Violet recaps Season 2 Episode 19 of The Flash, titled Back to Normal, where a metahuman kidnaps Dr. Wells, while Caitlin endures her new home on Earth 2 with Zoom. Following the recap, both Violet and Josh share their thoughts about the episode.
- His thoughts on The Flash, Season 2 Episode 19: Back to Normal
- Her thoughts on The Flash, Season 2 Episode 19: Back to Normal
The Flash Recap, Season 2 Episode 19: Back to Normal
Earth 1
Now that Barry has been forced to give up his speed to Zoom, he has to face the workday at the speed of a regular person.
At STAR Labs, Cisco uses Jay Garrick’s helmet to “vibe” and sees that Caitlin is okay. Dr. Wells heads out to find Jesse since she is in danger now that Zoom can come through the breach they opened anytime he wants. He has been able to locate her by tracking cellular dead zones.
Wally stops by CCPD to ask Joe to set up a meeting for him with The Flash. Joe says maybe one day, but not now.
Dr. Wells goes to the apartment where Jesse is staying, and says she needs to leave with him. However, she refuses, and blames him for all the danger that she’s in. She is unable to forgive her father for killing a man, and tells him to leave.
As Dr. Wells drives back, a man steps out into the middle of the road, causing Dr. Wells to hit him head on. However, the man is uninjured. Dr. Wells is knocked out from the collision, and the man pulls him out of the van.
Cisco gets an alert about Dr. Wells being in an accident. They watch the video feed and see the man take him from the van. Cisco tries to figure out who the man is, while Barry gets Dr. Wells’ last location and calls Iris to help him find Jesse.
Barry and Iris investigate the scene of Dr. Wells’ accident. They conclude the attacker must be a metahuman. Barry dusts for fingerprints, and finds some blood and takes a sample.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wells’ captor has brought him to a warehouse that houses amusement park rides. The captor is upset at Dr. Wells for what his particle accelerator did to him, and Dr. Wells realizes that the man thinks he is the Harrison Wells from Earth 1. At first, it was fun for him, because it gave him great strength. However, then he realized that it was also causing him to age rapidly. He says that he is 18, but he looks like a middle-aged man. He wants Dr. Wells to fix him.
Barry and Iris bring Jesse back to STAR Labs with them. Cisco has discovered the identity of Dr. Wells’ captor: Griffin Grey, a senior at Central City High School who went missing 6 months ago. The blood sample confirms that Dr. Wells’ captor and Griffin Grey are the same person. Jesse says she is able to help analyze the cells on a molecular level to see what they’re dealing with, since biochem was one of her majors in college. Barry says he’ll talk to Joe and have him run facial recognition.
Wally stops by CCPD to ask Joe again about setting up a meeting with The Flash. Wally says that he owes Flash his life and wants to thank him. Joe finally agrees.
At STAR Labs, facial recognition has picked up Griffin Grey breaking into Ace Chemical. Barry and Cisco head out, while they have Jesse stay behind. Joe meets them at the building. They soon come across Grey, and tell him to let Wells go. Grey picks up large containers and hurls them at Barry, Cisco, and Joe. Barry tries to blast Grey with his laser gun, but he misses, and Grey throws a container at Barry, hitting him. This causes Grey to age a little, then he runs off as Joe and Cisco come to Barry’s aid.
They return to STAR Labs and patch Barry up. Jesse tells the others the conclusion of her analysis: the more Grey exerts himself, the faster he ages.
Barry and Iris speak privately, and Barry tells her that she is the first person that he ever saved. However, he says now he doesn’t know who he is anymore. Iris tells him that he’s a hero, suit or no suit.
While Dr. Wells works on a serum to cure Grey’s aging, Grey tells Dr. Wells about his girlfriend and how Dr. Wells robbed him of her. Grey also berates Dr. Wells for what he did to the city.
Jesse has the idea to track Dr. Wells’ watch, and they are able to find his location due to the watch repeatedly sending a signal. Cisco reports that Felicity gave them some dwarf star alloy – but only enough that will protect Barry from one punch.
