The Flash The Flash Season 4 Episode 16: "Run, Iris, Run"

[terry78]

It's basically become an excuse for random actresses to ham it up.

 

[Slick]

Honestly the only Arrowverse shows I have been enjoying are Supergirl and Legends. Flash and Arrow have just been kinda okay to meh.

 

[vantheman77]

If there was an episode I dreaded the most it was this one. I watch The Flash for the Flash, not anyone else. Upon watching the episode, my fears are justified. For her to say she's the leader of Team Flash and getting Barry's powers, all it did was magnified her worst traits and showed why she was hated by viewers.

Her blogging at the end was likely the writers trying to remind us that she's a journalist yet we have not seen any of her journalism work.

After this episode, it's a good thing the show is on hiatus until next month. They knew we were going to hate the episode.

They should ask themselves why the show is losing viewers.

 

[Herolee10]

"I am the leader of this team!".

Iris gets Barry's speed. This entire episode was 100% pointless and only existed JUST so Iris can have super powers, even for an episode.

Worst episode of this entire series and this show can shove it for shoving Iris down our throats. The character has no true point, so what do they do, give her super powers. Everything with her is forced man. What a joke. Not to be cold, but I would absolutely LOVE if her character got killed off.

To anyone else annoyed with Iris being shoved down our throats, and are biting their tongues to post polite here, you aren't alone. Even my own mother just texted me saying "did the show get renamed to Iris"?

#Feminism

But in all honesty, Iris is to this show on what Roman Reigns is to the WWE (anyone who still watches wrestling will know what I mean).

 

[vantheman77]

Oh, big time. Iris is not over at all with viewers.

 

[Herolee10]

Oh, big time. Iris is not over at all with viewers.

If Kara and Mon-el were married, with the latter saying things like: "You're not Supergirl Kara, WE are", then you could bet that there would be several people infuriated (and rightfully so) by that.

Yet when the producers do that with Iris, then you have people justifying it by saying things that anyone who doesn't agree with it are sexist towards women.

I mean Felicity, at her worse, never presented herself as the leader of Team Arrow and now that she and Oliver are married, she still respects his role as the leader of Team Arrow.

 

[Primal Slayer]

If there was an episode I dreaded the most it was this one. I watch The Flash for the Flash, not anyone else. Upon watching the episode, my fears are justified. For her to say she's the leader of Team Flash and getting Barry's powers, all it did was magnified her worst traits and showed why she was hated by viewers.


Her blogging at the end was likely the writers trying to remind us that she's a journalist yet we have not seen any of her journalism work.

After this episode, it's a good thing the show is on hiatus until next month. They knew we were going to hate the episode.

They should ask themselves why the show is losing viewers.

Well first, we had like a whole episode that centered around Ralph saving the day, not that many complains about htat.

How did her getting Barrys powers magnify her worse traits? Barry took over bts and thus took over as team leader since thats what they do. She needed Barry and co. to help her succeed which is what Barry always needs. She didnt try to take control of both leadership and Flashing.

And did you somehow manage to miss the whole portion where Iris says that she hasn't been a blogger or journalist because she put up to much time at Star Labs? Or S1-2 where she was a journalist? Or the ending of the episode where she says she needs to get back to writing?

I could maybe understand complaints about Iris being The Flash if she got the powers and was suddenly the greatest Flash there ever was but they did the exact opposite lol. And she got newfound respect for Barry which is the funny thing.

 

[muscaremy]

Team leader hah, we are the flash hah. These writers are going way too far with this.

 

[igoogol]

[addressing] Iris' career

What career? She hardly did her job and her excuse was hanging out at Star Labs because Barry "needed" her.

giving up everything to just be holed up in Star Labs.

Thanks for a good laugh. Also, if that's true, why are her fans so happy with her having to give up everything?

And she got newfound respect for Barry which is the funny thing.

Makes you wonder what she thought of him before this...

 

[Herolee10]

Well first, we had like a whole episode that centered around Ralph saving the day, not that many complains about htat.

How did her getting Barrys powers magnify her worse traits? Barry took over bts and thus took over as team leader since thats what they do. She needed Barry and co. to help her succeed which is what Barry always needs. She didnt try to take control of both leadership and Flashing.

