tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40467514144070038622024-03-16T13:52:02.877-05:00Bob Canada's BlogWorldA blog of my illustration work, along with movie and TV show reviews and the occasional rant.Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.comBlogger3282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-45224352075047181432024-02-02T19:01:00.001-06:002024-02-02T19:01:16.185-06:00Steamboat Nightmare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd1-xxtA7UByZqz5HQOWTS3ABYCbat4BmyVvOA9yaOPyRkzC1Lp0LlYFYjUSp08IISxi01sA7JC8BPWBV7Mm0lDYGJoakIzY42fby5Xug9G870Ju9RoSMDEn9KC_zFYUy2TobuwJRajHMn3SdEmfbtkTcaSXyCCosB9vA6Zua7rhmf1rTX634c1J4RMWY/s720/1920_51-107_720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="720" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd1-xxtA7UByZqz5HQOWTS3ABYCbat4BmyVvOA9yaOPyRkzC1Lp0LlYFYjUSp08IISxi01sA7JC8BPWBV7Mm0lDYGJoakIzY42fby5Xug9G870Ju9RoSMDEn9KC_zFYUy2TobuwJRajHMn3SdEmfbtkTcaSXyCCosB9vA6Zua7rhmf1rTX634c1J4RMWY/w400-h320/1920_51-107_720.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As you've no doubt heard by now, Disney's copyright on Mickey Mouse expired on January 1st of this year, and the character is now in the public domain. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, sort of. Turns out it's just the Steamboat Willie version (which was the debut of Mickey) that's expired— Disney still owns the many other iterations of the character.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like clockwork, the second the copyright expired everyone pounced on the opportunity and began exploiting the character. The cartoon began appearing EVERYWHERE online, and there's already a low budget Steamboat Willie horror movie!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And there's not a blessed thing Disney can do about it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Amidst all the hubbub, it occurred to me that while I've been seeing clips of <b><i>Steamboat Willie</i></b> my entire life, I've never actually watched the entire cartoon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So I finally sat down and watched it, and... YIKES!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRG3xEji18JNFW7KMAxW6oPPCelSOplqA1FpCkb6nM5R9jBymUxt08n3XwlhkTGgfEALAEBj4BOoUjvPfRbIBePpXtG0YICHVbeJeBaKjkoDhPJ-UJZPo5H-Pk1MerrCDL81atO_iVkvrcVrRsAtmBGA_8JKqKzq02B00Bf644KtnvcJgEKtBLnlk6Nk-/s399/ezgif-4-1c5e3ce6ce.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="399" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRG3xEji18JNFW7KMAxW6oPPCelSOplqA1FpCkb6nM5R9jBymUxt08n3XwlhkTGgfEALAEBj4BOoUjvPfRbIBePpXtG0YICHVbeJeBaKjkoDhPJ-UJZPo5H-Pk1MerrCDL81atO_iVkvrcVrRsAtmBGA_8JKqKzq02B00Bf644KtnvcJgEKtBLnlk6Nk-/w400-h339/ezgif-4-1c5e3ce6ce.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At one point I was treated to this horrifying and disturbing scene, of Mickey Mouse playing a sow's teats like some sort of </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've been aware of <b><i>Steamboat Willie</i></b> short my entire life, I've never actually seen the actual cartoon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I finally watched it today, and was treated to this horrifying scene, of Mickey Mouse playing a pig's teats like some sort of repulsive lap organ. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus Christ! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What the hell, Walt?</span></div></div><br /><p></p></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-45549660881210298742024-02-02T18:43:00.002-06:002024-02-02T18:43:45.827-06:00Don't Touch That Dial!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyJjFLURP9UEijwWWXifLjGSecsX6ehPuXxc_w4WTx7j8JzNCcXyeaXu8U0WUnZvP-5AXeKS4msgUgMElf3K9hDG4ej9IWS6HczMZuICt56zppqa5Lz_H8iDgYGHSQ9lAJ1obga1v3rnLsDekCPuWLMQLMqvjKbmj51Ve9CQW2ZJFZy1MKLujfAjHK7aJ/s400/23041013.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyJjFLURP9UEijwWWXifLjGSecsX6ehPuXxc_w4WTx7j8JzNCcXyeaXu8U0WUnZvP-5AXeKS4msgUgMElf3K9hDG4ej9IWS6HczMZuICt56zppqa5Lz_H8iDgYGHSQ9lAJ1obga1v3rnLsDekCPuWLMQLMqvjKbmj51Ve9CQW2ZJFZy1MKLujfAjHK7aJ/w400-h300/23041013.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm back! Kind of.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you're a loyal reader of my blog, you may have noticed I haven't posted anything for a while. Over a month now, in fact. I haven't abandoned it (yet)— I just decided to take some time off for a bit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I will warn everyone though that posting around here will probably slow down from this point on— mainly because there's little or no fodder for material. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like movie reviews, for example. I used to post a ton of them, but that ended when the pandemic shut down the cineplexes. Now that it's over, and they've opened back up, I'm finding I don't want to go back. There're honestly few if any movies I have any interest in seeing these days, so... I won't be reviewing those. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Same goes for the <b>Arrowverse</b> shows, such as <b><i>The Flash</i></b> and <i><b>Legends Of Tomorrow</b></i>. Sadly those are over and done with, and there aren't any new series I feel like watching.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />And I used to post a lot of my art too, but I kind of got burned out on drawing a couple years back, so... that's probably out too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So what <i>will</i> I be posting about in the future? Good question! We'll find that out together!</span></div><div><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-40649035762945223372023-12-31T23:30:00.001-06:002024-01-01T17:12:33.037-06:00Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish, 2023 Edition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9jStAk2vCcDPiWOm6mOXk3ahlDkSZ078qpkc9-9t0RZdmS7GyiY-RgppfhqhERI-Sliqas4WCCQNZpvm1o3eiRoaXxDVQMn7qyYkhE3daoww3xEOWf1sj9GKOzc_WZTIHiQveCIKSsWpoXBPiZ5qDk9bonyBPPXDPVeL_Luq3RRZnVEfHgfWnVPsumWx/s539/416261171_7172689399459160_6375868198315141625_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="473" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9jStAk2vCcDPiWOm6mOXk3ahlDkSZ078qpkc9-9t0RZdmS7GyiY-RgppfhqhERI-Sliqas4WCCQNZpvm1o3eiRoaXxDVQMn7qyYkhE3daoww3xEOWf1sj9GKOzc_WZTIHiQveCIKSsWpoXBPiZ5qDk9bonyBPPXDPVeL_Luq3RRZnVEfHgfWnVPsumWx/w351-h400/416261171_7172689399459160_6375868198315141625_n.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's that time again, when we all say a welcome "Good Riddance" to the current corn-studded turd of a year.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I dunno about anyone else, but I won't be sad to see 2023 go. It was a particularly bad year for me, in every measurable sense— personally, professionally and financially. I honestly can't take any more years like this one.<br /><br />Anyway, here's just a sampling of the treats 2023 had in store for us:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• So many mass shootings (a whopping 632 in total) that the media eventually just stopped reporting them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Covid cases continued to kill thousands across the country, while an indifferent public simply shrugged.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Numerous corporations demanded employees return to the office, despite the fact they could do their jobs just as well (if not better!) at home.<br /><br />• Gas prices fell from their peak in 2022, but were still too damn high.<br /><br />• Inflation allegedly lessened, but you'd be hard-pressed to prove it, as prices in my area remained at all time highs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• trump refused to go away, as he was indicted numerous times and racked up a record 91 criminal charges— embarrassing our country even further. Inconceivably, he's somehow still the front runner for the GOP presidential candidate. He's like a bad rash that just won't go away.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Biden's student loan forgiveness program was overturned.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Our government became a global laughingstock, as Republicans couldn't settle on a speaker of the house and had a revolving door of candidates.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• Elon Musk did his best to become a second-rate Bond villain, much to the world's annoyance and boredom.