The Flash Review – “The Nuclear Man” S1E13

This week’s Flash was clearly a Valentine’s Day episode. I’m glad the show has dodged the mistake of having main characters get together too soon. Unfortunately, we have to sit through Barry’s dating life – probably only this one, though – before he starts to date Iris. That day, I dread.

Pros:

 

Super Science Cisco: I love super-technology and all of the sci-fi nerd in me really enjoyed it when Cisco reconstructed the crime scene at the time of the crime using freaking holograms. Someone has to be as smart as Dr. Wells when everything goes down.

Fireman Ronnie Raymond: I really like what they did with Firestorm, especially graphically. His firey goodness was excited and visually stimulating, which is nice after the last two episodes. Also the Nuclear Man actually shows us why this episode was titled thusly.

Joe Knows: Joes has already shown that he knows how to read people better than anyone else in the show. He knows something is up with Dr. Wells and not everything is as straight forward as it seems. He’s the only one that questions his motivations.

Purposely accentuated man boobs: I guessed being ripped runs in the family.

Barry Blood: Barry’s adult blood was found at the crime scene of his mother’s murder. Ok I didn’t see that coming, I’ll keep this going.

That last scene: DID YOU SEE IT!?

Cons:

Flash in the pan: Barry Allen dates Wally West’s future wife. Unless they plan on killing Barry and bringing in Wally, then I don’t really care and neither should you.

Firestorm’s split personality: So in the comics Firestorm is a combination of Martin Stein and Ronnie Raymond, cool whatever I still think that’s dumb. But why have Stein be the mind behind the body? If they make Ronnie in control like in the books they could drag Robbie Amell’s bad acting out for longer.

Iris & Linda: Iris likes Barry but won’t pull the trigger. Linda goes one two dates with Barry. Poorly written conflict happens.

Barry & Iris: The “will they, won’t they” trope has really taken full grasp on this relationship. I can hope it will just get nipped in the bud, but I don’t think we’ll be that lucky.

Purposely accentuated man boobs: We get it. It runs in the family.

Dr. Wells Super Engineerman: Why doesn’t anyone question how Wells designed or had the time to create a quantum whatever. That would seem dubious to me.

Easter Eggs:

Time travel confirmed: It’s been skated around all season long, but with the confirmation that an adult Barry at the crime scene, it opens up a whole bunch of doors from Flashpoint.

Mal Duncan: When Barry geeks out to Linda about their planned date, he tells her last that he wants to go see Mal Duncan perform after they play mini-golf. Mal Duncan is Vox in the Teen Titans comic books, but has also gone by Guardian in Young Justice. He is an accomplished jazz musician, as well – referenced in Tale of the Teen Titans #50 (1985).

52nd & Waid: The DC-CW shows loves using their street names for Easter Eggs. This week, they go with the lucky number 52 (New52, 52 event, etc) and Waid, a call-back to long-time The Flash writer, Mark Waid.

Predictions:

Barry Blood 2: Electric Boogaloo: So we found Barry’s blood at the scene of his mother’s death. Once Wells gets his time travel paradox on Barry is going to travel with him and during the melee inadvertently cause his mother’s death. Then….sadness.

Impending Litigation: Someone is getting sued for that “flame on” remark.

Killer, maaaan: They’ve been teasing it all season; we know who Caitlin Snow becomes in the comic books, right? Killer Frost may be closer than we think. Barry may be able to outrun or metabolize the effects of a nuclear explosion, but Caitlin is going to be pretty screwed. Throw in the way people’s powers in this show are blended from the environment around them, and we may have a much colder version of Caitlin Snow – very soon. Quantum Splicer, my ass, Wells!

 

Hush Comics gives “The Nuclear Man” a C for pointless love story taking away from a much more important storyline happening all around it. Also for Robbie Amell, meh.

All images belong to The CW and DC Entertainment. They are credited to Cate Cameron.

Diggin’ Through the Crates: Talib Kweli “Distractions”

Song: “Distractions”

Artist: Talib Kweli

Album: Prisoners of Conscious (2013) 

Lyric: “How you keeping up with my rapping?/ You barely keeping up with Kardashians/You caught up in distraction/It’s the living proof-you try to make the truth elastic as Mr. Fantastic.”

