The Flash Review: “Rogue Air”

The Flash has made some powerful enemies—but he has powerful allies, as well.

Meanwhile, Arrow apparently hasn’t spoiled its story arc enough already, and Queen turns up to spoil it further.

Title: “Rogue Air”

Directed by Douglas Aarniokoski
Written by Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing

Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash
Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon
Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells / Eobard Thawne/ Reverse Flash
Jesse L. Martin as Detective Joe West
Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow
Candice Patton as Iris West
Rick Cosnet as Eddie Thawne
Wentworth Miller as Len Snart / Captain Cold
Peyton List as Lisa Snart / Golden Glider
Anthony Carrigan as Kyle Nimbus / The Mist
Liam McIntyre as Mark Mardon / Weather Wizard
Paul Anthony as Roy G. Bivolo / Rainbow Raider
Britne Oldford as Shawna Baez / Peek-a-Boo
Doug Jones as Jake Simmons / Deathbolt
Danielle Nicolet as DA Cecile
Robbie Amal as Ronnie Raymond / Firestorm
Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / The Arrow

Premise

The Reverse Flash brings the accelerator online again, and a plot to relocate the Rogues Gallery goes seriously awry.

High Points

The cast members have chemistry, and it goes a long way. The show has its flaws—perhaps a few too many—but it understands the source material, and has a good deal of fun with character interactions. The Scarlet Speedster and the parka-clad Captain Cold interact pretty much exactly as we would expect such characters to interact. We’re still not at the level of Buffy at its best, but I find The Flash‘s balance of camp cheesiness, lower-budget superheroic spectacle, and serious character and thematic elements promising.

Low Points

I suppose Iris might have a key to STAR’s inner sanctum at this point, but how can Snart just blow in unannounced?

They discover where the Man in Yellow has been hiding, and don’t start searching for Eddie as soon as circumstances permit?

Team Flash has some very trained, brilliant people—and, when working with a known felon and a ridiculously delicate operation, they don’t double/triple/quadruple check that no one has tampered with their security? Sheesh. If the Reverse Flash’s capture was all a ruse on his part, our heroes should be really screwed next week.

The Scores:

Originality: 3/6 Heroes and villains work together—but the episode throws in a few developments and twists of its own.

Effects: 5/6 They’re doing well, for regular series television.

Acting: 5/6

Story: 4/6

Emotional Response: 5/6 I enjoyed seeing so many characters together, but the plot weaknesses affected my overall reaction.

Production: 5/6

Overall: 4/6 As a bonus, we get a reference to the Green Lantern’s origin. Will Hal Jordan join the growing proto-JLA?

In total, “Rogue Air” receives 31/42

2 replies on “The Flash Review: “Rogue Air””

  1. I must’ve missed the Green Lantern thing…

    Yeah, Oliver showing up was… ugh. Other than that and the obvious stuff, good episode.

  2. Some of their missteps I can hand wave away between their youth and lack of oversight from Wells. Joe may be older than the rest of them, but he can’t keep up smarts-wise and he may be deferring to them when he otherwise shouldn’t.

    If they had the gas to knock them all out, they should have just kept gassing them and keeping them unconscious the whole way.

    At least for a little while we don’t have to worry about the logistics of a private prison. :-)

    I missed the Green Lantern reference as well but once it was pointed out it made sense.

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