The Flash season 1, episode 21, “Grodd Lives,” showed a new side of Iris West — and a welcome one at that. We look at her highlights from the episode.
Though The Flash season 1, episode 21, “Grodd Lives,” featured an incredibly well-rendered CGI gorilla, we couldn’t help but feel the star of the episode was Iris West.
At the end of The Flash season 1, episode 20, “The Trap,” after watching her boyfriend be kidnapped in front of her, Iris felt a jolt of electricity off of the Flash that she’d only ever felt when Barry was in a coma. She made the connection between the two and realized that Barry is indeed the Flash.
Of course, this revelation comes with some other realizations — like that the people closest to her had been lying to her for months. Iris reacted to this as any normal human being would, and we were thrilled to see her righteous anger unleashed.
We look at our favorite Iris moments from the episode below:
Iris confronts Barry at S.T.A.R. Labs
Source
After giving Barry one final chance to come clean about his secret identity, Iris confronts Barry at S.T.A.R. Labs. S.T.A.R. Labs really shouldn’t have gotten their security system at the same place as Arrow‘s foundry.
Her anger, hurt, and disappointment at being lied to for months is apparent on her face, in her eyes, and in her voice. It’s a very human reaction to learning loved ones — because, she discovers, it wasn’t just Barry lying to her — have kept such a major secret from you, and it’s refreshing to see Iris express those emotions.
Iris not accepting a tired excuse for lying
Source
The “protection” excuse is a tired, outdated comic book trope, and Iris points out why when her father tries to use it on her; she could have prepared herself for being in danger rather than facing it unknowingly. Not knowing Barry was the Flash didn’t stop Girder or Clock King from kidnapping her, after all.
Beyond that, though, she also could have helped. She has unique investigative skills (that help the team later in the episode) that she could have been using to their advantage. And, at the end of the day, that’s what Iris wants.
Iris joins Team Flash
Source
Iris is an active character, and with her boyfriend — and eventually her father — in danger, Iris refuses to be left behind. She uses her journalistic skills to help the team search for Grodd, and…
Iris helps save Barry’s life
Source
Iris takes the mic a la Harrison Wells at the climax of fight. When Barry has been whammied by Grodd and a train is coming, Iris inspires Barry to fight the mind control and save his own life. Her words reach him when no one else’s can; her anger goes out the window when her best friend is in danger, and that ability to inspire Barry not only saves his life in the moment but makes her an important addition to a team that is struggling with the defection of their former leader.
Iris showing forgiveness
Source
Iris may be hurt by the lying, but she shows her heart when she faces her father after he is saved from Grodd. He makes a genuine, heartfelt apology, and Iris accepts it while making sure they won’t make the same mistakes again by obtaining a promise for no more lies. Iris loves her father, but she wants an adult relationship with him, and that’s what she gets with the hug the two share.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW.