The Flash is finally back and halfway across the finish line with the scarlet speedster’s midseason premiere. This issue of Flash Fix will focus on episode ten “The Trail Of The Flash.” This particular storyline is one of my personal favorite comic books. In the original issue, The Flash snapped the neck of the Reverse Flash, Eobard Thawne, in order to save the love of his life. Although Central City’s beloved hero had been saved on a constant basis and had dedicated an entire museum to him, the city’s police department still felt the member of the justice league needed to be prosecuted after his brutal murder. On the other hand, the television series has taken a completely different route, but still withholds the overall idea of the original story arch.

Recap

Barry Allen returned home after being trapped in Devoe’s prison for hours on Christmas Eve. Upon entering his apartment alone, Barry was greeted by Clifford Devoe’s dead body and the custom kitchen knife gifted to him on his wedding covered in blood. The Thinker had transferred his mind through the thinking cap and in the lost metahuman discovered by Caitlin Snow that was created during the massive breach created when Barry departed from the speed force. The Central City Police Department cornered their college, leaving him with no choice but to surrender or be hunted down, hence the title of the midseason finale “don’t run.”

Episode 4×10 “THE TRIAL OF THE FLASH” Review
The majority of episode ten was focused on the trial of Barry Allen, as it should be. The subplot of the episode continues to unravel the mystery of the newly created metahumans, but this subplot actually had relevance to the main story at hand. A consistent problem between seasons three and four is the subplots that have next to no applicability. While the majority of them have a near consistent quality to that of the main story, they have no overall long-running impact on the show. It’s almost as if these stories are here in order to fill the plot. Season four continues to push forward with subplots that help characterize its main heroes and expand the arrowverse with its vast majority of comic book characters. “The Trial of the Flash” pushes the shows’ boundary in search of finding more ways to integrate the substories with its main story.

The acting and cinematography have slowly been improving in the arrowverse. The Flash might have provided what may be one of its best-directed episodes yet. The acting during the trial was beyond what I expect from any of The CW shows. Grant Gustin, the actor of Barry Allen, gave it his all, along with the rest of his fellow actors. It was the delivery of every line that clearly put more stakes on Barry’s case. Every word said had weight on the decisions of the characters. It’s the great writing that further pushed the minor characters to reveal what their thoughts were on not just Barry’s current status, but his overall backstory and what these characters actually know about him. The cinematography and mix of visual effects provided pure eye candy. The conversation at the end of the trial where Barry speaks to Iris in the middle of the courtroom was timed well and used more practical effects then typically seen in the show. Its basic use of speeding up what is filmed helps give a sense of reality to the show. It’s always enjoyable seeing different directors and their take on a comic-book character due to the expansive possibilities they are given.

Relying on past story arcs is typically troublesome for the majority of shows. During season one of The Flash, Barry traveled back in time and the time stream revealed that one day he would be the one behind bars rather than his father. Almost all television shows drop their plans when new writers and directors take over. The Flash, on the other hand, has gone back to its planned story with ease. Its quick transition has made up for its rather lacking third season. The DC shows have relentlessly attempted to continue to build on top of their pillars. They hold on to their past in order to provide a consistent story. While it may not be as seamlessly as a show like Gotham on FOX, The CW has continued to impress me with their lower budget and lack of larger resources. The consistency of the show has fared far better than its older brother and younger sister, Arrow and Supergirl.

Overall, The Flash has continued to make a comeback from its comprehensive previous season. The series continues to improve in its weaker aspects. While the show maybe not as triumphant as its first two seasons, The Flash continues to provide entertaining content that will keep you coming back week after week. Its beloved characters and laughable humor still leave you craving for more. Its interpretation of “The Trial of the Flash” story arch was perhaps just as strong as its comic-book counterpart, and it supports the weight of the current season’s plot. It adds more stakes for the characters, something that the other shows on the network lack. It was a worthy successor to the comic-book and builds up the possibility of creating what might be one of the best stories that the show has ever delivered.

Predictions
Next week The Trickster returns to unleash havoc on Central City. You can expect Mark Hamil to maybe show up and cause some chaos as usual during his yearly appearance.

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