<br /><br />• Disney continued their campaign to destroy the MCU, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and even Doctor Who, with their insistence on promoting ideology over entertainment.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Bruce Willis was diagnosed with an aggressive and fast-acting form of dementia, losing the ability to even speak.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• The <i>Titan</i> submersible imploded on the ocean floor, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">causing the violent deaths of several citizens visiting the wreck of the </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Titanic</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Our shithole of a planet tried its best to wipe us out with hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, quakes, heat waves, blizzards and more. This is not a nice planet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• The world experienced its hottest summer on record.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Wildfires decimated Maui, Hawaii.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• A Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio— releasing toxic chemicals into the air and into the Ohio River.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Whew! And that's all just off the top of my head! I'm sure there were even more atrocities I've thankfully pushed from my mind.<br /><br />It's an exercise in futility, but I'm gonna say it again— let's hope 2024 is a better year for us all.</span><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-79967949668233650482023-12-31T18:04:00.002-06:002024-01-08T12:54:21.927-06:00 Celebrity Deaths 2023 Part Two<span style="font-family: helvetica;">As it is every year, Death just can't seem to take a holiday— not even with the pandemic seemingly over. Or is it surging again? I honestly can't keep track of it anymore.<br /><br />Once again we see that neither fame nor fortune makes one immune to Death's icy touch, as so far there've been thousands of celebrities and public figures who met their makers in 2023. Here's a partial list of the most notable ones who died in the second half of the year.<br /><br />Note that there were many more high profile celebrity deaths this year than the ones I've listed here. I'm only including the ones I recognize or who had an impact on my life.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGTm8_zycw3GU5TIw2c-Elm2sHgYEexUxA7xgMHrmU53uB01q67_Gb8IU9NXT8sFS5W-24CYP_8LxK7_hg91PPLNuDYLKsjt0ZyDKjI4fy4w62XghFRLQ6vMYs9idbnwhB0r1ozAeYSNZ0Wjc6mKYWdfTcaqEmsFbXQIIgL15L7a7u_mde5IHNRdsle2x/s2400/SEC_163726341-c64a.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2400" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGTm8_zycw3GU5TIw2c-Elm2sHgYEexUxA7xgMHrmU53uB01q67_Gb8IU9NXT8sFS5W-24CYP_8LxK7_hg91PPLNuDYLKsjt0ZyDKjI4fy4w62XghFRLQ6vMYs9idbnwhB0r1ozAeYSNZ0Wjc6mKYWdfTcaqEmsFbXQIIgL15L7a7u_mde5IHNRdsle2x/w400-h210/SEC_163726341-c64a.webp" width="430" /></a></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Jimmy Weldon</b><br />Died July 6, 2023 at age 99 (!).<br />While his name my not be a household word, you've definitely <i>heard</i> him before. Weldon was a prolific voice actor, best known as the voice of Yakky Doodle in Hanna-Barber cartoons. He was also a ventriloquist, and had his own kids' show in the 1950s called <b><i>The Webster Webfoot Show</i></b>.<br /><br /><b>Manny Coto</b><br />Died July 9, 2023 at age 62.<br />Coto was a TV writer and producer, and showrunner of <b><i>Star Trek: Enterprise</i></b> in its fourth and final season. He completely turned the show around and took it to new heights, but sadly not enough to get it renewed for a fifth season.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0pFBruaOjCJOR2i6NgHlFW8AwoNlZXedPQj_nqx0a46CclxBfu5hxtzLRcEwNQ85Qt1E3n4h13eJjl5_NcVnf8EmpcRJ5hgRxacZ8yMgiu5gBmyQCbmh3Sqh90ms2t_-YhwLH5bQ53ULWEfSBTkFWjrzBkEPdu3OiLSA0aBvutb6BijljW2H7-2nL-oL/s640/Tony_Bennett_in_2003-e1644513204448-640x360.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0pFBruaOjCJOR2i6NgHlFW8AwoNlZXedPQj_nqx0a46CclxBfu5hxtzLRcEwNQ85Qt1E3n4h13eJjl5_NcVnf8EmpcRJ5hgRxacZ8yMgiu5gBmyQCbmh3Sqh90ms2t_-YhwLH5bQ53ULWEfSBTkFWjrzBkEPdu3OiLSA0aBvutb6BijljW2H7-2nL-oL/w400-h225/Tony_Bennett_in_2003-e1644513204448-640x360.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><b>Tony Bennett</b><br />Died July 21, 2023 at age 96.<br />Grammy-winning crooner famous for singing such standards as <i><b>I Left My Heart In San Francisco</b></i>, <i><b>Rags To Riches</b></i> and <b><i>Because Of You</i></b>.<br /><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MQ7R6jr8_wDGKlpCK9sIuDfywoxrV277dO7ek5PFU1twBABFQs9kPZZ5rjULPEDQrCrE1GtKviZwQ2cXA_eu-t_x3LnG6fUgTos-DkvFKKzBI-5p-TBbUuslWPeHj1kbOW3dU6r5KiXve43jIMIbklQcO52GsTxYouuAFJ28KOf6QA2LQ6zW_tnj-IMQ/s284/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="304" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MQ7R6jr8_wDGKlpCK9sIuDfywoxrV277dO7ek5PFU1twBABFQs9kPZZ5rjULPEDQrCrE1GtKviZwQ2cXA_eu-t_x3LnG6fUgTos-DkvFKKzBI-5p-TBbUuslWPeHj1kbOW3dU6r5KiXve43jIMIbklQcO52GsTxYouuAFJ28KOf6QA2LQ6zW_tnj-IMQ/w400-h251/images.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Ron Sexton</b><br />Died July 22, 2023 at the much too young age of 52.<br />Another celeb whose name wasn't a household word, but he was very well known to fans of <b><i>The Bob & Tom Show</i></b> on radio. He played numerous characters there, like r</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">edneck Donnie Baker, cellphone-obsessed salesman Kenny Tarmac and the addled Floyd The Trucker. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jaysis, with Sexton gone the show just lost half its cast!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sadly, toxicology reports indicated Sexton died from a combination of fentanyl and alcohol.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0vx305CjY2ruDl7zKhoArbXoxlP650CVCz5oxmHVg8UGBGL-clR9lc8jXrHZPyNTmQwJFgaWHraYyzVOCzE6L0oig9Cq7pUdp1UaajncIuhqeE3GTrh14ERLcHfCsB5jdrLFAFtFiHKQslrtjo_rebgJXliYM681AyUf3qkpagS8wekvIYQaTwoi94l-/s1296/T8DBENS_EC004-copy-1608671962.webp" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0vx305CjY2ruDl7zKhoArbXoxlP650CVCz5oxmHVg8UGBGL-clR9lc8jXrHZPyNTmQwJFgaWHraYyzVOCzE6L0oig9Cq7pUdp1UaajncIuhqeE3GTrh14ERLcHfCsB5jdrLFAFtFiHKQslrtjo_rebgJXliYM681AyUf3qkpagS8wekvIYQaTwoi94l-/w400-h225/T8DBENS_EC004-copy-1608671962.webp" width="430" /></a></div><b>Inga Swenson</b><br />Died July 23, 2023 at age 90.<br />American (?) actress best known for playing German chef Gretchen Kraus on 80s sitcom <i><b>Benson</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeB_Dsaw9hc68gF-dmHNe9EOQldLPmQV7EB-mc4VeIuiYCFpwIOyugBlufuApcQIQap_gsmjUaTuGqlozPfA8pI9E_1E5072JyFuNNHfCeGQVHjvqMfAZ5fo-_VVfLSTUrwB4KtG01FwjCfCdA8U-K1kfQylz0SllWIV4u0YelVdbW84wDfV8BYmQpumi7/s1600/Sinead-OConnor.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1094" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeB_Dsaw9hc68gF-dmHNe9EOQldLPmQV7EB-mc4VeIuiYCFpwIOyugBlufuApcQIQap_gsmjUaTuGqlozPfA8pI9E_1E5072JyFuNNHfCeGQVHjvqMfAZ5fo-_VVfLSTUrwB4KtG01FwjCfCdA8U-K1kfQylz0SllWIV4u0YelVdbW84wDfV8BYmQpumi7/w400-h274/Sinead-OConnor.webp" width="430" /></a></div></div><b>Sinead O'Connor</b><br />Died July 26, 2023 at the much too young age of 56.<br />Irish singer/songwriter best known for her hit <i style="font-weight: bold;">Nothing Compares 2 U</i>, which hit the charts in 1990.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">O'Connor was famously banned from <i><b>Saturday Night Live</b></i> after unexpectedly tearing up a photo of the Pope on live TV, to protest the Catholic church's coverup of sexual abuse.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAH_sWelQ2D3LkjQgAL2nWFVggDfzQkIrDSTQF_K8e6rT0RDB080jcthfM7xMMUChbl4hlMGboFfoGWXUcqmfXgpeA1KqXWLK5zgZlTSnW7LoSojE9qevttTL-a_kj3CuBd5eJYmR70WiywpS0F8H1GTrPaaHn-LSZ9TKZIUBBvxML_F5zrhJK2mFOoNJ/s1031/Paul-Reubens.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1031" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAH_sWelQ2D3LkjQgAL2nWFVggDfzQkIrDSTQF_K8e6rT0RDB080jcthfM7xMMUChbl4hlMGboFfoGWXUcqmfXgpeA1KqXWLK5zgZlTSnW7LoSojE9qevttTL-a_kj3CuBd5eJYmR70WiywpS0F8H1GTrPaaHn-LSZ9TKZIUBBvxML_F5zrhJK2mFOoNJ/w400-h225/Paul-Reubens.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Paul Reubens</b><br />Died July 30, 2023 at age 70.