The Flash The Flash Episode 16: "Rogue Time

[Human Torch]

It kinda makes sense that Barry wouldn't merge with a version of himself decades younger (or older for that matter).

 

[Cain]

Yeah biologically both would be different from present day Barry. The body and DNA changes throughout the years.

 

[haephestus]

A decent episode. Obviously, not quite as good as the previous episode, but still pretty good.

The time travel stuff needs further explanation, especially the fact that there were two Barrys in the past, but only one Barry in this alternate timeline. But, there are enough differences in those scenarios (i.e. two adult Barrys, both running at super speed vs. one adult Barry with the Speedforce and one child Barry without the Speedforce) for me to excuse it for the time being.

Cisco is clearly a genius on a completely different level if he can re-build the Hot and Cold Guns from memory using whatever supplies the Rogues gave him AND design and build the Gold Gun at the same time. I had no idea what the Gold Gun did though. Presumably it wasn't lethal because no-one seemed too concerned about the guy encased in gold at the casino, although no-one, whether police or STAR labs employee, said anything about "saving" that person.

The Barry and Iris scenes were as painful as usual. Although, at least the first coffee shop scene was meant to be painful.

It's a shame to see Linda gone so quickly. I remain hopeful that they'll forget about forcing the Barry and Iris relationship and introduce Patty instead. After all, with all the time Barry spends as The Flash or at STAR labs, surely the Central City police department would need another forensic scientist. They could say that Patty was Barry's replacement while he was in the coma and they've decided to re-employ her to pick up some of his slack (or to help with the extra workload that having a bunch of super-powered criminals running around creates).

Speaking of the coma, it was nice for them to finally mention it again. It's odd that Barry just went on with his life without any hurdles as a result of being comatose for nine months. Still, you think Caitlin could have given Barry a heads-up about the "excuse" she came up with for his odd behaviour.

Finally, I'm not sure how Wells knew about Iris' boss, but I'm guessing he keeps an eye on such things and somehow knew that he had to be killed.

 

[The_Yellow_King]

For some reason the "two Barrys" thing doesnt bug me that much. I mean it makes no sense -that if you travel back in time your previous self isnt there, and you just relive the time- but I suppose if I can accept a man who can run fast enough to time travel in the first place I can give that one a pass.

I could accept it if there was some kind of explanation for it in the episode and if it didn't contradict what happened in previous episodes.

The AfterBuzz (review show) explanation was Barry saw the second Flash inside the speed force and both Flash merge. But when Barry goes back in time to save his younger self, the younger version of himself is independent of the speed force hence why the older version doesn't merge with the younger version.

That's some serious bs explanation. XD

The writers just couldn't handle the plot with 2 Barrys, they would have to look for a way to use both Barrys in the story of the episode and ultimately get rid of one of them somehow, and the proper way to do it was that almost nothing changed and the "one day younger Barry" had to travel back in time in the same moment for the same reasons creating a timeloop and the story would continue with "one day older Barry", otherwise they would have the 2 Barrys forever and they would have to look for some other way to get rid of one of them.

If the explanation given in that review show is true, like I said in a previous message Barry should have asked Wells what happened with the one day younger version of himself, because he knows that an older version of himself tried to save his mother when he was a kid and they didn't merge and he didn't disappear to be replaced for his older self, so he should think that there should be a one day younger version of himself around, I would certainly think it and I would ask Wells about it since he seems to be the guy that knows better about this kind of stuff. The writers should have included a conversation about it with Wells explaining why he thinks there are no 2 Barrys, and he should certainly know it since he is a time traveller speedster himself. Barry obviously doesn't know that, but ir would make sense if Barry asked Wells about this and Wells answered saying that he believes that the cause for the merge was the speedforce and that's why kid Barry didn't merge with old Flash, because he wasn't connected to the speedforce.

I hope they properly explain it in future episodes, and I certainly hope that from now on everytime Barry or Eobard travel in time they always merge with the other versions of themselves and we don't see 2 Barrys or 2 Eobards except if the other versions are not connected to the speedforce. But they should definitely explain this kind of stuuf in the show sooner or later, not in a review show that a lot of people will never see.

 

[Spooderman]

The answer to all questions about Barry's powers is "Speedforce did it".

And why would Barry ask Wells about time travel? Wells has stated he doesn't understand it, and for all Barry knows he's telling the truth. And if he did ask him Wells wouldn't be able to be honest since he's hiding his identity so the audience wouldn't get an explanation.

 

[Batmannerism]

I could accept it if there was some kind of explanation for it in the episode and if it didn't contradict what happened in previous episodes.


