The Flash season 2, episode 19, “Back to Normal,” featured Team Flash taking on a metahuman with a powerless Flash.
In having Wells kidnapped and Barry trying to save him despite being powerless, “Back to Normal” paralleled the two men and explored what truly makes a hero. Wells, while out of the lab trying to convince Jesse to return to Central City, is confronted and kidnapped by Griffin Grey, a young man who was affected by the particle accelerator. He gained super strength, but the cost was that his exertions cause him to rapidly age. Believing this Wells to be the one whose particle accelerator affected him, he demanded a cure for his condition.
Barry, despite no longer having his powers, still wants to help rescue Wells. He goes out into the field twice, getting knocked around pretty badly both times — which is noteworthy since super healing was part of his power set. Barry’s determination to rescue Wells from a metahuman despite not having abilities any longer is a strong indicator of his character. When he talks to Iris about not knowing who he is without his powers, Iris tells him he only needs to be the man he was before he became The Flash — and that’s the man who puts on The Flash suit, despite not having the matching speed, for the final showdown.
This is also the man who gets a heartfelt thank you from Wally for giving up his speed to save Wally’s life. Wally vows not to let his second chance go to waste, and it’s clear that this means a lot to Barry. This coming on the heels of successfully saving Wells seems to buoy Barry a bit, which was desperately needed. Barry is heroic enough not to need thanks for the sacrifices he makes, but they’re still nice to get.
Side note: Wally fanboying at meeting The Flash was adorable. I can’t wait to see him find out it’s been Barry all along.
Barry’s selflessness, meanwhile, is paralleled with Wells, who is subject to a damning indictment from Griffin. He calls Wells selfish for creating the particle accelerator in the first place; he didn’t care about how it could affect others, instead focusing on personal gain. While the audience knows that this Wells didn’t create the particle accelerator that cursed Griffin — that man was erased from existence — this Wells did create his own particle accelerator on Earth-2. It also malfunctioned, creating metahumans. So, while Wells might not be responsible for Griffin, he’s still responsible for his fair share of Griffins on Earth-2.
Wells is also on the receiving end of condemnation from Jesse, who he tracks down. She can’t bring herself to return to her father, knowing he’s killed for her; the burden is just too great for her to bear. Though she does return to help Team Flash find her father because she loves him, she worries about what her father is capable of. They eventually come to an agreement that Wells will become a father Jesse can be proud of and Jesse won’t run away again.
At the end of the episode, Wells tells Barry he doesn’t feel like he’s fully made amends for all the damage he caused with his own particle accelerator, so he’s going to help Barry get his speed back. If Wells himself can’t be a hero like Barry, he can at least help the hero, I suppose. So how will he do it? By recreating the particle accelerator malfunction.
That… sounds decidedly stupid, especially coming from such a smart man.
Of course, this is a comic book show, so it will likely work — but have unintended side effects.
Meanwhile on Earth-2, Hunter reveals that he took Caitlin because he loves her and believes she’ll come to love him too. So, he’s not only psychotic but also delusional. And evil. He gives Caitlin the freedom to move around his hideout, and there she discovers both the man in the mask (I’m guessing that reveal will be saved for the finale; it better be a good one with the way it’s being teased out) and Killer Frost.
Yes, it’s Caitlin’s turn to meet her doppelganger. It turns out the two women have more in common than one might expect, though Killer Frost had a brother who died but Caitlin didn’t. That seems like a detail that is likely to come back in some way.
Anyway, Killer Frost makes a deal with Caitlin that if Caitlin helps her out of her cage, she’ll help Caitlin escape the lair. Caitlin agrees and gets Killer Frost out, but Killer Frost being, you know, evil, goes back on the deal. She’s about to kill Caitlin when Zoom returns and kills Killer Frost. He no longer needs her because she looked like Caitlin, because now he has the Caitlin he loves.
When Caitlin begs to be returned home, Hunter agrees — with a caveat. He’s going to start conquering Earths. Earth-2 already bows to him, so Earth-1 is next. It’s quite amazing that Hunter Zolomon can be just as terrifying without the mask and voice modulation as Zoom. Teddy Sears is clearly relishing the chance to let loose with the character.
With four episodes to go in season 2, this was likely our last chance to catch our collective breath before things get crazy again.
Watch a promo for the next episode
