Abra Kadrabra – When the captured magician from the future, Abra Kadrabra, offers to reveal Savitar’s identity in exchange for his freedom Barry and the team face a moral dilemma, complicated further by Gypsy’s personal vendetta against him.
It seems like all the Flarrowverse shows were under strict orders to step up their game this week going into a 4 week spring break because this is a fantastic episode. It takes the recurring theme of fighting the future but makes it more tangible by making the solution more obvious. There is no bash and hope changes to events for the team this week. They know straight up that if they make this magic Magpie sing they’ll gain the advantage over Savitar. This leads into an excellent morality argument over Barry and others trying to justify letting one murderer go to save Iris; can they justify the cost? As well as Gypsy’s personal stakes, the early water tank set piece marks Kababra as a killer which adds weight to the argument. Then the different cases made in favour play well to different characters. Barry taps into the classic idea of a hero’s frustration in believing that all the good he’s done entitles him to such a faux pas. While Joe is the parent dealing in absolutes; he’s saving his daughter and nothing else matters. What I liked about all this is the way the writers portrayed Iris as the voice of reason, refusing to let the others twist themselves into such an act on her behalf, “Life doesn’t keep score Barry”. It’s also worth noting that Barry’s frustrations do lean a little more towards the blue Future Flash comics arc. Yet at the same time Kadabra speaks to Barry with distinct implication that he and Savitar are different people so disproves such a notion.
I really hope we keep seeing more of Gypsy because this “double speedster double vibe” team up makes for some bloody awesome action as showcased in the final act chase through the city. Like last time episode’s Martian/Kid Flash/Vibe team up we see their powers being combined well as Gypsy breaks Wally’s fatal fall. Plus with everyone involved having speed or teleportation powers the action becomes a rapid blasting adrenalin session and in particularly Barry’s roof top building leaping are some of the best visual effects shots the show has produced all season. Kadabra’s many magic tricks look rather good too.
The relationship elements of the episode were also strong and enjoyable. While taking a step back after a leap forward is TV romance 101 in the case of Cisco and Gypsy it felt natural. Gypsy is after the man that killed her “partner” which would understandably leave her with a lot of muddled emotions. Plus having his advances rebuked provides great comedy opportunities for Cisco. As for Catlin and Julian’s renewed feelings this was derived well as a product of the events. Catlin’s early request for forgiveness if not friendship opened the door before dramatic necessity thrust Julian through it and the impromptu medical lesson was impressively tense. I did love the way they gave Catlin a moment of cute vulnerability following such an Amazonian feat of mental and physical strength, “Can you please stitch me up because I think I need to pass out”.
The show leaves us some great cliff-hangers going into the break (4 weeks, returning on April 25th) with Barry deciding to reengage his time drive and a rather big reappearance. Definitely check out the episode 19 for a few things to get excited about (including a new Flash costume); it’s pretty magic.