The Flash recap: 'The Present'
The CW TV series
After taking a half-break to deliver crossover, alien-fighting goodness last week, The Flash dives back into season 3’s main story line in tonight’s midseason finale, answering many questions we’ve had about the season — somewhat at the expense of delivering great character moments. More importantly, The Flash took us someplace we’ve yet to go so far in the show’s run, which sets up a new and intriguing but potentially infuriating direction for the back half of the season.
“The Present” doesn’t waste too much time getting to those answers. While trying to find information on Savitar, Cisco comes across a research paper about a powerful stone that can create metahumans, a.k.a. Doctor Alchemy’s Philosopher’s Stone. And, it just so happens Julian was said paper’s author. Barry confronts Julian, who explains he blew his inheritance on an expedition trying to find the stone but came up short. We know he’s lying because we found out he was Doctor Alchemy two episodes ago — and because tonight’s episode opens with a flashback scene that shows him finding the stone in India. Julian also drops one bit of information before their conversation ends: Savitar was the first meta with speed.
That last bit of intel is worrisome enough for Barry to jet over to Earth 3 and seek out Jay’s help, which leads to a fun cameo from Mark Hamill as Earth 3’s Trickster. After helping Jay subdue The Trickster, the two Flashes hop back over to Barry’s Earth and Jay reveals he’s heard of Savitar before. According to “speed force myths” (*fights urge to roll eyes*), Savitar was the first speedster and eventually became the God of Motion. If he’s on this Earth, it means he’s come to do battle with Barry because the latter has started to challenge his power.
With all this Savitar and Doctor Alchemy drama going on, it wouldn’t be surprising if you forgot it was Christmastime on The Flash. Thankfully, H.R. Wells is here to bring the Christmas spirit by hanging festive decorations around the lab. However, that doesn’t do much to lighten the mood for Cisco and Caitlin, both of whom can’t help but think about people they’ve lost. The holidays make Caitlin remember the last Christmas she spent with her father and Cisco’s mind obviously turns to Dante, whom he keeps seeing around the lab. If there’s one good thing season 3’s angst has done, it’s strengthen Cisco and Caitlin’s friendship, so I definitely enjoyed them sharing holiday stories with each other.
Following Jay’s advice that he focus on spending time with his loved ones, Barry heads home to see Iris, who’s busy wrapping presents. In addition to completing her Christmas shopping, Iris also found time to do some digging of her own and she learns every scientist on Julian’s expedition died except for him. Yes, leave it to Iris to come through with a useful lead. This was a great example of how the show should be using her; we should be seeing more of Iris using her journalism skills to help Team Flash — and less of her giving pep talks.
Iris’ information convinces Barry there’s a connection between Julian and Doctor Alchemy (and that suspicion is about to be confirmed). Cisco detects the Philosopher Stone’s energy signature atop of Central City building, so Barry and Jay head out into the field. They leave behind Wally, who reveals he’s been training with H.R.
Doctor Alchemy is trying to use the building to restore every meta’s powers from the Flashpoint timeline. Savitar makes his entrance right when Barry and Jay arrive. So, Jay takes on Savitar while Barry goes after the stone. Savitar drags Jay around Central City like a rag doll in a sequence that pushes The Flash’s CGI budget to the limits; Jay and Savitar look more like video-game characters than flesh-and-blood humans. Savitar is about to kill Jay when Barry throws lighting to knock out Alchemy and places the stone back in its box, causing Savitar to disappear. Barry unmasks Alchemy and discovers it’s Julian.
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