The World Showcase
Last night’s episode of The Flash took us to Earth-2 and ignited crossover dreams
The Flash opens to the narration of Wells’ last journal entry on Earth-1, as we see Barry race around Central City closing 50 breaches; leaving 1 open in Star Labs.
Describing Jesse as not only his “beating heart”, but his “conscience”, officially joining Team Flash may save both Jesse and Wells from darker fates…
…eventually.
Before Team Flash leave for Earth-2, Barry says his goodbyes at the West residence. Learning that he hasn’t told his Father of his mission, Iris worries that Barry is being too reckless since his breakup with Patty. Assuring her that he loves his life on Earth-1, it’s Murphy’s law that Earth-2 will not be without temptation.
Warning them of the temptations that Earth-2 may hold, Jay advises Cisco, Wells and Barry to avoid emotional distraction on their mission; “you’re going to see things that look familiar but they’re not”.
Whilst Earth-2 threatens to draw the team in, the distractions from saving Jesse are still fruitless in the fight against Zoom. With the notion that Hunter Zoloman is Zoom; who is able to bend time and space, the episode shapes up to indulge the fandom’s desires, and elevate Zoom’s potential. Only at the middle of the season, it’s likely Zoom will still threaten Earth-1, whether breaches are open or not.
Staying behind; Caitlin and Jay promise to close the breach if the team aren’t back in 48 hours.
Warned against the things they’ll see along the way, fans get to experience the same visions of the future that tempted us with Killer Frost. As we see images of the original Flash, a Green Arrow that is not Oliver Queen, Jonah Hex, Grodd, and Supergirl, it appears that we’ve been given visions of the future of other worlds.
In travelling to Earth-2, news of The Flash’s crossover with Supergirl brings about theories that it will be a multiverse-trip; on wherein Meta-humans are nothing compared to the discovery of Alien Life. With Non’s Solar Storm dealings in Supergirl, will a breach open up to link the two worlds? In Greg Berlanti’s reference to the New 52 of DC’s multiverse, Supergirl’s room 52, and the Flash’s 52 breaches; alongside Earth-2’s channel 52 network, seem to hint at this multiverse method of multi-network crossovers.
The musical tones accompanying the team’s travel through time and space, is one Judi Dench narration short, of becoming the next spaceship earth in its indulgence of the DC fandom (should Disney ever showcase interest, in DC).
Back on Earth-1, the speed cannon collapses; caused by the instability of closing the breaches – whose subsequent energies are now projected into the remaining breach.
Unbeknownst to the fact they’re trapped – until Jay and Caitlin fix the cannon – Cisco, Barry and Wells arrive in Earth-2. Fulfilling further Epcot vibes as they take in Earth-2, Barry and Cisco are led by Wells in a world showcase.
Par for the course, they arrive at a version of Star Labs. Akin to a world showcase, it’s a slightly shinier, more mesmerising version of the real thing. Selfies included; the team run into the Earth-2 versio,n of crazy almost-firestorm; Henry, whose life is more-sane and less dramatic at Earth-2’s Star Labs.
Settling in Wells’ office, the team learn that Zoom’s reign has worsened as Mayor Snart – presumably a non-criminal Captain Cold – has enforced a city-wide curfew in his wake.
As Cisco’s attempt to vibe Zoom’s whereabouts fails with his tech; whose frequency does not match Earth-2, the team are at a loss as to what to do.
Similar to Earth-1- ignoring the justification of vertical video footage – Barry learns that Barry Allen-2 is still a CSI at CCPD.
A plan in mind, Barry speeds away, to bring his Doppelgänger back to Star Labs. With nostalgic reference back to season 1’s, geeky Barry, we’re treated to his Doppelgänger’s fangirling of Wells, alike to my own over Tom Cavanagh.
Knocking himself -his other self- out, Barry becomes an imposter in his Doppelgänger’s world; in order to investigate Zoom’s possible whereabouts, through police files. Wearing Grandpa-chic clothing, Barry arrives at the Police Station, whose morale is a ‘Free and Just Society’. Hinting at being the home of the Justice League, will this be Jay Garrick’s destiny, should he return to Earth-2?
As the criminal doppelgänger of Captain Singh is taken in for processing, we meet Deadshot, who is a lousy shot cop in this new world. Partnered with Detective West; who is revealed to be Iris and not Joe, we’re further shocked to learn that Iris is Mrs West-Allen in Earth-2.
In the middle of a make-out session with his new wife, Iris’ meta-tracking apple watch threatens to reveal Barry’s identity as Earth-1’s Flash.
Written off as a glitch, they go home to the West Residence; where I assume Joe rents a room.