<br />Reubens was best known as Pee-wee Herman, the childlike character he played on stage, TV and movies.<br /><br />Ouch. This one hurts. I was a <i>huge</i> fan of Pee-wee back in the 80s, as there was literally nothing else like him anywhere at the time. Reubens was a brilliant and original talent, and I'll miss him.<br /><br /><b>William Friedkin</b><br />Died August 7, 2023 at age 87.<br />Famed director who gave us <i><b>The French Connection</b></i> and <i><b>The Exorcist</b></i>, among many others films.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZsOOwFqXhh3v1Fe_W_YliwwtC9Wzw-mjoQx4P17utThxkhcgqCF-HU3zZ7w1hCoQhBZhnPaG_dfrMygl0GTQaCr0TQ_h2t34Pw0qY48-HBqTfCEax3HW_xAGqJha8RTab3-hhztT0N8k4u1CnqT7rHU1GR3PiXTBC3xvZgIVP5Kn2VPfmQ1ZzzSyd_DK/s700/Johnny-Hardwick-Dale-King-of-the-Hill-Dead.webp" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="700" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZsOOwFqXhh3v1Fe_W_YliwwtC9Wzw-mjoQx4P17utThxkhcgqCF-HU3zZ7w1hCoQhBZhnPaG_dfrMygl0GTQaCr0TQ_h2t34Pw0qY48-HBqTfCEax3HW_xAGqJha8RTab3-hhztT0N8k4u1CnqT7rHU1GR3PiXTBC3xvZgIVP5Kn2VPfmQ1ZzzSyd_DK/w400-h225/Johnny-Hardwick-Dale-King-of-the-Hill-Dead.webp" width="430" /></a></div><b>Johnny Hardwick</b><br />Died August 8, 2023 at age 64.<br />Writer and voice actor. Hardwick was best known as the voice of Dale Gribble on <b><i>King Of The Hill</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The show was supposedly getting a revival in 2023, but the various writers and actors strikes delayed it till 2024. It's unclear at this time what effect the untimely death of Hardwick will have on the project. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzmFo54IxfgSVeoeAA-9UTvY82ZmPdX9RCHSwe9GuoMpGsSNaX0htr7RIx3FEoD-hONFXU4LUCizRz9_qKCNAeMrGR8hl2dBB8ueI_cSzUq8GV1_vOja6oUPptzumhZUgowOdjpoNZZzjP9tpwmBChDhBzacks6SjvuU6QB7326HxwEh-seQZutTORTkN/s2000/W1siZiIsIjI3MTc0NCJdLFsicCIsImNvbnZlcnQiLCItcXVhbGl0eSA5MCAtcmVzaXplIDIwMDB4MTQ0MFx1MDAzZSJdXQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1357" data-original-width="2000" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzmFo54IxfgSVeoeAA-9UTvY82ZmPdX9RCHSwe9GuoMpGsSNaX0htr7RIx3FEoD-hONFXU4LUCizRz9_qKCNAeMrGR8hl2dBB8ueI_cSzUq8GV1_vOja6oUPptzumhZUgowOdjpoNZZzjP9tpwmBChDhBzacks6SjvuU6QB7326HxwEh-seQZutTORTkN/w400-h271/W1siZiIsIjI3MTc0NCJdLFsicCIsImNvbnZlcnQiLCItcXVhbGl0eSA5MCAtcmVzaXplIDIwMDB4MTQ0MFx1MDAzZSJdXQ.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Jamie Reid</b><br />Died August 8, 2023 at age 76. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">British anarchist and visual artist. Reid designed the infamous cover of <b><i>The Sex Pistols'</i></b> album <i><b>God Save The Queen</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Times; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkjcXjWzLzCz5hCnznD9eilGOurC4cRgIRk9IVhhHmqB6vMIBKeWfTtc9yxlRhdc0iDVO4HH5DTTO3kaTptFSmjnnmdplhA_VNoS6OxRgco5J0GanS-31ZqeGrAYCHwoJz_vhPS-h_GkBZtv4XWIvNRtJleNBVDpnLORR95ERUI6PpaI8dHz_aOayaTYf/s1024/robbie-robertson-1024x680.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkjcXjWzLzCz5hCnznD9eilGOurC4cRgIRk9IVhhHmqB6vMIBKeWfTtc9yxlRhdc0iDVO4HH5DTTO3kaTptFSmjnnmdplhA_VNoS6OxRgco5J0GanS-31ZqeGrAYCHwoJz_vhPS-h_GkBZtv4XWIvNRtJleNBVDpnLORR95ERUI6PpaI8dHz_aOayaTYf/w400-h266/robbie-robertson-1024x680.webp" width="430" /></a></div></div></div><b>Robbie Robertson</b><br />Died August 9, 2023 at age 80.<br />Canadian musician & songwriter, lead guitarist for Bob Dylan, and later a member of the imaginatively titled group <b><i>The Band</i></b>. Best known for writing <b><i>The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down</i></b> and <b><i>Up On Cripple Creek</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_sGngGFfnBbIF5V0hMdhF5EqpJaKb7TO4B_QfFzuKBv0nX1xLSUNF01bT_9UQDJ_VkB9ipTEFRbmue08-f7Qcmt2VOuPwghc2JxvAnDwH7BdkHDwHpeZCuMu1ahTWNwxXQjvStQ_wUEotRIcphM3X8mo5IuVcbVvnaX492myV-Y8zARyPGVfP7GeB7oF/s400/shoji2-400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_sGngGFfnBbIF5V0hMdhF5EqpJaKb7TO4B_QfFzuKBv0nX1xLSUNF01bT_9UQDJ_VkB9ipTEFRbmue08-f7Qcmt2VOuPwghc2JxvAnDwH7BdkHDwHpeZCuMu1ahTWNwxXQjvStQ_wUEotRIcphM3X8mo5IuVcbVvnaX492myV-Y8zARyPGVfP7GeB7oF/w400-h266/shoji2-400.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Shoji Tabuchi</b><br />Died August 11, 2023 at age 79.<br />Japanese fiddle player who came to America and became an unlikely country-western star. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tabuchi was born in Ishikawa, Japan in 1944. In college he attended a concert played by country star Roy Acuff, and was so impressed he met him backstage. Acuff encouraged him, and be began practicing the fiddle. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tabuchi later formed a band called </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Bluegrass Ramblers</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, who won a national contest in Japan. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After that he decided to seek his fortune in America, arriving with only his fiddle and $500 in cash. He moved to Nashville and reconnected with Acuff, who arranged for him to play at the Grand Ole Opry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tabuchi was a huge hit, and later moved to Branson, Missouri. In 1990 he built his own elaborate 2000 seat theater there and launched the Shoji Tabuchi Show, which played two shows daily for the next three decades.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Say what you will about him, but he literally lived the American Dream.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZxeZwM6su63hAgsbmrgz5M197TX9oGqJWQwol0HwSAMK8yQFWTLo_miN_dmrfhxWzp_91-NR5khxqbp2PjJSppwlQWpIPfwhZzCSwpxrBocy14yyaRG-EJYGqUmF5VjcydfZh7aEnDY3FAhyphenhyphenfkR_cHewQd0eW1x7yxdpGFAmmPkAhaox3txAiFlrn1gG/s372/Arleen-Sorkin-1-696x464.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="372" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZxeZwM6su63hAgsbmrgz5M197TX9oGqJWQwol0HwSAMK8yQFWTLo_miN_dmrfhxWzp_91-NR5khxqbp2PjJSppwlQWpIPfwhZzCSwpxrBocy14yyaRG-EJYGqUmF5VjcydfZh7aEnDY3FAhyphenhyphenfkR_cHewQd0eW1x7yxdpGFAmmPkAhaox3txAiFlrn1gG/w400-h266/Arleen-Sorkin-1-696x464.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Arleen Sorkin </b><br />Died August 24, 2023 at age 67. <br />Actress who starred in <b><i>Days Of Our Live</i></b><i><b>s</b></i> for decades. 90s kids will know her best thought for her work on <i><b>Batman: The Animated Series</b></i>, in which she voiced Harley Quinn (back when the character dressed as an actual <i>harlequin </i>and not a crack whore).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k3eqgBmz8W7FIOx4ZMTAdwg8mSAR9bkgD5yINu9gCZzMkEKcfdx64XmpteozI8p8NwYteBQBERy_JDQcbBL0CVrOgfr81QFfe4f-y4i4_fI_uXvqRcewYQaZxnIfUUh8d7mow36uQ1sPWNTg6ebZZKAntAUWXaCwwna9qjkjJG6mtWl6Yn3srGjb5Ta0/s962/GettyImages-113209187-e1672445496254.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="962" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k3eqgBmz8W7FIOx4ZMTAdwg8mSAR9bkgD5yINu9gCZzMkEKcfdx64XmpteozI8p8NwYteBQBERy_JDQcbBL0CVrOgfr81QFfe4f-y4i4_fI_uXvqRcewYQaZxnIfUUh8d7mow36uQ1sPWNTg6ebZZKAntAUWXaCwwna9qjkjJG6mtWl6Yn3srGjb5Ta0/w400-h225/GettyImages-113209187-e1672445496254.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Bob Barker</b><br />Died August 26, 2023 at age 99.<br />Perennial game show host and TV personality, best known as host of <i><b>The Price Is Right</b></i>— a job he held ffrom September 4, 1972 to June 15, 2007!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Barker was also a prominent animal rights advocate, and closed each episode of <b><i>The Price Is Right</i></b> with a plea to "have your pets spayed or neutered."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHczrbR5XcmYJ2yoJCZyIxEHdZnmHhgNsez994JGnCBHvd5KX9Lqi052L3wT_-WpO_2JNgMfpF3olg7F1t3DDlfZfOyz1-_fLtxQitW1YpVxiPyhwyGIbJ9-LTh15wXfKpWB8Nieb6Mlf8PLSNHazAUEd4eiWBbEyYeIOcLspaB2MvcADgcX1fTzLuxDt/s1117/jimmy-buffett.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1117" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHczrbR5XcmYJ2yoJCZyIxEHdZnmHhgNsez994JGnCBHvd5KX9Lqi052L3wT_-WpO_2JNgMfpF3olg7F1t3DDlfZfOyz1-_fLtxQitW1YpVxiPyhwyGIbJ9-LTh15wXfKpWB8Nieb6Mlf8PLSNHazAUEd4eiWBbEyYeIOcLspaB2MvcADgcX1fTzLuxDt/w400-h251/jimmy-buffett.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><b>Jimmy Buffet</b><br />Died September 1, 2023 at age 76.