The Flash
Season 3 Episode 2: “Paradox”
Directed by Ralph Hemecker
Written by Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing
Starring Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Keiynan Lonsdale
Created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns
The CW
Air Date: Tuesday, October 11th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last week on The Flash, Barry (Grant Gustin) was in family heaven… at first. His parents were alive and happy. There was another Flash running around, so he didn’t have to be the hero anymore. He still worked at the CCPD. He soon realized other things were awry. Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) was a drunk and unreliable, and didn’t like him. He didn’t even know Iris (Candice Patton), but he was confident he could get back into her life. Soon, Kid Flash (Keiynan Lonsdale), Iris, and Barry come out to each other because they need to team up. They go to Cisco (Carlos Valdes), the richest man in America. Barry kidnaps Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker), who is an opthamologist, to help (she does help a bit too). In the end, Barry decided to take Reverse Flash (whom he imprisoned) back to kill his mother and return him to his timeline. But even that had consequences.

Spoilers below for episode 3.2!

The Flash 3.2 “Paradox” review: Barry allowed Reverse Flash to kill his mom in order to restore the timeline, but unfortunately it’s restored to something else once again. Barry is freaking out and goes to Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards – Yay! I love the Felicity/Barry team-up!) for help. I also really dig this method of storytelling. Instead of the straight flashback (an Arrow trademark), the Helbings used a frame story, having Barry tell Felicity what had recently transpired in a series of short flashbacks that come back to the present in between the telling.

Barry went to Star Labs but Cisco is mopey and not naming metas. Barry is unintentionally not funny. Joe and Iris aren’t speaking, and he actually managed to un-kiss Iris twice, and Felicity is loving his story with ramen noodles.

Holy Draco Malfoy Batman! Tom Felton is a meta-human expert working for the Central City P.D. Apparently he and Barry have been lab roomies for a year.

Felicity: “Everyone likes Barry Allen. You’re like pudding, everyone likes pudding.”

Cisco is miserable because his brother is dead, and Barry wasn’t there for him. Diggle has a baby boy now rather than a baby girl. Felicity and Barry has great interactions. The man formerly known as Rival in the alternate timeline is having visions and stumbles into an underground evil cult led by the masked “Alchemy.” He offers to help him and make his visions a reality.

There’s a great scene where Barry tries fixing all the problems by racing back and forth to set up a complex dinner with hopes of a Flash retreat”¦ that would be a great episode!

Flash is called back to duty and is shocked to find Rival waiting for him.

He meets his Flash doppelgänger dad (John Wesley Shipp) in the speed force, and they’re in 1998 Central City eating at a diner watching Dawson’s Creek.

Barry: “I have heard all this before.”

Earth-2 Flash: “Not from me you haven’t. We’re not gods, we’re men.”

Really good superhero style conversation. Barry realizes he must put time travel behind him.

Barry explains to the crew why things are weird, and illustrates it Back to the Future 2 style. Cisco isn’t satisfied with his explanation. He is begging Barry to go back and save Dante, since Barry went back to save his own family.

Barry chases down Rival (The Vampire Diaries‘ Todd Lasance) but Alchemy (voice by Tobin Bell of Saw) is there springing a trap. Just when things look bleak for Barry (after a “Rocky” speech to the gang from Iris), Cisco joins the fray as Vibe and helps defeat Rival once and for all. Cisco is feeling better… “Dr. Alchemy” is the new super-villain.

Things are getting back to normal; except for co-worker Malfoy who can’t stand Barry. I just keep waiting for him to call him a “Mudblood” or scream “POTTER!” I actually ended a line for him aloud, “Harry Potter,” in my best (not that good) accent. Also, although it seems as of Caitlin has not changed, she is getting “frosty.” Good. She is way cooler as Killer Frost.

He does get his kiss with Iris, again!

I know this is not the “Flashpoint” of the comics, but these opening two episodes of the season took everything that keeps us glued about time travel (I certainly am stalking the differences), and mixed it with our favorite characters, plus… Tom Felton.

The Flash airs Tuesday nights at 8:00pm ET on The CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

The Flash
Paradox (Ep# 302)
THE AFTERMATH — Barry (Grant Gustin) realizes the effects from Flashpoint are much greater than he thought. Meanwhile, Barry meets new co-worker Julian Albert (Tom Felton) and is surprised by Julian’s immediate disdain for Barry. Ralph Hemecker directed the episode written by Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing (#302). Original airdate 10/11/2016.

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Video

The Flash | Paradox Trailer | The CW

When times change, people change. The Flash is new Tuesday at 8/7c on The CW!