The Flash – Into the Still Force review S8 E15
It’s a harsh reality when the first five episodes of this season are looking like the only highlight. The most frustrating problem with The Flash is the writers keep finding creative ways to repeat the same mistakes. Call it their own personal time loop and we’re all stuck suffering through it with them.
Into the Still Force starts off on the absurd notion that Barry somehow didn’t realize his wife wasn’t home until he started chatting about breakfast to no response. Clearly, Bart and Nora’s parents don’t have a very good marriage.
Barry continues his efforts to be the absolute worst superhero by watching Tinya steal from a Coast City Jitters and not do anything. Is theft too low brow for him now? It’s not like Coast City has its own guardian to be a light in the darkness…
Tinya remains pissy and for the sake of us with short attention spans (or greatly diminished interest in this season), we get some “helpful” flashbacks showing what happened a whole three episodes ago. Barry can’t convince her to help him find Iris, which admittedly was a stupid request, but Tinya comes off as a lousy and trash character throwing an extended temper tantrum.
Deon returns from The Still Force and he wants Barry’s help. The only reason this sounds like a bad idea is because Joe isn’t on board with it. Joe’s track record of discernment is basically 1000% so I’d trust his take over everyone. And apparently the contracts of the other Forces are up or the actors were busy since we get a cursory mention of them even though they would be very useful in this situation.
Barry ignores this advice of course and travels with Deon to the Still Force. They spot Allegra and Taylor talking about Taylor discovering Team Flash’s identity. I don’t think the writers want us piecing that telegraphed storyline together so quickly. And they find Tinya’s mother, who Deon doesn’t want to help for some reason. Then he ditches Barry in the Still Force for…reasons.
We randomly go to 2049 to catch up on Nora, who Deon brings into the Still Force to help Barry.
This episode really didn’t need Nora randomly showing up. I’m still trying to forget about the goofy plot point that Barry and Iris “created” the Forces. This Nora pep talk is not nearly as strong as even the basic one from Joe. Does The Flash really need a rah rah prop a character up moment every episode?
The Flash goes Zen to calm the Still Force. Now he can see the past, present and future. This show’s logic is so silly. In the Arrowverse, Diggle’s child was changed from a daughter that became a son yet Nora in every realm has to be a lesbian?
Unlike the dead Nora, who is exactly like her other Earth counterpart in every other way, Nora isn’t a CSI but a reporter. So there is a precedent for a change at the core of Nora, just not her sexual preference. Is there a world where Nora is married to a dude? And on that world is she Norm? I’ve given this way more thought than the writers.
Now armed with sight beyond sight, The Flash and XS are able to escape the Still Force and return to Barry’s present. Just in time to apologize to Joe and explain to Cecile he’s still got zero leads on finding Iris. Why is every season the search for Iris now?
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Kramer needs Chester’s help. Someone made a device that destroyed some property. Chester remembers this as a prototype from his vlog. You remember, when Allegra told him he was ridiculous for sharing all this high-end tech to an audience he didn’t even know? It’s all good though. It was one of Chester’s followers who wanted to make a sustainable energy source for a shelter.
That was a surprisingly neat and tidy resolution for something that could have been interesting. Chester actually asks Allegra out on a date (kinda) and when they leave someone downloads his files. It was probably Felicity since she does this kind of thing all the time.
Caitlin talks science to explain to Mark how she’s gonna bring Frost back, but it basically comes down to grave robbing….excuse me, exhumation to get a sample of her DNA. Lemme get this straight. Caitlin is going to clone Frost, but can’t put her hair strand in a freezer long enough to use it? Huh?
Mark won’t help because he’s not crazy, but he decides it does make sense so he can stay an active member of the show. Or maybe because Caitlin can’t do this on her own and the writers need a fall guy when this dumb plan goes haywire.
The Flash writers need a non-pandemic vacation. They’re struggling through this season repeating plot threads from earlier seasons, doggedly holding on to The Forces and refusing to let a lame character stay dead.
All that’s missing is an unstoppable villain that gets defeated easily in the season finale and we’re all set. Speaking of who has been the significant bad guy this year? Despero?
Rating: 6 out of 10
Photo Credit: The CW
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