tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post6268184610009090204..comments2024-03-28T23:03:57.917-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: The Flash: Family of RoguesBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-87371713574529952562016-11-07T04:40:42.528-05:002016-11-07T04:40:42.528-05:00Brilliant review. Yeah season 2 has me hooked. I w...Brilliant review. Yeah season 2 has me hooked. I was worried they had too many plots dangling but they seem to be regaining focus. Mikey6oyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18218497920668889964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-9465850149237698322015-10-23T11:44:49.064-04:002015-10-23T11:44:49.064-04:00Jess, feel free to discuss those issues here. I ha...Jess, feel free to discuss those issues here. I had a mini-rant about the same thing in Gotham in my other week's review, and I certainly think you have a great point here. That's part of why I find the Caitlin thing so annoying - she's professional and powerful and she just seemed so reduced in this episode. Iris/Barry and their relationship I'm willing to accept some give and take - she was the one shown replacing Wells in giving Barry support and guidance, after all - but I find myself agreeing at least partially with you about Iris/Joe. I'm hoping the concept of *when* it's okay to be a savior, and when it's self-serving, becomes part of the plot going forward.<br /><br />I think perhaps the biggest "proof" of what you're saying, Jess, is that we don't even see Golden Glider using a weapon anymore - did she use one in the entire episode? And Patty was out of uniform and very feminized - for a minute I thought she was Jessica Danforth visiting from Arrow. Nor do I think this episode passed the Bechdal test - well, there was that one moment when Linda Park-Wu complimented Iris on her success... <br />JRShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02485752215710916988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-30075907229846850112015-10-22T19:42:57.077-04:002015-10-22T19:42:57.077-04:00I get where you guys are coming from, and I’m not ...I get where you guys are coming from, and I’m not particularly thrilled with any of the prospects for the Iris mama drama either. I definitely don’t want to watch Iris have a tantrum and a long-term massive falling out with Joe, but at the same time this isn’t just <i>any</i> secret that was kept from her. It was a really significant one, and part of a pattern of behavior with Joe lying to her supposedly to protect her (consistency, yea?). I’m just hoping they’ll allow her room to really express and respond to the pain and confusion she’d likely be feeling. Instead of just giving us the whole thing from Joe’s perspective and making it all about his pain, fears, and relief (like they did in this episode).<br /><br />Plus, I think it really grated my cheese this week because, for me, the way they handled her response fed into the larger pattern of the female characters not being particularly well served in this ‘verse. All the ladies largely seem to be there to worry about the men or be “protected,” “saved,” or “coveted.” Or be used as pawns to control their men or as victims to cause their men pain (likely due in part to typical superhero comics tropes). <br /><br />I know bringing up the gender issues in these things can lead us into dangerous discussion waters, but consider this week: Iris got all kinds of kudos for breaking a big story, but what we actually <i>see</i> is her getting herself into trouble and needing to be saved by Barry. We also see Lisa Snart being victimized, used as a pawn, and needing to be saved by Cisco. Plus, we learn about past abuse that another man (her brother) saved her from. Patty was basically just there as a new potential love interest for Barry. And then there’s Caitlin --- often presented as a smart, capable woman --- whose storyline this week pretty much consisted of her fretting over Dr. Stein and fawning over a cute boy with similar interests, even though her <i>husband</i> just died 6 months ago. Oh well. Time to move on, I guess.<br /><br />Okay, then! Rant over. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoy many aspects of this show --- I love Cisco more every week and Wentworth Miller is always good value. I'm not calling it quits or anything, but that other stuff really bugged this week and I needed to vent for a moment. If only Netflix had actually made S2 of <i>The 100</i> available today as previously promised, perhaps I’d have had a dose of strong ladies with agency to quell my ire. :)Jess Lyndehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165015932507376656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-1289207685743419102015-10-22T17:06:47.992-04:002015-10-22T17:06:47.992-04:00Barry got to showcase some very impressive Flash t...Barry got to showcase some very impressive Flash tricks in this episode. Sure he's sorta done some of this before but it still made me smile like a moron nonetheless. I love that even though Barry has some of that young naivete and hotheadedness, he thinks fast on his feet a lot (hey-o!). His slight turn as the techie braggart was very amusing to me. And Barry and Cold's face-off in the office building tickled my funnybone. The way Wentworth Miller plays Cold is great.