I've read over this thread. It started out hopeful and positive then descended into a constant stream of negatives. Some of the criticism is valid, others.....not so much. Personally, I saw nothing wrong with Iris's character overall last season. A few hiccup scenes here and there, but nothing to warrant calling her a selfish *****. Some points:
The Linda debacle. Linda went to Iris to find out why Barry's so.....Barry. The explanation Iris gave wasn't done maliciously as others have pointed out. She told Linda that Barry had an unrequited love and to give him some time. She later questioned her own intent, showing that in the moment Iris wasn't consciously trying to derail Barry's and Linda's relationship. Let's keep in mind that the real perpetrator behind Barry's and Linda's failed relationship is Barry himself. He lied to Linda, when he told her he was over Iris. Fully knowing that Linda wouldn't have dated him otherwise. Then dumped Linda when he knew Iris had feelings for her. Then proceeded to ask Iris out in front of Linda. Both Iris and Barry looked bad in this situation and Linda was the victim.
The Bowling Alley scene. Iris wiping ketchup off Barry's lip was to show the familiarity and deep intimacy of their relationship. Iris didn't feel that what she did was wrong until Eddie and Linda confronted her about it. Barry didn't see anything wrong with it period. Being best friends and having grown up in the same household, it's not outrageous that they'd have intimate quirks like these.
Iris's reaction at finding out about the Flash. Some people complained that Iris made it all about her. Um, yeah it kind was about her. She was the one they were all lying to and she just found out. Some have asked what right does Iris have to know Barry's secret. Well, Barry gave her that right. Iris was the first person Barry wanted to tell when he became the Flash, but Joe forbade him to. Barry himself even sai d that Iris had the right to know. Not only that, but Iris's life was affected by this secret. Some of Barry's enemies knew the Flash's identity. Meaning, if they wanted to hurt him then they could go after those closest to him like his family. Iris would be walking around completely unaware that every second her life is in danger because Barry's running around lifting his mask off for everyone but her. Iris's life has already been threatened. She has a right to know that. Plus she was beginning to investigate Wells along with Mason. We all know what happened to Mason right? If Iris continued along that vein then she could've been killed as well. And you have to think about Barry's and Iris's relationship. They tell each other everything. But Barry kept one of the most important things about himself from her and told everyone else. She felt hurt. Of course she would. I think there's more to say here, but I'll leave this topic for now.
Iris giving Eddie and ultimatum. Some of ya'll think Iris should've just left Eddie alone. Her boyfriend, who she was living with. Lying to Iris was tearing Eddie apart and it was affecting his relationship with Iris. Iris said he'd been distant with her. When she asked if Eddie was working with the Flash he could've said yes. That's all he had to say. She didn't ask for the Flash's identity, she never really cared to find out the Flash's identity. Even if she did ask for his identity, all Eddie had to say was I don't know. But Eddie was clearly lying to her face and Iris knew it. Now onto Iris considering the explanation that Barry offered and still giving Eddie an ultimatum. Someone on here explained it really well already. Eddie's her boyfriend and they live together. Eddie even wants to marry her someday. Iris doesn't want him to keep stuff from her and suffer through it alone (because it's obvious Eddie was suffering). She doesn't want him to grow distant and resort to lying to her face. She doesn't feel she needs protection from the ghastly details of a police case. When Joe tried to protect her from hearing about the crimes he was investigating, she was a child. She's not a child anymore and Eddie's her equal, her partner. If he wants a serious relationship then he has to share the burden not carry it alone and allow it to affect their relationship. She had the right to give him an ultimatum. If she didn't want a relationship with a guy who treated her the way her father treated her, who wasn't open and honest, who would disconnect from her rather than talk about it, who point blank lies to her face then she had the right to tell Eddie to either start opening up to her (as you should when you're in a relationship) or it'll be it for them.
Iris being a damsel in distress. That's not something only Iris has to deal with. Everyone on this show has been a damsel in distress, even Barry. At least in every situation where Iris's life was in danger, she helped. Knocking out Girder, cleverly alerting Joe that she and hundreds of others had been poisoned, shooting the Clock King... I believe that's it.
Now as for the there's no racism and sexism behind the dislike of Iris West/Candice Patton comments, those of you who believe that must not visit sites other than this thread. I was glad to read through this thread and not see any racism. But other sites are a different story. A lot of people didn't like Iris West/Candice Patton because she was black. I've seen the "n" word, monkey, and black ***** thrown at her in the beginning of the show (someone even took a picture of Candice, changed her skin white and gave her red hair to look white like comic Iris West). Even the producers told Candice Patton not to read any comments online for a few days after her casting was released. They (rightfully) knew she was going to receive a lot of hate because she was black playing a traditionally white character. Someone on tumblr made a compilation of some of the racist things said about Candice and Iris. I'd post it, but it's buried and I can't remember the user (you should really try looking for it though. I'd advise going to the facebook Flash page and look at every post about Iris/Candice going back to the beginning). As for sexism, I once saw a comment by a man saying Iris doesn't deserve to be with Barry because she was used goods for sleeping with Eddie. That comment had a lot of up votes showing that many agreed with him. After that, I never doubted anyone saying that sexism was involved in some of the Iris/Candice hate. And since I saw racist comments said about her first hand, I didn't doubt it either. And I seriously doubt that the people who threw racial slurs at her are fine and dandy with her character now (I've found that some hide behind bogus reasons for disliking her character: her breathing on the roof top was too loud, she smiles too much, she doesn't look right, she's not pretty enough, her and Barry don't look right together, person with no reason: "I don't like her" why? "just because").
