‘The Flash’ Review: “Flash of Two Worlds”

Elizabeth Morier ’19 / Emertainment Monthly TV Staff Writer
This week’s episode of The Flash finally introduced the multiverse that the show’s cast and creators have been teasing since season one’s finale. Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) pays the team a surprise visit at S.T.A.R. Labs claiming to be The Flash on another Earth, the same Earth last week’s villain, Atom Smasher, and the mysterious Zoom that was mentioned, hail from. Interestingly enough, the title of this episode pays homage to The Flash comic book story of the same name that introduced Jay Garrick and the concept of the multiverse. For those unfamiliar with the comic book lore, Professor Stein (Victor Garber) briefly breaks down the multiverse theory with diagrams, explaining Jay’s proposition of the existence of multiple earths with different versions of the same people. At the end of the episode, Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Professor Stein find out that exactly fifty-two breaches between what they are calling Earth-One (their Earth) and Earth-Two (Jay’s Earth) were created when the singularity erupted over Central City.

There is a brief first look at the new evil speedster, Zoom, who, it is learned, sent Atom Smasher through one of the breaches last week and is hell bent on sending more foes to Earth-One in an attempt to destroy Barry Allen (Grant Gustin). As if Zoom did not sound terrifying enough, Jay describes him as “an unstoppable demon with the face of death.”
The villain Zoom sends from Earth-Two this week is Sand Demon (Kett Turton) – a rather lack-luster villain full of the usual angst that serves more as a plot device to allow Barry to showcase his new power of redirecting and throwing lightning rather than his super speed. Given what happened with Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), Barry is mistrusting of Jay when he first shows up. But Sand Demon recognizes Jay, confirming for Barry that Jay really is the Flash from another world and solidifying the partnership that is anticipated in the episodes to come.
Speaking of new characters, Barry’s rumored love interest, Patty Spivot (Shantel VanSanten), made her debut. She stole the scene as a strong female character with depth and the intent of joining the anti-metahuman task force in memory of her father who was killed by one. Viewers definitely could see little sparks flying between Barry and Patty when she started gushing about his descriptive forensic reports.

Another relationship the show seemed to be hinting at was Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Jay. However, the chemistry felt forced and awkward, especially if since she was still hung up about Ronnie Raymond’s (Robbie Amell) presumed death six months ago in the previous episode.
Viewers also got to see bits and pieces of what Cisco can do with his new powers. He struggles to tell Professor Stein that he can see events as if they have already happened, which is how he had very helpful “hunches” throughout the episode, but urges him not to tell the rest of the team. Needless to say, viewers are confused as to why Cisco is reluctant to share his powers with Team Flash who would clearly be supportive given their track record.

The episode leaves viewers hanging with a surprise visit from Iris West’s (Candice Patton) mother who was practically non-existent during the course of the first season as well what is presumed to be an Earth-Two version of Harrison Wells. Earth-Two seems to have a more futuristic setting. Producer Aaron Helbing shared with TVLine that they have been trying to find a way to bring back Cavanagh, who plays Wells, and assure that viewers will definitely see more of Earth-Two in the episodes to come.
While this episode provides answers that viewers have been waiting for, it has also opened up new cans of worms, cramming a lot of different storylines and information into one sitting. Nonetheless, these new questions keep viewers excited for the next episode.
The Flash airs on Tuesdays at 8/7c on the CW.
Episode Grade: A