The sixth season premiere of The Flash paves the way for this season’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover while key players grieve losses from last season.
The season starts with Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton) watching Nora’s (Jessica Parker Kennedy) taped message before a power surge destroys it. Cut to four months later and the two of them are still grieving their loss. They’ll see Nora again in the future but it’s not going to be the same as getting to know their grown-up daughter over the last season.
With the time jump, we learn that various Godspeeds have been running around the city but none have the ability to talk. Who are they and how did they arrive in Central City? Maybe this question gets answered later on during the season but for now, we don’t know the answer.
The big thing to happen during the premiere was the surprising formation of black holes in various parts of the city. The first happened while Iris was recovering Nora’s XS suit. She already lost her daughter so one can easily imagine the pain she feels by losing the suit. Back to the black hole, it takes some digging but we eventually learn that they are somehow tied to Chester P. Runk (Brandon McKnight). The first formed while he was working in his garage.
While Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) is at CC Jitters, a black hole suddenly forms. While Barry does come to her rescue, Killer Frost is nowhere to be found. Cue the return of Ralph Dibney (Hartley Sawyer), life coach. He’s back with The Book of Ralph, Vol. 2. Dr. Ramsey Rosso, an old friend of Caitlin’s, wants dark matter in order to stop cancer cells. She chooses not to help and based on the closing moments, this will have serious ramifications on the season. Let it be a lesson that you should never play with dark matter.
When another black hole forms over Central City, Barry comes to the rescue. There are some intense moments when we don’t know what’s going to happen to The Flash. Appropriately, Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) finds a way to lighten the mood with a Queen song. None other than “Flash,” the theme song to the Flash Gordon film in 1980.
While the season premiere explores their grief, they have to find a way to move on. One thing is known for sure: a crisis is looming and Barry Allen will die. The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) makes another appearance on the series. Unfortunately, there is nothing that the S.T.A.R. Labs team can do.
Some things to note:
Tom Cavanaugh doesn’t make any appearances as Harrison Wells in this episode.
A barbecue outing is the only time in the premiere when the group gets together outside of work. The meal made for a way to catch up with everyone following the summer.
Bloodwork is certainly going to be this season’s villain. Or at least one of them.
CAST: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Hartley Sawyer, Danielle Nicolet, with Tom Cavanagh and Jesse L. Martin