<br />Singer/songwriter responsible for such island-themed hits as <i><b>Margaritaville</b></i>, <i><b>Cheeseburger In Paradise</b></i> and more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Gary Wright</b><br />Died September 4, 2023 at age 80/<br />Singer/songwriter best known for <b><i>Dream Weaver</i></b> and <i><b>Love Is Alive</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDfbJFRIec4xx2oFu2fb35lWdH00_HYYpklXw3ET7KI5B5SeAVAsLQ9T_I0FbjCjeAZi_-YTxC4Jzr8PM7jLRLNx8QpKuqIVYqLN6rRhWb7VBP0IjKH-0goCZLeXMjXBgUV6AHDcOgqr0pqWqjhn2BFw4vFggVl0aKKFGreiSin5WS1O6MsbSdJdXz3uy/s645/Smash-Mouth-Steve-Harwell-645x370.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="645" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDfbJFRIec4xx2oFu2fb35lWdH00_HYYpklXw3ET7KI5B5SeAVAsLQ9T_I0FbjCjeAZi_-YTxC4Jzr8PM7jLRLNx8QpKuqIVYqLN6rRhWb7VBP0IjKH-0goCZLeXMjXBgUV6AHDcOgqr0pqWqjhn2BFw4vFggVl0aKKFGreiSin5WS1O6MsbSdJdXz3uy/w400-h230/Smash-Mouth-Steve-Harwell-645x370.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Steve Harwell</b><br />Died September 4, 2023 at age 56.<br />Lead singer of <b><i>Smash Mouth</i></b>, who were best known for their hits<i><b> All Star</b></i> and <b><i>Walkin' On The Sun</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For some reason <b><i>All Star</i></b> seemed to strike a chord with Hollywood, and the song appeared on the soundtrack of numerous movies during the early 2000s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy5mQDk1QYkBwAhloO7ZvBZOc50k88KHZMhqLeDWV-lwjWO3w3wV43fp51fQ6ESsY2AsDkwcoqSAjxjXgIFndcIbMPfl10XRJH3CSLW0XXVVAVkccm7MmUu7kOmQ3TR2T5A5jF0U7LnqWSiNHt2CQtNlZLo3A7xkCADpmHOx5v8USVezRHimzcAfULNCY/s590/282771_169617683106794_7967018_n.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="590" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy5mQDk1QYkBwAhloO7ZvBZOc50k88KHZMhqLeDWV-lwjWO3w3wV43fp51fQ6ESsY2AsDkwcoqSAjxjXgIFndcIbMPfl10XRJH3CSLW0XXVVAVkccm7MmUu7kOmQ3TR2T5A5jF0U7LnqWSiNHt2CQtNlZLo3A7xkCADpmHOx5v8USVezRHimzcAfULNCY/w400-h269/282771_169617683106794_7967018_n.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Geechy Guy</b><br />Died September 7, 2023 at age 59.<br />Guy, aka Michael Paul Cathers, was a stand up comedian and was another frequent guest on <i><b>The Bob & Tom Show</b></i>. Jaysis, once again, they're running out of guests over there!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aO8KhJ9Nl5cZpex4OlTdLPFaqoOJvagKckGYDyo_aIoK3XzkwvinjVapcTxqqVJDvscEpkqR5M_U0Iu7stBL-357jHXX510N6dwMqkknbjrtIwJPNYa2Fagt-qVlGzOR7M4Q7xc_njNQfH-5QjnW2hevzwi-64CfWYGecs-P5rJMOWM1BhJ6_yEcDSmN/s1000/David-McCallum-Obit-Dead.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aO8KhJ9Nl5cZpex4OlTdLPFaqoOJvagKckGYDyo_aIoK3XzkwvinjVapcTxqqVJDvscEpkqR5M_U0Iu7stBL-357jHXX510N6dwMqkknbjrtIwJPNYa2Fagt-qVlGzOR7M4Q7xc_njNQfH-5QjnW2hevzwi-64CfWYGecs-P5rJMOWM1BhJ6_yEcDSmN/w400-h225/David-McCallum-Obit-Dead.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>David McCallum</b><br />Died September 25, 2023 at age 90.<br />Scottish-born actor, famous for his roles in <b><i>The Man From U.N.C.L.E.</i></b> and <b><i>NCIS</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4fRkiLw2DiqJeZKGAfg-ZsPo0UIc1QmoFw9Xlw7NXqM5g0J7O2t-UP5KieO0zdMRXxlsAcim1lZMlUUFYjR1ew6p_4CtPCz2_pljbxCtS2mIdIpdx6rQOrLaoDL87bdOa-In0U-ipv4jyeP3YGq_Ysx3maFmIkI3Z6afNTQ7NgWpPjgG6QoK0bftYh4Q/s1888/Britain_Obit_Gambon_13473-6515798f72107.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1888" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4fRkiLw2DiqJeZKGAfg-ZsPo0UIc1QmoFw9Xlw7NXqM5g0J7O2t-UP5KieO0zdMRXxlsAcim1lZMlUUFYjR1ew6p_4CtPCz2_pljbxCtS2mIdIpdx6rQOrLaoDL87bdOa-In0U-ipv4jyeP3YGq_Ysx3maFmIkI3Z6afNTQ7NgWpPjgG6QoK0bftYh4Q/w400-h266/Britain_Obit_Gambon_13473-6515798f72107.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Michael Gambon</b><br />Died September 27, 2023 at ge 82.<br />Iris-English actor with a ton of credits, including <i><b>Gosford Park</b></i> and <b><i>The Singing Detective</i></b>. Probably best known though for playing Dumbledore in the<b><i> Harry Potter</i></b> movies (taking over the role after Richard Harris died).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoUMKNIRTuAgVQFnOlMqxNnmjfdzGhk7xjQUnKxkkt66PMzn-DCyFBOexShM8laMCm9OKKF9603RVpMiAAvA9kLv6Cb26hD_G7crl_PNUaaCnfxfAu0rZNUCqHaKwgLISYjiYn2s8LvrMK6crN9WsZgXGHW5sqsr9neCAoiy_qyBEr8JkniCtpDZsZ_1k/s720/59006ccc1400001f00a9be2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="720" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoUMKNIRTuAgVQFnOlMqxNnmjfdzGhk7xjQUnKxkkt66PMzn-DCyFBOexShM8laMCm9OKKF9603RVpMiAAvA9kLv6Cb26hD_G7crl_PNUaaCnfxfAu0rZNUCqHaKwgLISYjiYn2s8LvrMK6crN9WsZgXGHW5sqsr9neCAoiy_qyBEr8JkniCtpDZsZ_1k/w400-h304/59006ccc1400001f00a9be2a.jpg" width="430" /></a></div></div><b>Dianne Feinstein</b><br />Died September 29, 2023 at age 90.<br />Former Mayor of San Fransisco, and US Senator since 1992.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrqo3gIiZFc9VlHYeXo-bkDI-4EejDD581IFAQ-fxmeXuXkKleTMmlJGkpyWeYUQhyphenhyphenDSdfkJByZHH5F_E1-2Tcekn9lzkU3T9VpTZh8VVEPwut9xNSiOJj-Fxp93rSi9CVuFWITj04hPkQdsXgZbcWPwRVnfylAowF5dqRZ2Gi9m1EQb3HHrkkKtW6-4F/s2749/BJUHVOSQO5GYBIINETC4UW56JY.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1833" data-original-width="2749" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrqo3gIiZFc9VlHYeXo-bkDI-4EejDD581IFAQ-fxmeXuXkKleTMmlJGkpyWeYUQhyphenhyphenDSdfkJByZHH5F_E1-2Tcekn9lzkU3T9VpTZh8VVEPwut9xNSiOJj-Fxp93rSi9CVuFWITj04hPkQdsXgZbcWPwRVnfylAowF5dqRZ2Gi9m1EQb3HHrkkKtW6-4F/w400-h266/BJUHVOSQO5GYBIINETC4UW56JY.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Jason Wynyard</b><br />Died October 4, 2023 at age 49.<br />I've never heard of Jason Wynyard and neither have you. I included him here though because he was incredibly well known in his home country of New Zealand, where he won the world woodchopping championship nine times over the years. Apparently woodchopping is a sport there (?).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaasBbOEG68z026_KsJYG6Iq1w2OVjltny0fn52mZpVZvBoL4tp4GLrB9LeW-Vs0PG4wiLTFl4pGOCA2veMKQ3y5C_fucNHEVMn6iCwH5uUdOCovoGVNJvHRIN6RyPKLOWnkihqP0hb99JVc65KAVSCgIltwRwd3ZY6Mv-kziDT6gRZhkLmNaOmM-oxNz-/s1000/Dick-Butkus-Obit-Dead.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaasBbOEG68z026_KsJYG6Iq1w2OVjltny0fn52mZpVZvBoL4tp4GLrB9LeW-Vs0PG4wiLTFl4pGOCA2veMKQ3y5C_fucNHEVMn6iCwH5uUdOCovoGVNJvHRIN6RyPKLOWnkihqP0hb99JVc65KAVSCgIltwRwd3ZY6Mv-kziDT6gRZhkLmNaOmM-oxNz-/w400-h225/Dick-Butkus-Obit-Dead.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Dick Butkus<br /></b>Died October 5, 2023 at age 80.<br />American Hall Of Fame football player for the Chicago Bears. After his athletic career he became a celebrity spokesman, and even dabbled in acting, making appearances in several movies and dozens of TV series.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBkpyHVhQihh8iepeHvxgjjHetxmpDSY0_a8utuKksoGYWNAgchtHukLLSLciTW0cX3ZignI_vdhNkIYbYZzKfzixpHPT_vK4BFsJBP1gDv5p9nzQvKpK2tt_QutB3Fa2Lr7G1uXa_y0bNenppniz7SUl3dnQNHAoMcvQ98Jn3rx8n66sPQMUvwJekRYr/s600/18young-lpcg-articleLarge.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBkpyHVhQihh8iepeHvxgjjHetxmpDSY0_a8utuKksoGYWNAgchtHukLLSLciTW0cX3ZignI_vdhNkIYbYZzKfzixpHPT_vK4BFsJBP1gDv5p9nzQvKpK2tt_QutB3Fa2Lr7G1uXa_y0bNenppniz7SUl3dnQNHAoMcvQ98Jn3rx8n66sPQMUvwJekRYr/w400-h326/18young-lpcg-articleLarge.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Burt Young</b><br />Died October 8, 2023 at age 83.<br />A prolific actor, Young was best known for playing Paulie in the various <b><i>Rocky</i></b> movies.<br /><br />I was VERY surprised to find out he was only 36 when he starred in the first <i><b>Rocky</b></i> film. Wow, that was a rough looking 36! I'd have guessed he was 50 in that film if he was a day!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y7k6fglU5WIgBJqd4ifABDo4Spl_e6EbhciZeUd07Vu6qScAQBe6TQMWogXqEeOMNTA1ApTAF7BzHQ_7NCOnydcfMB7EGRhAPg3yepoj39Sw6Pdv6wvgRPm2tA7Q5C88zlqMcnDsTVI36GWbxmqT7l0DDrGypcMScNnzVavcHDIEhC3uKMq8P3VgFK3E/s1024/Keith_Giffen.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y7k6fglU5WIgBJqd4ifABDo4Spl_e6EbhciZeUd07Vu6qScAQBe6TQMWogXqEeOMNTA1ApTAF7BzHQ_7NCOnydcfMB7EGRhAPg3yepoj39Sw6Pdv6wvgRPm2tA7Q5C88zlqMcnDsTVI36GWbxmqT7l0DDrGypcMScNnzVavcHDIEhC3uKMq8P3VgFK3E/w400-h225/Keith_Giffen.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Keith Giffen</b><br />Died October 9, 2023 at age 70.<br />While hardly a household name, Giffen was well known in the world of comics, where he was a prolific artist & writer. