tag:dreamwidth.org,2014-12-22:2356929Lord Yellowtail's Writing RoomFandom Thoughts, Fanfic, Fanwork Recs, Meta, and (Pinkie) PieLord Yellowtail2015-02-19T04:10:33Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2014-12-22:2356929:4012LiveBlog: The Flash 1.13 • "The Nuclear Man"2015-02-19T03:55:52Z2015-02-19T04:10:33Zpublic0This was a fantastic episode, in the top 3 so far, without question. Combined with the following episode, "Fallout," it is easily the best story of the season, and answers so many questions while leaving us with so many more. One of the things I keep loving about this show is how it actually reveals the answers to the mysteries it sets up, but keeps on adding new mysteries in a natural way to keep the questions and thrill of watching going. You never know exactly what you're gonna see, and you can't miss an episode for fear of missing some vital clue or new twist.<br /><br />The arc-work on this show is truly outstanding, and some of the best I've seen in a long time.<br /><br />I'd like to say I held off on posting this because I wanted to post it and "Fallout" at the same time, but the truth is last week was just a bit too crazy. I apologize to my hypothetical readers.<br /><br />It should also be obvious by now that I'm not trying to do comprehensive episode reviews or meta, though there are nuggets of my theories and such buried in these posts. These are purely stream of consciousness things I do as I watch each ep for the first time. There are a lot of other people doing some excellent in depth reviews of this show on YouTube and elsewhere. I might post a listing of some of my favorites soon.<br /><br />I liked the way it turned out last time, so the usual corrections for grammar and syntax won't be noted, but anything in <strong>bold</strong>, I'm putting in after the fact to expand/clarify a point. Otherwise, I think some of my observations might be misconstrued.<br /><br /><strong>Standard Disclaimer: All the Spoilers, All the Time<br /></strong><strong><br /><br /><a name="cutid1"></a><br /></strong><div><div>Gotta wonder how long they're gonna use the whole plot flashback in the intro. If you've been watching the whole time you have to know what's going on. If not, you're going to be horribly confused anyway. This is an arc-based show; you can't just jump in. <strong>I'm actually thinking that they're waiting to change it until we get to the Wells reveal, which is only 1 or 2 weeks away at this point, I</strong><strong> think. After that, the existing intro won't make any sense anymore, as Barry will no longer be looking for the man in the yellow suit, he'll have found him. Then again, we know Wells (probably) wasn't the Reverse Flash who murdered Nora Allen.</strong><br /><br /><div><div>I'm doing my best to give Barry/Linda a fair shot, but my feelings on this matter should be pretty clear.</div><div> </div><div>Barry rocks a vest.</div><div> </div><div><br />Barry and Joe living together is like its own heartwarming comedy show-within-a-show. Approve.</div><div> </div><div>Okay. Barry in Date Mode is so well-meaning and awkward. Being the Flash hasn't really changed who he is—but his increased confidence in himself as a person, if not necessary a datable male, comes through in his voice. He sounds more like an adult now. Nice transition from the actor compared to the early episodes. Barry is clearly shown growing as a person, without hitting us over the head with it.</div><div> </div><div><br />If Barry always stopped crimes as fast as he did while on a date, each episode of the show would last about three minutes. Including the credits. Also, Cisco and Barry continue to have the best brotherly relationship ever.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Relatedly, Barry's power level is approaching the obscene. It's no wonder he's the Big Good of this universe.</div><div> </div><div>…it's interesting Eddie would be on the megaphone with a jumper. That implies more training than the typical badass detective we've seen so far. Unless Central City is so messed up that all cops are given suicide prevention training.</div><div> </div><div><br />I also love Eddie's sense of humor.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Great to see Flash on good terms with the cops. <strong>This is a definite change from earlier in the season, and a welcome one. Though, given how hard Eddie pushed his Flash Task Force and Barry's actions while he was hit with the Hate Plague in "Flash vs. Arrow,"</strong> <strong>it's a bit surprising it happened this fast. Though I</strong> <strong>can understand why it's not shown, I'd have loved to have seen the meeting(s)</strong><strong> at Central City PD about changing their policy towards interacting with The Flash.