Broadcast TV The Flash - seasons 8 & 9 (The CW) (1 Viewer)

[Adam Lenhardt]

I finally caught up. The writing on this show hasn't been good for a while, but it's particularly awful this season. Much like the later seasons of "Supergirl", so much happens just because the writers want it to happen, even when it's out of character or unsupported by the story.

This show has run out of stories . I wish Grant Gustin had decided he had had enough and moved on as most of the original cast has done.

As bad as it is, I enjoy it enough to keep watching. That being said, if it had ended a few seasons ago, it would have held onto a better reputation.

And then the thing at the end of the last episode with Chester defies belief. I can't see someone just coming into his computer and download all his files. He is being played a lot more intelligent than that.

So bad. Chester is portrayed as so childlike and naive at times that he should have been a security liability far before this.

I think I bailed on Arrow halfway through Season 6. It was just getting too painful to watch. It felt like they were just treading water. I came back for the Season 8 episodes leading to Crisis.

As bad as the later scenes of "Arrow" were, the final run leading up to "Crisis" had a lot of quality moments in it. Hopefully this show uses its extra season to find its footing again and end on a strong note like that show did.

The bit a the end with Caitlin was a bit much though. Barry doesn't do things like that.

Agreed, and it was far from the only out of character moment recently. Him accosting the foster care Shadowcat meta last week about Iris, completely oblivious to the fact that she'd just lost her mother at Irisis's hands immediately after being reunited, was another example. They could have gotten to the same place more organically by having the two of them join forces to try and get both of their loved ones back from the Still Force. But that option never seemed to occur to the writers.

 

[NeilO]

Agreed, and it was far from the only out of character moment recently. Him accosting the foster care Shadowcat meta last week about Iris, completely oblivious to the fact that she'd just lost her mother at Irisis's hands immediately after being reunited, was another example. They could have gotten to the same place more organically by having the two of them join forces to try and get both of their loved ones back from the Still Force. But that option never seemed to occur to the writers.

I am hoping they are saving that for when they actually get Iris and her mother back.

 

[Garysb]

OK, I think the abilty to suddenly being able to share speed is a convenient plot point for last night's episode. If this was always possible why wouldn't Barry have done it with Iris, Joe, Cisco, Chester, Eddie etc.

Iris has died too many times for it to be meaningful anymore. She will be back next week.

The end scene where Matt Letscher's head splits to reveal Tom Cavanagh was great. Other than that this was just an OK episode.

My guess is Caitlin will emerge from the tube as Frost. Chill Blade ( or whatever the character Jon Cor plays) will see her and say "Frost". She will respond " No, Killer Frost" before she kills him. End of scene for the season. Next season Killer Frost will pretend to be Caitlin ( she will have Caitlin's knowledge) fooling team Flash in a throwback to Season 1 with Harrison Wells/Reverse Flash. Then whatever her plan is will be revealed. I will hopefully have stopped watching by then.

Cecile and Ally Allston on Superman and Lois basically have the same power in that they can steel the powers of others for themselves.

 

[Tom-G]

I have a question. Is it worth my time to watch season 8 or has the writing jumped the shark? When the pandemic hit, I lost interest in watching any form of entertainment so I took me a long time to finish season 6 and also season 7. For whatever reason, I didn't keep up watching and didn't watch any of season 8. This is show I quite enjoyed from its start, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated to get caught up.

 

[Bob Cashill]

I have a question. Is it worth my time to watch season 8 or has the writing jumped the shark? When the pandemic hit, I lost interest in watching any form of entertainment so I took me a long time to finish season 6 and also season 7. For whatever reason, I didn't keep up watching and didn't watch any of season 8. This is show I quite enjoyed from its start, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated to get caught up.

I would say no. My daughter and I bonded over the show a few seasons back and we still sort of like it but it’s pretty much habit now. I’m hoping the next season is the last—the thrill is gone.

 

[Tom-G]

Bob, thanks for the input. Besides the pandemic pausing my interest in movies and TV, I did feel that the show was becoming a bit stale. Repetitive might be a better adjective. Characters disappearing and returning from different dimensions - it's like the creative team ran out of ideas.

This was a show that I loved and I started watching upon its release. It was light/easy viewing, exciting and most of all it was fun. Some of the standalone or self contained episodes left a lot to be desired but other episodes left me exhilarated. I loved the casting. Grant Gustin and Candice Patton have good chemistry. The show became a bit too crowded with characters as well. The "Friends" effect that seems to have influenced other shows as well.

 

[Bob Cashill]

The show is running around in circles now—literally! I’m hoping Season 9 is shorter, tighter, and maybe brings in some of the Legends, who earned a proper sendoff they didn’t get.

 

[Garysb]

From TVline:

Any tiny hint about The Flash finale’s “surprise” guest? –Trevor
I’m midway through the finale at press time, and I am going to say that Danielle Nicolet was accurate-ish with her tease, if she was referring to who I think she was. I myself had certainly tempered expectations — after some speculated it’d simply be long-absent Baby Jenna, and especially after Mia Smoak got ruled out — but I legit exclaimed, “Oh, damn” when I saw a certain character pop up in this coming Wednesday’s finale. What’s more, the seed for this reappearance was very pointedly planted some time ago, and it sets up a great performance by their scene partner.

