TV Review: The Flash – Season 1 Episode 2 “Fastest Man Alive”

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

EPISODE 2: “Fastest Man Alive”

SYNOPSIS: Barry, who is still coming into his powers, must battle dizziness, a new villain (Multiplex), and Iris’ curiosity.

RECAP (Beware of spoilers!):

Last week’s premiere episode of THE FLASH was The CW’s most watched premiere ever. Maybe it’s the fact that THE FLASH has a relatable protagonist and interesting supporting characters, or maybe it is the show’s ability to perfectly combine heart, humor, and heroism. Either way, tonight’s episode again proves that THE FLASH has staying power and the success of the pilot was not a coincidence.

One of my favorite aspects about THE FLASH is that it never takes itself too seriously. As a wink to fans, and playful dig at ARROW, Barry makes light of the whole cheesy “intro thingy”. After all, he doesn’t have time for that kind of setup. However, the show does have time for its chill-inducing theme song. Am I the only one that gets teary-eyed when it plays throughout the episode?

In tonight’s episode, Barry has taken his newfound powers and, with the secret help of Cisco, jets around town pulling people out of danger. The only thing witnesses see is a mysterious red flash. Unfortunately, Caitlin and Harrison Wells discover the secret missions and quickly put an end to it. After all, Barry is still not in complete control of his powers and they don’t know how it will affect his body over the long-term. They need him in top form to contain the dangerous meta-humans like Clyde Mardon. Wells asks Barry to practice restraint and know his limits, which is especially difficult now that there is another “big bad” in town and unbeknownst to his team, Barry is suffering from dizziness after using his powers.

While using his Sherlock Holmes-esque detective skills to investigate a new crime scene, Barry discovers there are multiple perpetrators. However, they are all wearing the same shoes and have the same shoe size. Weird. Barry comes face-to-face with these masked bandits while accompanying Iris to an award ceremony for Simon Stagg, a leader in organ transference. The masked men rob the partygoers and attempt to kill Stagg and a policeman, but Barry comes to the rescue. However, before Barry can apprehend the robbers, he faints. Now his team becomes aware of his dizzy spells and thanks to Cisco’s super-treadmill, there’s a seemingly easy fix. Barry’s speed creates an issue with his glucose levels, so Cisco institutes a diet change and creates a high-protein bar for sustenance.

Based on the policeman’s account of the robbery, Joe realizes Barry used his powers again. Fearing for Barry’s safety, who is like a son to him, Joe demands Barry stop being a vigilante. After all, just because Barry can run really fast, it doesn’t make him invincible. Barry angrily declares Joe isn’t his father and refuses to listen to him. This week’s set of flashbacks mirrors the same fight. Here, we find a young Barry unhappy and living with Joe and Iris. He is angry with Joe for not believing his father is innocent and not allowing him to visit the jail. Barry sneaks out of the house and when he meets with his father, he realizes that it was actually his dad that didn’t want Barry to see him in prison. Like in present day, Joe was trying to protect Barry.

Back to the “big bad”, while the team at first believed there were multiple perpetrators involved in the crime spree, a skin sample proves Danton Black, aka “Multiplex”, is the single perpetrator. Black is a biogeneticist that specialized in cloning. When Stagg fired Black and stole his research, resulting in the death of his wife, Black wanted revenge. As it turns out, his superpower is an ability to multiply, or clone himself, to create multiple soldiers.

Barry’s first battle against Multiplex doesn’t go very well. He is able to help Stagg, Joe, and Eddie escape, but is no match for the multitude of clones. He barely escapes with his life. Disheartened, Barry decides to take Joe’s advice and quits being a hero. However, Harrison knows Barry is their only shot at beating Multiplex, so he convinces Joe to stop doubting Barry’s ability, and instead show Barry he has faith in him.

Meanwhile, Iris is mad at Barry for neglecting to help her with her article on Stagg. Of course, like any friend of a super hero that doesn’t know their secret identity, Iris realizes something is wrong and wants to get to the bottom of it. Barry apologizes for being distant, but Iris drops a bombshell: instead of writing an article about Stagg, she will now research the mysterious “red flash” everyone has been seeing. Maybe this “flash” really did kill Barry’s mother. Dun dun dun.

Although he “quit”, Caitlin calls Barry back to S.T.A.R. Labs, where she shows him that Multiplex does have limitations, just like him. She was able to grow one of Multiplex’s replicates, which shows they basically act as “shells” or “receivers”. All Barry needs to do to shut down the clones is take out  Multiplex himself. Barry agrees to try his luck again and heads to Stagg Industries to fight Multiplex. Despite some awesome Matrix moves, the clones soon overwhelm Barry. But, thanks to a pep talk from Joe (is this going to become a weekly thing?), Barry is able to key onto the “prime” and tackles him. Of course, like any villain, Multiplex isn’t dead and when Barry turns his back, Multiplex jumps out of the window to his death; Barry is unable to save him.

The episode ends with Barry apologizing to Joe for saying he wasn’t his father. In fact, Joe is the closest thing Barry has ever had to a father. Joe reciprocates by vowing to help Barry find his mother’s true murderer and get his father out of prison.

STINGER: Harrison goes to meet with Stagg, who wants to control The Flash’s power. Harrison, who apparently knows the future, dramatically stands up out of his wheelchair (again) and stabs Stagg. Harrison knows Barry will one day be “The Flash”, and Harrison needs to keep him safe. Wait, so is Harrison a good guy?

DC UNIVERSE EASTER EGGS: Caitlin mentions her fiancée Ronnie Raymond (who becomes Firestorm).

COOL ALTERNATE USE OF “THE FLASH” POWERS: Tie between Barry quickly shaking his hands to use as a blood centrifuge and telling Iris he loves her while speeding around the room.

FAVORITE QUOTE: On his way to the crime scene, Barry forgot to change out of his Flash uniform and has to speed into a store for a quick change of clothes. He appears at the scene with the tags still on. When he is called out on it, he tells his colleagues, “I was going so fast this morning, I didn’t notice.”

FINAL VERDICT: