Team Flash have a plan, which they may have got from the Battle of Winterfell. Unfortunately, Cicada has very much seen that episode. Meanwhile, in the future, Thawne’s time runs out…

This is officially setting the table for the end of the season and as a result, it drops a step. Just one, it’s still big fun but there’s a little bit of a sense of architecture of plot triumphing over common sense here. Because, seriously, the big plan is literally ‘hide everyone in the crypt’. Or in this case ‘Why risk every Meta be killed in groups when you can put them all in one group in a central location?’ And the answer is of course ‘drama’.

Get past that though and there’s a lot to enjoy here, especially the best Joe scene in ages and some really good Nora/Thawne stuff. Plus for a show which is as gadget heavy as The Flash you have to respect their fondness for returning to existing ones instead of building something new. The Thawne speed trap makes a welcome return here and it actually sort of works this time too!

That being said, the closing action scene is where the payoff really hits. It’s there that we see Ralph prove, again, he’s the best detective in the room just a second or two too late. Thawne isn’t helping Nora because he wants to. He’s helping her because if she destroys Cicada’s dagger in the past it can’t exist in the future to suppress his powers meaning he can escape. It’s a brilliant piece of 4-dimensional thinking, instantly re-establishes Thawne as the most dangerous person they’ve tangled with and sets up a hell of a finale. Even if the chairs do squeak a little audibly.

Verdict: Nonetheless, massive fun all the way down. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart