Barry tries to get Nora to settle into 21st Century life. Ralph and Caitlin try to get Cisco over his breakup. Cecile loses her powers.

Team Flash have found their rhythm early this year. The show’s mix of meta of the week, family drama, comedy and plot doesn’t quite work like any of its compatriots. It’s not as topical as Black Lightning or Supergirl, nowhere near as grim as Arrow and not as weird as Legends. What it is, as this episode shows, is slick.

In particular, Block, whose smartly realized power of dense air block generation, gives the show a chance to get a couple of good action beats in and start Nora on her training montage in earnest. It also combines the family drama and superheroism in a way that always works here. There’s clearly a reckoning coming, and Nora remains dangerously close to annoying at times, but never tips over into it.

Instead, this episode in particular she’s contextualized in a way I never saw coming. The speech Joe gives Barry about being a dad, which Cecile also hears, is a season highlight so far and pretty much Peak Flash. It’s sweet and earnest and it does two things at once, as well as giving Joe and Cecile some things to actually do. Plus it pays off in the main plot which is always nice to see.

Elsewhere the Cisco Gets His Vibe Back plot also has some surprises. Initially just comedy it does a hard left turn into Caitlin’s character development and is all the stronger for it as, again, the cast members who are sometimes underutilized get lots to do. Likewise the reveal on Cicada, this year’s big villain. It’s instant and unsettling as he takes everyone’s powers, demolishes Team Flash hand to hand and almost wins outright. A threat from the get go, and a more physical one than the Thinker he looks set to be a foundation of the main plot just like Nora interacting with her parents is the foundation of the B plot.

Verdict: Smart, funny and fun this is The Flash at cruising speed but that’s no bad thing. Last year was one of the most consistent seasons any CW show has had and this year is off to just as good a start. Now, what is up with Cicada’s Flash-shaped dagger…? 8/10

Alasdair Stuart