THE FLASH - SEASON 6.16

REVIEW:  THE FLASH - SEASON 6.16: "So Long and Goodnight"



We are BACK!!!  After what seemed like an ETERNITY (what were we---in the Speed Force?  Oh, my bad, THAT doesn't exist anymore), we have finally returned to Central City to pick up where we left off.  Which was:  Barry is losing his powers (as is Wally), because of his actions in CRISIS, and the Speed Force is no more.  Meanwhile, Joe is investigating Black Hole, even though it goes against protocol, and there IS a leak in the department, making things worse.  Nash has taken off after being exorcised of Eobard Thawne, Ralph is still on the hunt for Sue Dearbon, and we have a new Mirror Master in Eva McCulloch, who's got fakes of Iris and Camilla running about, collecting her items to complete her plan to escape the mirror universe, take revenge on her husband, and who knows what else.  And finally...the core of Team Flash is looking to Nora's notes to see if they can create their own Speed Force.  Are we caught up?!  Good...'cause here we go:

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Our  return to Central City, and the Scarlet Speedster's time AS a speedster is running out, and this episode, he did himself NO favors.  While trying to CONSERVE his speed, he once again had to use it in a dire situation....sadly, not all ended well for Team Flash, as Joe became the primary target of Carver, and Eva...but we'll get to her later.  

Barry and Cisco (along with a missing Caitlin this week---time off for Danielle Panabaker after giving birth, I believe), are still working on trying to find a way to create a new Speed Force, but the boys are exhausted, and Cisco gets a much needed break in helping the returning Ralph Dibny, who has been hot on the trail of Sue Dearbon.  Cisco actually meets her as he's hacking into a bank's security system--an apparent target of Sue's from what Ralph was able to figure out, and she's in disguise as January Galore---the arms dealer we met back in the James Bond-esque episode.  Sue manages to work her charm on Cisco, and she escapes, much to Ralph's dismay.  

Joe has been in deep with the Carver investigation, and is enjoying family time when he gets a call from Singh, saying that Sunshine won't crack and cough up Carver as her benefactor.  Joe wants a shot at her, but Singh wants him to back off.  Joe won't take it sitting down, and heads out to interrogate her.  Carver, meanwhile, is not happy that his plans have failed, so he's got someone else he hired to take care of Joe West...Ragdoll.

Back in the mirror universe, the real Iris has been working to figure out how to get OUT of there.  She's focusing on the mirror, and even though she gets headaches, she thinks she can find a way out---with Eva's help.  She also says that she can have Barry help, because not only is he a scientist...he's The Flash.  So, dopey as Iris is coughing up Barry's secret ID...which doesn't seem so secret now...she gives Eva exactly what she wants.  As Eva feigns fatigue, she contacts HER Iris in the real world, and tells her to drain the Flash of all his leftover speed.  

Ralph DOES catch up with Sue, as she tries to get all the bank account info from yet another bank.  After a little back and forth, Sue fesses up that her parents are being extorted, and she feels that Carver has something to do with it.  NOW the pieces begin to fit together.  Ralph offers to help, and Sue gives him the diamond she lifted from their caper...he'll find something interesting on it.  

Joe goes to interrogate Sunshine, but is attacked by Ragdoll, who hid in an evidence box.  Flash goes to save him, but his speed fades out, and Joe takes a gunshot that was re-directed at him.  He survives, but Ragdoll and Sunshine escape.  Singh offered him Witness Protection, but Joe refused.  Barry and him argue a tad, and Barry tells him to stay put until they can put Ragdoll away.  

Evil Iris comes by and says she expects Barry to take care of Joe, and Barry says he's doing the best he can.  Eva's plan is working perfectly right now.  Ragdoll then invades the Citizen, and nabs Cecile after both Nash and Allegra get taken out.  Joe goes to rescue her, and Barry goes after them.  He distracts and battles Ragdoll, while Joe goes and finds Cecile.  This is after he paid a visit to Carver, and Carver threatened him with going after his family.  Flash manages to subdue Ragdoll without using his powers, but when Ragdoll informs him there's a bomb, he goes after Joe and Cecile.  He gets Cecile out, but when he goes back for Joe, he feels he won't make it.  Joe, however, disconnected the bomb, and he was safe.  Joe then goes into witness protection, and asks Barry to watch over Cecile and Jenna.  Singh hops in his car, and says that Joe's out of the picture, looking in his rearview mirror to find Eva in it.  Somehow, she got to Singh as well.  Her revenge on Carver is for her alone...not Joe, and not The Flash.  

Barry goes home, and Evil Iris acts "upset" that Joe is gone, and wants Barry to find him.  Barry says he has no idea where they took him.  She says that he's The Flash, he can race to go find out.  Barry says that he's exhausted most all his speed.  He's in pain, and he's not much sure how much he has left.  Evil Iris lays into him, saying that everything is his fault, and then says they're done, and kicks him out.  Barry is distraught, and leaves...not saying a word. 

We then see Carver has a gift when he gets home...and it's a mirror, which shocks him.  Eva appears and she said she had a plan for humanity, and he ruined it.  He said he has a plan as well, and he's doing it.  She says she'll get her revenge, and he ends up smashing the mirror...and you can see her face in the broken pieces as the episode ends.

It was a good episode after the break, and it certainly sped things up, plot wise.  We finally see things tying together, with Carver having his hands deep everywhere, including Sue's family.  I think this spurns her teaming up with Team Flash to help bring Carver down, but Joe's out of the picture for now.  Cisco was funny this episode, but brief.  And no Caitlin (for reasons I stated earlier), and we got NO explanation as to WHERE Camilla is.  She was absent from this episode as well.  Great to see Ragdoll back...he's a fun villain.  And Singh....wow.  Eva got to him...not sure HOW, though.  But HE was the "mole" in the department.  Now I'm wondering about HIM.  Both her and Carver have big plans---just not totally sure as to what they are.  

Evil Iris kicking Barry out prompts a bad feeling for me:  Once the REAL Iris comes back...will Barry and her's marriage hit rocky shores?  I have some fears on that one.  And what of Camilla?  Where the hell is SHE?  And Singh?  All crazy stuff as we get closer to the finish line for this season.  

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That's it for this week, and I hope you guys subscribe, pass the good word along, and leave a comment, willya?  I'd love to know YOUR thoughts on these shows.

Until next time...Keep On Running!