The Flash Abra Kadabra review S3, Ep. 18

One of the problems with The Flash season structure is every episode has to address the overall plot. That hurt Abra Kadabra’s debut to a degree as he proved far more interesting than Savitar’s ever been.

It’s hard not to like Abra Kadabra’s shtick. He’s from the future and wants to show up The Flash bringing his future tech to the past as magic tricks. In today’s time he’d set up a massive Twitter account bragging about his upcoming tricks.

But Abra Kadabra (David Dastmalchian) didn’t pop up just to make Flash look silly. He needed to get Back to the Future…hmm. This made Kadabra look kinda dumb not having a transportation device or a Delorean to take him back. The writers needed to explain Kadabra’s beef with Barry better.

Otherwise why not just grab the Waverider? Taking the time altering transport out of the Legends of Tomorrow’s hands would be the most heroic thing anyone has done on the Arrowverse. And it’s not like there’s any less heroes to fight.

I was hoping for more of a costume. The stark white hair was a nice touch, but Kadabra has one of the more simpler costumes to recreate. And Flash can’t use the excuse of making the outfits look realistic. That went out the window the second the show did a musical episode. Realism doesn’t live here any more.

Between The Dark Knight, an arc on Gotham and his new role on Flash, Dastmalchian is getting some serious DCU work. Not to mention his role in Ant-Man.

It was hilarious watching Barry and Joe complain that stopping Kadabra was the last thing they should be dealing with now. I’m sure they could squeeze in another musical routine…

Kadabra’s tricks were cool, especially the card distraction bit and the removable arm gag. It was too bad more of the episode focused on him imprisoned and Team Flash deciding his fate: let him go with Gypsy or free him and learn Savitar’s identity.

I won’t complain about another Gypsy appearance, but the forced romance drama with Cisco got old quick. Caitlin’s romantic subplot was much more engaging. She was trying to get back in Julian’s good graces, which she did by getting skewered in Kadabra’s escape and trusting him to perform surgery. By not overdosing on their relationship, Caitlin and Julian is the only side romance I’m invested in.

The Gypsy/Kadabra dilemma did provide for a tremendous showcase for Joe. Jesse L. Martin is the one indispensable cast member as he gives every scene an authentic and emotional kick. Joe had some great moments here first in the standoff with Kadabra and his talk with Iris.

Barry’s new brilliant disastrous plan is to travel to the future to learn Savitar’s identity himself. It can’t be that easy or someone would have mentioned that a long time ago, right? Good thing absolutely nothing ever goes wrong when Barry time travels…

Thanks Malcolm. But Flash and company may have more immediate problems as Caitlin flat lined. That’s weird since Julian’s first ever surgery seemed to go so well initially. And Iris was such an awesome surgical assistant too.

Rather than tearfully watch her die, Julian does the sensible thing — ripping off the inhibitors that hold Killer Frost back. Good news? Caitlin quickly recovers. Bad news? Killer Frost is back. Or is that a bad thing?

I wanted more of Kadabra and hopefully this wasn’t a one and done appearance. The Team Flash tension was good, but I’m real leery of Barry’s new plan. And what’s up with Savitar?

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Photo Credit: The CW