And did you somehow manage to miss the whole portion where Iris says that she hasn't been a blogger or journalist because she put up to much time at Star Labs? Or S1-2 where she was a journalist? Or the ending of the episode where she says she needs to get back to writing?

I could maybe understand complaints about Iris being The Flash if she got the powers and was suddenly the greatest Flash there ever was but they did the exact opposite lol. And she got newfound respect for Barry which is the funny thing.

1. Ralph (aka Elongated Man) is an established costumed hero from the comics, thus people don't have as much of an issue seeing a few episodes dedicated in seeing him grow as a hero.

2. The fact that Iris has been established as the leader of "Team Flash" in a show called "The Flash" is the source of ire for a lot of fans here. For most fans, Barry was without a doubt the leader of Team Flash from the moment Wells (aka Reverse Flash) broke off from the group in the latter part of Season 1.

And now all of a sudden, the person with the least amount of experience and credentials is suddenly the boss of this group, let alone one that is named after the titular hero? The fact that Barry temporarily became the leader again because of tonight's events is just absurd imho.

Also, no matter how many times some may try to explain the logic behind the "We are the Flash" line, it still won't settle with A LOT of fans out there because they think it's just utter nonsense.

And the show, imho, hasn't really established Iris well enough as a reporter for her to suddenly justify that she misses being an journalist/blogger as well.

 

[LTuser]

Can' say I'm surprised that Iris' first go didn't go that well. Heck, it took a lot of time for Barry to learn how to phase, partially from Wells' teachings. But Barry isn't Wells and there's no way Iris can be around Barry's level at the end of even Season 1 in just a day.

AS i mentioned earlier, just getting the powers means jack without training.. So i agree, she could (and should) never be as good as barry with the speed force after just one episode..

If Kara and Mon-el were married, with the latter saying things like: "You're not Supergirl Kara, WE are", then you could bet that there would be several people infuriated (and rightfully so) by that.

Yet when the producers do that with Iris, then you have people justifying it by saying things that anyone who doesn't agree with it are sexist towards women.

I mean Felicity, at her worse, never presented herself as the leader of Team Arrow and now that she and Oliver are married, she still respects his role as the leader of Team Arrow.

I agree, which is why i will always like Felicity MORE than Iris..

 

[Loki882]

So let me get this straight, you have a fire-based meta, and Iris (who has no experience using her powers), AND you have a teammate who has the power to literally SHOOT ICE out of her hands, AND you put her on "fire duty," and yet she does nothing (Cisco neither) and Iris just goes in alone? You're kidding me right? I mean I know that this show has struggled to find things for Caitlin/KF to do a lot, but this was ridiculous.

What's the point of giving her powers if she barely gets to use them, even in situations where it'd make perfect sense to do so?

Also Barry completely forgetting everything and turning into an idiot didn't help either.

 

[Lencho01]

I thought the episode was ok except for the choices the writers made for what Iris had to deal with. Like the first fire... seemed that having Vibe and Killer Frost there just in case would’ve been wise from the start. Well, having them with her on all her missions would’ve been wise, really.

The second fire guy was too silly.

The idea that Barry would be all “Whatever” about getting his powers back or not once he had the choice was laughable.

 

[vantheman77]

1. Ralph (aka Elongated Man) is an established costumed hero from the comics, thus people don't have as much of an issue seeing a few episodes dedicated in seeing him grow as a hero.

2. The fact that Iris has been established as the leader of "Team Flash" in a show called "The Flash" is the source of ire for a lot of fans here. For most fans, Barry was without a doubt the leader of Team Flash from the moment Wells (aka Reverse Flash) broke off from the group in the latter part of Season 1.

And now all of a sudden, the person with the least amount of experience and credentials is suddenly the boss of this group, let alone one that is named after the titular hero? The fact that Barry temporarily became the leader again because of tonight's events is just absurd imho.

Also, no matter how many times some may try to explain the logic behind the "We are the Flash" line, it still won't settle with A LOT of fans out there because they think it's just utter nonsense.

And the show, imho, hasn't really established Iris well enough as a reporter for her to suddenly justify that she misses being an journalist/blogger as well.

This is exactly my issue with the episode overall. Like I said before, it's a good thing the show is on hiatus after this episode.