<br /><br />I'm with Patrick with the mom storyline. Hopefully they make it work. Though consider this option. Maybe they made Iris react this way so she wouldn't turn out to be another Laurel. People were already getting tired of her antics all throughout the first season, and she's made great strides in winning over the audience (unlike Laurel, who's taken a big step back in my opinion). I myself don't think i could take yet another story where the headstrong character throws a tantrum over secrets kept from them.Freemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-27801358161302815972015-10-22T15:14:14.154-04:002015-10-22T15:14:14.154-04:00Jess, I agree that her acceptance of the fact that...Jess, I agree that her acceptance of the fact that her mother is alive, and may not have been as good a person as she was led to believe. Though to be honest I prefer this to the other unrealistic option, her turning on her father for keeping such a big secret all these years without stopping to consider his perspective. Maybe I'm just not very bothered by her calm reaction because I'm not very excited about this particular storyline to begin with. One of four things will turn out to be true with Iris' mom. 1) She really has turned around and will be completely humble & contrite and will give Iris as much space as she wants. In other words, a snooze-fest. 2) She's turned around, but thinks she's somehow entitled to waltz back into her daughter's life, because her biological connection trumps her past bad behavior. Seen it. MANY times. 3) She hasn't really turned things around, and she's going to slip back into her bad habits. Seen it. Don't want the distraction. 4) She's got some kind of sinister ulterior motive for returning, possibly at the behest of some villain working in the shadows to try and get close to Iris and thus get close to The Flash. Potentially the most interesting option of the bunch, but since it's the only one I'd be REMOTELY interested in seeing, I'm going to be on the lookout for the big twist and as such won't be surprised when it happens.<br /><br />On the other hand, the Snart family dynamics were much more interesting in this episode. I'll be curious to see what they do with Lisa when Leonard & Mick move over to the new spin-off(if you follow this show and that's still a spoiler for you, you REALLY haven't been paying attention). She's established enough of a rapport with Team Flash(are they a large enough group to call them the Flash Mob?) that she could conceivably appear in an episode without her brother. Plus, Peyton List seems to have a good relationship with The CW. I'll certainly never say no to more of her on my screen, but may just be my inner caveman talking.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943327351499919454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-79012470758208155082015-10-22T11:41:02.953-04:002015-10-22T11:41:02.953-04:00I was very bothered by the way the situation with ...I was very bothered by the way the situation with Iris and Joe played out. I get why Joe made that choice long ago, even if I’m still debating whether I think it was the right one. But I think Iris should still be struggling with it, too. It just doesn’t ring true to me that she would learn her mom was still alive and that her dad had lied to her her entire life about things and just immediately accept it and forgive him. I mean, he didn't just lie about her mom being dead, he apparently made up extensive stories about what a great mom she was! I can absolutely see Iris coming around and forgiving Joe eventually, but this is a terrible shock and a HUGE betrayal of trust. Far worse than everyone keeping the Barry/Flash secret last year. <br /><br />I feel like a much more realistic (and yet still mature) reaction would have been for Iris to take the information in and then leave, calmly telling her dad she needed time to process everything. Then go seek outside counseling. A reveal of this magnitude should have ongoing consequences, and I’m really hoping that Joe and Barry patting each on the back for the “job well done” isn’t the end point for that story thread.Jess Lyndehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14165015932507376656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-42823193918272544422015-10-22T09:57:30.093-04:002015-10-22T09:57:30.093-04:00I think i might be the only one who remembers smal...I think i might be the only one who remembers smallville fondly... But it was nice to see Michael Ironside and Peyton List be father/daughter again even though they didn't share any screen time.. Flash and arrow really going well this season.. Natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05498098476657306823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-77853681446732925162015-10-21T22:02:11.150-04:002015-10-21T22:02:11.150-04:00Yes, Wentworth Miller is a male femme fatale. Did ...<i>Yes, Wentworth Miller is a male femme fatale. Did you see him making eyes at Barry from the other side of the glass at the end? It was awesome.</i><br /><br />You are very, very correct.Josie Kafkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892717530356699008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-15251817306486062522015-10-21T22:00:04.362-04:002015-10-21T22:00:04.362-04:00The slightly desperate Caitlin is getting to the a...<i>The slightly desperate Caitlin is getting to the annoying point, but I myself make no promises as to what would happen if a superhero/physicist showed up in my laboratory in a tank top. </i> lol. :)<br /><br />I love Wentworth, too, and he got some good stuff to do here. I watched several more seasons of <i>Prison Break</i> than I would have if someone else had starred in it. Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.com