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He had a famous run on DC's <b><i>Legion Of Superheroes</i></b> in the 1980s, in which he drew and later wrote the book. In later years, Giffen began incorporating his warped sense of humor into his comics— a radical concept in the era of grim & gritty comics. In 1987, Giffen, along with JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire created <b><i>Justice League International</i></b>, a lighthearted comic that was more sitcom than superhero in tone.<br /><br />Giffen also co-created many famous comic characters, such as Ambush Bug, Lobo and even Rocket Raccoon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSFZijGqct7NBkmYNosCJ85AbX-cDnK9DevwahYHHSMLDLCQxgnQkc4kkdYsoB6orqXz6LKkd98vLneDt0uzl5fiPEjVDFNCVONBqtnGXiYbIE3x9Pg7SLgNLHRgD32vVkwkaNNV7asAVhUMFps9bIuV39tk3iv_IPDhSm2r8FkfNUrvEH7oLyenfCtUR/s712/Wild_adventure_don.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="712" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSFZijGqct7NBkmYNosCJ85AbX-cDnK9DevwahYHHSMLDLCQxgnQkc4kkdYsoB6orqXz6LKkd98vLneDt0uzl5fiPEjVDFNCVONBqtnGXiYbIE3x9Pg7SLgNLHRgD32vVkwkaNNV7asAVhUMFps9bIuV39tk3iv_IPDhSm2r8FkfNUrvEH7oLyenfCtUR/w400-h303/Wild_adventure_don.webp" width="430" /></a></div></div><b>Mark Goddard</b><br />Died October 10, 2023 at age 87.<br />Best known for playing Major Don West on <b><i>Lost In Space</i></b> in the 1960s.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBCSTunvUixpWfKA_rnIlfJni9JR30Xcve3kdpDI-hENNfyPOu7dOkfddWqNPhooswLXuiC6QZ1KMJBhLnTX05xYV6s6HvknFCsvSo5eUem-55krftrwELx214qGz-LqbYzbmfsDwjCLp7zfpsYDTzOQO4B3iosy9Xe-RbHmgrKq3OolpFgQt9hGGisoO/s600/13coates-1-qhfv-articleLarge.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="600" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBCSTunvUixpWfKA_rnIlfJni9JR30Xcve3kdpDI-hENNfyPOu7dOkfddWqNPhooswLXuiC6QZ1KMJBhLnTX05xYV6s6HvknFCsvSo5eUem-55krftrwELx214qGz-LqbYzbmfsDwjCLp7zfpsYDTzOQO4B3iosy9Xe-RbHmgrKq3OolpFgQt9hGGisoO/w400-h315/13coates-1-qhfv-articleLarge.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Phyllis Coates</b><br />Died October 11, 2023 at age 96.<br />Coates was best known for playing Lois Lane in the movie serial <b><i>Superman And The Mole Men</i></b>, and in the first season of TV's <i><b>Adventures Of Superman</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBea2qOQQsNEr7gmA64eMpcKC9_XMQhxOwcYC8NMBaL-2I92mhzscZUGfopn7778wzkLk-UUtYDIBa0sJ_K7MK51a9_XSqmHStkbTSE3Hm7VzTvSDeoaMvfTXk8Vqq9o_tvWhZ_6VBVX1Bhle6xyhRqFkJ9o5mOMuWNdNuf6bhunL-a7h2s3qP3xXfUpQ_/s1200/5af1e067079a2.webp" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1200" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBea2qOQQsNEr7gmA64eMpcKC9_XMQhxOwcYC8NMBaL-2I92mhzscZUGfopn7778wzkLk-UUtYDIBa0sJ_K7MK51a9_XSqmHStkbTSE3Hm7VzTvSDeoaMvfTXk8Vqq9o_tvWhZ_6VBVX1Bhle6xyhRqFkJ9o5mOMuWNdNuf6bhunL-a7h2s3qP3xXfUpQ_/w400-h217/5af1e067079a2.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Piper Laurie</b><br />Died October 14, 2023 at age 91.<br />Actress whose work included such films as <b><i>The Hustler</i></b>, <b><i>Return To Oz</i></b> and <b><i>Children Of A Lesser God</i></b>. Over on TV she played Catherine Martell on <b><i>Twin Peaks</i></b>. <br /><br />Laurie will forever be known though for playing psychotic religious nut Margaret White in 1976's <b><i>Carrie</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOPxo1hNTGGfR9dJzl89206YK6Xz__wwkFIY1TwVjhOtC8dDg9wnkBbVcd6b5A38pg65_5I-2ltIV-vUUUctFQto-z2mENMg-uZhDjCOnN_qQZLFVCBhAnheFKf-O9B2pT4t6cxNEXA7S-YvEvChq2Bj8sZhJDbqFgnMEwZzHvg9HxhMaEkyUnSuPiTTA/s1687/suzanne-somers-today-6-171113.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="1687" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOPxo1hNTGGfR9dJzl89206YK6Xz__wwkFIY1TwVjhOtC8dDg9wnkBbVcd6b5A38pg65_5I-2ltIV-vUUUctFQto-z2mENMg-uZhDjCOnN_qQZLFVCBhAnheFKf-O9B2pT4t6cxNEXA7S-YvEvChq2Bj8sZhJDbqFgnMEwZzHvg9HxhMaEkyUnSuPiTTA/w400-h369/suzanne-somers-today-6-171113.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Suzanne Somers</b><br />Died October 15, 2023 at age 76.<br />Perennial TV actress, who starred in <i><b>Three's Company</b></i>, <b><i>Step By Step</i></b> and <i><b>She's The Sheriff</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When <b><i>Three's Company</i></b> began its fifth season, Somers demanded a salary increase from $30,000 an episode to a whopping $150,000 (the same amount her costar John Ritter was getting). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The producers offered her a $5,000 per episode raise, causing her to walk off the show for several weeks. She eventually returned to the show, but the producers severely reduced her role, giving her just sixty seconds of screentime per episode. At the end of the fifth season they fired her. It took a long time for her career to recover.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the early 1990s, Somers famously became the spokesperson for the Thighmaster, filming numerous informercials for the dubious product.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_2cxf0DPnB7b7ystIi3l2fz11TWJB1bkpDFqMnrJsKZJF62G1Rj6LrKvEZcu0f7XRw_x5Ec0vM1AOiiV_sRiNeWvd1ZUBYqMhXzDTyDKVqEuVx0vnxOYxir8ch6mJZL01BkkNwYv_WWs3gB34B0R9BOsNah-speK-2KSNir-gAH-Uk4mnQWfPb-4KpjM/s275/download.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_2cxf0DPnB7b7ystIi3l2fz11TWJB1bkpDFqMnrJsKZJF62G1Rj6LrKvEZcu0f7XRw_x5Ec0vM1AOiiV_sRiNeWvd1ZUBYqMhXzDTyDKVqEuVx0vnxOYxir8ch6mJZL01BkkNwYv_WWs3gB34B0R9BOsNah-speK-2KSNir-gAH-Uk4mnQWfPb-4KpjM/w400-h266/download.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Bobi</b><br />Died October 21, 2023 at age 31.<br />Bobi gained notoriety for being the oldest dog in history. Would that all our dogs could have such long lifespans!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoag8zvUFa6OUzT4oE0KXRuLSiPOe_oKlteWxX8klxqWImVuTkOVN3DHoCRNi0W4vOnew-7HhN0Ar7FTvtYNqPYSgjjNMjx2UDT7B5At0BUML9xbObbjvJP_JzmQBIKBVF7uCGEAK9paSp4ogeGUdRsAjgkx8byb5Zutj0phezdlyEfxYohAjOwo0pE7OP/s2500/231024-Richard-Roundtree-shaft-obit-1973-ac-1012p-a217ff.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1667" data-original-width="2500" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoag8zvUFa6OUzT4oE0KXRuLSiPOe_oKlteWxX8klxqWImVuTkOVN3DHoCRNi0W4vOnew-7HhN0Ar7FTvtYNqPYSgjjNMjx2UDT7B5At0BUML9xbObbjvJP_JzmQBIKBVF7uCGEAK9paSp4ogeGUdRsAjgkx8byb5Zutj0phezdlyEfxYohAjOwo0pE7OP/w400-h266/231024-Richard-Roundtree-shaft-obit-1973-ac-1012p-a217ff.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Richard Roundtree</b><br />Died October 24, 2023 at age 81.<br />Although he had many other roles, Roundtree will be forever known for playing the title character in the <b><i>Shaft</i></b> franchise.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96_UJgcZf5Z7-2Zt3dA6N2AfoMevThokJRNeDzwqjoAeV7KgAmMTtDM8cSUoo-y9SrIOnMxDNRWpbOLkcvXSaaQ3XDyNX2xTohCnepqXSiL0T2dWOxCsPCvV2R4ABjYW-LSn8Wcb7iyyMxWrN0eZra9_w_8a1aJhtTe-QcM_StRQ_vnU6Z47rNneI3Nm9/s1825/richard-moll-night-court.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1825" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96_UJgcZf5Z7-2Zt3dA6N2AfoMevThokJRNeDzwqjoAeV7KgAmMTtDM8cSUoo-y9SrIOnMxDNRWpbOLkcvXSaaQ3XDyNX2xTohCnepqXSiL0T2dWOxCsPCvV2R4ABjYW-LSn8Wcb7iyyMxWrN0eZra9_w_8a1aJhtTe-QcM_StRQ_vnU6Z47rNneI3Nm9/w400-h266/richard-moll-night-court.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Richard Moll</b><br />Died October 26, 2023 at age 80.<br />Character actor best known for playing the lumbering Bull on 80s sitcom <b><i>Night Court</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzvp4eSoCTtFLz3x9vyKy8PbAdjr38CZZNdChOQAnjKsBXriTBMZoToNFMk_7hIknK4lhm2nYPQtzJHNi0GDtouxKIFn_UqiYdBdXrc2CRwQ0PrAphB0Qe8aQoyLbhI3VCF6G_hr71i8HeYLfXWw64lRKNp2ceBkgh2tM0-rBrjYNbkJvZKjZiPR0juI8/s3000/231028221810-01-matthew-perry-gallery.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzvp4eSoCTtFLz3x9vyKy8PbAdjr38CZZNdChOQAnjKsBXriTBMZoToNFMk_7hIknK4lhm2nYPQtzJHNi0GDtouxKIFn_UqiYdBdXrc2CRwQ0PrAphB0Qe8aQoyLbhI3VCF6G_hr71i8HeYLfXWw64lRKNp2ceBkgh2tM0-rBrjYNbkJvZKjZiPR0juI8/w400-h266/231028221810-01-matthew-perry-gallery.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Matthew Perry</b><br />Died October 28, 2023 at the much too young age of 54.