The Flash review, Episode 901: “Wednesday Ever After”

The Flash aired the premiere of its ninth and final season last night, and I have to say, I’m intrigued. For a show that’s been around since shortly after the inception of the Arrowverse, The Flash has seen its ups and downs. Over the last few seasons, the series really struggled to find solid ground and got lost in itself. But “Wednesday Ever After” has me believing in the series again…and just in time for the end!

There is quite a bit to unpack from the Season 9 premiere, so let’s not waste a second more. SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Flash meets Groundhog Day

About a week after the events of the season 8 finale, we find Iris (Candice Patton) and Barry/The Flash (Grant Gustin) recovering from the defeat of the Negative Forces and Reverse Flash. It’s not an easy job to be a part of Team Flash, and this couple really needed a break.

As they both head back to their respective jobs, it appears to be a normal day of crime fighting and news reporting. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Well, not exactly.

After The Flash faces off with Captain Boomerang (hello, The 100’s Richard Harmon), he is blasted by the portable particle accelerator Boomerang is trying to get his hands on. It seemingly kills Barry in an explosion, and we’re left thinking: does Barry die at the start of the final season?

Of course not. Instead, Barry finds himself waking up the next morning realizing it’s the same day as it was the day before. Iris has a similar experience. She goes back to work and learns from Allegra (Kayla Compton) that Cat Grant wants to purchase her media company. It’s something feels off.

Barry and Iris’ future

In the midst of all this time loop chaos, Barry and Iris realize that they have been living on a shaky foundation for a long time. I mean, Iris was stuck in the Mirrorverse, and then she had time sickness, so it hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies for the couple.

Realizing that, Barry is very eager for them to focus on the future. He knows what will happen, when it will happen and how it will happen, and he’s documenting it all in his handy dandy notebook.

While it is wonderful to know how your future is going to play out, it takes the fun out of daily life. It also takes away any sense of control, which has Iris in her feelings all throughout the episode. I don’t always agree with Iris, but in this case, I was absolutely on her side. Just because they know what is supposed to happen (Iris expands her media empire, wins two Pulitzer prizes, and Barry becomes the director of CSI for CCPD) doesn’t mean they have to accept things as they come.

Iris understands that her life has taking her toward these events, but she wants to have control over how they happen. And by the time the couple is on their 50th+ time loop, they figure out exactly how to take control. I was so here for that journey; it was a classic Iris and Barry storyline that we have been missing for a long time!

The Flash season 9 premiere ending explained

There are a lot of mini-storylines worth mentioning. Allegra and Chester (Brandon McKnight) finally have their first kiss (yay!), Joe (Jesse L. Martin) tells Cecile (Danielle Nicolet) that he thinks they need to move out of Central City (what?!), and Barry comes face-to-face with a new hybrid of Caitlin/Killer Frost (Danielle Panabaker).

I am a bit disappointed that we didn’t see more from Captain Boomerang, but there is still a whole season ahead of us, so I’ll be patient! The show earned that patience with its final moments, which we must discuss.

We learn that Captain Boomerang is working for someone, although we don’t find out who until the very end of the episode. When Boomerang goes to meet his big bad boss we are introduced to a speedster who seems to fly around like a bat. Who the heck is it?!

Enter Red Death. In the comics, Red Death is a “villainous version of Batman from Earth-52. He is a member of the Dark Knights, a group of vigilantes from the Dark Multiverse whose goal is to assist the deity Barbatos to plunge the central DC Multiverse into darkness,” according to Villains Wiki.

On The Flash, Red Death is being played by none other than Batwoman alum Javicia Leslie. I’m so excited about this! I think the series is going to take the character in a different direction than the comics, so I’m looking forward to whatever they’ve got in store!

And just like that, The Flash’s final season has finally begun, and it is very exciting. Instead of seeing Barry wallow in sadness and self-pity, we get to see another side of the character, one focused on his wife and their future. Sure, he’s still a bit whiny and overprotective, but he was able to compromise and meet Iris in the middle when she asked for it. That is the Barry we love and adore! After watching the season 9 premiere, I have to say I’m looking forward to what is to come, one last time.

Episode Grade: B+

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