‘The Flash’ Review: “The Man Who Saved Central City”

Ellie Wells ’18 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
Copy Edited By: Lindsey Buttel ‘18
*Contains spoilers*
As the adored first season of The Flash came to a close, viewers caught a glimpse of a familiar helmet. Comic book fans recognized it as the winged cap of Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears), The Flash before Barry Allen, and as per the comic books, The Flash of an alternate universe called Earth-Two. It was the beginning of a promise of many exciting things to come that was finally delivered on in the season two premiere, “The Man Who Saved Central City.”

It has been six months since Barry Allen’s (Grant Gustin) battle with Eobard Thawne (Tom Cavanagh) and the singularity that erupted over Central City. The mayor is going to present The Flash with a key to the city in a public ceremony. Yet, Barry does not feel he deserves the award as it was Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) who ultimately stopped Eobard. It is also revealed that Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell) was responsible for closing the singularity, sacrificing his life in the process. Meanwhile, a mysterious man follows Barry around, and a powerful foe, dubbed the Atom Smasher (Adam Copeland), crashes the public ceremony that honored The Flash.
Atom Smasher turns out not to be a meta-human who was affected by the particle accelerator, but from another world all together. He also gives a first tease at the mysterious Zoom, telling Barry that Zoom promised he would get him home if he killed The Flash.
There’s a surprise in the form of a video message that Thawne has left for Barry; Thawne confesses to Nora Allen’s (Michelle Harrison) murder and thus sets Barry’s father free. There’s an odd anticlimactic feeling to it all considering how much Barry focused on it in the first season, but there’s also an underlying unease to the whole sequence. Only time will tell how it plays out.

It is joyous to see Barry back in action, even if a weight has been added to his shoulders from all of the events of last season. Grant Gustin continues to bring energy and heart to the role, and it will be exciting see where the character grows from here. If the end of the episode is any indication — where he trades out his red insignia for the signature white of his comic counterpart — he is headed towards the older, worldlier Barry of the comics. And he will have to be. Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale) was noticeably absent. Many fans have been looking forward to not only seeing the character but how his bond with Barry plays out.
In the last moments of the episode, the mysterious man that followed Barry around is of course revealed to be Jay Garrick.

It’s a solid beginning to the second season, and a terrific promise of greater things to come.
Episode Grade: B+