Even a world as seemingly utopian as Earth-1 has problems beyond metahumans and supervillains. If the show thinks Iris truly is that important, she would have a much bigger story line this season.Įven worse, in my mind, is how this sentiment betrays the show’s myopic view of heroism. But upon closer inspection, it’s revealed to be nothing more than a patronizing comfort. Barry disagrees: “Whether you realize it or not, there is no Flash without Iris West.” On the surface, this seems like a heartwarming exchange that underscores how Iris is Barry’s better half and anchor. Much like Wally, she doesn’t think she can help others because she isn’t a scientist or a metahuman. “It’s hard being a bystander,” Iris tells Barry, voicing insecurities about her usefulness to Team Flash. Still, the moment that stuck with me from “Shade” is one of the most fleeting, a simple exchange between Iris and Barry. It’s also nice to see The Flash return to several story lines that have been lingering in the margins, like Caitlin’s seemingly inevitable evolution into Killer Frost, and Wally’s role as Kid Flash in the Flashpoint timeline. As a whole, these story lines ask a significant question: In a world where time travel exists, how can humans and metahumans alike help others? And, apparently, Iris can throw one mean punch. The Alchemy story line develops in a fascinating way. Joe finally considers his own life by going on a date with D.A. There’s a refreshing focus on Cisco and Caitlin’s friendship. Although it hits many of the marks we’ve come to expect from The Flash - a perilously uninteresting metahuman of the week, family drama, Julian’s continued dedication to hating Barry for no reason - it also gives us a few things we rarely see. “Shade” is one of the strongest episodes of the season.
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