Beth’s studio opening turned out to be bonding experience for Randall and his mother-in-law in NBC’s This Is Us season four episode four. Kevin continued to try and connect with his uncle while Kate and Toby experienced a bit of a rough patch. Season four continues with episode five, “Storybook Love,” airing on October 22, 2019.
This Is Us‘ huge ensemble cast includes Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson, Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Chrissy Metz as Kate, and Justin Hartley as Kevin. Susan Kelechi Watson is Beth Pearson, Chris Sullivan is Toby Damon, and Jon Huertas is Miguel Rivas. Griffin Dunne returns as Jack’s brother, Nicky. Jennifer Morrison guest stars as Cassidy Sharp.
“Storybook Love” Plot – Rebecca hosts a dinner party. Kevin tries to support those around him. Randall faces concerns about how his family is adjusting to their new home.
Series Description, Courtesy of NBC:
“Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This Is Us chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids Kevin (Hartley), Kate (Metz) and Randall (Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day. This grounded, life-affirming dramedy reveals how the tiniest events in our lives impact who we become, and how the connections we share with each other can transcend time, distance and even death.
From the writer and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love. comes a smart, modern show that will welcome you into a family you feel you’ve known for years.”
Logan Shroyer as Kevin, Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Niles Fitch as Randall, Rachel Wilson as Beth, and Hannah Zeile as Kate in ‘This Is Us’ season 4 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Jennifer Morrison as Cassidy, Justin Hartley as Kevin, and Griffin Dunne as Nicky in season 4 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Milo Ventimiglia as Jack and Mandy Moore as Rebecca in season 4 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)Niles Fitch as Randall and Rachel Wilson as Beth in season 4 episode 5 (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
NBC’s popular medical drama New Amsterdam continues season two with episode five, “The Karman Line.” Episode five is set to air on October 22, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
The cast is led by Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin. Freema Agyeman plays Dr. Helen Sharpe, Janet Montgomery is Dr. Lauren Bloom, Jocko Sims is Dr. Floyd Reynolds, Anupam Kher plays Dr. Vijay Kapoor, and Tyler Labine is Dr. Iggy Frome.
“The Karman Line” Plot – When Sharpe has a case that hits close to home, she and Max team up to make things right for the patient. Meanwhile, Iggy and Bloom are forced to make a tough call on a unique situation.
The Series Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
“Inspired by the oldest public hospital in America, this unique medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin, the institution’s newest medical director who sets out to tear up the bureaucracy and provide exceptional care. How can he help? Well, the doctors and staff have heard this before.
Not taking ‘no’ for an answer, Dr. Goodwin must disrupt the status quo and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital — the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers and the President of the United States under one roof — and return it to the glory that put it on the map.”
Freema Agyeman as Dr. Helen Sharpe and Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in ‘New Amsterdam’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)Ted Koch as John Adams and Jocko Sims as Dr. Floyd Reynolds in season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)NEW AMSTERDAM — Anupam Kher as Dr. Vijay Kapoor and Janet Montgomery as Dr. Lauren Bloom in season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)Tyler Labine as Dr. Iggy Frome in season 2 episode 5 (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
The Outsider will debut on January 12, 2020, as just announced by HBO. The drama, based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, also released a new trailer which introduced the key characters involved in season one.
The adaptation stars Ben Mendelsohn, Jason Bateman, Cynthia Erivo, Bill Camp, and Mare Winningham. Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Yul Vazquez, Jeremy Bobb, and Marc Menchaca also star in season one.
Richard Price (The Wire, The Night Of) wrote and executive produced the first 10-episode season. Andrew Bernstein, Marty Bowen, Jack Bender, Michael Costigan, Dennis Lehane, and Jason Bateman also executive produce. In addition, Bateman directed the first two episodes. Series star Ben Mendelsohn produces the Aggregrate Films and Temple Hill Entertainment Production.
The Plot and Characters, Courtesy of HBO:
Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Outsider is a new drama series that explores the investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy and the mysterious force surrounding the case.
