100% there for that, every step.

Random thoughts:

• Ralph's book? Invaluable.

• Cisco screaming on Thor's hammer felt so … just.

• I am more than happy that the secret of Barrys' disappearance remained secret for only half a period before the truth was revealed. I'm so done with the Flash team that has secrets.

• I have been so impressed by the strength and confidence of Iris in his belief that the team has the power to protect Barry. This almost proves that the trip will be the highlight of this season, it is not about the "destination" on whether they succeed or fail.

• A large, gigantic pastry shop is definitely the strongest choice to avoid your feelings.

So what did you think?

Do you accept that season 5 kills the game of superheroes or have you been disappointed by this episode? Do you agree that the flash is invigorated this season? Are you as scared (but strangely attracted) by the Cicada as me? What do you think his story with XS could be? Are you a Cisco / Caitlin sender?

I want to hear ALL your thoughts down! And if you missed the episode, you can watch The Flash online, right here at TV Fanatic!

Kat Pettibone is a writer for TV Fanatic. To follow her Twitter.