The Flash (TV Series) Fast Lane (2016) User Reviews

Redemption

[ThomasDrufke · 8/10 · 2 February 2016]

As with most episodes, there's a central theme that usually runs through most of the characters to give the episode a more fluid feel. With 'Fast Lane', it was quite clearly the theme of redemption. Whether it was Joe redeeming himself as a father to Wally, Wally redeeming himself as a brother and son to Iris and Joe, or Harry's decision to admit he was stealing Barry's powers, tonight was a very cohesive experience in terms of redemption.

I love that most of the titles of Flash have the speed puns in them and of course, Fast Lane is yet another. This time it was hinting more at Wally's life as an underground drag racer than it was about Barry. Like most fans, I've been pretty indifferent to Wally so far in the few episodes we've got of him and while tonight was more of the same bi-polar like personality, I think it was a step in the right direction. The drag racing came to head this week as Iris decided to take it upon herself and investigate his whereabouts and ended up running into a pickle of her own. This side arc had my reminded of most of her story-lines last season where she had the tendency to muck everything up, but It was handled with much more care than I thought. It's also worth noting that Wally described his passions at being "all about speed". Pretty subtle huh Wally?

The villain of the week was Tar Pit, another man who was effected by the Star Labs explosion a few years back, was on a path of revenge against the men who wronged him before. I'm not so sure we needed to see his origin story with the explosion as I think we've seen it a near 20 times at this point. With that said, it was yet another underdeveloped and particularly silly villain, even if the special effects were pretty solid for Tar Pit all night.

Tonight's episode gave plenty of chances for both father figures in Barry's life right now to show their talents as Tom Cavanagh and Jesse L. Martin were fantastic as Harry and Joe respectively. Sure, it's easy to remember the last punch Joe had on Harry as the highlight of the episode, but there's plenty more to praise them for. I've loved watching Harry go behind Team Flash's backs and his unfortunate motivations, but I love the decision to have him admit his faults to the team even more. Finally, we will get all of them working together without any secrets (fingers crossed). I believe that will be the first time in either season that would be the case. Plus, traveling to earth 2? Yeah, I'm in.

+Cavanagh and Joe shine

+West side arc is improving

+Harry's confession

+Iris didn't mess things up this time

+Earth 2 forthcoming

-Tar Pit was dumb

8.5/10

This continues being pretty good stuff

[okraievskyi · 8/10 · 12 September 2022]

This was a, once again, pretty fun episode that teases the things to come. I loved how the plot with Wally was tied to the main plot in this one. That was some good storytelling. The emotional journey of Wally, Joe and Iris was the best thing in this episode, which is weird, since I usually don't care for Iris plots. I still loved the Wells plot in this episode and Barry's decision at the end was amazing. I enjoyed the acting of Dr Wells and Wally in this one, and the metahuman Tinder joke was hilarious. The CGI was bad during the Zoom scenes but it was redeemed with the Tar Pit's CGI. The trap for Tar Pit ending was rushed, but overall a great buildup episode.

Grieving a mother

[chloedean-47880 · 9/10 · 1 March 2023]

Up until the end I was thinking this is just a standard episode of The Flash.

But Wally's monologue about how he loves to race because it reminds him of how he used to have these long drives with his mum and how happy they were? How stopping racing is saying goodbye to those moments? That got to me, and got my own grief in a way I've never quite seen replicated.

I lost my mum when I was 11. My safe space up until that point was in her car going on drives. To mundane tasks like shopping or roadtrips to holidays (we drove to France once) I always felt at home in the passenger seat of her car, splitting a wispa chocolate bar with her and just talking and singing along to the radio (living on a prayer always sticks out in my mind.) When she passed we sold the car and with that it was almost like my last hope of doing anything with her again. So hearing him express his grief of his mum in a similar way to how I felt/feel mine literally made me cry.

Emotionnal

[fennec-39192 · 8/10 · 17 May 2021]

Good emotional episode.very good performance of Harry wells as usual who tried to steal Barry's speed but in the process felt some compassion.it's good to see also that they can close the gaps. On the other hand the villain made of tar after the particle gas pedal explosion is not very prominent but his look as a Houston-magma is pretty cool. Very good loss of Joe as well as the development of Wally west's character that I find very good,I like the construction of his character very much. Also good construction around the wells-Allen relationship as before. Good moral lesson.

Ranking/Reviewing every Flash episode: Fast Lane

[lbramson · 10/10 · 11 June 2023]

Barry is slowly losing his speed, but it becomes dire when Iris almost dies. Harry then admits he was stealing the speed for a deal with Zoom to save his daughter. Every season has that underrated episode and Fast Lane is an episode that deserves more love! The main thing that makes this episode great is the ending. No, not the ending teasing Earth-2 which is still amazing. I'm talking about the ending when Harry admits to Team Flash what he's been doing. Most characters wouldn't confess to such a deed, but Harry turning himself in to Team Flash is such a powerful moment and makes you care about his character way more! This was an important episode for the development of Harry's character.

9.8/10-The Peak!!!

This was the fillerest filler ep that ever fillered an ep.

[imakk2001 · 2/10 · 3 February 2016]

I'm amazed they didn't change the show's title. Plot A was Iris and West Family drama and plot B...had a villain...I think...and Harry harrying. The Wests took up most of the screen time which would have been fine if the show was called The West Family. So you're just left sitting there waiting for the bits of Flash plot and for the ep to end so they can get to the good stuff: E2 next week.

But I will say the ep will delight all Iris and Wally fans. Iris was everything they want to see from her right up to including her getting hurt, and Wally finally opened up.

Good: Barry at work! Easy Team Flash interactions. Harry and Barry working together (great but also kind of felt it came from out of left field). Barry showing his smarts!

Bad: Wall to wall West Family soap opera.