As Team Flash tries to stop a new meta who’s targeting Nora, she finally reveals the source of her anger towards Iris. Our review of “News Flash”!
“News Flash” opens with a flashback to the night of the Enlightenment, this time from the perspective of an amateur journalist, Spencer Young. Spencer watches as The Flash and XS punch the falling satellite. She records the whole thing on her phone and actually has a run-in with XS as she’s fleeing the scene before she can be found out. But in all of the chaos, Spencer’s phone is struck by a piece of dark matter… it turns out this is going to have a profound impact on Team Flash and their attempt to stop Cicada.
Girls just wanna have fun… except for Nora when she’s with Iris
I’ve said this before, but to me, it really bears repeating. Iris wants so badly to have a close relationship with her daughter. And at every, single turn, Nora thwarts her. When Barry gets Nora a cell phone, she gives everyone her phone number, EVEN SHERLOQUE, but not Iris. When Iris tries to have a West-Allen family breakfast, Nora responds with pulling out her phone and taking a pic: “I’m just getting evidence that you make lumpy pancakes in every time period.”
Look, not everyone has the gift of cooking. Sometimes it’s the thought that matters, Nora! Barry agrees and tries to soldier through eating the pancakes. (But because Iris loves her man, she puts Barry out of his misery and makes him a banana *SNORT*)
Later, at the CCPD charity baseball game, Iris, Nora, Cecile, and Caitlin watch as Barry relegated to right-field. But Nora is much more interested in Spencer Young’s app, which has the latest news about what’s going on in Central City. Iris mentions working with Spencer in the past and that she’s much more interested in fame than journalism. Besides, Iris’ own website is also a good source for meta-related news. However, Nora is quick to shade her Mama in front of God and country, letting everyone know that Spencer has way more followers. Whyyyyyyyy?!
Spencer takes “fake news” to a whole other level
Things at the baseball game come to a screeching halt when Jonsey, an officer with the CCPD, shows up to the game with a bomb in a backpack! However, Nora/XS shows up within seconds, grabs the bag and tosses it in the air where it explodes. Everyone is safe and also really confused. Nora has no idea how or why she got on the field and stopped Jonsey… and Jonesy has no idea how or why he got to the baseball field with that bomb. But isn’t it a coincidence that Spencer is right there to record the whole thing and add it to her app within seconds.
Later this happens again when there’s a fire at Central City Picture News. Barry and Nora arrive, but before they can windmill the fire away, Flash takes off and runs clear across the country to Las Vegas. Why is this happening?! Well, it’s Spencer’s phone! When she types out a headline, it manifests into life. So Spencer is the one who sets the fire and writes a headline about The Flash being spotted in Las Vegas to get him out of the way. Unfortunately, Nora has never put out a fire before, so she’s understandably nervous. However, with guidance from Iris, Nora is able to save the day.
Iris and Barry are highly suspicious of Spencer, though Nora seems more enamored than anything. This is very evident when the West-Allens track Spencer down to Jitters and Nora ends up flirting with her.
Future Iris does a bad thing for a good reason… maybe
In a moment of major confrontation between Iris and Nora (as mother is trying to warn daughter away from Spencer), the truths come tumbling out. Why is Nora so enraged at her mother? It turns out Future Iris put a power-dampening chip in Nora. Nora didn’t even know she was a speedster until six months ago. HAVE. MERCY.
At first, I’m totally scandalized, and it’s clear that Present Iris is, too. She can’t countenance the idea of keeping a major secret like this from her daughter, especially knowing how big a part of Barry’s life being a speedster is. Iris is just devastated. But it’s actually Barry who calms her down: “I know that anything you do for our family is out of love…” So, perhaps Future Iris is terrified by Barry’s disappearance and doesn’t want the same to happen to her daughter. So she deceives Nora about being a speedster. Maybe.
Ralph and Sherloque are on the case
Never doubt Ralph Dibny's detective skills. Stream #TheFlash for FREE only on The CW App: https://t.co/scORf3EJ1G pic.twitter.com/h6q2TsnnDn
— The Flash (@CW_TheFlash) October 31, 2018
Sherloque is sticking around to help Team Flash find out who Cicada is. While Cisco is hiding out, Sherloque and Ralph team up to do some investigating. Ralph actually makes a really solid contribution by suggesting that Cicada’s mask might hold a big clue. They’re able to track down where the respirator masks are produced and used by all employees of the factory and at several other factories across the country. Unbeknownst to Ralph and Sherloque, Cicada works at that very factory! Ralph thinks the lead has reached a dead end, but Sherloque has another idea. Sherloque wears the mask and gets Caitlin to sock him in the solar plexus. It’s a pretty awesome scene, but it also forces Sherloque to breathe the exact way Cicada does… Cicada might have gotten his powers during the night of the Enlightenment, but he also sustains a lung injury. (That seems to be getting worse every time Cicada uses his powers!)
Sherloque reports all this to Team Flash and makes sure to give Ralph his due credit. “You were right, and I was… less right. I apologize.” OK Sherloque, way to be less of a disgrace and more a team player.
Meta-tech is a thing!
Team Flash gets an alert that there’s a bomb at Central City’s stadium. Barry and Nora arrive on the scene, just as Spencer is writing her latest headline, that XS kills The Flash. Insanity! Nora is really about to kill her daddy with a hand inside of his chest, but Iris shows up with a tranquilizer gun and knocks Nora out. Barry is able to nab Spencer and her phone!
By this time, Team Flash is able to start putting pieces together. On the night of the Enlightenment, objects were infused with dark matter, giving them powers, like Spencer’s phone… like Cicada’s dagger that can take metas’ powers away!!!
“It created meta-tech…”
“…which puts meta-abilities in the hands of anyone.”
*DANGER*DANGER*DANGER*
“Then I guess I need to rethink what the meaning of family is.”
Nora starts to act a little warmer towards her mother, that is until Iris tells Nora she thinks that power-dampening chip had to be the right thing to do. Nora is livid, and truth be told, this scene is devastating. I’m heartbroken for the both of them. When Barry comes into the room, Nora is sure that her dad will side with her. Nora is shocked when Barry says:
“I support her decisions, past, present, and future.”
Nora isn’t happy at all, even going as far as to leave her parents’ loft and move in with Papa Joe. YES, please let Papa Joe be the bridge to bring Iris and Nora back together!
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8p/7c on The CW.