</strong></div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Okay. Barry and Linda are cute. Like a sparkler. But they hold not a candle to the raging inferno of d'aww that is Caitlin and Barry. Not to mention there is a distinct lack of … spark between them. They read like good friends, and thats about it. He has better chemistry with Iris. <strong>Given the absence of interesting chemistry between Barry and Iris at this point, that is not a good thing.</strong></div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Ronnie would avoid a lot of problems if he just wore some sort of fire proof suit. Just sayin'.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br />Caitlin is jealous, and using Cisco's bizarre impression of the love child of Dr Seuss and Dr Ruth to cover it up. Or I'm just reading too much into it. Either works for me. Thank you writers.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br />If Cisco wants Caitlin to get with Barry, this could be his hilarious strategy to compromise Barry's thing with Linda. They are so brothers. <strong>(Tell me I'm not the only one who imagined Cisco as a Shipper on Deck for Caitlin and Barry, at least before Ronnie came back into the picture.)</strong></div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br />Iris is handling Barry's love life with … great … aplomb. Her jealousy is a bit strange. She didn't see him as a sexual being until she knew he has a crush on her. Also, I like Iris best alone. She's got a more interesting arc when she's not wearing her Love Interest hat. And I really like Iris/Eddie. <strong>Someone, please explain to me why the CW repeatedly does shows, dating back to <em>Smallville</em> at least, where the supposed official couple (in this case Barry/Iris) is written by the show's actual writers to be less interesting and fun to watch than the alternative pairing(s) the writers put so much effort into making adorable? In this case, Barry is more interesting with Felicity (which doesn't count because she and Oliver have their ... thing) and Caitlin, and maybe Linda if she stops reminding me of Dharma from <em>Dharma and Greg</em> quite so much.</strong></div><div> </div><div><br />I also squee at how the show gives us Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco going out to do things together just because they're friends.</div><div> </div><div>Hello, Sherry! So, I'm hoping Cisco and Joe also get their own show. Awkward Men Fight Crimes Set to Bongo Music. <strong>It's so fun to see Chase Masterson again. I haven't been watching a lot of TV or movies for a long time, and the last time I</strong><strong> saw her was as Leeta in <em>Deep Space Nine. </em></strong><strong>I know they're running Sherry-->Joe as a </strong><b>crack-ship, but it's still incredibly fun to watch. She's probably a really interesting person. He should ask her out if he's interested. I always appreciate more LOL</b> <strong>in my life, and it's not like we haven't gotten entire shows built around the idea of two wildly different widow(er)s having romance together. <em>The Flash</em>/<em>Brady Bunch</em> crossover in 5...4...3...2...1...</strong></div><div> </div><div><br />Joe is pulling Cisco into his investigation of Dr Wells, without telling him who they're investigating. This will end …poorly. <strong>(Message from the Future:</strong><strong> It sort of did.</strong><strong>)</strong></div><div> </div><div><br />I love seeing the gang coming together to solve a crisis…even Wells, and even when he's trying to turn them against Ronnie and towards the path of Darkness.</div><div> </div><div><br />Wells could so easily be a dark hero, even now. He doesn't have to go full on evil. See my theory post on this.</div><div> </div><div><br />Great arc plot development in this ep.</div><div> </div><div><br />I love everything about this Flashback. Seeing 2 minutes of Barry and Stein interacting makes me wish they could've had more time together. Maybe Stein was his mentor and Science Guy in the original timeline. Joe would have been a co-mentor. As it is, he's such a tragic character.</div><div> </div><div>Oh. Well, that's why you don't take your Glowball of Doom on the subway, I guess. Great to see this mystery slowly unravelling.</div><div> </div><div><br />LOL at Jealous!Wells. I don't think that's an act.</div><div> </div><div><br />Theory: Wells is totally cool with Barry dating Linda because Barry/Caitlin would wreck his Evil Scheme, especially after she gets ice powers. He wants to drive a wedge between them so she becomes Killer Frost.</div><div> </div><div><br />…Sherry seems lonely. Joe and Cisco are uncomfortable with this.</div><div> </div><div><br />"I will not judge you." Cisco is rapidly becoming Joe's second son. Wonderful.</div><div> </div><div><br />Cisco is a science Sherlock Holmes. I love it. Combined with Cisco's tech skills, he and Joe really do make an amazing crime solving duo. They should have their own show. Seriously.</div><div> </div><div><br />Barry's date-planning skills are so nerdtastic. …and he describes what I consider a perfect date. "And if you're not sick of me by then," indeed.</div><div> </div><div>There's something incredibly adorkable about Wells plowing through fast food with horrible manners in a van. Bonus that the manners hint at a Flash's eating habits.</div><div> </div><div><br />Without question, Wells and Caitlin are having two separate conversations with each other. If he's not just blowing smoke in her face, it adds a semi-tragic flavor to his characterization.</div><div> </div><div><br />Wells is not a Caitlin/Barry shipper. Because he's evil. Maybe.</div><div> </div><div><br />In all seriousness, I love Wells here. This is one of those eps where he comes off as such the snarky antihero if you don't know what he's done.</div><div> </div><div>No one breaks a steamy date in progress like Gaston—er, Barry. I also think he hasn't had much practice, because that was painful.</div><div> </div><div><br />Also, this is apparently the first time he's gotten …very excited since the Lightning. It presents a real, serous problem.</div><div> </div><div><br />Wow, Wells has this creepy little smile when Flash vs Firestorm starts.</div><div> </div><div><br />"Oh, that was terrifying." Every time Barry opens his mouth is pure gold in this ep.</div><div> </div><div><br />I love that Iris still cares so deeply for Barry and understands that her rejection hurt him and tries to help him with Linda. It's gonna be very hard for him to date someone who's out of the loop.</div><div> </div><div><br />Firestorm's actor is magnificent, as is Clarissa's. Full stop. The scene with their reunion turns the ridiculous into something genuine and tragic and heartwarming.</div><div> </div><div><br />Add Caitlin's actress to tonight's awesome performance list. I can't believe how they're getting such powerful emotions out of such a bizarre concept as Firestorm--and the constituent guys in Firestorm each having their own wife/fiancé.</div><div> </div><div><br />Oh. This Barry/Iris conversation needed to happen, but this is gonna hurt.</div><div> </div><div><br />…Yes. Ow.</div><div> </div><div><br />And back to Joe and Cisco at Mysteries, Inc. That ended predictably, but Joe handled it so well and you can't fault Cisco his loyalty.</div><div> </div><div><br />Great bit of sound editing there. Wells on the intercom sounds suspiciously like reverse flash's voice distortion.</div><div> </div><div><br />Did Wells almost fall down a ramp in his chair, there? Way OOC. Stress because he's not in complete control of the situation?</div><div> </div><div><br />Cisco seeing a flash of how cutthroat Wells can be just then definitely left a mark.</div><div> </div><div><br />No one clarifies his romantic intentions like <strike>Gaston</strike> Barry Allen. Thank God.</div><div> </div><div><br />And Wells gets distracted by his own better angels to save the day with science. I think. His morality is honestly confusing bordering on incomprehensible. The more I think about this, the more it seems like he's actually developing more of a conscience than he started the show with, quite against his will. Though it's still a sociopathic hero sort of conscience, at best. That is very interesting, indeed.</div><div> </div><div><br />WHAM. CISCO. He just scienced the hell out of the mystery arc, and showed that he isn't Dr Wells' lapdog when faced with WEL darker side. Wells wasn't there when Nora died. Adult Barry was. Holy crap. This really puts weight on the two Reverse Flashes thing. Unless Wells has a false DNA SAMPLE on record. Also, epic Joe!face on the reveal.</div><div> </div><div><br />Damn. Just, Barry and Caitlin and Stein. Damn.</div><div> </div><div><br />And oh, good, a wild General Wade Eiling appears. Because I didn't have a reason to gnash my teeth at the television before.</div><div> </div><div><br />Episode over. No fair.</div><div> </div><div><br />I'm glad I watched this on Sunday. Having to wait a whole week would be torture.</div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=lordyellowtail&ditemid=4012" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments