Spoilers The Flash - Season 4

[Christopher]

but how could you realistically defend Barry without telling that he's the Flash?

The defense does not need to prove the defendant's innocence. The defense doesn't strictly need to present a case at all, since the defendant's innocence is the presumptive, default position. The burden lies with the prosecution to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

So all Cecile needed to do was to create reasonable doubt about the prosecution's theory of the case. If she could've shown there was a reasonable possibility that the evidence against Barry was falsified, if she could've cast doubt on the legitimacy of the physical evidence and the forensic findings and posited an alternative theory of the case that the prosecution couldn't disprove, then that would have resulted in a not-guilty verdict. The defense doesn't have to be about the defendant at all, if it can discredit the evidence and the prosecution's theory.

Cecile could've ridden on the contradictory timeline -- half a dozen witnesses, including a CCPD detective, could testify that Barry was with them at the time of the murder. Yes, he had DeVoe's DNA on his person, but if the prosecution couldn't explain his whereabouts adequately, then they would've failed to prove their case. There's also the implausibility of the idea that an experienced CSI would commit a murder where all the physical evidence points so clearly to him. Cecile could've argued that a CSI who committed murder would have concealed the evidence, that the obviousness of the evidence against him is more consistent with a frame job. As long as she could make a frame seem to the jury like a realistic alternative interpretation of the evidence, one that the prosecution couldn't rule out, then the verdict would have to be not guilty.

 

[Guy Gardener]

What a pity that they disconnected the cctv Thawn put in all their apartments... Although, Barry moved into this place after season one, so never mind... but can't the Flash go back in time and set up cameras, without destabilizing the timeline?

 

[dahj]

but can't the Flash go back in time and set up cameras, without destabilizing the timeline?

Nope, something to do with butterflies buying all the cameras...

 

[Christopher]

Great to see Corinne Bohrer back as Prank. I wish Mark Hamill could've reunited with her too, but what we got was pretty cool. I love it that the Trickster episodes reuse Shirley Walker's Trickster theme from the 1990 series, and this episode did the same with Prank's theme -- not just the melody, but the exact orchestration, to the extent that I think they were using an actual music clip from "The Trial of the Trickster," or recreating one. And I think the backstory they used for Prank was right out of the old show, along with the Clarx Toys logo.

Speaking of toys, what an unexpected bonus to see Beebo again!

This was a real step forward for Ralph. He finds the courage to be a real hero, plus he gets his costume and his superhero name. I wish they hadn't dumped so much on the name "Elongated Man" -- I think it's kinda cool. But it seems appropriate that Ralph sort of coined it himself. Though in a way, I was hoping Barry would give him the name.

And if Cisco could fit Ralph's costume in that tiny box, that means he's getting closer to inventing the Flash costume ring.

 

[E-DUB]

And the "mysterious stranger" shows up again, taking notes in some weird looking language. "Interlac" perhaps? It would be pretty wild for "Flash" to show us a Legion connection given what's going on on "Supergirl". Could be a different Legion, though. Not like that hasn't been done before.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I loved this episode!

Notice this picture on Prank's computer record. I had already seen it posted online a few years ago. The kid was actually Mark Hamill's 2 year old daughter Chelsea. Who visited the set and insisted on having her hair dyed to match her Dad's. I love that they thought to include it with her being young Axel.

I was surprised to hear James Jesse escaped a full year ago. Certainly sets up a future appearance. With Last Jedi publicity ending I would not be surprised if its later this season.

 

[Christopher]

Notice this picture on Prank's computer record. I had already seen it posted online a few years ago. The kid was actually Mark Hamill's 2 year old daughter Chelsea. Who visited the set and insisted on having her hair dyed to match her Dad's. I love that they thought to include it with her being young Axel.

Oh, that's brilliant (in both the US and British senses).

Here's what I don't get: The Earth-1 versions of Trickster and Prank seem to have had virtually identical careers to the Earth-CBS versions. Yet Earth-1 had no Flash in 1990-91. So who caught them? (Maybe Nightshade? Too bad Jason Bernard is no longer with us.) For that matter, the CBS James Jesse only adopted the Trickster identity and costume in order to emulate the Flash's methods. So there's a Flash-sized gap in these characters' biographies.