The series follows police detective Ralph Anderson as he sets out to investigate the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson found in the Georgia woods. The mysterious circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.
Ben Mendelsohn is Police Detective Ralph Anderson
Cynthia Ervio is Private Investigator Holly Gibney
Bill Camp is Howie Salomon
Mare Winningham is Ralph’s wife, Jeannie Anderson
Paddy Considine is Claude Bolton, manager of a local strip club
Julianne Nicholson is Glory Maitland
Yul Vazquez is Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Yunis Sablo
Jeremy Bobb is Alec Pelley, a private investigator hired by Howie
Marc Menchaca is Detective Jack Hoskins
Jason Bateman is Terry Maitland
Ben Mendelsohn and Jason Bateman in ‘The Outsider’ (Photo Courtesy of HBO)
WWE star Ronda Rousey continues to pad out her acting resume with her guest starring role in Fox’s action drama, 9-1-1. Rousey returns as Lena Bosko in season three episode five airing Monday, October 21, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.
The cast of season three includes Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Peter Krause as Bobby Nash, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Kendall, and Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley. Aisha Hinds plays Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Kenneth Choi is Howie “Chimney” Han, Rockmond Dunbar is Michael Grant, and Ryan Guzman is Eddie Diaz.
The “Rage” Plot – The 118 races to help protesters at a slaughterhouse, and a wife who finds herself trapped in a “rage room” with her husband’s mistress. Meanwhile, Athena takes action after Michael, May, and Harry experience a traumatic traffic stop. Also, the team feels betrayed by Buck when his suit against the city goes to arbitration and Eddie turns to Lena in his struggles with his anger issues.
9-1-1 Series Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear reimagine the procedural drama with 9-1-1, exploring the high-pressure experiences of police officers, firefighters and dispatchers who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking and heart-stopping situations. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.
ABC’s The Good Doctor season three episode five will finally find Dr. Murphy acting as lead surgeon. Episode five was directed by Rebecca Moline from a script by David Hoselton and will air on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Episode five guest stars include Sheila Kelley as Debbie Wexler, Dylan Kingwell as Steve Murphy, Aidan Kahn as Curtis Murphrees, Nefetari Spencer as Teal Murphrees, and Stacie Greenwell as Beth Eckert.
Season three of the popular medical drama features Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, Antonia Thomas as Dr. Claire Browne, Nicholas Gonzalez as Dr. Neil Melendez, and Hill Harper as Dr. Marcus Andrews. Richard Schiff is Dr. Aaron Glassman, Christina Chang is Dr. Audrey Lim, Fiona Gubelmann is Dr. Morgan Reznick, Will Yun Lee is Dr. Alex Park, Paige Spara is Lea Dilallo, and Jasika Nicole plays Dr. Carly Lever.
The “First Case, Second Base” Plot – Dr. Shaun Murphy has been assigned his first surgery by Dr. Audrey Lim. However, Dr. Marcus Andrews questions whether he is really ready. Meanwhile as Dr. Claire Brown continues to avoid her complicated emotions about her mother, she and Dr. Morgan Reznick have a patient whose diagnosis has them doubting his story.
The Good Doctor Description, Courtesy of ABC:
Dr. Shaun Murphy (Highmore), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, continues to use his extraordinary medical gifts at St. Bonaventure Hospital’s surgical unit. As his friendships deepen, Shaun tackles the world of dating for the first time and continues to work harder than he ever has before, navigating his environment to prove to his colleagues that his talents as a surgeon will save lives.
Hill Harper, Freddie Highmore and Will Yun Lee in ‘The Good Doctor’ season 3 episode 5 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Stacie Greenwell, Will Yun Lee, Hill Harper and Freddie Highmore in season 3 episode 5 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Freddie Highmore in season 3 episode 5 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Hill Harper, Christina Chang, and Freddie Highmore in season 3 episode 5 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Hill Harper, Christina Chang, and Will Yun Lee in season 3 episode 5 (ABC/David Bukach)
CBS’s action drama S.W.A.T. season three episode four finds Deacon’s family at risk because of the team’s assignment. Episode four, “Immunity,” was directed by Jann Turner from a script by Michael Gemballa and will air on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT.
