There are only a few episodes left in The Flash. It’s time to reflect on the lessons learned in the past nine seasons. In “A New World, Part One,” Barry (Grant Gustin) travels back in time to face the worst night of his life once again … the night his mother died.
Barry has visited this night before and even corrected Nora Allen’s (Michelle Harrison) death once. But Nora’s death is a fixed point in time. It can’t be changed. Her death put Barry on his path to becoming a hero. And despite Eobard Thawne’s (Matt Letscher) best efforts, he has never defeated Barry. Even with the Negative Speed Force, Thawne always came up short. Last season, Barry defeated and killed Thawne. Since then the Negative Speed Force hasn’t interfered with Barry or anyone he loves.
This episode begins with Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett), getting ready for work. Only, he’s not a cop. He’s a doctor!
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LIFE GOES ON
Since the last adventure of Barry and Oliver (Stephen Amell), things calmed down a bit. Chester (Brandon McKnight) tries to design a supersuit for Allegra (Kayla Compton). They also decide to take their relationship to the next level. Cecile (Danielle Nicolet) is finding happiness on her weekends with Joe (Jesse L. Martin) and Jenna. Khione’s (Danielle Panabaker) powers developed fast. She also writes letters to Frost and Caitlin, telling them about day to day happenings. And letting them know that she misses Mark (Jon Cor). And Iris (Candice Patton) is closer to giving birth than the last time we saw her. Things are perfect. (Too perfect)
Things go awry when out of the blue, literally, Barry disappears. He appears in the year 2000. At first he tries to run back to 2023, but always ends up in another location in 2000. He goes to the one person he has always counted on to help him. Joe West. At this time, Joe is just a beat cop, but he’s just as gentle and ready to help. Until Barry looks at the calendar and decides he needs to leave Joe alone. The date on the calendar is the same day that his mother died.
Barry tries to call Professor Victor Stein, but the Professor thinks it’s a prank and hangs up on Barry. That’s when it happens. Barry sees his parents together across the street. He stares at them and doesn’t see the red streak coming at him. The red streak throws Barry in the street, knocking him out. The Allens see it and run to help the young man who looks exactly like Nora’s father.
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Barry tries his best to stay away from his parents, only ending up in their care. Dr. Henry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) treats Barry, who calls himself Bart. And Nora dotes over “Bart” in a motherly fashion. Meanwhile, Joe and Detective David Singh (Patrick Sabongui) investigate Barry’s accident. After Singh leaves, Joe finds a small blue crystal. He picks it up and his eyes start glowing the same blue.
MAKING PEACE
Bart almost passes out trying to leave the hospital, so Henry and Nora insist they let him feed him. During dinner, Bart talks about his parents. He says they died a long time ago. Henry and Nora feel bad for him which makes Bart feel uncomfortable. He runs away from his parents and runs into Eobard Thawne.
The night that Nora Allen died, Eobard Thawne time traveled to the past to kill The Flash because he blamed Barry Allen for Eobard’s failure as a hero. Barry vows to defeat him, but he’s in a pickle. If he saves young Barry and his mother, he changes the timeline. And if he kills Eobard, again, he changes the timeline. Barry can’t do either or he loses his present. Eobard knows this and is elated that he finally wins.
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Barry returns to the hospital to thank the Allens for taking care of him. They ask Barry what he would say to his parents if he could have them back for one more day. He says that their love made him who he is. And despite the darkness, he carries their light inside of him. Their granddaughter will carry that light too. Henry and Nora say Bart’s parents would be proud of him. Barry says goodbye to the Allens one more time as Bart.
THE REAL DEAL
Barry hears a deep, dark voice calls his name. He follows the voice to another wing of the hospital and finds Joe. At first Barry thinks it’s his Joe who remembers him. But Joe quickly reveals that he’s not Barry’s Joe. His eyes glow blue and he says he’s been waiting for this day since the dawn of time.