I was surprised to hear James Jesse escaped a full year ago. Certainly sets up a future appearance. With Last Jedi publicity ending I would not be surprised if its later this season.

Maybe an episode where Axel tracks him down on a remote island and begs Jesse to teach him the ways of the Farce. And instead of Porgs, the island can be inhabited by flocks of Beebos!

 

[Icemizer]

I enjoyed the Robocop riff during the hostage scene at the top of the show. Needed a good laugh.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I would love to see an online animated series, like Vixen and the Ray, to show this Trickster's backstory. Plus another for the adventures of Jay Garrick on Earth 3.

FYI this not much of a spoiler, John Wesley Shipp had been teasing his return by showing pictures of himself at the Gym preparing for "something". Than last week pictures of the Vancouver skyline and him in an actor's trailer.

I hope we learn something of Jay's life finally. He was imprisoned by Zoom for what, a couple years? Than took Barry's place in the Speed Force. What were his family and friends thinking all that time. I would loveAmanda Pays to play Jay's wife from the comics Joan. A doppelgänger of Tina. Speculation on her limited appearances lately on the show - from reading posts her husband actor Corbin Bernsen leaves on FB, they have mostly been living in France to escape the craziness in this country. I don't blame them. Yet her and John did a Convention appearance on the East Coast just in November. So she does come to this side of the Atlantic when asked.

 

[Kirk Prime]

Here's my thinking. This show has made one thing very clear. One of the 52(53) Earths has to be the Earth from the 1991 Flash TV series.

The biggest clue was in season 1's finale, when Barry was running through the vortex and we actually got a clip of John Wesley Shipp's Flash doing his thing.

Another clue is that John Wesley Shipp played Barry's father, which shows that genetically, they are related.

We have seen that Shipp can be a speedster too, because in another reality, he is Jay Garrick.

That was a creative way to get him to play the part he should have been all along, but either way, John Wesley Shipp's version of Garrick is genetically, Barry's father--just a doppleganger.

So why couldn't Henry Allen be named Barry in the 1991 version? Most people are named after relatives, so there has to be a Barry up the ancestral tree. In a parallel world, that name came a generation earlier.

Even though 1991 Barry did have an Iris West in his life, she briefly appeared in like one episode. Could just be a different person named Iris West.

We now have 3 different actors that have appeared on Earth 1 that played the same role on both series', just older versions.

So basically, there is no reason they can't do a proper crossover between the 1991 series and this one, with John Wesley Shipp reprising his role as Barry Allen.

They could even have fun with it and have Jay Garrick in there too.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I loved this episode. After the rather depressing trial episode last week, we needed something fun. And this episode delivered some fun and campy moments with some good character moments too.

- The eco friendly bank robber who wanted a Prius as his getaway car was a great scene, funny but not over the top.
- We get some nice backstory on Barry's dad saving Big Sir's life in prison. And then Barry saving Big Sir's life. Like father, like son. Loved it.
- Barry uses his super reflexes for a change instead of his super running in this episode.
- Nice call back to the 90's Flash show.
- Wonderfully campy villains.
- Nice and welcome character growth for Ralph who is growing as a superhero.
- Beebo!!!!!
- I noticed the reversal of expectations with Cisco passing on giving Ralph a superhero name when he used to be so excited to name heroes and villains.
- Barry and Iris are such a great couple. Seeing Iris visit Barry and the two of them being strong for each other was touching, especially that scene where Barry phases his hand through the glass so that they can touch.
- And of course, the final scene with mystery girl from the wedding, writing in a diary in that unknown script that Barry was using when he got out of the Speed Force! So many questions!

 

[The Realist]

We now have 3 different actors that have appeared on Earth 1 that played the same role on both series', just older versions.

I count at least five, actually (unless I'm forgetting someone): Pays, Desert, D'Ambrosio, Hamill, and now Bohrer.

 

[Christopher]

FYI this not much of a spoiler, John Wesley Shipp had been teasing his return by showing pictures of himself at the Gym preparing for "something". Than last week pictures of the Vancouver skyline and him in an actor's trailer.

