What I’m Watching: The Flash

The Flash: Season 5, Episode 2 “Blocked” (B)

There’s a certain repetitiveness to this show when it comes to its villains, who have the ability to completely overpower Barry and all of his friends. We don’t know much about Cicada thus far other than that he seems to take far less delight in going up against the Flash than past nemeses like the Reverse-Flash, Zoom, Savitar, and DeVoe. I didn’t even recognize Chris Klein, who I loved in his dim-witted role on “Wilfred,” as the actor playing Cicada in his human form, not too keen on conversation and seemingly haunted by his murderous actions. The insect-like sound he makes is certainly threatening, and Iris recognizing it at the end of the episode and telling Barry to get out of there indicated just how intense what they’re up against is. It’s helpful that Ralph and Caitlin got Cisco out of his slump so that he can focus again, and we’re getting closer to the mystery of who Caitlin’s father is and where he’s been all these years. Cecile is coming to terms with the loss of her powers and her role as an ordinary mother, while Iris continues to notice an obvious distance between Nora and her. Nora is helping Barry to see what being a parent is like before he’s actually had a kid, and her overeagerness and her use of the term “schway” is definitely getting to be a bit much. With both Jesse and Wally out of the picture, it’s at least good to have another speedster around to help with villains like Block. An important lesson: always put the cuffs on before the celebratory high-five.