TV Reviews The Flash: S2E12: Fast Lane
- Feb 3, 2016
- 3 min read
Summary: This episode of the Flash we observe the West family bonding in the aftermath of Francine West’s death, but all of their progress may regress due to Wally’s incessant need to drag race. Barry attempts to connect with Dr. Wells who is struggling with his well-guarded secret. A former victim uses his tar ability to get revenge on those who have wronged him.
Review: I absolutely loved this episode of The Flash. The first half of the season was a little difficult for me to get through because the show focused on characters with whom I did not connect. This episode focused less on Caitlyn, Patty, and Jay and more on Barry, the West family, and Dr. Wells. In doing so, David Kob (writer) was able to create an interesting story that details the complexity of what it means to be a family in a world filled with abnormal dangers.
I fully appreciated the return of Iris West (played by Candice Patton) in this episode. The first half the season, the character has been uncharacteristically absent or mute. It is virtually as if the writers forgot her occupation and connection to the flash team. While she is no longer Barry’s love interest (for the moment), the character should have been more involved due to her position as a reporter at the Central City Picture News and her current status as Barry’s best friend. They played with this a bit in the beginning of the season with Iris investigating crooked real estate investors, but the writers have only just revisited this angle 10 episodes later. Even though she has been grossly neglected, Iris West has returned in full force.
Candice Patton, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Jessie L. Martin were all phenomenal this episode. I genuinely believed that not only were they a family, but they were a family that is in the middle of healing. Wally has been struggling with connecting to both Iris and Joe. He has not only recently learned about his other family members, but he is mourning the death of his mother. I do understand Iris wants to protect Wally by informing him of the dangers of drag racing and holding Joe responsible for parenting Wally instead of being his friend. However, I believe that she ignored the delicate nature of Wally and Joe’s relationship and that while Wally now recognizes Joe as his father, Joe has not earned the clout to parent him the same way he parents Iris, and Joe explains that to her.
On top of all of this, even though it is barely touched upon, you can understand that Barry also struggles with where he falls in the West family now that Wally is in the picture. This may be the reason Barry reaches out to Dr. Wells. Now that Joe is trying to insert himself into his biological son’s life, I believe that Barry is looking for another father figure even though Joe has not indicated that he did not have time for Barry or that Barry could not hold the same place in his heart as he always has.
What I missed from the first season was Grant Gustin and Tom Cavanagh on screen not only as Barry Allen and Harry Wells but as mentee and mentor. We received a glimpse of this while both were working together to solve the issue with the open portals. Barry even mentions the similarity between his dynamic with the old Wells and E2 Wells. You can witness Dr. Wells struggling with his relationship with Barry and actively trying to reject the notion of becoming his mentor. This is generally because of the current situation with his daughter and the inevitability that he will choose her over everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs.
This does come into play because Dr. Wells steals 2% Barry’s speed and gives it to Zoom and because of the theft, Barry is not fast enough to save Iris from a wayward shard of glass that pierces her shoulder. David Kob could have gone in several directions with everyone’s reaction to Dr. Well’s betrayal, but what I enjoyed the greatest was Barry telling the team that they were no better than Dr. Wells. When Cisco’s brother’s life was endangered, he betrayed the team in order to save him and Team Flash not only forgave Cisco but did not hold him responsible because they all understand the importance of family. With that speech, the team finally comes together and not only accepts Dr. Wells but plan to travel to E2 to save his daughter Jessie.
This episode was not only well written but well-acted and directed. Rachel Talalay (Director) was able to bring out some of the best acting in this show thus far. Even the villain of the week, Tar Pit, was believable in his motivation for revenge. This episode could not have been better.
Final Score: 10/10 Power Ups
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