In a moment much desired, we learn that Nora Allen lives happily in Earth-2, and Barry is rewarded with a phone call from her in the midst of Zoom’s chaos.
Elsewhere, as Iris is “the one, the only” Detective West, we learn that Joe is not, and has never been a Detective; instead becoming a Jazz Singer at Jitterbugs; a Jazz bar – which I wish existed in my town. Upon learning that someone has come through the breach, we finally meet Killer Frost and Deathstorm.
In an exhibition of their power, Killer Frost is the apparent love child of “Batman & Robin”’s (1997) Poison Ivy and Mr Freeze.
Giving a Frosty Death to anyone she kisses, she is eternally matched with Deathstorm, whose hot head is quelled by her kiss; sparing his life.
Alongside, getting some closure on the confirmed; final exit, of Ronnie-1, they attack the bar in search of the intruder; aka Barry, who is with Iris; watching Joe perform.
As Barry takes on Killer Frost and Deathstorm as the Flash, Iris tends to an injured Joe.
Back in Earth-1, Caitlin and Jay begin fixing the Speed Cannon as Joe arrives to tell them of a Meta-human attack. Geomancer; of Earth-1 origins, causes havoc in the city as he awaits a fight with the Flash.
Wanting Jay to inject himself with the V6 speed serum, Joe reminds them that “our world needs a Flash right about now”. Having used V6 before in his desire to increase his speed, we learn that too much can have bad side effects. With the revelation that V6 stole his speed and not Zoom, it is the V6 serum, that is killing him.
In a theory that plays on the original notion that Zoom stole his speed, could we argue that Jay’s Earth-1 Doppelgänger; Hunter Zoloman, is a misdirect?
In its unforeseen circumstances, perhaps Zoom is a creation of V6; that spawned from Jay’s speed, and survives by obtaining more.
Or, in a more logical sense, perhaps Hunter Zoloman of Earth-1 is Zoom; whose experimentation with V6 created Zoom; sparing him Death.
As we later meet Cisco’s Doppelgänger, who can also vibe, we’re introduced to the idea that our dopplëgangers can have the same meta-powers.
In the aftermath of his fight, Wells expresses his anger at Barry – and rightfully so – for losing sight of the mission to save Jesse. Serving Zoom’s criminal reign, Killer Frost and Deathstorm will soon make Zoom aware of the team’s presence on Earth-2, and further endanger Jesse’s life. Emotionally caught up, a defensive Barry leaves Wells, to be at Iris’ side with Joe at the hospital.
Forgiving him for their strained relationship on Earth-2, Joe-2 asks Barry to take care of Iris as he dies.
In mourning, Iris and Deadshot go after Killer Frost and Deathstorm, bringing Cisco along, at Barry’s insistence that he has a weapon to neutralise them.
Back on Earth-1, Geomancer calls out the Flash’s mysterious absence, only to be fought off by Jay in his T-Bird J-Bird, uniformed glory, as the Flash; who has taken the newly developed V7. Wearing off, Team Flash is given enough of an advantage for Joe to defeat the Geomancer.
Facing off against Killer Frost and Deathstorm on Earth-2, Cisco meets his Doppelgänger; Reverb. Evil, and more progressed with his vibing powers, we learn he serves Zoom. In his criminal nature, he propositions Cisco to join him and start a coup against Zoom’s reign.
In a demonstration of Cisco’s potential god-like powers; through Reverb, he and Deathstorm take shots at Barry, who tries to intervene as the Flash.
An angry Zoom arrives, killing a disobedient Deathstorm (whose inner Martin Stein never materialises) and Reverb; in a very Reverse-Flash fashion. Spared, is Killer Frost, who will be forever alone; unless Deathstorm’s are as frequent as Firestorms are in Earth-1.
Taking Barry to his lair, Killer Frost flees in the midst of the chaos. With 24 hours to fix the cannon, the race is on to save Barry and Jesse.
As “Welcome to Earth-2” ends in Zoom’s lair, we also learn that Zoom has another prisoner. Whether or not he is of consequence, his Metal Mask is similar to that of Arrow’s Spartan, aka John Diggle.
With Earth-2’s hint of being the home to the Justice League, could a possible Diggle Doppelgänger, suffice rumours that John Diggle will become the Green Lantern?
With the opportunity to rob Reverb’s vibing tech from him; which is more advanced, with the implications he was able to watch Cisco through time and space, perhaps Cisco will be the key to saving Barry and Jesse.
Next week’s episode follows its namesake as the “Escape from Earth-2” begins.
The Flash airs Tuesday at 8|7c on the CW!
[Featured Image Courtesy of the CW, Source Content for Gif: The Flash “Welcome to Earth-2”, The CW 2016, Grease, Paramount, 1978 ]
