The Flash "Potential Energy" Review: All this and less...

It's been a long time since the last episode of CW's The Flash. The returns contain lots of recap in setting up the events of the show. Those catching up on The Flash will likely find the transition seamless, but this week's episode entitled "Potential Energy" immediately kicks things into gear.

Spoilers for this week's episode abound:

The turtle plot meanders.

The show immediately steers into a quick B-plot that remains of little interest, however the threat of Zoom immediately affects the tone. The Flash finds the inverse of the character in this episode. The inverse of The Flash being the turtle is interesting, a clever problem that the show solves with little resolve.

The Flash has spent a lot of time fixated on the fact that Barry is the only person who doesn't know about the baddie of the hour who's dubbed "The Turtle" on account of slowing down everyone around him. I was hoping this plot point would lead to something further but it hangs like a loose thread. 

The Flash basically operates this episode around the concept of The Turtle making him go a lot faster than before and able to pierce through the shield with momentum. Most of the ways to solve the complicated bits of the show include Barry going faster – I wish more creative scripting could happen here.

What's brewing with Wells and Cisco?

I enjoy watching the complicated relationship play out between Wells and Cisco – he tells a terrifying story about Zoom being a cop killer to Cisco. This scene in particular is a really nice showcase for Tom Cavanagh – I hope the actor is able to permanently stick around the show past this season.

All this and less.

Barry actually opens up to Patty somewhat, serving to reinvigorate his relationship. I wonder if The Flash is actually going to keep Barry and Wally around longterm. (See the end of the episode.) Barry is mad for Iris in regards to the meddling that she does with his relationships, something that I'm happy that the show eventually introduced. For once, Iris is giving Barry solid advice in telling Patty the truth in his identity. He's having a hard time wrestling with whether or not to explain his identity. In the meantime, Barry is risking Patty's life by putting her in the middle of the episode. I hope he eventually figures something out that involves a few less lies.

Wally who?

Meanwhile, Joe is having problems with Wally. I'm not really sure where this is going – or if the show can open up something interesting with the thread past the initial angst and sad story. So it turns out Wally is some sort of professional car racer? Is that why he didn't show up for dinner? The show is drilling up lots of unwarranted angst for the character. 

Dealing with a Wally that has the chip on his shoulder is hard for Detective West. I'm glad that he tries to break through to him further on this show. Wally has a bad boy thing going, but already starts to lightly soften in this episode – I expect to soften to him soon.

The fridge issue.

I get really tired of the misrepresentation of women in comics and how they are treated as things that move the plot around. The Flash is falling as a victim in the comic, proving less than the sum of it's parts and giving fans some sloppy writing. The second problem in the show is how Patty is supposed to be incredibly smart but is devalued by looking stupid in not knowing Barry's identity.

Patty breaks it off...

If this episode was going to end with any sense of dignity, it would have had to be on Patty Spivot's terms. This makes me incredibly gracious to see her finally make a decision to cut ties, but man that was fast. 

Last bits.

I'm actually not very happy with this episode.

-Love whatever Wells is doing.

-The bits at the end also suit the episode well.

-Kaitlin and Jay's romance is spontaneous, and not 100% necessary. I'm incredibly angry that he's just been lurking about this entire season doing lots and lots of nothing.