The pieces have all been set in motion, but ‘The Trap’ doesn’t waste its time in getting us there. As much fun as ever, even when it is still teasing what’s to come.
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Okay, so now that everyone is totally on board with Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) being the Reverse-Flash, it’s time for our heroes to bring him down. Right? No difficulties or double-crosses here, just an elegant trap to get Wells to confess to killing Nora Allen, and then we can all go home. Easy, right?
Of course, these things rarely are.
After discovering Wells’ secret room in the Labs and his AI helper Gideon (Morena Baccarin), Barry (Grant Gustin), Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker), Cisco (Carlos Valdes), and Joe (Jesse L. Martin) hatch a plan to trap the Reverse-Flash and get a confession. Meanwhile Eddie (Rick Cosnett) is preparing to propose to Iris (Candice Patton) despite Joe’s refusal to give his blessing.
Opening strong and finishing strong, ‘The Trap’ is undoubtedly a key episode. Moving many pieces around, and then totally upsetting the board as it stands, there is still some sloppiness in the episode’s execution. The use of so far unmentioned and unexplored dream seeing technology is fun yet slightly forced. The team needed to understand what made Wells tell Cisco everything and the only way to do that was to get into his dreams. So of course they build a pair of magic sunglasses and get Wells’ help in doing so. It is a small part of the episode, present just to move things forward, yet it is a fun scene while it all lasts.
It is great to see Cavanagh let loose once more with the villainy. Whether he is being impersonated by Everyman, or when he calls the team after their failed plan, it is both a utter joy, and quite scary all the same to see him became cackling Bond villain. He is very good at it. And just when you thought he was all bark and bite, the episode surprises again. Throughout its run there have been flashbacks to Barry’s time in a coma. We get to see Joe’s mistrust of Wells begin and Iris’ sadness and loneliness at her best friend being out of action. These scenes are heightened, like the rest of the show, and they work well within that tone. The ending tag however offers an incredibly satisfying tease.
We see Wells talking to his once and future nemesis while the latter sleeps on. It completes our understanding of their dynamic, at least from the perspective of Eobard Thawne. He cannot believe the man he hates is so young and looks so weak. Why does he hate him? It is still unknown. Cavanagh’s excellent performance however, and his delivery of ‘nothing is forgiven’ hints at an intensely personal conflict. With just three episodes to go, there may still be some surprises left.
The Flash is broadcast on Sky One, 8pm Tuesdays.
