The Flash
Season 1 Episode 21: “Grodd Lives”
Directed by Dermott Downs
Written by Grainne Godfree, Kai Yu Wu
Starring Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Rick Cosnett, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdez, Tom Cavanagh
The CW
Air Date: Tuesday, May 5th, 2015, 8:00pm

Last week’s The Flash was exactly what the title said – a trap. Except instead of the team tricking Dr. Wells (Tom Cavanagh) into confessing to Barry’s mom’s murder, Dr. Wells had been playing them the whole time. He had screens set up, with cameras everywhere. The trap involved Cisco (Carlos Valdes) revisiting his alternate reality death experience he’s been dreaming about (Inception Vs. Dreamscape – classic line). There was another Barry (Grant Gustin) flashback to his coma days. A little spark of electricity, then and now, “sparked” Iris’s (Candice Patton) discovery. So having the exact face, build, and mannerisms as the man you lived with your whole life doesn’t give it away, but some static does? Whatever. I’ll forgive you because thank god everyone knows now. Eddie (Rick Cosnett) attempts to propose to Iris, despite Joe (Jesse L. Martin) not giving his blessing, but he is kidnapped by Reverse Flash. So should Joe and Barry send Reverse Flash a thank you card?

The Flash 1.21 “Grodd Lives” review: It’s the episode we’ve been waiting for! Well… one of them anyway. This Grodd-centered episode distracts the STAR Labs team (minus one Dr. Wells/ plus one Iris), from Dr. Wells’s real goal. The goal? Tune in to find out.

Cisco (smirking): “And I think we know what happens when a superintelligent ape who’s pissed off at humans escapes captivity.” Cisco’s movie references are my favorite part of the show.

Grodd, the superintelligent ape, is telepathic, an experiment gone awry. He was rescued by Dr. Wells – “father.” And Dr. Wells sicced him on Barry, Cisco, and Joe.

Joe shows genuine fear when he is captured by Grodd and is almost forced to shoot himself in the head. Grodd is definitely one scary meta-gorilla, more scary than any of the metahumans.

While everyone is up in knots about Grodd, Wells is concocting the next step of his plan, using Eddie as a captive soundboard. He really makes Eddie feel bad about HIS future, showing him the Iris West-Allen future newspaper article, and talking up how unremarkable Eddie’s life ends up being. Poor Eddie! He’s such a good guy.

I finally liked Iris this episode. I think it was everyone’s fault that I didn’t like her for not telling her the truth. She was strong and helpful and didn’t whine to everyone. I’m so glad she knows.

Cool King Kong reference (Cisco of course), and then Grodd scaling a building just like the most famous movie ape of all time.

Next week has a crossover plus special guest star alert, as Stephen Amell joins as Arrow and Robbie Amell returns as Firestorm. Those Amells… Is this appearance an inadvertent Arrow spoiler for tonight? Does this mean that Al Sah-him remembers his former life? Can’t wait for tonight’s Arrow and next week’s The Flash 1.22 “Rogue Air.”

The Flash airs Tuesday nights at 8pm ET on The CW.

The CW Synopsis:

Grodd Lives (Ep# 121)
GRODD RETURNS! — Barry (Grant Gustin) must deal with the Reverse Flash’s (Tom Cavanagh) latest threat to a member of the group. To make matter worse, Dr. Wells unleashes Grodd on the city in order to distract Barry and the team. Joe (Jesse L. Martin), Barry and Cisco (Carlos Valdes) head down into the sewers to catch Grodd but the gorilla quickly gets the upper hand after he kidnaps Joe. Iris (Candice Patton) and Barry have a heart to heart talk. Dermott Downs directed the episode written by Grainne Godfree & Kai Yu Wu (#121). Original airdate 5/5/2015.

Videos

Wells’ secret is out…can anything stop him from snuffing out “ŽThe Flash? Find out on the final 3 episodes of the season, beginning Tuesday at 8/7c!

Catching Grodd is anything but easy. The Flash is new tonight at 8/7c!