Ooh, I could see Jay filling in as the Flash while Barry's in prison. Although if Shipp's appearance hasn't been announced yet, then either Barry's going to be in prison for a fair number of episodes (which seems unlikely), or it won't be about that.

I count at least five, actually (unless I'm forgetting someone): Pays, Desert, D'Ambrosio, Hamill, and now Bohrer.

Yeah, I think that's about it so far. Other cast members who are still alive and that I keep hoping to see on the show include Mike Genovese (Lt. Warren Garfield), Richard Belzer (Joe Kline), Dick Miller (Fosnight), and Joyce Hyser (Megan Lockhart). And maybe Gloria Reuben (Julio's girlfriend Sabrina) and Michael Nader (Pike, the '90 Flash's first villain). There was also Paula Marshall, but explaining how she could be named Iris West would be complicated. And Dick Miller's nearly 90 years old, so he might not be up to a trip to Vancouver.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Ooh, I could see Jay filling in as the Flash while Barry's in prison. Although if Shipp's appearance hasn't been announced yet, then either Barry's going to be in prison for a fair number of episodes (which seems unlikely), or it won't be about that.

I would love an entire episode with Jay subbing for Barry as the Flash in Central City. That could be all kinds of awesome!

 

[Kirk Prime]

I count at least five, actually (unless I'm forgetting someone): Pays, Desert, D'Ambrosio, Hamill, and now Bohrer.

I didn't notice Desert and D'Ambrosio. But I'm not a super expert on the 1990 series. I've seen it, but I haven't watched it that many times. This just strengthens my point. The 1990 series is another Earth. It has to be.

 

[Christopher]

It's weird how many episodes we've gotten lately with Barry not appearing as the Flash -- "Girls Night Out," where he was sidelined at the bachelor party; "Therefore I Am," where he was investigating DeVoe as Barry the whole episode; and now this one, where he's in jail. At first I thought they were just reducing his screen time for the benefit of "Crisis on Earth-X," which was being shot simultaneously with some of the other episodes. But Amell and Benoist probably had more screen time there than Gustin did, what with playing two versions of themselves apiece, yet they haven't been similarly sidelined in their shows. So I wonder what's going on. Is Gustin getting tired of wearing the suit? I hope not, because it's my favorite TV superhero costume design after Supergirl's.

 

[Romulan_spy]

It's weird how many episodes we've gotten lately with Barry not appearing as the Flash -- "Girls Night Out," where he was sidelined at the bachelor party; "Therefore I Am," where he was investigating DeVoe as Barry the whole episode; and now this one, where he's in jail. At first I thought they were just reducing his screen time for the benefit of "Crisis on Earth-X," which was being shot simultaneously with some of the other episodes. But Amell and Benoist probably had more screen time there than Gustin did, what with playing two versions of themselves apiece, yet they haven't been similarly sidelined in their shows. So I wonder what's going on. Is Gustin getting tired of wearing the suit? I hope not, because it's my favorite TV superhero costume design after Supergirl's.

Maybe the producers are just saving up for a big Flash centric, CGI fest, at the end of the season?

 

[Christopher]

Maybe the producers are just saving up for a big Flash centric, CGI fest, at the end of the season?

Or saving up for all the CGI in "Crisis." Still, there are ways to have the Flash in costume without relying heavily on his CGI model, just by using the kind of limited speed effects they've used in the aforementioned episodes. It's not just the lack of FX that's odd, it's the lack of even a token in-costume appearance in three episodes so far this season.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Or saving up for all the CGI in "Crisis." Still, there are ways to have the Flash in costume without relying heavily on his CGI model, just by using the kind of limited speed effects they've used in the aforementioned episodes. It's not just the lack of FX that's odd, it's the lack of even a token in-costume appearance in three episodes so far this season.

Yeah, it is a little odd, I guess. The other possibility is that the producers just want to give the rest of the cast more screen time so that those actors get more to do and also foster a more ensemble cast atmosphere. For example, "A Girl's Night Out" was definitely an episode that allowed the ladies to shine.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Or maybe it's just the needs of the story. He can't suit up while he's in jail. And not suiting up while investigating DeVoe was at least in part a contrivance so that Barry would be caught on camera.