Episode four guest stars include Amanda Lowe-Oadell, Stefan K. Clark, Karissa Lee Staples, Michael Reilly Burke, Jay Santiago, Luis Deveze, Shelley Robertson, Cory Tucker, and Darius De La Cruz.
The cast of season three features Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay. Lina Esco stars as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, David Lim is Victor Tan, Amy Farrington is Lieutenant Piper Lynch, and Patrick St. Esprit plays Commander Robert Hicks.
The “Immunity” Plot – Deacon’s family gets caught in the crosshairs of a drug cartel when he and the SWAT team aim to bring down its leader, a former foreign rebel force leader running drugs in plain sight via a local flower market. Also, Hondo receives troubling news regarding his father, and Tan is forced to go before an internal review board due to his girlfriend’s indiscretion.
S.W.A.T. Description, Courtesy of CBS:
Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant, tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel ”Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds and acclimate to his new duties as the legal guardian of a teenager.
Hondo’s elite unit includes David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations; Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; and Jim Street, the team’s cocky newest member who is re-instated to S.W.A.T. after being fired for compromising the unit.
Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau. Overseeing Hondo’s team is Hicks’ direct report, Jessica Cortez, the ambitious captain of L.A. Metro weighing an offer to leave S.W.A.T and work for the FBI. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.
The dizzying CGI opening credits offer the first clue that Maleficent: Mistress of Evil puts the emphasis on the digitally created world over flesh and blood characters and story development. Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) is back as the titular character, with even more lethal cheekbones than she sported in the 2014 Sleeping Beauty spin-off. It’s a shame the script isn’t as sharp as those cheekbones and instead has taken an everything but the kitchen sink approach to storytelling.
There’s no explanation for the “Mistress of Evil” portion of the title, and little said about what’s really been going on since the end of the 2014 fantasy film. The story picks up with Aurora (Elle Fanning) holding court in the moors, living happily among the fairies and other fantastical creatures who dwell not far from humans.
There’s only an easily navigatable river running between the lands, yet the only person who’s apparently able to step foot on the moors without risk of being strung up by his heels from a tree is Prince Philip. Philip, now played by Harris Dickinson, is still madly in love with Aurora. They’ve been together for five years and not long into this sequel, he finally pops the question. Five years is an awfully long time for a romance in fairy tales, and the reason behind their lengthy courtship’s never explained.
Anyway, Aurora enthusiastically and whole-heartedly commits to the engagement. Maleficent, however, is full of doom and gloom when it comes to the romance between a Prince and her beloved goddaughter.
Maleficent ultimately gives in and supports Aurora’s decision to wed which leads to one of the film’s funniest scenes. Diaval (Sam Riley) attempts to school Maleficent on how to smile in a non-threatening manner and make a little small talk, skills that will be necessary as she’s been invited to dine with the Prince’s parents. Maleficent displays a variety of forced smiles that range from a deranged clown to psycho-killer levels of intensity. Still, she’s willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to make her goddaughter happy.
Maleficent’s first dinner with King John (Robert Lindsay) and Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) goes as horribly wrong as you’d expect. The true Mistress of Evil is the Queen who quickly reveals her real goal is to ignite a war between humans and the fae folk. She wants to expand her kingdom by ridding the moors of the creatures who rightfully dwell there, and this vicious Queen of Mean is willing to slaughter innocents to satisfy her craving for more land and power.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil includes several truly disturbing scenes of the fairy kind being eradicated by the Queen’s soldiers/minions. One scene in particular evokes imagery of the Holocaust’s showers, a puzzling inclusion in a family-friendly movie. That jarring scene and one featuring the desecration of the graves of dead fairies are startling for their inclusion in this PG-rated film.
