The Flash
Season 3 Episode 23: “Finish Line”
Directed by David McWhirter
Written by Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing
Starring Grant Gustin, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Keiynan Lonsdale, Tom Felton
Created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns
The CW
Air Date: Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017, 8:00pm

Warning! Spoilers below for the season 3 finale of The Flash!

Last week’s Flash was full of tears, as Barry (Grant Gustin), desperate to save Iris (Candice Patton) as the clock wound down, went back in time to get Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) to help him steal an energy source from A.R.G.U.S. This energy was needed to fuel the “speedforce bazooka” that Tracy Brand (Anne Dudek) built, inspired by her muse and crush HR (Tom Cavanagh). After a harrowing reenactment of Jaws, they retrieved it and Barry and Snart said goodbye in a bittersweet moment for Captain Cold fans. The team went to Infantino Street to stop Savitar from killing Iris, but it didn’t work. Savitar ran Iris through and Barry held her body in his arms. Vibe (Carlos Valdes) and Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker) faced off.

Spoilers below.

The Flash 3.23 “Finish Line” (Season Finale) review: We begin as last week ended, with Barry crying over Iris’s dead body. Oh my god, oh my god. HR sacrificed himself with the transmographer. I knew that would be what they used, but I had no idea he would be the one. We see how it went down, HR sneaking and freeing Iris before they change places. Funny, quirky, HR… he was the best one to take her place because they have infinite Harrys to choose from.

Savitar takes Cisco right just as Killer Frost was about to finish him. He still needs him, especially when he starts remembering that Iris didn’t die (as proved by the 2024 Iris West Allen byline). He wants Cisco to fix the gun so that he can exist in every moment from “the Big Bang til the end of time.”

Barry takes the advice of Snart. He meets Savitar. “I wanna help you.” Barry talks to Savitar about his favorite memory of “their mom and dad. “I’m still in there. Come home.” Savitar comes back to the lab like a wounded rescue dog. Everyone is bitter, but Iris gets through. He is affected by her. “There’s a way through this for all of us.” Tracy refuses to help, so they get Harry to talk to her (after she freaks about him), telling him of the sacrifice that HR made – “HR didn’t run.”

Julian (Tom Felton) has a cure for Caitlin.

Savitar says he will get Cisco and Caitlin, but then he sets a trap that he thinks killed them all (for like a second). The gun is ready. Savitar give the kill order, but Gypsy saves Cisco at the last second – ah… l’amour. She brings him to the very alive rest of the team. Frost points the gun at Savitar and fires. It seems to be working, until it doesn’t. Of course, Cisco wouldn’t fix it for real. Now everyone fights. There’s cold and vibes and speed. Cisco gets the upper hand on Caitlin, but hands her the cure and says it’s her choice. Savitar goes to kill Cisco and Caitlin saves him. Barry and Savitar go at it, but Barry destroys the suit and punches him out.

As he walks to his friends, Savitar goes for a kill shot, except Iris saves Barry by shooting Savitar, and he fades away.

They gather around HR’s grave. Iris: “He was my hero.” It is so sad for them all. HR was so great… I’m upset.

Frost hides by the tree. They all walk over. She gives the cure back and says she’s not Caitlin or Killer Frost, but needs to figure out who she is.

Barry and Iris are happy at home, making wedding plans. So of course there are earthquakes and lightning storms destroying the city. The speed force is doing it. They gather by a wormhole, and a familiar face walks out of it.

Joe: “Barry. It’s your mother.” This made me laugh, despite what I knew it meant. The speed force comes to take him away, but it promises it won’t be hell for Barry.

And Barry Allen is gone, hand in hand with his fake mom.

Wow. Just wow. I usually write my reviews as I watch the shows. I had about 3 words written after the hour was over – just mouth open, round eyes, aghast. This was a fantastic filled to bursting finale, with so much emotion. I was ecstatic and devastated within the same 10 minutes, quite a few times. The writers deserve a raise. This was a great ending to a great season.

Some thoughts:

– Can we all just applaud Tom Felton and Danielle Panabaker this season? Felton completely (almost completely) made me stop seeing him as Draco Malfoy, a feat since I constantly rewatch Harry Potter. I LOVE him as Julian and he is an incredible addition to the team. And Panabaker as Killer Frost is magnificent.

– My husband said right before the end, “How can they ruin this happy ending in the last minute? Yep.

– Two-Face – good one Cisco. How will I last without my Cisco-isms until October?

– Personal request: Let the team have one full episode of happiness please. That is a challenge for a writer – make an interesting show full of happiness.

– I am surprised that Jay didn’t step up again.

– How will they get Barry out of the speed force?

See you all next season!

The CW’s synopsis:

The Flash
Finish Line (Ep# 323)
SEASON FINALE — With nothing left to lose, Barry (Grant Gustin) takes on Savitar in an epic conclusion to season three. David McWhirter directed the episode written by Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing (#323). Original airdate 5/23/2017.

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The Flash | Finish Line Scene | The CW