I watch the Flash for the Flash and we're supposed to root for the titular hero in Barry Allen. We didn't get that in this episode at all.

 

[Primal Slayer]

1. Ralph (aka Elongated Man) is an established costumed hero from the comics, thus people don't have as much of an issue seeing a few episodes dedicated in seeing him grow as a hero.

2. The fact that Iris has been established as the leader of "Team Flash" in a show called "The Flash" is the source of ire for a lot of fans here. For most fans, Barry was without a doubt the leader of Team Flash from the moment Wells (aka Reverse Flash) broke off from the group in the latter part of Season 1.

And now all of a sudden, the person with the least amount of experience and credentials is suddenly the boss of this group, let alone one that is named after the titular hero? The fact that Barry temporarily became the leader again because of tonight's events is just absurd imho.

Also, no matter how many times some may try to explain the logic behind the "We are the Flash" line, it still won't settle with A LOT of fans out there because they think it's just utter nonsense.

And the show, imho, hasn't really established Iris well enough as a reporter for her to suddenly justify that she misses being an journalist/blogger as well.

Do you realise how absurd it sounds to try to say "ralph is a hero in the comics so it's ok if he gets focus? At least attempt to come up with a better reason. Iris is an established comic book character AND leading female since DAY 1. And Iris has gotten powers in the comics temporarily so everyone should be fine with it since it's established.

Barry was never the leader in this show. He can barely lead himself without having to pep talked to death by everyone.

 

[Prettyricky]

Do you realise how absurd it sounds to try to say "ralph is a hero in the comics so it's ok if he gets focus? At least attempt to come up with a better reason. Iris is an established comic book character AND leading female since DAY 1. And Iris has gotten powers in the comics temporarily so everyone should be fine with it since it's established.

Barry was never the leader in this show. He can barely lead himself without having to pep talked to death by everyone.

Never absurd when an established hero/ villian in the comics get the focus in live action for a episode or 2. Same with wally or jesse last season, the characters may have been annoying to some but theyve been established as speedsters for decades in the comics and have somewhat a fanbase so its ittle easier to go with.

Iris is an established comic character like mary jane and merely the love interest or lightning rod for barry when he looses his way, not a bossy women giving orders for scientist and geniuses way above her level with ehat there dealing with. Hell even the flashpoint episode worked for her and wally as a brother sister crime fighters because they were using a radio in there apartment.

 

[shabadoo25]

I'm not an Iris hater like many, but I disliked this ep because it was just filler.

Knowing Barry would get his powers back, the whole thing was a waste of time. All of these shows are cursed with not enough plot to fill a full season order.

They would all benefit from shrinking down to the Netflix Marvel sized seasons, IMO.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Never absurd when an established hero/ villian in the comics get the focus in live action for a episode or 2. Same with wally or jesse last season, the characters may have been annoying to some but theyve been established as speedsters for decades in the comics and have somewhat a fanbase so its ittle easier to go with.

Iris is an established comic character like mary jane and merely the love interest or lightning rod for barry when he looses his way, not a bossy women giving orders for scientist and geniuses way above her level with ehat there dealing with. Hell even the flashpoint episode worked for her and wally as a brother sister crime fighters because they were using a radio in there apartment.

It's absurd. Plus like i said, Iris gets powers in the comics so it shouldn't be a problem if we are using that excuse.

Iris doesn't boss around Cisco/Caitlin or tell them how to do things she has no knowledge of.

It sounds like you're saying that Iris needs to learn her place as Barry's wife and be seen but not heard unless it has to do with Barry. How dare she be her own person and be part of the team.

 

[Prettyricky]

It's absurd. Plus like i said, Iris gets powers in the comics so it shouldn't be a problem if we are using that excuse.

Iris doesn't boss around Cisco/Caitlin or tell them how to do things she has no knowledge of.

It sounds like you're saying that Iris needs to learn her place as Barry's wife and be seen but not heard unless it has to do with Barry. How dare she be her own person and be part of the team.

First off please dont twist my words and turn this into an anti women hate discussion because its not.

