Here we have the beginning of another popular comicbook storyline for "The Flash," after last years use of the Flashpoint Paradox. The Trial of the Flash was a comicbook storyline that ran for more than 20 issues of the comicbook. This episode in some ways managed to take that famous storyline that smash it into a single episode that was supposed to tell that story. Obviously, the story isn't an exact adaptation from the comicbook, because of the circumstances being different this time around. The comic storyline is, in all fairness, very ridiculous and is not one of the most memorable storylines in that series, and the television show has done a much better job setting up the Trial of the Flash. The majority of the episode focuses on the trial, but there is also the usual villain of the week aspect, so the episode had a lot of things to juggle around. Unfortunately, this is not one of the strongest episodes and the writing came across as particular off this week, both for the trial and the villain of the week.
To start out with something that worked very well in the episode, I think the writers came up with an appropriately darker tone than in previous episodes. So far, this season has been way too goofy and stupid, so to see that aspect take a backseat and have the more somber elements take over was refreshing. There always seemed to be a dark cloud dangling over our characters in this episode and for good reason, as one of their best friends could go to prison. It never felt too light nor dark, but managed to create a balance between those two parts that made it a very well-balanced episode.
However, even though the writing was tonally great, I will say that the writers came across as very desperate. The writing was always against Barry and his defense, so no matter what the defendant came up with, the writing was constantly against it. I get that the writers needed Barry to go to prison to continue with her overarching storyline, but they were constantly beating Barry over the head. They also managed to make Cecile look like a horrible attorney, and I don't think that was their intentions, however, everything they had Cecile say felt like very poor arguments and I don't appreciate that, when the character has been set up differently.
The court scenes, however, did help give Dibny some purpose for once. He hasn't been to much use in these last few episodes, but it was like they finally managed to make him relevant, because they gave him a chance to use his private investigator skills in a cool way.
I also love the way they are setting up DeVoe. He is constantly coming across as someone who is superior to Barry and are always thinking three steps ahead, which is consistent to the character. He called himself the fastest mind alive, so it makes sense that he would always be prepared for anything Barry tries to do. I was also afraid that I would have a hard time bying into Kendrick Sampson taking over the character from Neil Sandilands, but I do like the way Sampson is playing him. He has a little bit more edge to him than Sandilands had, even though I still prefer Sandilands at this point.
Coming off the heels of DeVoe is the villain of the week. Because where DeVoe is a great villain, Fallout was definitely not. He felt like a very cliché villain, and we have already seen a character that ultimately became a nuclear weapon. She was called Plastique and was featured in Season One. The writers have not been too lucky with their choices when it comes to the smaller villains, so I hope they up their game a little bit on that front.
To start out with something that worked very well in the episode, I think the writers came up with an appropriately darker tone than in previous episodes. So far, this season has been way too goofy and stupid, so to see that aspect take a backseat and have the more somber elements take over was refreshing. There always seemed to be a dark cloud dangling over our characters in this episode and for good reason, as one of their best friends could go to prison. It never felt too light nor dark, but managed to create a balance between those two parts that made it a very well-balanced episode.
However, even though the writing was tonally great, I will say that the writers came across as very desperate. The writing was always against Barry and his defense, so no matter what the defendant came up with, the writing was constantly against it. I get that the writers needed Barry to go to prison to continue with her overarching storyline, but they were constantly beating Barry over the head. They also managed to make Cecile look like a horrible attorney, and I don't think that was their intentions, however, everything they had Cecile say felt like very poor arguments and I don't appreciate that, when the character has been set up differently.
The court scenes, however, did help give Dibny some purpose for once. He hasn't been to much use in these last few episodes, but it was like they finally managed to make him relevant, because they gave him a chance to use his private investigator skills in a cool way.
I also love the way they are setting up DeVoe. He is constantly coming across as someone who is superior to Barry and are always thinking three steps ahead, which is consistent to the character. He called himself the fastest mind alive, so it makes sense that he would always be prepared for anything Barry tries to do. I was also afraid that I would have a hard time bying into Kendrick Sampson taking over the character from Neil Sandilands, but I do like the way Sampson is playing him. He has a little bit more edge to him than Sandilands had, even though I still prefer Sandilands at this point.
Coming off the heels of DeVoe is the villain of the week. Because where DeVoe is a great villain, Fallout was definitely not. He felt like a very cliché villain, and we have already seen a character that ultimately became a nuclear weapon. She was called Plastique and was featured in Season One. The writers have not been too lucky with their choices when it comes to the smaller villains, so I hope they up their game a little bit on that front.