The Flash
Season 2 Episode 9: “Running To Stand Still”
Directed by Kevin Tancharoen
Written by Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdez, Tom Cavanagh
Created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns
The CW
Air Date: Tuesday, December 8th, 2015, 8:00pm

Last week’s episode of The Flash was spectacular. Everybody was in this crossover episode. The Flash crew turned to the Arrow crew for help in saving Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Falk Hentschel and Ciara Renee) from an immortal madman, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump). This episode was the first half of the Legends of Tomorrow setup. Patty (Shantel VanSanten) shot Wells (Tom Cavanagh), and Jay had to take a speed drug to remove the bullet from his heart with his hands. It was one of the funniest episodes of The Flash to date. And that’s saying something.

Spoilers below.

The Flash 2.9 “Running To Stand Still” recap/review: Iris is torn apart about keeping the he-has-a-son secret from Joe. She spills to Barry, and he steers her in the right direction.

Cisco: “This is so painful.”

What is he talking about? The awkward pre-mating dance of Caitlin and Jay (Teddy Sears). It is superbly cute and stumbling.

There’s an unexpected blizzard. It’s not real. It’s the Weather Wizard. He breaks out Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller). And then the Trixter (Mark Hamill)! Love the dead Flash drawings everywhere. Mark wants them to help him kill The Flash.

Cisco: “Earth-2 has The Godfather?”
Harry: “Every Earth has The Godfather, Vito.”

They tell Joe (Jesse L. Martin), who has the expected Joe reaction. Barry and Iris (Candice Patton) go home to find Snart sitting there. He feels beholden enough to warn Barry about the killing plan, but not enough to tell him where the Trixter and Wizard are hiding.

Mark Hamill is a good crazy villain. He broadcasts his evil glee, and the S.T.A.R. Labs genius crew quickly suss out his location. And so does Patty. She and The Flash end up in this abandoned wearhouse when some scary dreidels come spinning. They escape and Patty confesses all to The Flash.

Trixter is Santa giving out presents (which I am sure are bombs) to kids.

Oh no! Earth-2 Wells is working with Zoom. Dammit!

While the Trixter and Weather Wizard play with Barry, Wells, Jay, and Cisco use drones, breaches, and magnets to get rid of the bombs (they made it make sense). Barry is then able to neutralize the bad guys. But then Patty shows up. She almost does the wrong thing, but we know her better than that.

Harry decides to help Zoom, after hugging his daughter briefly. Who can blame him? I would definitely make the same choice. It makes it all the harder for us, because we know this Harry wants to be good, but can’t instead of having the means to do good but won’t (like Wells). Also harder is that Barry just forgave him (Harry not Wells – I think).

Wally West shows up.

What an episode! It had everything… the heartwarming family reunion, the bad guy turned hero (almost – Snart), the good guy forced to be a villain (Harry), a kiss (“finally!”), a loony tune (Trixter), and an almost happy ending.

Side note – I really miss Heatwave (Dominic Purcell) with Captain Cold. Soon enough, I suppose.

Side side note – I appreciated the Earth-2 humor – “What’s Christmas?”

See you in January, Flash!

The CW’s synopsis:

The Flash
Running to Stand Still (Ep# 209)
MARK HAMILL, WENTWORTH MILLER AND LIAM MCINTYRE RETURN; KEIYNAN LONSDALE JOINS THE CAST AS WALLY WEST — When Mark Mardon AKA The Weather Wizard (guest star Liam McIntyre) returns to break Leonard Snart AKA Captain Cold (guest star Wentworth Miller) and James Jesse AKA The Trickster (guest star Mark Hamill) out of Iron Heights, Barry (Grant Gustin) must stop these rogues from taking over Central City during Christmas. Meanwhile, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) and Iris (Candice Patton) meet Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale). Kevin Tancharoen directed the episode written by Andrew Kreisberg (#209). Original airdate 12/8/2015.

Videos

The Flash | Running To Stand Still Scene | The CW

Can The Flash stop the Weather Wizard’s war on Christmas? Find out on tonight’s Winter Finale at 8/7c!

The Flash | Inside: Running To Stand Still | The CW

Rogues, Mark Hamill, and a very fast man in a red suit. It’s all under the mistletoe on tonight’s Winter Finale of The Flash at 8/7c!