The CW DCU’s four-show crossover starts to look like the promised movie with The Flash installment, though the combined heroes’ plotting leaves a little to be desired.
They do, however, get to fight aliens and hang out in the Great Easter Egg Hall of Justice!
Title: “Flashpoint”
Directed by Dermott Downs
Written by Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Greg Berlanti, and Andrew Kreisberg
Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash
Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers / Supergirl
Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally West / Kid Flash
Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow
Candice Patton as Iris West
Carlos Valdes as Cisco Ramon
Danielle Panabaker as Caitlin Snow
Tom Cavanagh as Harrison Wells
Jesse L. Martin as Joe West
Franz Drameh as Jefferson Jackson / Firestorm
Victor Garber as Dr. Martin Stein / Firestorm
Greg Grunberg as Tom Patterson
Willa Holland as Thea Queen / Speedy
Caity Lotz as Sara Lance / White Canary
Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory / Heat Wave
Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak
Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer / The Atom
David Ramsey as John Diggle / Spartan
Premise
When aliens invade earth, the Flash and Vibe enlist the help of Supergirl, the classic Team Arrow, and the Legends of Tomorrow. Wally enlists as Kid Flash, as his mentor suffers from doubts brought on by the Flashpoint situation.
High Point
We’re finally getting a comic-book-style crossover on TV, with an impressive super-duel between the Flash and Supergirl.
Low Point
The Dominators, despite having the ability to cross the vast distances of interstellar space, hole up in a dingy abandoned industrial building, while Earth’s Mightiest Heroes stroll nonchalantly into an obvious trap.
Despite having trained with Supergirl, Team Arrow and the Legends remain remarkably ignorant of her powers.
Seriously?
The Scores:
Originality: 2/6
Effects: 5/6
Acting: 4/6 The ensemble cast limits the ability of the episode to investigate the characters in any depth. We have a lot of gestures towards characterization.
It’s apparently in Caity Lotz’s contract that Sara has to react to the hotness of every female she meets.
Story: 4/6 The writers deliver an actual crossover, while focusing on the Flash’s issues (since it’s his show), and demonstrating more of the Arrow/Flash rapport. The heroes’ plotting, as already noted, resembles kids playing superhero.
Emotional Response: 4/6 Professor Stein gets a Flashpoint surprise that may develop into something very interesting.
Production: 5/6 I wonder if someone is going to point out how much National City looks like Central City looks like Star City?
Overall: 5/6 I’m going to give some benefit of the doubt, since the crossover has just begun.
It’s also great to see Classic Team Arrow again.
In total, “Invasion!” receives 29/42
Lingering Question
As people note under the Supergirl review, heavier hitters exist who might be added to the roster. If I were fighting super-strong aliens with advanced technology, I might prefer the likes of Superman, Mon-El, and Manhunter to some guys with archery kits and pistols.
“Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”? I know a few captains, high tech armor enthusiasts, and a Norse god who would take issue with that title…
While it’s not as good as it could be, it’s still a lot of fun and a great comic style crossover for television.
I really didn’t like the Wally treatment. Why the kid gloves, and why can they not see that it’s going to back fire. Also with an Alien Invasion why leave your only other speedster on the bench. Then of course he gets tagged almost immediately yet the Green Arrow lucks out the whole combat?
They needed an excuse to not have too many people involved at one time. It looks like they’re addressing the Wally-on-the-sidelines issue finally this week.