What I’m Watching: The Flash

The Flash: Season 1, Episode 5 “Plastique” (B+)

This was an important first for Barry and for this show, as reiterated a number of times during the episode: a metahuman who wasn’t hellbent on using her powers for evil. Instead, Bette Sans Souci was awfully reminiscent of a famous Marvel superhero, Rogue, whose destructive and uncontrollable abilities are triggered with just a touch. It’s crucial for Barry to remember that there is good in the world, though every loss of life, particularly hers after he made sure she wouldn’t sacrifice herself, is devastating to him and chips away at his optimistic outlook. Right before she died, Bette didn’t offer enough of a clue to Barry that it was the seemingly harmless Dr. Wells who put her up to taking out her former commanding officer, and that his intentions are far more devious and malicious than anyone suspects. I was glad to see Clancy Brown, who I remember from “The Shawshank Redemption” and his formidable stint on “Carnivale,” as General Wade Elling, who has a checkered past with Dr. Wells and seems to be well beyond ethics in the pursuit of what he sees as protecting his country. I’m not too familiar with DC mythology, but one quick trip to Google confirmed that Grodd the gorilla is likely to make a return appearance as something other than a metahuman that will prove to be a nemesis for the Flash. This show has managed to be campy and dramatically sound at the same time, which is not an easy feat to accomplish.