That's some serious bs explanation. XD

The writers just couldn't handle the plot with 2 Barrys, they would have to look for a way to use both Barrys in the story of the episode and ultimately get rid of one of them somehow, and the proper way to do it was that almost nothing changed and the "one day younger Barry" had to travel back in time in the same moment for the same reasons creating a timeloop and the story would continue with "one day older Barry", otherwise they would have the 2 Barrys forever and they would have to look for some other way to get rid of one of them.

If the explanation given in that review show is true, like I said in a previous message Barry should have asked Wells what happened with the one day younger version of himself, because he knows that an older version of himself tried to save his mother when he was a kid and they didn't merge and he didn't disappear to be replaced for his older self, so he should think that there should be a one day younger version of himself around, I would certainly think it and I would ask Wells about it since he seems to be the guy that knows better about this kind of stuff. The writers should have included a conversation about it with Wells explaining why he thinks there are no 2 Barrys, and he should certainly know it since he is a time traveller speedster himself. Barry obviously doesn't know that, but ir would make sense if Barry asked Wells about this and Wells answered saying that he believes that the cause for the merge was the speedforce and that's why kid Barry didn't merge with old Flash, because he wasn't connected to the speedforce.

I hope they properly explain it in future episodes, and I certainly hope that from now on everytime Barry or Eobard travel in time they always merge with the other versions of themselves and we don't see 2 Barrys or 2 Eobards except if the other versions are not connected to the speedforce. But they should definitely explain this kind of stuuf in the show sooner or later, not in a review show that a lot of people will never see.

Dude, my advice is to let it go. I can see why it bugs you, I was thinking the same thing myself when I was watching it. That bit when Barry passes his other self- I was expecting something to happen there. And, I agree that the explanations, especially "merging" don't make sense.

I think you're probably right that the writers didn't completely think it through, but that happens. I remember there an amazing time travel episode in the tv show "Fringe" that was fantastic, but had some holes in it (one of which was that the guy who travelled back in time would have met his younger self).

Personally, I'm not going to try and explain it, rather just accept it and move on. I mean, time travel itself is completely theoretical, so nobody really knows how it would work anyway and there are plenty of different theories to choose from. So if they explain it one day, cool, if not I'm still okay with it.

As such, why not just roll with it. I mean if we get too worked up on explanations, well Barry's superpowers (and pretty much every superhero's powers) are utterly impossible (and in the comics not totally consistent all the time) just for starters. It doesn't matter how well crafted or consistent an explanation is, it's still impossible, I mean "speedforce" ? Come on. But who cares right, as long as the show is fun to watch.

I mean why doesn't Barry also age at an accelerated rate if he heals really quickly and metabolizes food and booze at super-speed ? - I bet there are tons of explanations, but the real reason is that it wouldn't look cool for him to be physically in his 50's by the middle of the first season, so the writers just ignore that.

I totally get that even a few lines of dialogue explaining why he didn't meet his younger self would make it easier to swallow - but that explanation might not be coming (although who knows, these writers are pretty good). In the meantime, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you, and just take the show at face value, it's only entertainment after all.

Just a thought dude.

 

[Keyser Soze]

So, am I right in thinking that The Flash basically made a deal with Captain Cold where he'll turn a blind eye to his criminal activities so long as he doesn't kill anyone or target Barry's friends or family?

 

[NiallC]

I was going to say the reason we don't have two Flashes is because it would create a paradox and split the timelines. So there would always be one timeline that failed to save Central City from the tsunami and an infinite number of off shoots that were created with each paradox events that occurs in timeline A as Barry is on the way to the morgue that keeps happening. So timeline A always has the tsunami hit as each passing Barry creates a paradox and causes a new timeline as they have knowledge of what will happen and stop it before it can occur. But then this theory is ruined by the fact there are two Barry's at Nota's death scene.
Now I can't get my head round. Surely now there should be two Barry's, one living his time whilst the future one watches in secret to take his place when the other one jumps back himself.

 

[Cain]

So, am I right in thinking that The Flash basically made a deal with Captain Cold where he'll turn a blind eye to his criminal activities so long as he doesn't kill anyone or target Barry's friends or family?

No he never said he will turn a blind eye. He said he will still go after him and catch him unless Cold happens to be smart enough to know how to escape. The difference is if he tries to go after anyone Barry is close to Barry is not afraid to cross the line despite risking his identity. He also suggested Cold know what lines not to cross either even if he's still committing heists. They have come to an understanding and have an unwritten gentlemen's code with each other now. It's something the writers got from the comic books.