Catching Up With THE FLASH: Family of Rogues
Episode 203 “Family of Rogues”
[photos: Jeff Weddell, Cate Cameron/The CW]
This week we journey into the dysfunctional family of Leonard Snart. Golden Glider returns to fan the flames of Cisco’s crush with plee for help. Rough and tumble Michael Ironside falls short of father of the year and Joe struggles with a decision that may drive Iris out of his life. It’s family fun all around, until an old friend arrives in town.
Show opens with a bit of excitement as Iris calls upon Barry, who is working in the forensics lab for help getting out of a sticky situation. Knowing the Flash certain has its perks; however Barry might need to have a talk with his foster sister about taking unnecessary risks.
Team Flash and newcomer Jay Garrick survey the large breach in the basement of STAR Labs. Jay, Cisco and Professor Stein discuss how to stabilized the portal and gain access to Earth 2. Surprisingly, no one discusses the fact that Zoom could use the portal at anytime. I guess they’re hoping he does not notice the huge dimensional door.
Patty Spivot (Shantel VanSanten) brings an awkward, but fun energy to the show. Especially in scenes with Barry, like their encounter at Jitters. It’s entertaining to have another cast member unaware of Barry’s alter ego. I look forward to that reveal and hope they develop a relationship between these two awkward champions of justice.
Lisa Snart, aka Golden Glider (Peyton List), returns to the show, bumping into Team Flash at Jitters seeking their help. She claims that her brother Leonard Snart (Captain Cold) has apparently been kidnapped. Cisco flexes his tech muscles to track Snart’s Cold Gun. Flash arrives to find Snart working with his equally villainous father Lewis (Michael Ironside).
Knowing their father’s abusive past, Lisa refuses to believe that her brother would work with Lewis. The team works to find an answer and Cisco deepens his bond with Lisa, learning about her troubled past. With a lead from a homicide Joe is working on, the team determines that Snart is cooperating with his father because Lisa has been secretly implanted with a deadly explosive.
After an abortive attempt to tell Iris that her mother is not dead, Joe battles with the decision to do it. After a talk with Barry he decides to proceed and the show hits an emotional high in a dramatic and touching scene as Joe confesses the truth. Iris shows her maturity and forgives her father for the deception, but is weary of meeting her mother after two decades.
While Cisco works on a plan to extract the explosive from Golden Glider, Barry decides to infiltrate the Snart crime family, posing as a security expert. After a tense interrogation by Papa Snart, Barry joins them on their latest caper to steal a cache of valuable gems. Barry uses his wit and some speed to ensure their success. Lewis betrays him at the last minute and shoots Barry. Unknown to Lewis, Barry uses his speed to catch the bullet, but fakes his death.
After successfully breaching the security system, Leonard and his father argue over life choices. Cisco informs Barry that he has removed the bomb from Lisa and the Flash arrives to stop Lewis from escaping. When Leonard learns his sister is safe he puts and end to his father’s abuse once and for all with an ice blast to the chest.
We are treated to another fun encounter between Barry and Patty, clearly foreshadowing a relationship between the quirky duo. Lisa playfully kisses Cisco, thanking him for his help and rides off, leaving him excited and confused.
Back at the collider, Jay has stabilized the wormhole, dubbed the Speed Cannon, and plans to leave Earth 1. Caitlin urges him to stay, showing the rest of the team that she is attracted to the de-powered alternate Flash. Stein has a frightening relapse, bursting into blue flame and then collapsing. As the team works to stabilize him a visitor arrives through the newly stabilized dimensional door…
… none other than Earth 2’s Harrison Wells.