I guess you missed the parts last night where she told cisco what to do with finding the meta and barry to stay put which lead to barry being confused asking cisco can he stand there with him. Also before she went to have the final battle and telling cisco and frost what there assignments were which was stay put while Ill go have the glory. Her own person and character is a journalist investigator and married to barry and be his lightning rod. The whole episode was her trying to prove she can be a superhero and lead a team which brought more light to the fact she couldnt do ethier. Its jusy bad writing all around just so iris can stick it to ralph for his comments.

If anything the episode should have gone like when laurel tried to be canary at first and got put in the hospital. But yet shes able to summon a tidal wave in her first day as a speedster. All barry ya know the flash was able to do his go was run around a tornado really fast.

 

[javonstokess]

At this point, my biggest issue with the show is them having EXTREMELY powerful heroes standing around in a lab for, really, no reason. Having Cisco and Caitlin rarely being effective in the field is just bad writing. Like others have said, having a fire based villain and NOT employing your cold-based hero is just terrible writing.

I think the show would do well to scale things back next season and make Barry the only powered individual.

I don't have a problem with Iris getting powers for an episode, I don't even have a problem with her in a leadership role. I DO have an issue with her saying she's the leader, not because she can't be a leader, but because it always looked like "Team Flash" was more a collection of individuals that work together with someone different taking the lead depending on the circumstances. Frankly, it just seemed a bit silly for her to SAY IT OUT LOUD when no one else has in the history of the show.

No issue with Iris leading, but her boldly proclaiming it just sounded...off.

 

[Primal Slayer]

First off please dont twist my words and turn this into an anti women hate discussion because its not.

That's why I said it sounds like, not that you are saying it.

 

[Flash525]

Ever since devoe started switching bodies this season as a whole has become. Pointless.

I would be inclined to agree here. There's no reason DeVoe couldn't simply absorb the powers without needing to switch bodies to do so. The guy playing Clifford (initially) was perfectly fine in the role. With all the switching, it doesn't seem like we've actually got a villain.

Honestly the only Arrowverse shows I have been enjoying are Supergirl and Legends. Flash and Arrow have just been kinda okay to meh.

Supergirl? Really? I find that show even more tedious than Flash at times. I'd agree with Legends - it's more fun and allows for more ... escapism, and I'm still enjoying the dark and gritty theme of Arrow. Nether are perfect, but of the four shows, Arrow & Legends are currently preferred.

But in all honesty, Iris is to this show on what Roman Reigns is to the WWE (anyone who still watches wrestling will know what I mean).

I know exactly what you mean!

If Kara and Mon-el were married, with the latter saying things like: "You're not Supergirl Kara, WE are", then you could bet that there would be several people infuriated (and rightfully so) by that.

Yet when the producers do that with Iris, then you have people justifying it by saying things that anyone who doesn't agree with it are sexist towards women.

I mean Felicity, at her worse, never presented herself as the leader of Team Arrow and now that she and Oliver are married, she still respects his role as the leader of Team Arrow.

Great post - and I fully agree. People apparently can't complain about Iris without other people jumping to the conclusion that said complainers hate women.

You've nailed it though, Mon'El (or even Alex) have never uttered the words "we are Supergirl" and Felicity, Diggle or Thea have never uttered the words "we are Arrow". All Iris needs to do is to add "Team" at the front of her statement, and everything is solved; she can then get away with saying "we are team flash".

Also Barry completely forgetting everything and turning into an idiot didn't help either.

On this, I'm going to stick up for little old Barry; how exactly is he (or anyone) supposed to explain to a brand new speedster how to phase? That's like someone without legs trying to explain to someone with legs how to run.

Maybe not the best example, but you see where I'm coming from?

At this point, my biggest issue with the show is them having EXTREMELY powerful heroes standing around in a lab for, really, no reason. Having Cisco and Caitlin rarely being effective in the field is just bad writing. Like others have said, having a fire based villain and NOT employing your cold-based hero is just terrible writing.

I think the show would do well to scale things back next season and make Barry the only powered individual.

Good shout, have Caitlin at least lose her powers (or have her and KF split somehow, with the latter being killed off or departing from the show - her transformation is a little lame anyway).