Character Reference/Meaning:

What? What was that DTCers? You ready for another dope ass lyric that drops truth bombs and creates nerdy fallout? We got that! Our main man on the mic this week, Talib Kweli, is bringing it to your front door. If you are looking for some socially conscious rap that not only brings a message but an incredible rhyme scheme with it, then you not need look any further. In this 2013 hit, Talib Kwali dropped this song as a commentary on the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. What he is saying in this song is, “Who the hell is paying attention?” There are social issues happening all around us and none of them are going to change by sitting around waiting for the next big gossip. Who is sleeping with who? Who badmouthed which other idiot today? That is why when people stand up and take charge of their own lives, it is viewed as something special. Talib Kweli once said, “Anytime people are willing to take their future into their own hands and attempt something, I think it’s brave.” DARN TOOTIN’ IT’S BRAVE!! But the problem is, so many of us are still distracted, and Kweli notices it all. We may be willing to protest on our street corner for something local, but it seems that no one takes action for causes like the events in Darfur, or are even aware of the Arab Spring movement (Google it).

In this song alone, he tackles such subjects and even points out the flawed history and thinking of this country. From the very beginning with the treatment of Native American’s, we still have missiles (like kill people missiles. Like BOOM missiles) that are named “Tomahawks.” And then we dress up our mascots and name our sports teams after their culture for entertainment. Who’s paying attention and who’s distracted? He even touches on what I perceive to be politics in our chosen lyric of today. Now before I go on and say some possibly hurtful stuff about the Kardashians, congratulations to Kim and Kanye on their wedding. I didn’t get my invite but I’ll let that slide for now. One of the biggest phenomena of the past couple years has been societies infatuation with the Kardashian family. Now I can’t say much about it because I have never seen an episode, but it has consumed many lives and many attention spans. What some may classify as empty media or nonsense television has gained a bigger interest and a larger following than political failings, religious wars, and natural disaster relief efforts. And all the while politicians are out there spitting game at us and very few people check the facts. That is why so many of them can say elastic truths and make them stretch to fit who ever they have their eyes on next.

I know, I sound like I’m preaching and saying, “Yeah I’m good, I know whats up. While everybody else wondering what Ryan Gosling is thinking about, I’m about to go save some third world children.” That’s not the case; I am part of the masses too, but I want to be brave, I want to pay attention, I don’t want to be distracted by shiny objects and blush worthy gossip. Talib Kweli just wants us all to open our minds and see past the bullshit. Even at times when we think we are paying attention, it was just a fake out and we once again are distracted by something that doesn’t matter. Kweli says this perfectly when talking about President Obama addressing his whole “flag pin” issue back in 2008 (Google it). But the president responded by saying, “I have never said that I don’t wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins…This is the kind of manufactured issues that our politics has become obsessed with and, once again, distracts us from what should be my job when I’m commander-in-chief…” OH SNAP!! That’s exactly the point. We can so easily get caught up in things that don’t matter. Things that one way or another truly have no effect over our lives or anybodies lives. And the things we should be paying attention to slip right by us because we are distracted.

Alright, that was all pretty heavy. Let’s calm down and pay attention to some nerdy stuff briefly before I end this. Nerdy stuff like the Fantastic Four! In case you all haven’t heard, the Fantastic Four franchise will be getting a reboot that has been defined as “grounded, real, gritty.” According to Kinberg, this film has the same feelings as Batman, Iron Man, X-Men, and more. It will not be goofy like the first films, rather this will be a true drama sprinkled with bit of humor that come from character. Also we will officially be having an African-American Human Torch! I can hear all the critics heads exploding now. However I am very excited by this news especially because Michael B. Jordan will FLAME ON!!! “STRING, WHERE’S WALLACE? WHERE’S WALLACE STRING?” (Google it). Well Wallace is in the Marvel Universe doing badass things with badass powers. And for all you haters, know that Stan Lee is on board with the idea, Kinberg also said, “We knew casting an African-American Human Torch would be news, but I can tell you it’s something that Stan Lee loves, and I can tell you that having been on set and seeing Michael bring him to life, he’s really spectacular.” I don’t know how the story will change due to this, but I love the idea and I cannot wait. If you want more information on Michael B. Jordan being the Human Torch, Google it. If you want more information on Talib Kweli visit his website at http://www.talibkweli.com. So in closing, pay attentions, don’t get distracted so often, and FLAME ON!!!