The Flash – Rupture

By: Stacy Miller

“The Flash” may be about a superhero and his desire to save innocents from Metahumans and other criminals, but at its core it is a show about family. Those we are born into and those we become a part of due to love and a commitment to protect. In that regard, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) has a huge family: Henry, Joe, Iris, Caitlin, Cisco and even Harrison Wells (John Wesley Shipp, Jesse L. Martin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh). And like most families, there will be differences of opinions regarding decisions. In the episode Rupture, Barry’s three dads: Henry, Joe and Harrison were on opposite sides regarding Wells’ idea to recreate the particle accelerator accident to help restore The Flash’s speed.

But in the meantime, there are criminals and the city needs The Flash. So, Cisco has created a hologram of The Flash to protect the city. But Wells doesn’t think the public will be fooled for long and argues for recreating the particle accelerator explosion to help Barry get his speed back because without it, there’s no Flash or a way to save Caitlin from Zoom’s (Teddy Sears) clutches.

Barry visits his father at the secluded cabin where Henry is living. Henry asks why a speedster needs a car. This means it is time for Barry to tell his dad how he lost his speed due to Jay Garrick. Henry comments that Barry’s mother’s maiden name was Garrick. Hmm, could Barry and Jay be related? But Henry should have watched back episodes of The Flash on Hulu as the abbreviated version is less fun! Mr. Allen reminds Barry he doesn’t need speed to be a hero.

While arguing with Wells about recreating the particle accelerator explosion, Cisco has a vibe about his brother and worries Dante (Nicholas Gonzalez) may be in danger. Barry brings Henry to Star Labs. Wells tells him he wants to recreate the particle accelerator, but Henry’s not on board with the idea. The last time left his son in a coma for nine months.

Joe and Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) are talking at the police station when Zoom appears with Caitlin, who pleads with him not to hurt her friends. When they are alone, Zoom urges Caitlin to unleash the evil he knows she’s capable of. Question: If evil villains are so strong and powerful that they don’t need anyone and can take over the world, why do they always encourage others to become evil?

At a bar, Dante is surprised to see his brother. Cisco doesn’t reveal that he came because he was worried about him. But that nagging feeling Cisco had was there with good reason. When they get outside, Cisco and Dante are almost hurt in an explosion. A Metahuman is responsible and he looks exactly like Dante. He is Reverb’s brother. Remember Reverb? He was Cisco’s doppelganger on Earth 2. Well his brother, Rupture (Dante’s doppleganger) wants revenge against Cisco for his brother’s death. But Zoom killed Reverb so why does Rupture think Cisco did? Dante and Cisco manage to escape.

At Star Labs, Wells says Zoom is doing the same thing he did on his Earth, recruiting dangerous Metahumans to join his reign of terror. He insists that now is the time to get The Flash back. Broken record Wells. Surrogate dad Joe agrees with Henry though that it’s too dangerous.

Jesse (Violett Beane) and Wally are kept out of the action and away from harm’s way. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop them from trying to help and bonding in the process.

Iris tells Barry she wonders if they are meant to be together. She doesn’t care if he has powers or not. Mrs. West-Allen is looking like more of a possibility!

Dante finds a letter that Cisco wrote from before he went to Earth 2 in which he talks about getting powers from the particle accelerator accident (in case he didn’t make it back). Cisco confirms he is a Metahuman.

Zoom urges Rupture to get his revenge against Cisco by killing Reverb. Zoom, you’re a villain and a liar. So, Rupture launches an attack on Jitters (the local coffee shop). But hologram Flash is able to stop him and he is captured. Zoom is furious. He goes to Jitters and kills some police officers and Rupture for being a disappointment. Barry pleads with Zoom not to kill anyone else. Zoom spares the rest of the people in the police station, for now, because of his affection for Caitlin. He announces that The Flash is a hologram and the city is his. Yes, it’s doom says Zoom.

Back at Star Labs and having no other choice, Barry gives his consent for Wells to recreate the particle explosion accident. So, Barry is strapped into the contraption and given an injection of the same fingerprint kit solution he was working with at the time of the original explosion while Cisco is out playing Benjamin Franklin trying to make lightening. Across town, Jay sees the lightening and realizes what our heroes are trying to do.

Something else happens though, Jesse and Wally are zapped by the explosion. Will they become Metahumans? The particle accelerator accelerates Barry’s particles and he disintegrates. All is left is the charred flash suit! Zoom appears and taunts that they killed The Flash.

Next week: It looks like Barry is alive but trapped inside the speed force. Can the brilliant minds at Star Labs get him back.