<br />Perry was best known for playing Chandler Bing for ten seasons on 90s mega-sitcom <b><i>Friends</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sadly, Perry was plagued by many demons— something that happens all too often with comedians. He regularly abused alcohol and drugs throughout his life, and especially during the filming of <b><i>Friends</i></b>. Tragically, an autopsy revealed he succumbed from "acute effects of ketamine," a drug commonly used to treat depression.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdqBJJ9HEHAXltoMYfogt8D2F_Sp0eVdGAJuBGdfn9Bn6LHcEzd5roAfgZKv7OZBPiUwjaUOND_7J5YR4r4rdjHkevYqWOJtucDsRaLszmi5epMEA8ZTCu_zGW1fQaCvQFN45k66qC_L0z9fwMU_XQHhkTa74-tvGq4rS05Qws8ZGQl6xtn5JUvfOPo0a/s1296/r354381_1296x729_16-9.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1296" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdqBJJ9HEHAXltoMYfogt8D2F_Sp0eVdGAJuBGdfn9Bn6LHcEzd5roAfgZKv7OZBPiUwjaUOND_7J5YR4r4rdjHkevYqWOJtucDsRaLszmi5epMEA8ZTCu_zGW1fQaCvQFN45k66qC_L0z9fwMU_XQHhkTa74-tvGq4rS05Qws8ZGQl6xtn5JUvfOPo0a/w400-h225/r354381_1296x729_16-9.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Bob Knight</b><br />Died November 1, 2023 at age 83.<br />Mom always told me if you can't say something nice about someone, then don't say anything at all, so...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OK, OK, you talked me into it. But remember, you asked for it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Knight was the head basketball coach of Indiana University from 1971 to 2000, and held the record for most wins. He was also a colossal asshole and a violent bully.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He argued constantly with referees, racking up numerous fines and suspensions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Knight also was accused of physically abusing his players, going so far as to head-butt and even choke them (!). He even did this to his own son Pat, when he played for the Hoosiers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 1988 he was famously interviewed by Connie Chung, who asked him how he handled stress. Knight replied with a charming bon mot, saying, "I think if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." His response was met with universal outrage (in the pre-internet era), prompting him to say his remark was "misinterpreted."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The incident he'll forever be remembered for though happened during a 1985 game against the Purdue Boilermakers, in which Knight threw a hissy fit over a call and tossed a chair onto the court. He never lived that one down, as his little episode followed him everywhere and became fodder for endless jokes and mockery. There was even a popular restaurant in Bloomington called The Red Chair, which featured, well, a red chair bolted above their sign.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was by all accounts a thoroughly vile and repellant person, and the only reason he kept his coaching job as long as he did was because he generated millions for the university. I won't shed a tear for his demise.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc1_gdKTsKLNb6h5KY_9F-m34LAlhPnb97cgMp0qgemTr33SdHbbhknXc9eseJ2RbK9ANwynJOKGUAXamPQDfNckON8CfIWDtMmLL8yLcoF0vAx26nqEw2sJTXo5f1aXQogzphM-ujCBD78eb5uuTcese4xfEBo3O3EVLpH8cmXY2a6_x5WyDid53JQfO/s1200/rosalynn-carter-cause-of-death-2023.jpg" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc1_gdKTsKLNb6h5KY_9F-m34LAlhPnb97cgMp0qgemTr33SdHbbhknXc9eseJ2RbK9ANwynJOKGUAXamPQDfNckON8CfIWDtMmLL8yLcoF0vAx26nqEw2sJTXo5f1aXQogzphM-ujCBD78eb5uuTcese4xfEBo3O3EVLpH8cmXY2a6_x5WyDid53JQfO/w400-h225/rosalynn-carter-cause-of-death-2023.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rosalynn Carter</b><br />Died November 19, 2023 at age 96.<br />Former first lady and wife of President Jimmy Carter. In addition to her first lady duties, Carter was a famed mental health activist. Sadly and ironically, she died of complications from dementia.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtyzB-D8ddmHF-03HOUmLSfLAOriSA3wn7KvevEnBupDxNTNJh-as2oPzW6HY5oVD-2YV_fyqckHt4uBbSQn1lenp36SfX6vVYrEGZexGntrEQlqLjHhajC0CdxrbxYGAi8lGqkcP5K11x0kmFhFqywLjDoRFxQBKnbmKnMikHhZUmTOGDbFymAq_EHaE/s1000/GettyImages-56154622-1.webp" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtyzB-D8ddmHF-03HOUmLSfLAOriSA3wn7KvevEnBupDxNTNJh-as2oPzW6HY5oVD-2YV_fyqckHt4uBbSQn1lenp36SfX6vVYrEGZexGntrEQlqLjHhajC0CdxrbxYGAi8lGqkcP5K11x0kmFhFqywLjDoRFxQBKnbmKnMikHhZUmTOGDbFymAq_EHaE/w400-h225/GettyImages-56154622-1.webp" width="430" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Marty Krofft</b><br />Died November 25, 2023 at age 86.<br />One half of the team of Sid & Marty Krofft, the Canadian puppeteers and producers who live action numerous kids' shows in the 1970s, including <b><i>HR Pufnstuf</i></b>, <b><i>The Bugaloos</i></b>, <i><b>Lidsville</b></i>, <b><i>Land Of The Lost</i></b> and <b><i>Sigmund And The Sea Monsters</i></b>.<br /><br />For decades people have been convinced the Kroffts dreamed up their shows while under the influence of pot and LSD. Marty Krofft strenuously denied this, saying, "No drugs involved. You can't do drugs while you're making shows." I wholeheartedly agree with him. Every drug user I've ever known has just laid on the couch all day or was unable to perform even the simplest tasks with their fried brain. It's hard to be creative when you're completely out of your mind.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />In the 1970s the Kroffts sued McDonald's, claiming the fast food giant's McDonaldland characters were lifted directly from <b><i>HR Pufnstuf</i></b>. After a lengthy trial, the Kroffts won the case and were awarded $1,044,000 in damages. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qkql4VcEIuOhln0kvVlZvBIrNdwSm0k1B9k4DpBc3heYGKI4L4rVfHAr_0ONq7tLRTNUSburD_Au9rgu-cdjg0NHOoQ-VTQZ65oO6m6HRnUNmmblP01epdzwJ4pjS9zvrJgidTfSWR6otOUWT-L45iuRFjvDTbqUcg0EV0X_vK40PM58DeVZn6ap-3TU/s400/sticky_vicky_returns.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="400" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Qkql4VcEIuOhln0kvVlZvBIrNdwSm0k1B9k4DpBc3heYGKI4L4rVfHAr_0ONq7tLRTNUSburD_Au9rgu-cdjg0NHOoQ-VTQZ65oO6m6HRnUNmmblP01epdzwJ4pjS9zvrJgidTfSWR6otOUWT-L45iuRFjvDTbqUcg0EV0X_vK40PM58DeVZn6ap-3TU/w400-h375/sticky_vicky_returns.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><b>Sticky Vicky</b><br />Died November 28, 2023 at age 80<br />Sticky Vicky, aka Vicky Leyton, was a Spanish dancer and magician, whose stage act consisted of her pulling various objects out of her vagina. Things such as ping pong balls, eggs, handkerchiefs, sausages (!), razor blades, machetes (!!) and a lit light bulb.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sure, why not.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0iEHEjKb3VKfa2_87VL2uPKoQuSkUXjoK423wGPE4e9IGFM8yohnHAIiQzNwFnF5Be9-MSYmt1okTQIBmDCfK4Fvd37g5EEFqjz1RxEFF4XPSe4o_3GHqoRn7uDKoypblkxZjv7WLEz11rjSnpumibPAeckH3ZmP8x4SzKQZHMt8DQry-_dC82YuaP9-/s600/kissinger-obit-16-web-articleLarge.webp" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0iEHEjKb3VKfa2_87VL2uPKoQuSkUXjoK423wGPE4e9IGFM8yohnHAIiQzNwFnF5Be9-MSYmt1okTQIBmDCfK4Fvd37g5EEFqjz1RxEFF4XPSe4o_3GHqoRn7uDKoypblkxZjv7WLEz11rjSnpumibPAeckH3ZmP8x4SzKQZHMt8DQry-_dC82YuaP9-/w400-h284/kissinger-obit-16-web-articleLarge.webp" width="430" /></a></div><b>Henry Kissinger</b><br />Died November 29, 2023 at age 100 (!).<br />Kissinger was a German-born diplomat & politician who emigrated to America and became national security advisor, as well as secretary of state. <br /><br />Kissinger was an <i>extremely</i> divisive public figure, as his foreign policy decisions resulted in the deaths of millions— including 500,000 Cambodians killed by American carpet-bombing missions. His actions also prolonged the Vietnam War by at least five years, claiming even more lives. Ironically, he eventually he switched gears and worked to <i>end</i> the war— which amazingly won him the Nobel Prize in 1973!<br /><br /><b>Shane MacGowan</b><br />Died November 30, 2023 at age 65.<br />Lead singer of Irish band <b><i>The Pogues</i></b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEeG1d1RXhy1ByUQpzUnOaCVlbLsfYsecXbAHAlVDj15unvXFudBsST58zQb1QcDHv2YXh2U_urweSjSejardbg-S7wSKjXlMrJ1nTThWkVILzDoCtJYE5aAZfJqo-ab5uuNX-9HsuoWDOovJOtkbRlVLmG6FlvNjkSmvKbErZAkoCmRI_r8dsqwullJn/s760/231201-Sandra-Day-OConnor-ew-1002a-53fd22.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="760" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEeG1d1RXhy1ByUQpzUnOaCVlbLsfYsecXbAHAlVDj15unvXFudBsST58zQb1QcDHv2YXh2U_urweSjSejardbg-S7wSKjXlMrJ1nTThWkVILzDoCtJYE5aAZfJqo-ab5uuNX-9HsuoWDOovJOtkbRlVLmG6FlvNjkSmvKbErZAkoCmRI_r8dsqwullJn/w400-h270/231201-Sandra-Day-OConnor-ew-1002a-53fd22.