 

[NeilO]

Unfortunately, The Flash is way past its prime. There were some bright moments in this last episode, but this whole tricking The Flash to kill Iris was painful. I really hope they have a plan for wrapping things up next season.

 

[Garysb]

Unfortunately, The Flash is way past its prime. There were some bright moments in this last episode, but this whole tricking The Flash to kill Iris was painful. I really hope they have a plan for wrapping things up next season.

One can only hope.

 

[Garysb]

Extended trailer for the finale.

 

[NeilO]

At least they resolved and explained a bunch of things in the finale.

Spoiler: They resolved

Thawne - he appears to be finally wiped out. At that they said that. I really hope this is the last we'll see of him. You can go to that well too many times.

The negative forces were manipulating loads of things this season including the creation of Mina's speed device.

They did remember to reunite that girl with her mother. I had completely forgotten about her.

They have left open:

The theft of Chester's data is one item that may have an impact next season. No mention of it since we saw that happen however episodes ago that was.

Spoiler: Items that were brought up in the finale that should impact the next season:

Cecile's new "wishing" power at the end of the episode. What can she really do?

Whatever form Frost now has with the chamber malfunction. They haven't figured out her look yet.

A new negative speed force avatar will be born in 2049. When will we see that?

Are we otherwise done with the negative forces? And the positive forces?

Will they get some technical help from Mina in the future. She has offered.

It was not clear to me just how much of Thawne's romp of destruction was rolled back. Was it just the last few minutes or everything since he burst out of Eobard's head?

I'll still watch the upcoming season though I have low expectations.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Finally finished the season again. There was some fun stuff in these final episodes, but still overall quite a mess.

Iris has died too many times for it to be meaningful anymore. She will be back next week.

I'm wondering if this plot point was about the contract negotiations with Candice Patton dragging out. She only signed on for the additional season on June 28, so maybe they were covering their bases.

The end scene where Matt Letscher's head splits to reveal Tom Cavanagh was great.

That was a really creepy effect.

The show is running around in circles now—literally! I’m hoping Season 9 is shorter, tighter, and maybe brings in some of the Legends, who earned a proper sendoff they didn’t get.

Agreed. It would be nice if it could end strong like "Arrow" did. Of all the Arrowverse shows, I would have much rather gotten another season of "Legends" rather than this.

Thawne - he appears to be finally wiped out. At that they said that. I really hope this is the last we'll see of him. You can go to that well too many times.

It seems pretty clear that they designed this season around the final confrontation between the Flash and the Reverse Flash in the series ender. And then, once the unexpected ninth season came through, it was too late to go in a different direction.

Rather than having the biggest, baddest villain of all time next season, I hope they focus on wrapping up the characters satisfactorily instead, and choose a threat that best allows that to happen.

They did remember to reunite that girl with her mother. I had completely forgotten about her.

I was actually wondering if they'd forgotten about her right before the scene where they were reunited. Which was, again, a little odd and anticlimactic. No huge emotional reaction at finding her mother is actually alive. No remorse for the hell she raised when she thought she was dead.

Whatever form Frost now has with the chamber malfunction. They haven't figured out her look yet.

I think Danielle Panabaker was already on maternity leave at that point, and the voiceover for that one scene was something she could record from home.

It doesn't sound like it's Killer Frost, but I don't think it's Caitlin or Frost either.

A new negative speed force avatar will be born in 2049. When will we see that?

It sure seemed like they were setting up the Big Bad for next season.

I'll still watch the upcoming season though I have low expectations.

Same.

 

[Garysb]

Candice Patton Says She Was “Treated Differently” Than White Co-Stars, “Not Protected” Against Racist Fan Remarks back in 2014 when The Flash began.

‘Flash’ Star Candice Patton Says She Was “Treated Differently” Than White Co-Stars, “Not Protected” Against Racist Fan Remarks

Candice Patton has played the female lead on The Flash since the show’s inception in 2014. That’s a long time in the evolution of a TV show. It’s an even longer time in the evolut…

deadline.com

 

[Alex...]

 

[Garysb]

I hope they have as good a final season as Arrow's pre Crisis season 8 episodes. Have to admit I haven't been much of a fan of Eric Wallace's run on the show. He is a great promoter and I enjoy reading what he has to say but I was consistantly disappointed when I watched the episodes he hyped.

 

[NeilO]

They have plenty of time to plan these final 13 episodes. I hope they come up with something coherent and satisfying.

 

[Garysb]

They have plenty of time to plan these final 13 episodes. I hope they come up with something coherent and satisfying.

Last scene - Iris is pregnant. Fade out.

I hope with 13 episodes they do one story with no interludes and no Barry light episodes where he is in the first and last scenes only. Last season it seemed like there were more interlude episodes then non interlude.

 

[Bob Cashill]

It’s time. Looking forward to a satisfying final season and maybe a few visitors from, say, Legends, which never got proper closure.

 

[Alex...]