On the one hand, the 2019 Maleficent sequel is a timely tale of tolerance. On the other hand, it’s a violent and barely kid-friendly story of revenge and lust for power. Those two ideals don’t co-exist well, with the tone flipping about like a fish out of water gasping for breath throughout the 2-hour running time.
Angelina Jolie’s terrific once again as the classic Disney villain who found redemption in the 2014 film only to have it snatched away prior to the events of the 2019 sequel. She’s fearsome yet well-loved by Aurora and the fairy creatures. It’s only humans who have an issue with Maleficent and her kind, not wishing an “other” to live so close to their borders.
Michelle Pfeiffer’s wickedly delicious as Queen Ingrith, the only character in the entire production who feels fully developed and fleshed out. It’s unfortunate there aren’t more interactions between Jolie as Maleficent and the Pfeiffer as the Queen. The few scenes they share hint at a much better film buried under storylines that stole screen time from the two pivotal characters.
Elle Fanning isn’t given much to do other than look sweet which she does well enough. Harris Dickinson, absolutely outstanding in both Beach Rats and FX’s Trust, is wasted as Prince Philip. The chemistry between Fanning and Dickinson is non-existent, and the Prince and Aurora are shockingly boring characters in this sequel.
There’s no doubt Disney will dip back into the Maleficent well again. When they do, fans of the original film can hope the screenwriters return to more intimate storytelling and include more meaningful interactions between Maleficent and Aurora. The mother/daughter bonding moments are sorely missing in this mediocre sequel.
GRADE: C
Release Date: Oct 18, 2019
MPAA Rating: PG for intense sequences of fantasy action/violence and brief scary images
Sony Pictures just unveiled the first teaser trailer for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway opening in theaters in 2020. The studio also released a poster for the sequel to the 2018 animated/live-action hybrid comedy.
Rose Byrne reprises her role as Bea and Domhnall Gleeson is back as Thomas. James Corden once again lends his voice to the titular character. David Oyelowo joins the cast, and Margot Robbie again voices Flopsy with Elizabeth Debicki returning to voice Mopsy.
Will Gluck returned to direct the sequel and co-wrote the screenplay with Patrick Burleigh, based on characters created by Beatrix Potter. In addition, Gluck served as a producer along with Zareh Nalbandian. Doug Belgrad, Jodi Hildebrand, Catherine Bishop, Emma Topping, Thomas Merrington, and Jonathan Hludzinski executive produced.
Columbia Pictures is targeting an April 3, 2020 theatrical release.
The Plot:
In Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, the lovable rogue is back. Bea, Thomas, and the rabbits have created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts, Peter can’t seem to shake his mischievous reputation. Adventuring out of the garden, Peter finds himself in a world where his mischief is appreciated, but when his family risks everything to come looking for him, Peter must figure out what kind of bunny he wants to be.
CBS’s just released the first batch of photos along with a plot description for SEAL Team season three episode four. Episode Four, “The Strength of the Wolf,” was directed by Allison Liddi-Brown from a script by John Glenn, Kenny Ryan, and Jacob Roman and will air on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT.
The episode four guest cast includes Scott Foxx, Emily Swallow, Jamie McShane, Bradley James, Aaron Dominguez, and Coby Bell. John R. Colley, Xavier J. Watson, Daniel Carlin, Michael Bow, and Jennifer Lee Laks also guest star in “The Strength of the Wolf.”
David Boreanaz leads the cast as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot plays Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. is Ray Perry, AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn, Toni Trucks is Lisa Davis, Jessica Paré is Mandy Ellis, and Judd Lormand plays Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn.
“The Strength of the Wolf” Plot – Tensions boil over among Bravo members when they disagree while training for a mission, and Jason must select a new candidate to join the team.
Series Details, Courtesy of CBS:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them.
Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission.
Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
“I saw billions of possible futures, billions of deaths. I felt it all,” says Barry (Grant Gustin) to Jay Garrick (John Wesley Shipp) and his wife, Joan (Michelle Harrison), who are trying to help Barry get ready for the coming crisis in season six episode of The CW’s The Flash.