Dr. Wells finishes his serum and gives it to Grey. However, he is not fooled, and knows that Dr. Wells doesn’t know how to help him. Dr. Wells confirms there is no helping him, which angers Grey. Just then, Grey notices Joe, Barry, and Cisco approaching the building, and goes outside to investigate.
Iris remotely turns on the lights at the amusement park. The Flash approaches Grey and begins punching him. Joe comes up behind Grey with a gun, but Grey just turns around and throws a car from a park ride toward him. Grey ages even more, and punches Barry a few times. Grey ages a lot more and dies. Barry is okay. When they look at Grey’s body, he has regressed to his 18-year old self. Jesse goes inside and finds her father. She hugs him and says she’s sorry. He says he’s sorry too.
When they get back to STAR Labs, Jesse apologizes to her father for leaving, and talks about the burden she bears for knowing he killed that man. Dr. Wells talks about losing Jesse’s mother and wanting to protect Jesse. He promises Jesse that he will be the kind of father she can be proud of if she promises that she will never run away again. They exchange hugs and “I love you”s, as he calls her his little Jesse Quick.
The Flash meets with Wally. Barry stands on a ledge while Wally stands below. Wally thanks him for saving him and says he won’t waste this chance the Flash has given him.
Barry wonders how to get Caitlin back without his powers, but Dr. Wells says they can’t. Dr. Wells talks about how he thinks he still hasn’t paid for what he’s done. He then tells Barry that he’s going to help him get his speed back – by creating another particle accelerator explosion.
Earth 2
Zoom tries to encourage Caitlin to eat. She won’t speak to him unless he takes off the mask, so he does. He tells her he would never hurt her, because he cares about her. She calls him Hunter, causing him to have a flashback to his childhood. He tells her that she’s here because he loves her, and hopes that she’ll feel the same way about him again someday. Zoom then uncuffs her, tells her to make herself at home, then speeds off.
Caitlin takes a look around, and comes across the man in the iron mask, who tries to communicate with her through knocking. She also finds Killer Frost locked away in a cell. She doesn’t seem to know who the man in the mask is, just that Zoom must need him for something. Killer Frost then asks Caitlin help her get out of her cell in exchange for helping her get home. Caitlin agrees.
While Caitlin works on trying to get Killer Frost out, they compare stories. It seems like both of their mothers were frigid, and they both have a background in science. However, Killer Frost had a brother, while Caitlin didn’t.
Caitlin is able to break Killer Frost out. The man in the mask tries to warn Caitlin with knocking, as Killer Frost goes after Caitlin with her powers, making her slip on ice. Killer Frost realizes that the reason Zoom didn’t kill her was because she looked just like Caitlin, so now with Caitlin here, Zoom won’t need her anymore. Killer Frost is just about to deliver an icicle through Caitlin’s heart, when Zoom rushes in and uses that icicle to kill Killer Frost, agreeing with her that he no longer needs her. Zoom removes his mask and warns Caitlin that if she tries to break the man in the mask out, he dies too.
Later, Zoom is surprised that Caitlin is not grateful to him for saving her life. She says she just wants to go home. He gets a flashback to his childhood when his mother was murdered. Then he talks about measuring his success by counting the number of Earths he conquers – and agrees to bring her home. He grabs her and runs off.
Her Thoughts on The Flash, Season 2 Episode 19: Back to Normal
I felt like we only got a tiny glimpse of Barry being back to “powerless” this episode, which was mainly in the montage of his everyday life. Other than that, it didn’t seem like his lack of speed was really that huge of a factor this episode, except for getting punched around by Grey a bit. It’s not the first time something like that has happened to The Flash, even with his speed. Barry was still able to use his other “powers” of forensic science and being a hero even without the suit in order to triumph over the metahuman this episode.
However, it doesn’t look like we’ll have a speed-less Barry for too much longer, since Dr. Wells is set on making another particle accelerator in order to help Barry get his speed back. I guess he didn’t care that the other Wells’ particle accelerator ruined people’s lives, like Grey’s, the first time around. Plus, who’s to say that if they do create another particle accelerator that Barry will gain the same exact powers as before, or gain any powers at all? I suppose for the sake of the show, he will get them, but they shouldn’t just assume that as a fact. Hopefully the show addresses this.