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Sandra Day O'Connor</b><br />Died December 1, 2023 at age 93.<br />Among her many accomplishments, O'Connor was best known as the first woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF3rqBemKIto13yH3skxaJ6SSvjnhMnYaBv6x00SJey_0_80KByrgi0D11lTgJ_LYUhfdxIHi1RT2bxfH2gh9nkJ-NTMdhBqWELV2rEfRrZFssuRevOdkEkDpoDgitDFK1_rX9vJqtQJHEBc_uRcuuY1X2a5PtjKdeaO4a8ljOtuI188uh3CaU_JRv4WF/s1280/norman-lear-1920.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRF3rqBemKIto13yH3skxaJ6SSvjnhMnYaBv6x00SJey_0_80KByrgi0D11lTgJ_LYUhfdxIHi1RT2bxfH2gh9nkJ-NTMdhBqWELV2rEfRrZFssuRevOdkEkDpoDgitDFK1_rX9vJqtQJHEBc_uRcuuY1X2a5PtjKdeaO4a8ljOtuI188uh3CaU_JRv4WF/w400-h225/norman-lear-1920.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><b>Norman Lear</b><br />Died December 5, 2023 at age 101 (!).<br />Damn, damn, DAMN! OK, so he lived to be a hundred and one, but it's still sad and unpleasant news.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lear was the creative force behind dozens of beloved and provocative sitcoms, such as <b><i>All In The Family</i></b>, <i><b>Sandford And Son</b></i>, <b><i>Maude</i></b>, <b><i>The Jeffersons</i></b>, <b><i>Good Times</i></b> and many, many more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />His shows challenged viewers, as they covered numerous taboo subjects such as race, religion, sexuality and more. Yet somehow they managed to be entertaining without being preachy. He was a true pioneer who </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">changed television forever.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT40AxMpCMqjPvHIEf-vFdJ2Frs0Qd-pmHeQViCtWLXgNZQcW5pAIp5fjM_Bq8lC7gEnEF0qJvHo100bHjce9hoMb8hIw3WM7geDNKckf0mSlueoOVYfznVUwWKcnO9Hlg3M2otf6qscpy9ebMZP7GNfwOHwntHQeJ0pUVDcWzbxpskgZSxUpXUL9vABQ/s792/a8d703ffa075432cb8c36997d8a9b90a_md.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="792" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLT40AxMpCMqjPvHIEf-vFdJ2Frs0Qd-pmHeQViCtWLXgNZQcW5pAIp5fjM_Bq8lC7gEnEF0qJvHo100bHjce9hoMb8hIw3WM7geDNKckf0mSlueoOVYfznVUwWKcnO9Hlg3M2otf6qscpy9ebMZP7GNfwOHwntHQeJ0pUVDcWzbxpskgZSxUpXUL9vABQ/w400-h276/a8d703ffa075432cb8c36997d8a9b90a_md.webp" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Ryan O'Neal</b><br />Died December 8, 2023 at age 82.<br />Actor best known for starring in <i><b>Love Story</b></i>, <b><i>Barry Lyndon</i></b> and <i><b>Paper Moon</b></i>. Oddly enough he started out as a Golden Gloves boxer!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygen6JOUXqrAxTUQf-eKWemzGb3lEXYSTnugEKDgTDlIYwrASLlR1yfUeXaG19pxk1mpr8ZO6PNfOOKx_QrAFG4Bl73-bex70yiKUZMgJPHvrSHDD-XxYW7ZLKF-wbHx7xET6NuLo3Sn_oR9VMlcwcx1zXNOdoABfoPoIXYzbGflA_VPgrzGQGHk0hUF1/s784/tom-smothers-everett-450x600.jpg" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="784" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygen6JOUXqrAxTUQf-eKWemzGb3lEXYSTnugEKDgTDlIYwrASLlR1yfUeXaG19pxk1mpr8ZO6PNfOOKx_QrAFG4Bl73-bex70yiKUZMgJPHvrSHDD-XxYW7ZLKF-wbHx7xET6NuLo3Sn_oR9VMlcwcx1zXNOdoABfoPoIXYzbGflA_VPgrzGQGHk0hUF1/w400-h306/tom-smothers-everett-450x600.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><b>Tommy Smothers</b><br />Died December 26, 2023 at age 86.<br />One half of the comedy duo the Smothers Brothers. He and his brother Dick started out as folk singers, gradually adding humor and comedic bickering to their act.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The brothers began appearing on various variety shows of the day, and eventually got their own series— <b><i>The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour</i></b>— on CBS in 1967, The show was popular, but also extremely controversial, as the two regularly spoke out against the then-current Vietnam War, as well as politicians of the day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their most famous bit was when they said, "Easter is when Jesus comes out of his tomb, and if her sees his shadow, he goes back in and we get six more weeks of winter." Haw!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eventually CBS demanded they submit all material a week before airtime, so they could review and edit it. The brothers refused, and CBS canceled the series in 1969.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tommy famously always played the "dumb" brother, but he was anything but. In his later years he became an outspoken civil rights activist.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He was also a world champion yoyo master!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyGjAZIKMlm3yz5h8oFVv6naG07AEOjOshyphenhyphen0OXsKrOt0nJRhYd-mGurymi4CX1fsQlHZm2ZhZ5WcU1mdbJdQLp2fH5Vherm-hFu56bVtv6aK2dIKXbwRguxEy9A8YLs648vDeW5apsOFofgVwwohOcQKXt0bz2Jk5mmpLXDuJNsW2FkfZzg62JNJwvMyn/s428/_320x_a8a5cfa105793b447a50b4e84da3ffa347b0c50b8e9f5e053675a20a71365fcb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="428" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyGjAZIKMlm3yz5h8oFVv6naG07AEOjOshyphenhyphen0OXsKrOt0nJRhYd-mGurymi4CX1fsQlHZm2ZhZ5WcU1mdbJdQLp2fH5Vherm-hFu56bVtv6aK2dIKXbwRguxEy9A8YLs648vDeW5apsOFofgVwwohOcQKXt0bz2Jk5mmpLXDuJNsW2FkfZzg62JNJwvMyn/w400-h224/_320x_a8a5cfa105793b447a50b4e84da3ffa347b0c50b8e9f5e053675a20a71365fcb.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Miguel Angel Fuentes</b><br />Died December 29, 2023 at age 70.<br />Fuentes was a Mexican actor who, for better or worse, was best known for his role in <b><i>Pumaman</i></b>— a <b><i>MST3K</i></b> staple.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA7VqH8E6a2f2mZLla9NJrVN9EslOYICd3oh6u5hZ0sKuBTPGRnFaNO9m0fjNxqMLl2nysLBpKimTiYUfXLvbj4OP629AlwRJVnlrtgxx1KXWQgv45D5TcL16QdmhOzZXRtIR7Ep-YjnkYH8uv_OlIyaxLUqZPAn4GkzJVc87XCNyI28MudYOLrANS31s/s527/GDMZ4iDbsAAiACR.png" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="527" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA7VqH8E6a2f2mZLla9NJrVN9EslOYICd3oh6u5hZ0sKuBTPGRnFaNO9m0fjNxqMLl2nysLBpKimTiYUfXLvbj4OP629AlwRJVnlrtgxx1KXWQgv45D5TcL16QdmhOzZXRtIR7Ep-YjnkYH8uv_OlIyaxLUqZPAn4GkzJVc87XCNyI28MudYOLrANS31s/w400-h209/GDMZ4iDbsAAiACR.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-family: helvetica;"><b>UPDATE!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Cindy Morgan</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Died December 30, 2023 at age 69(although for some shameful reason, her passing wasn't reported until January 8, 2024).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Actress who starred in such films as <i>TRON</i> and <i><b>Caddyshack</b></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even though she was never in a lot of stuff, I had a big crush on her back in the 1980s and am sad to hear of her untimely death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Cale Yarborough</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Died December 31, 2023 at age 84.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yarborough was a famed NASCAR and Hall Of Fame race car driver.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3quMp3-jc3Bwv0mNDZmXtTjtoA5lN7fute-bflAj0LL887L8-ANmV9q0YdU3890ZNQclx0U0q4MqpU6JxwoACf-2NmROplrLIDfQd8ccDEGjvejZV7GO9ICopftIlwbYrx6vMQTaOzqJ0xO72Ulp22LSjJFg-G0SI3e-qWlgI9XoIegqks-XJmCMFXB2b/s600/31obit-greene-1-articleLarge.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3quMp3-jc3Bwv0mNDZmXtTjtoA5lN7fute-bflAj0LL887L8-ANmV9q0YdU3890ZNQclx0U0q4MqpU6JxwoACf-2NmROplrLIDfQd8ccDEGjvejZV7GO9ICopftIlwbYrx6vMQTaOzqJ0xO72Ulp22LSjJFg-G0SI3e-qWlgI9XoIegqks-XJmCMFXB2b/w400-h266/31obit-greene-1-articleLarge.webp" width="430" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Shecky Greene</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Died December 31, 2023 at age 97.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Perennial Borscht Belt/Vegas comedian and occasional actor.</span></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-25245222852675459792023-12-30T22:55:00.001-06:002023-12-31T15:34:30.185-06:00The Overcommercialization Of Life Day<div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah, it's the Christmas Season once again! And because I apparently have deep seated self-loathing issues, I recently re-watched </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(yes, RE-watched) the infamous <b><i>Star Wars Holiday Special</i></b>.