Barry thinks the negative speed force chose Joe as its new avatar, but no. He’s the real deal, possessing Joe’s body. Negative Joe is there to correct the imbalance that Barry’s legacy created. Negative Joe is there to kill Barry. They start fighting, causing the hospital to shake. Dr. Rosso (Elodie Venece), Ramsey’s (Sendhil Ramamurthy) mother, instructs hospital security to evacuate the building.
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Negative Joe threatens Barry with Real Joe’s life. Barry can’t hurt him or he hurts his other father. Singh shows up and Dr. Rosso tells him the explosions may be coming from the East Wing. Singh heads that way while the rest of the police evacuate the building.
Barry stops running from Negative Joe when he threatens Little Nora. They continue to throw lightning at each other. Singh eventually makes it to the East Wing, looking for a bomber. Barry is able to knock down Negative Joe and gets worried that he hurt Real Joe. Negative Joe grabs Barry, saying a new world begins that night. Barry closes his eyes and remembers his life with Iris and sees Baby Nora. He sends out a lighting blast that knocks the Negative Speed Force out of Joe. he sees the blue crystal but it disappears before he can grab it. Singh approaches, so Barry grabs Joe and runs outside, putting Joe in a squad car. Joe is confused as he looks at his shaking hand.
THE SAME AS IT WAS
Barry runs to his childhood home to stop Thawne. He gets to Thawne just before he gets to the house. Thawne laughs that Barry would choose to save himself. But Barry says he’s there to save Thawne. Thawne thinks he’s joking. Barry reminds him that Thawne once admired him. Thawne agrees, but that all changed when The Flash saved a crowd of people that Thawne wanted credit for. Barry apologizes for getting in his way. He says Thawne can still have a better life. All they do is cause each other pain. One this night, Thawne can change all of that by walking away.
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Thawne realizes that he wins the night, but not the war. Barry admits it and says neither of them can win the war. He warns Thawne that if he doesn’t walk away, he will lose everything. Thawne does not believe him. He says he’s always been the hero and Flash is the villain. That’s why he has to die.
Thawne races to the Allen house. Flash chases after him, just in time to save young Barry. There is a moment when the Flash sees himself watching from a doorway. He holds his hand up, telling his other self not to interfere. Henry tells young Barry to run and the Flash grabs the boy, taking him to safety outside.
FIXED POINT
Everything happens as it is supposed to. The Reverse Flash kills Nora Allen and runs away. He runs out of speed and contacts Gideon. Gideon says Thawne’s ability to move at super speed and time travel is depleted. He can’t return to his own time. Gideon disappears and Thawne screams in frustration.
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The Flash catches up to The Reverse Flash. Thawne is confused as to why Barry saved himself and allowed his mother to die. Flash says he had no choice. Thawne realizes that Nora’s death is a fixed point. And now he’s stuck in the past. He gets to watch Barry grow up and become the hero. He vows to destroy the Flash and everyone he loves. Thawne says his life’s work will be finding ways to kill the Flash.
Flash says this night tortured him for decades. Not anymore. He got to see his parents one last time and feel their love. Thawne knows this is the worst night of his life. Flash says that day brought him the peace he’s been looking for ever since. He thanks Thawne and says he will always be grateful. The blue light flashes and Barry disappears.
IN ANOTHER TIMELINE
The doctor, Eddie Thawne is working late to meet a deadline when he sees the particle accelerator explode. Eddie feels electricity all around him before the explosion hits his building, causing the glass to shatter and throwing him across the room. Eddie is covered in lightning. He immediately wakes up and looks around. A police file appears on the floor and he picks it up to look at it. There’s a picture of him, Eddie Thawne, saying he’s deceased. The doctor is confused. He asks himself, “Who is Eddie Thawne?”
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News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
GGA's resident Indigenerd, a little bit rez, a little bit classy...with a love for all things Star Wars, zombies, science fiction, and Indigenous. My ultimate goal is to start my own podcast.
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