As the episode begins Barry’s sitting in the time vault talking to Iris (Candice Patton) about how the newspaper article saying The Flash disappears in a crisis has gone from being a guide showing he and Team Flash are heading in the right direction to being a sword hanging over his head. He confesses he always believed that even if he disappeared, he was still out there somewhere trying to get back home to Iris. Iris asks him not to listen to the Monitor, reminding him the article has changed before which means they can change the future.
Barry decides the only solution is to go see the crisis for himself.
Meanwhile, trying to help Frost (Danielle Panabaker) live life Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Ralph (Hartley Sawyer) take her to see Cisco’s girlfriends’ art show. Frost, not having a filter, makes fun of Kamilla’s work – mostly because she doesn’t understand it. Understandably, the insult doesn’t sit well with Kamilla.
Over at the D.A’s office, Cecille (Danielle Nicolet) gets handed a case against a young meta convict. The young woman’s been in trouble most of her young life for petty theft, but it seems she’s upgraded to murder. As she’s addressing the judge about the case, Cecille gets a feeling from her meta powers that the convict, Allegra Garcia, is innocent. She tells the judge she needs time to go over new evidence and asks that the girl be allowed bail. The judge grudgingly agrees.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Barry informs Iris he’s going to time travel to the day after he disappears to see the crisis for himself. He attempts the leap but while speedrunning in the Speed Force, he runs into a barrier he can’t get through. Barry decides to travel to Earth-3 and see if Jay Garrick can help him.
Barry brings Jay up to speed and Jay tells him he’s been picking up anti-matter showing up all over on different Earths. Jay informs Barry the barrier he hit was made of anti-matter and he can’t speed through it. However, he does have an idea. He and Joan have made a neural hype collider that can transport a speedster’s mind into the future.
Barry agrees to try it and then is shocked when he meets Joan. She’s the doppelganger of his mom, Nora.
Back on Earth-1, Cecille and Iris team up and discover some new evidence that calls into question if Allegra committed the murder. Ralph shows up with more evidence pointing to her innocence. He discovered the victim was burned and Allegra’s meta powers are controlling radio waves.
Iris and Ralph head over to talk to the witness who identified Allegra and find Allegra standing over his dead body. Allegra uses her powers to burn Ralph’s face and tries to get away. Fortunately, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) shows up and uses a metahuman dampener to catch her.
Over on Earth-3, Jay and Joan conduct the experiment and send Barry’s mind into the future. He reacts violently as his mind sees billions of possible futures and deaths. In perhaps one of the most disturbing scenes of the show, Barry witnesses everyone including those he loves – Caitlin, Ralph, Joe, Cisco, and Iris – trying to escape and being destroyed in a blood-red anti-matter wave. He also sees himself running and trying to stop the anti-matter wave. He’s able to save everyone except himself. He comes apart and disintegrates.
Jay and Joan bring Barry out of it and he’s both emotionally and physically drained. It seems the device fried his neural pathways, but Jay and Joan expect he’ll be fine in a day or two.
Somewhere in Central City, Dr. Ramsey Rosso (Sendhil Ramamurthy) tries to do a deal with a criminal. The criminal ups the price and almost kills Rosso, but Rosso is saved when his arm turns into a dark, gooey, tentacle-like thing he uses to stab the thug in the shoulder.
Back on Earth-3, Barry describes what he saw to Jay and Joan. He’s more distressed than ever, believing he must die to save the multiverse.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Ralph’s recovering from his extremely bad sunburn which if he wasn’t a meta would have killed him. Frost shows no signs of empathy, telling him to just put aloe on it as she walks off. Both Cisco and Ralph are getting fed up with Frost, and Ralph even asks her to bring Caitlin back for a minute but she quickly says no.
At CCPD, Joe interrogates Allegra who claims she’s innocent. She doesn’t expect Joe to believe her. Cecille arrives and demands Allegra tell them who is actually committing the murders. Allegra refuses. Joe and Cecille step outside the room and Joe says the evidence points to her guilt. Cecile says her meta powers have never been wrong and she knows Allegra’s innocent.