The thing is though, we've got to have these silly inconsistencies; how often would John (Manhunter) or even Clark be able to help out when Kara was in trouble, and yet they didn't? How often (when they otherwise should have) did Jax/Martin not combine to form Firestorm when it was needed? How many opportunities has Nate had to 'Steel Up' and yet chose not too; heck, the latest Legends episode he was locked in an old jail cell and didn't once think "I can get out of this". Nope.

In order for show success, idiotic writing must, unfortunately continue.

 

[Team]

They do the same thing with Ralph every other episode. How many times does he need to learn to be brave? Why did he lash out at Iris when Cisco wouldn’t help Harry instead of I don’t know.....Cisco.Hopefully Iris gets her job back, not because I care about her being leader, because this show desperately needs a change of scenery. I’m so sick of star labs. Give Iris a couple of coworkers and an editor so we can change things up. All the show is team flash vs the big bad. If you took out Black lightning vs Tobias storyline there still other things going on. Cisco, Caitlyn, and Wells have no lives

 

[confused]

How does Iris being or not being his girlfriend mean anything to the idea? Even the kinda powers is meaningless because it seems to be temporary. And I don't get how either of those shows having an episode where the female gets powers is Mary-Sue-ish at all or any more wish fulfillment than for the male characters.

Not sure. Could it be that the male characters mentioned are the titular hero/titled character/main character of the synopsis/show? Rather than wish-fufillment, it was more of a creative imagination?

What does Iris having a costume in this episode have to do with it? How does that make it better or worse, particularly when it seems to be temporary?

The importance of the costume is not just the looks/symbol, it was also made from specialised threads/fiber that was necessary to withstand superspeed. It was assumed that either StarLabs (Wells/Cisco/Caitlin) provided Barry with his everyday/casual outfit so he could use his superspeed in daily life/emergencies/food-runs OR Barry has trained to harness the speedforce to protect his clothes when going superspeed, kinda like Superman(?). The premise from Season One was that, no special clothes, no superspeed. The fact that Iris could just suddenly use her superspeed without burning her outfit is perplexing, even if temporary. Iris did have a costume in the episode, which is also weird since it took a longer time to make Barry's/Wally's/Jesse's outfit.

And why should Barry be the leader of the team and again how does that make it better or worse?

Barry is the Flash/named character/main character/core character/what the story is about?
Barry is an intelligent(?)/intuitive(?) scientist who figured out Green Arrow's operation specs?
Barry is a speedster who could(should) think faster than anyone else on the team?

Barry has never cared about that and the show itself doesn't treat the team leader position with much emphasis or respect at all.

In the previous seasons, with the exception of Wells-Thawne, Barry sometimes think up solutions on his own (as it should be for a speedster) or ask for suggestions/help from the other members. The Flash doesn't actually need a team all the time as he should have been a more solo act but the show needed to put other characters to use so...

Barry's not in a position above or below anyone. They aren't in a competition. Barry has made his own decisions separate from team flash. It's more like Barry's working with a group of people than he's actually apart of that group. Pretty much no one it seems.

As it should be BUT Iris was giving orders/calling the shots this season making it worse as it ignores the creative flow from previous episodes. The only one who was deferred to/giving out orders/actually leading the team was Wells-Thorne(Reverse-Flash) in Season One.

Thinking about episodes from seasons past, Barry never seemed to have a particular authority in the group in leadership. Last season, Barry was totally disregarded by Cisco in the crossover. And Caitlin did whatever she wanted all season.

Yes, there should have been no leader BUT suddenly Iris got the job thus making the season worse.

 

[confused]

First off please dont twist my words and turn this into an anti women hate discussion because its not.

I guess you missed the parts last night where she told cisco what to do with finding the meta and barry to stay put which lead to barry being confused asking cisco can he stand there with him. Also before she went to have the final battle and telling cisco and frost what there assignments were which was stay put while Ill go have the glory. Her own person and character is a journalist investigator and married to barry and be his lightning rod. The whole episode was her trying to prove she can be a superhero and lead a team which brought more light to the fact she couldnt do ethier. It's just bad writing all around just so Iris can stick it to Ralph for his comments.

If anything the episode should have gone like when Laurel tried to be canary at first and got put in the hospital. But yet she's able to summon a tidal wave in her first day as a speedster. All Barry, ya know the Flash was able to do his go was run around a tornado really fast.

YES, thank you for that. Thought I was the only one to notice.