In 2049, Nora asks Thawne for advice. In the present, the team discover the Time sphere that Grace travelled in and figure out who she is. Just in time to have to stop her killing the meta she blames for her parents’ deaths…

There’s some really fun stuff here, not the least of which is the return of an idea none of these shows have explored in the detail it deserves: a metahuman who has no interest in fighting crime, doing crime or being given a cool codename. It’s a really fun concept and one that grounds the idea of meta-humanity with the same realism as Supergirl explores the presence of multiple alien races on Earth. Plus, here, it leads to a nicely handled action sequence or two, and Barry and Nora having to deal with civilians in the line of fire which is something that, again, doesn’t happen often.

Team Flash have to work for the win this week and it helps. Especially as the main plot takes that hard right turn the show is so fond of. Cicada kills Cicada, adult Grace offing her Uncle because he dared to reach for the light and it’s a moment that has real power and impact. Cicada could have been redeemed. Grace, it seems, is much less lucky. It’s a nicely knotted loop of causality and sends one Cicada off with a bang that also includes a really well handled slow mo/superspeed chase sequence as Barry frantically tries to outrun Cicada’s knife while also changing into his suit.

But this is an episode where the B plot punches harder. Nora struggles to come clean about who she’s been working with and is unmasked by Sherloque. Barry’s response is shocking and, at first, jarring. He doesn’t listen to her, doesn’t care, just dumps her in a cell and leaves his sobbing daughter apologizing as he storms off. This is, at first glance, the Barry who caused Flashpoint, the damaged and traumatized young man who inadvertently flung that trauma out into the universe.

But that’s not true. Barry has, from the moment Nora showed up, boosted and supported his daughter endlessly. He’s trusted her, believed in her and she’s rewarded that trust by working for the man who killed Barry’s mother and changed his life forever. It makes perfect sense for him to be this furious, just like it makes perfect sense for Nora to be this heartbroken. And best of all for us, and worst of all for Team Flash, it breaks them apart at the exact time they need to stand together.

Verdict: This is what the show does best: family drama mixed with science fiction, superheroics mixed with supervillainy. Five seasons in, The Flash is still getting faster. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart