'The Flash' Season 2 Episode 9 'Running to Stand Still' Mid-Season Finale Review

Non Spoiler Review- A good episode of 'The Flash' that was unfortunately a little too crammed with characters, story and plot lines that made this episode feel bloated. The episode didn't quite have the feel of a mid-season finale and just felt like a regular episode, which is fine with me but I wish there had been a cliffhanger to tantalize the audience until January 19th when the show comes back from it's midseason break. 

*******There will be Spoilers from this point on*******

Highlights of the episode

1. Zoom's plan- Zoom's intentions are revealed at the end of the episode when he asks Wells to assist him in making Barry faster. We learn that Zoom wants to steal Barry's speed and wants to take as much as possible so therefore would rather steal speed from Barry when he's at his full potential. This makes logical sense as motivation and I think also subtly hints that Zoom took Jay Garrick's speed. As I've said before, Zoom makes for a marvelous villain and I can't wait to see him fight Barry again.

2. Villain Team-Up- The threat for Team Flash this episode was the duo of the Trickster and Weather Wizard, who want to kill the Flash. Weather Wizard broke Captain Cold and Trickster out of Iron Heights and offered for both to help him but Cold opted out. I really liked seeing the two work together and I thought their plan was very well orchestrated and thought out.

3. The Trickster is back!- Mark Hamill returns to reprise his role of the Trickster and he was brilliant in every moment onscreen but has a relatively smaller role in this episode in comparison to his previous appearance. Hamill really injects an element of fun into the episode and I would love to see Trickster make future appearances in the series.

4. Patty's quest for vengeance- A very intriguing subplot was learning much more about Patty Spivot's backstory and her hatred for Mardon. We learn she feels responsible for her father's death since she didn't go to the bank the day he was killed by Mardon and so it compelled her to become a cop so she could seek revenge. In particular I really enjoyed the scene when she arrives at the end of the episode uses Cisco's metahuman weapon to restrain the Flash. She then seizes this opportunity to try to kill Mardon but Barry is able to convince her it would be against her best interest and isn't worth it. She then comes to her senses and instead arrests Mardon. 

5. Barry forgives Harrison Wells- A very small moment that I really liked was when Barry on the other side of glass washed Wells at work and monologues to himself about how he forgives Wells despite him being a different person than Eobard Thawne. I thought this was a very powerful symbolic moment but I think it will be reversed when he learns Wells is helping Zoom.

6. Captain Cold in Barry's home- Another small scene that I really enjoyed was when Barry and Iris arrived home to find Snart lounging around sipping on cocoa. I found this to be so ominous as it's very alarming that Snart was waiting for Barry and I thought it was part of Trickster and Mardon's plan at first but soon it's revealed that Snart wanted to warn Barry about the two of them and their plans for Barry. He then refuses to work with Barry since he says he's not a hero and goes on his way.

7. Wally West- Another intriguing subplot was when Iris tells Barry about Wally West and the two decide to inform Joe and once he learns about Wally, Joe is devastated as he feels bad for unintentionally abandoning his son. At the end of the episode, Wally arrives on the West's doorstep and meets Iris and Joe. I'm very intrigued to see where his character is headed in the series and if he will gain speed and become a speedster as in the comics.

8. Barry chasing Weather Wizard- Another very brief part of the end fight scene involved Barry chasing Mardon as Mardon flies around manipulating the atmospheric pressure around him, etc. I thought it was very cool to see Barry run across buildings in pursuit and even run on a moving helicopter blade. It made for an awesome moment although it was minimal to the episode.

9. Zoom chasing Wells- The episode opens with Wells running from Zoom and I was expecting this to be a day ahead of the events of the episode like last year's Christmas themed mid-season finale but instead does take place in real time. This begins to tease that Wells may work with Zoom and I thought it was  great way to start off the episode.

10. Caitlin and Jay Garrick move forward- Finally Caitlin and Jay Garrick kiss which I assume will thrust their budding relationship forward. I found it hilarious when Cisco commented on it saying that it was a bout time, etc.

Promo