tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post3604064271434822111..comments2024-03-24T03:19:39.745-04:00Comments on Just About Write: The Flash 2x01 "The Man Who Saved Central City" (Forward) [Contributor: Deborah MacArthur]Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-36173139787573268622015-10-07T15:44:57.559-04:002015-10-07T15:44:57.559-04:00Iris chaffed under the whole "we were doing i...Iris chaffed under the whole "we were doing it to keep you safe" line last season and she showed that big time this episode too. She was so over Barry's protective "for your own good" thing. I really liked seeing her play a real active role in the team. It doesn't feel totally defined yet but I look forward to seeing where they go with that.<br /><br />Cisco is still my fav of all and I can't wait to see how his ability to see other timelines is explored. That's gotta be a little mind-bending. He is still the most adorable (even more than Barry) and his hug with Prof. Stein was the best.<br /><br />Moment that killed me the most: When Joe said to little Barry "I got you" in the flashback and then said it again as Barry awoke in the present. The number of times that man has brought me to tears...<br /><br />A couple problems I had:<br />- What was up with the whole Harrison Wells is now officially dead thing?? If Eobard Thawne was erased from existence how did he kill Barry's mom, or the real Harrison Wells or build the accelerator etc?? Stupid time travel stuff. That sacrifice of Eddie's should have had much more far reaching consequences right? Or is there something I just don't get?<br />- The bit about Henry Allen leaving felt a little off to me. It felt like a ploy to get him out of regular appearances on the show rather than something true to character. I would rather have seen him going off trying to figure out his place in the world again after more than a decade of incarceration than that thing about his presence not letting Barry become who he is becoming. How exactly is further separation preserving Barry's ability to grow? Yes, his driving need to exonerate his father was a big part of his development. However, that goal is accomplished whether his dad sticks around or not. Barry's motivations seem pretty focused on saving even more people now no matter his family situation. Maybe I would have felt better about it if it were a little clearer in the dialogue that Henry didn't feel he fit into Barry's life any more or that he didn't know how to be part of Barry's life as a parent or anything else. I don't know.<br /><br />So excited about this season! And so glad they came right out in the premier with the name of our next big bad: ZOOM! Without the creepy Harrison Wells moments that served to lay out the tension right from the beginning. As Prof Stein said- Kadimah. Forward!Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-12389643699191342942015-10-07T15:44:03.061-04:002015-10-07T15:44:03.061-04:00There were so many powerful emotional moments in t...There were so many powerful emotional moments in that episode and I thought it was really well done. I loved that Iris pointed out that the whole team are involved with saving the city because they want to make a difference and help people. Everyone on Team Flash would be trying to make the world a better place whether or not Barry was the Flash. Think about it, Joe is a cop. Talk about a job where one risks their life regularly for the sake of others. Both Cisco and Caitlin have always used their big brains to help people and they showed loyalty to Wells long before Barry woke from his coma. Prof. Stein got himself in a very dangerous situation with his inventions because of his own passion. It's just part of who they are.<br /><br />I think that's a large reason why I find the whole "superhero martyr complex" so irritating in people like Barry and Oliver (and others). I understand that they are the most powerful members of their teams and they feel the weight of that. They have a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility which is great. In the end though, taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong actually does a disservice to the people they love and to themselves. I love that Joe did not pull any punches in that talk with Barry. Did Barry's actions that day contribute to the events that followed? Absolutely. And Barry is responsible for his choices. But then Joe really gets to the core of the matter. "You were not the only person making choices that day." Preach Joe! To blame himself for everything that happened is to lessen the agency and heroism that Eddie and Ronnie showed that day. They are grown men and they made their own choices. For Barry to claim that responsibility implies that they were victims of his decision making rather than powerful agents and masters of their own choices (Prof Stein inspired Eddie with that very idea, he was not a victim of fate!). Don't take their heroism away from them Barry. Eddie is a cop through and through and gave his life to save all of them. He's always been willing to do that. Ronnie wasn't just saving Barry that day. He was acting to save his wife and every other person in that city (the world really) by helping Barry close the singularity which he could never have done alone. (Barry's speed stabilized it but it required Firestorms energy to close it.) Ronnie sacrificed himself for everyone when the accelerator blew and he did it again. Giving of themselves for the good of others is part of who those men are. Don't diminish that. Let them have their heroic choices Barry. They deserve it. It's not all about you (said in the most loving way I can.) <br /><br />Okay rant over. Other thoughts:Beccanoreply@blogger.com