It looks like Caitlin’s stay in Zoom’s place on Earth 2 is short-lived, as he’s now bringing her back to Earth 1 so that he can add it to the list of Earths that he’s conquered. Does that mean that he has conquered other Earths aside from Earth 1 and 2, or that he’s just now decided to do so? In any case, I believe that might be the first acknowledgement on this show that there are other Earths besides 1 and 2. Could the man in the mask be from another Earth that Zoom has conquered? We still have made no progress on finding out who he is, unfortunately.
Now with Barry having no speed, and Zoom coming over to conquer Earth 1, who will defend the Earth? How can Zoom be defeated? Will the particle accelerator be placed into action next episode already? Looking forward to finding out!
His thoughts on The Flash, Season 2 Episode 19: Back to Normal
Well I guess it is a good thing that Barry happened to get a villain of the week that could basically wear itself out. If Barry had to actually fight the villain, he couldn’t really do anything about it. Convenient storytelling, it seems like to me!
I didn’t realize Killer Frost was still alive this episode, but that wasn’t for too long unfortunately. I wonder if we will see her again in some way.
I am curious to see how Barry will get his powers back. In Flashpoint Paradox, Barry conducts the experiment that created him in the first place, and it sounds like this might be happening in the TV show. We will have to see how that plays out.
Overall, this episode was a bit of a filler episode leading up to the finale, or so it felt like to me. Hopefully we get some answers as to who this mystery-man is! It is really starting to get to me!
Scenes from The Flash Season 2 Episode 20: Rupture
Preview of Season 2 Episode 20 of The Flash
Curious as to if either of you all have guesses on who the man in the mask is that Zoom is holding captive? I have some theories from the comic books, but I love hearing other people’s thoughts.
Hi Serena,
I have been racking my brain about this for some time, and I have two theories as to who it could be.
My first guess is that he is the real Jay Garrick (one of the original Flash characters). This would make sense because the Jay Garrick’s signature helmet is in the show. This had to of come from somewhere. I don’t think Zoom could just make this hat up, and it not be related to a Jay Garrick Flash.
My other theory is that it could be Barry’s real dad. The reason I suggest this is that we know that the Arrow in Earth 2 was actually Oliver’s dad instead of Oliver. Since the actor playing Barry was the Flash in the 90s TV show that could make sense, combining it with the fact that Oliver’s dad is Arrow.
What is sort of interesting is that there could be a way where both were to be true–perhaps Barry’s dad is Jay Garrick. I am not sure how Barry would get his name of Barry Allen then, but it would be an interesting throwback to the 90s show. (did we ever hear Earth 2 Barry’s last name?)
But I am curious to hear your theories! Who do you think it is?
I like your theory a lot. It’s not one I had heard yet, but it definitely would make sense after the last episode and the reveal of Henry’s mother’s maiden name. I’d love to get to see John Wesley Shipp portray the Flash again. I think it was implied, but not outright stated, that Earth 2 Barry’s last name is Allen, since Earth 2 Iris’s last name is West-Allen. It didn’t say anything about his parents at all though, or at least not as I can recall.
The first thought I ever had was that it was the real Jay Garrick. I mean, we know they have to be a speedster since they were in the same type of cage as Barry was. Until the last episode, I was going with the theory that it is Earth 2 Wally West. Since, in the comics, Wally is Kid Flash and later becomes the third Flash. I wasn’t sure if the writers were going to make Earth 1 Wally West become the Flash, or have his Earth 2 counterpart be it instead, sort of like Killer Frost. However, the ending of the last episode seemed to imply that we might see Earth 1 Wally gain some speedster powers soon. The whole “My mother’s maiden name was Garrick.” statement really threw my theory off. I’m hoping we get to find out before this season is up.
I had just watch the most recent episode, and it seems to line up with my theory. There could be another option still–that Jay Garrick is perhaps an adopted twin of Zoom, or something to that effect, but I feel like the mention of Oliver’s father being the Arrow was something done intentionally. Especially considering that John Wesley Shipp, who played the earlier version of the Flash, is Barry’s father. It lines up pretty well I think.
This looks like a good movie