Jay and Joan bring Barry back home to Iris, and a still weak Barry tells Iris what he saw. She’s sure they can find a way to stop it now, but Barry believes the Monitor was telling the truth. Iris won’t be dissuaded, believing they can stop this by getting everyone (including Kara and Oliver) to work on the problem. They can even create an anti-matter dampener to stop it.
Barry reveals he saw her, Caitlin…everyone…die and the only timeline where they survive is the one where he dies. Barry suggests that maybe he was given his powers so he can save everyone from this. Iris becomes upset and accuses him of giving up and that her Barry would find another way to fight.
Joe visits Barry a little later looking for Iris to help on the Allegra case and finds him resting on the couch. He asks Barry what’s wrong, reminding his son-in-law he’s always around for him to talk to. Barry replies, “Something’s coming, Joe. I have to make a sacrifice but at the same time I can’t help but feel like it means I’m giving up.”
Joe tells Barry a story of how one day when he was a rookie cop walking the beat a bullet went right by his head. He thought that his days of being a cop were over and that he couldn’t handle it. The next morning even though he was scared to go back out on the streets he did because of his badge. “Our badges, your emblem, they are symbols of the strength we are charged with to get back out there,” says Joe. He continues by telling Barry they don’t make the choice to die but when they hear the call of duty, they’re willing to make that sacrifice. “That’s not giving up Bar, that’s what you call resilience,” says Joe.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco finds Frost drawing rather badly. He teases her a little and she gets upset saying she stinks at it and he quickly tells her to stop. He realizes she’s been trying to express herself and if she wants to draw or dance to do it but to realize others are trying to do it too. Frost says she feels stabbing pains in her stomach and he tells her that’s guilt she’s feeling for her behavior at the art show.
Cecille convinces Allegra to open up and she reveals the night of the particle accelerator explosion she thought her cousin was killed. Now she believes she’s alive and possesses the same powers she has. She’s likely the one committing the murders. The CCPD goes dark and her cousin, Ultraviolet, shows up looking to kill her.
Iris and Ralph call Barry to tell him about Ultraviolet and the CCPD blackout, and Barry races over. He arrives to find Ultraviolet about to kill Allegra. Fortunately, he’s able to speed Allegra and Cecille to Joe in another room and tells them to stay safe. The Flash speeds out but gets hit by a blast of Ultraviolet power. He focuses on Joe’s earlier pep talk and uses his speed and his power with the Speed Force to attack a second time, speeding toward her and knocking her out with a power punch.
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Ralph, Cisco, and Frost are talking about Allegra being cleared. Barry notices new art hung up in the med bay and Frost says she bought them using Caitlin’s credit cards. Cisco puts the drawing Frost did up with them saying it connects with them and makes the whole thing work. Frost smiles. Barry also smiles as he listens and watches his friends chat. The gentle smile disappears as he becomes solemn again, thinking about the crisis.
Back home, Iris tells Barry she’s sure no matter what the crisis brings he will never give up. He explains he isn’t choosing to die but if he has to sacrifice himself to save everyone he will. They have to prepare the team for the crisis and maybe even the world without The Flash.
The episode ends with Dr. Rosso in his lab performing a biopsy of the thug he killed. Suddenly, the thug rises up and attacks him.
Review of The Flash Season 6 Episode 2:
Emotional, funny, and shocking, season six episode two titled “A Flash of the Lightning” shows the horrible and disturbing fate facing the universe and the ultimate sacrifice Barry might have to make to save everyone he loves and the multiverse. The stand-out performance in this episode is delivered by Grant Gustin who displays wonderfully the horror, shock, and emotional trauma Barry goes through learning the truth of what’s coming. The scenes with John Wesley Shipp and Candice Patton where he tells them about what he saw are raw and painfully moving.
With Barry and Iris about to bring Team Flash up to speed on what they know about the crisis, it’ll be interesting to see how each member reacts to the terrible news and the possibility of losing Barry forever.
