After Team Flash’s trip to Spaceship Earth; aka Earth-2, things took a turn for the worse. Last week’s episode of The Flash “Escape from Earth-2” saw our team unable to escape Zoom’s reign.
“Escape from Earth-2” opens to the peak of his power. As Zoom calls out Wells for his actions; baiting the police to do his bidding, he reigns destruction on his city – the words “bring me Wells” littering the city in flames.
A wanted man in the city’s eyes; and not a victim, Zoom’s power is inescapable, and the pressure to save Barry and Jesse – and get back to Earth-1 – is on. With Star Labs-2 on lockdown, Cjsco and Wells try to figure out how to save Barry and Jesse. Having left Killer Frost and Cisco alive, Wells questions Zoom intentions. Proposing to use Reverb’s glasses to find him, they’re interrupted by Barry-2 awakening.
Barry-2 aka, politically correct Barry aka, Pleasantville Barry, is dragged along on the mission, as Zoom’s arrival causes them to flee. Led into Timevault-2, we learn that Zoom can phase through walls. Whilst this eventually gives Barry the information he needs to save himself, can we consider this, the first hint towards the idea of Hunter Zoloman as Zoom? Able to phase through walls, can Zoom phase through time and space; without the aid of a speed cannon?
Narrowly escaping with their lives; with the aid of a fake wall, Barry-2 demands answers.
Elsewhere, at Zoom’s prison, Barry looks for an escape; still unaware of a Speedster’s phasing ability. Frustrating Jesse, who thinks it’s hopeless, the pair are distracted by the other, unknown prisoner. Neither knowing who he is, the episode focuses more on their escape; with only a little progression to the notion of Diggle-2 potentially being this Metal Man. As he incessantly continues to tap on the glass of his cage, Barry thinks he’s trying to communicate.
Before they’re able to think any further, Zoom is back, reaffirming that Jesse is only alive so he can kill her in front of Wells; and that Wells is only alive until he gives him Barry’s speed.
Back in Earth-1, the city is wondering where the Flash is. With the breach stabilised, the team has 20 hours to return, and Jay is eager to take up being a speedster in the meantime.
A worried Caitlin reveals that the V7 is causing cellular degeneration too, but with Geomancer still a threat, Jay is eager for her to work on V8; despite the cost.
At the newspaper, new editor Scott Evans, refuses to run Iris’ fluff piece on the Geomancer situation. Demanding to know where the Flash is, Iris offers up an exclusive with Jay, to tide over his urge to question the Flash’s whereabouts in the paper.
In Earth-2, Iris, is approached by Barry-1; who, with Cisco and Wells, tell her the truth – needing her help in finding Zoom’s lair. Concluding that Killer Frost may know where it is, her obedient nature is forsaken by Cisco in light of Ronnie-2’s death. Using Meta-Human data; with a sly mention of Patty Spivot, they’re conveniently able to approximate her location; with tech that is likely to find itself in Earth-1. As Zoom is too fast to trace, they head to the woodlands to find Killer Frost.
With the lack of Barry-1’s aid, Barry-2 finds himself becoming a hero in order to protect Iris.
Speaking of Barry-1, he and Jesse try to discern Metal Man’s tapping. Whilst it’s not morse code, Barry finds its origins in prisoners of war. More exciting, is evidence towards this being Diggle-2. An ex-soldier, the similarities between the two are growing.
Skipping straight to V9, Jay saves a hospital from Geomancer’s latest earthquake; unaware of the effects of V9; leaving him exhausted. His heroism giving everything Iris needs for her article, Jay leaves Caitlin and Iris, to rest.
Back at Zoom’s prison. Metal Man tapping decodes to “it’s Jay” both literally and phonetically; “J”, then “A” then “Y”. Barry tells him Jay is alive, but he frustratingly taps again. Whilst Jay’s connection is less clear than that of his Doppelgänger, we’re back to questioning whether Zoom is a consequence of Jay’s experimenting with speed serums or that of his Doppelgänger’s. With the effects of the V9 on Jay; a lack of speed would ultimately lead to his death. Perhaps, then, Zoom is a foreshadow of Jay’s future – and the obsession with speed- through Hunter.
Apparently giving away too much, Zoom warns our masked prisoner to never speak to Barry and Jesse again.
Confronting Barry; Zoom tells him he only needs to be barely alive in order to get his speed, beating the hell out of him. Surprisingly, Barry is pleased; his beating revealing his escape i.e. the ability to phase.
Meanwhile, Killer Frost confronts Cisco and co. in the woodlands. After a witty Frozen comparison, Cisco tries to convince her to turn on Zoom; where as Killer Frost finds their deaths to be more in favour of her freedom.
After a fight ensues, Killer Frost is forced at gunpoint to take them to Zoom’s lair.
Back on Earth-1, Geomancer attacks, and Jay is nowhere to be found. Luckily, Caitlin is able to save herself and Iris.
As Killer Frost takes note from Elsa; building the team an Icy stairway – or footholds – to Zoom’s lair on Ascension cliffs, Barry wants to know why he cant phase.
Scientist Jesse, tells him; that like Cisco, his speedster frequency is different. Confined to his cell, he struggles to go faster, in order to make up the difference in frequency.
Back on Earth-1 Joe sends a power-dampened Geomancer to Iron Heights, and an apologetic Jay arrivers. Caitlin reveals that the V9 kickstarted his latent regenerative abilities, and hopes to make it work permanently. Interrupting a fangirl worthy kiss, the speed cannon is damaged again. With an hour to fix it, things look bleak for the team’s return.
Entering Zoom’s lair, and freeing Jesse, a trapped Barry tells them to leave without him. Unwilling to go without him, Barry receives a power speech from his other self that allows him to phase out of his cell, just as Zoom arrives; thanking a traitorous Killer Frost.
Attempting to bargain with Zoom, Barry urges him to let everyone but himself and Wells go. Choosing to kill Jesse instead, Killer Frost attacks, saving the team. As they leave, Barry tells Metal Man that he’ll come back for him, and hopefully Killer Frost; should she survive Zoom’s wrath.
On Earth-1, the Speed cannon can only be fixed by rebooting it. To avoid being pulled into the breach, Jay must create a vortex to counteract it. At his own risk, Joe offers to help, and the breach is fixed after a few tense moments, wherein Joe’s mortality is challenged for a second, consecutive week.
Back at Starlabs-2, Barry-1 tells Barry-2 and Iris-2 to flee Central City, as Jesse and Wells decide to live in Earth-1.
As Barry stabs Zoom, in order to free Wells at the last minute; literally from Zoom’s grasp, the team return and close the breach. Before things are able to end happily, Jay is pulled back through by Zoom.
Tonight, as King Shark attacks, will we uncover the secret to phasing between worlds without a breach; in order to save Jay? Also, Diggle and Lila arrive in town from the Arrowverse; hopefully, further cementing a connection between Metal Man, with his presence.
The Flash airs tonight at 8|7c on the CW!
[Featured Image Courtesy of Bettina Strauss/The CW; Source Content for Gifs: The Flash “Escape from Earth-2”, The CW 2016 ]