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Terabytes have already been written about the complete and utter awfulness of the <i><b>Special</b></i>, so I won't add to that here. But I did want to point out something I noticed during this re-watch that I don't think anyone's ever mentioned before.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The copy of the <i><b>Special</b></i> that I watched included EVERY commercial and promo that appeared on that fateful night of November 17, 1978— the one and only time it aired. A</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">s I watched these ads, something dawned on me— of the thirty two ads that ran during the </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Special</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, only a scant THREE of them were targeted towards children! The rest were aimed squarely at adults, as they featued cars, cosmetics, over the counter drugs and even wine (!).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought that was a bit odd, since <b><i>Star Wars</i></b> was ostensibly meant for kids (at least in the 1970s). Why not load it up with commercials for toys, cereals, cartoons and other things kids like? Seems like a no-brainer to me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course, it's entirely possible that CBS intended to fill their ad space with kid-friendly commercials, but once companies got a look at the <b><i>Special</i></b> they gave it a hard pass and noped out. The network likely had to take whatever promos they could get!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If I'm being honest, the commercials were all far more interesting and entertaining than the show itself. Here's a list of the commercials that ran during the <b><i>Star Wars Holiday Special:</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCmLloLFek46tEzOYLjggbSkS1mOmeczTJ_qXzex50gmlEHZ-A2J1WYTPG7qv3Mw405ezewsmthNMhFB8j-fdk7fhOUfBKeZ6LtT0l1GhWiwB0M4drF6YRe_ab5J161zV9ZVIjAFyuW0eNQ3KDqMCURiwjNcuovAqcWpiCF7svMX-G_wdpLZjgCA8C1bl/s1008/swhs%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCmLloLFek46tEzOYLjggbSkS1mOmeczTJ_qXzex50gmlEHZ-A2J1WYTPG7qv3Mw405ezewsmthNMhFB8j-fdk7fhOUfBKeZ6LtT0l1GhWiwB0M4drF6YRe_ab5J161zV9ZVIjAFyuW0eNQ3KDqMCURiwjNcuovAqcWpiCF7svMX-G_wdpLZjgCA8C1bl/w400-h305/swhs%2001.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>General Motors</b><br />The first of two ads from them, as they were apparently a major sponsor. Oddly enough, this commercial didn't advertise any of their actual products, but instead touted how much fun it was to work on their auto assembly line (?).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rrJVYobqBy5CTZytLdxQJjTEX3ViTq03u8CBHuRKfjHDjbXKnActxA1NexY91I1dzs8qB-VRHGfXC1wgm1C54DHUDHWQRJNy45yBY4AF5k-37v-nISUaJrffASSvQaoREkVluhN3Lnvxe5LE41W7kkuuhEKsMm-N0h8GOwonSpJx1rx9Ffo5sJCjsJ4r/s450/tracker.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rrJVYobqBy5CTZytLdxQJjTEX3ViTq03u8CBHuRKfjHDjbXKnActxA1NexY91I1dzs8qB-VRHGfXC1wgm1C54DHUDHWQRJNy45yBY4AF5k-37v-nISUaJrffASSvQaoREkVluhN3Lnvxe5LE41W7kkuuhEKsMm-N0h8GOwonSpJx1rx9Ffo5sJCjsJ4r/w400-h300/tracker.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Trail Tracker</b><br />One of the few commercials that actually advertised a toy. This one was for a little battery operated car that would follow a line drawn on a dry erase mat. Fun! I mean, dull and tedious!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qcCuTsmpOy2SzXmsNrBK4os1YcDEsXk6l2CRiK-EKv_8PCsHLZjwdeZOsda59nvFZG6aa0fGksQPWtwgT4Kq_adsM3T-ZF27Lil9RhHSL3rL7oGhJzSsVNlVhnjed6x5uFdOIN8DbYHXvKb4bldfEu67PCZAY2p4xuvRtbJE8CgVdd5PFkFzdXaui3dA/s1003/swhs%2003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1003" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qcCuTsmpOy2SzXmsNrBK4os1YcDEsXk6l2CRiK-EKv_8PCsHLZjwdeZOsda59nvFZG6aa0fGksQPWtwgT4Kq_adsM3T-ZF27Lil9RhHSL3rL7oGhJzSsVNlVhnjed6x5uFdOIN8DbYHXvKb4bldfEu67PCZAY2p4xuvRtbJE8CgVdd5PFkFzdXaui3dA/w400-h306/swhs%2003.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>CBS promo</b><br />One of the many in-house commercials that ran during the <i><b>Special</b></i>, which meant they either couldn't find enough paying customers to advertise and had to fill up time somehow, or CBS' ratings were in the crapper and they were desperately trying to promote their terrible programming schedule.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This one was for their big Sunday night lineup, which included <i><b>60 Minutes</b></i>, <b><i>All In The Family</i></b>, <b><i>Alice</i></b>, a <b><i>Lucy Comes To Nashville</i></b> special and <b><i>Dallas</i></b>. I thought <b><i>All In The Family</i></b> was always a Saturday night show, while <i><b>Dallas</b></i> ran on Fridays. Apparently my memory's faulty, or they moved 'em around at some point.<br /><br />• <b>Comtrex Cold Reliever</b><br />Who thought it was a good idea to advertise cold remedies to an audience made largely of kids?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILHFctQD9UI4xabHktsEiap1ApwqjjyytJOg7YjgApr5GvWv9kN3ZzWLpd-2QbC24E0W4PSZmu2Ojrem6oefwnW-SmxiCLj2CaPyZETf20Biqf0sG8PJKRBRm_XOEmGA4fkcDmXQXj9cMDWi1PmQWqdLXx6-nfUU5oJCBs5vygD4APAZ45U2zilgaKz1R/s450/union.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILHFctQD9UI4xabHktsEiap1ApwqjjyytJOg7YjgApr5GvWv9kN3ZzWLpd-2QbC24E0W4PSZmu2Ojrem6oefwnW-SmxiCLj2CaPyZETf20Biqf0sG8PJKRBRm_XOEmGA4fkcDmXQXj9cMDWi1PmQWqdLXx6-nfUU5oJCBs5vygD4APAZ45U2zilgaKz1R/w400-h300/union.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>International Ladies' Garment Worker's Union</b><br />Ah yes, because kids have traditionally always had a love of trade unions! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This commercial was a HUGE deal, as it played constantly for a few years back in the 1970s. It was even mocked by the late night talk shows of the day, for its amateurish production values and bizarre anthem:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Look for the union label <br />When you are buying that coat, dress or blouse<br />Remember somewhere our union’s sewing<br />Our wages going to feed the kids and run the house<br />We work hard but who’s complaining?<br />Thanks to the ILG we’re paying our way!<br />So always look for the union label<br />It says we’re able to make it in the USA!</i><br /><br />Strange that they went with such a sexist and exclusionary name, as there were plenty of men in the union too. Apparently I'm not the only one who thought so, as it's now known as the <b>Union Of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees</b>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ85_-DgZzKnuBU4FxgXlM5tmcSdux0HGwHJKChUwKA4tUhxGViZ9-a-Z6zsqh6aGkBkPEsfH3hBY6L9MVg2rjTC4T6t3b50xpMhQpexOnYCuUvGZkeAXksWQMmo4XXkoyUzNkwLc9rCU7CS6HHeSxReOgJ818E9A2FcxvhycuntUjedSb5UFPHXi4eWo/s1012/swhs%2005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1012" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ85_-DgZzKnuBU4FxgXlM5tmcSdux0HGwHJKChUwKA4tUhxGViZ9-a-Z6zsqh6aGkBkPEsfH3hBY6L9MVg2rjTC4T6t3b50xpMhQpexOnYCuUvGZkeAXksWQMmo4XXkoyUzNkwLc9rCU7CS6HHeSxReOgJ818E9A2FcxvhycuntUjedSb5UFPHXi4eWo/w400-h304/swhs%2005.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Bell Telephone</b><br />According to this commercial, buying your own landline phone was a thing back in the 1970s. I guess if you didn't like the standard black one the phone company provided, you could buy your own stylish and "fun" one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYQUPbCI_KSuTbU3QBV47NgA3U6AVvb6AZM258WdVRbN3xL6qsum4pUtqOO0hVvFaEoFdFGt7AExQWROvWziUn1YDX5bKDLeuZo5J2N5U3L0WJqyL3fDAXk3zF6hly8fQWTfLZFim8wXCxfQzuxW8OUYGZlr8R-rIAnAFQEdKCmPHV-Lo8ZtGBIY_nnI0/s1008/swhs%2006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYQUPbCI_KSuTbU3QBV47NgA3U6AVvb6AZM258WdVRbN3xL6qsum4pUtqOO0hVvFaEoFdFGt7AExQWROvWziUn1YDX5bKDLeuZo5J2N5U3L0WJqyL3fDAXk3zF6hly8fQWTfLZFim8wXCxfQzuxW8OUYGZlr8R-rIAnAFQEdKCmPHV-Lo8ZtGBIY_nnI0/w400-h305/swhs%2006.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>CBS promo </b><br />This one was for a presumably short-lived series called <i><b>The Bible</b></i>. I don't remember seeing or hearing about this back in the day, and I couldn't even find anything about it online. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's an IMDB entry for <i><b>Greatest Heroes Of The Bible</b></i>, which started airing the same week as the <i><b>Special</b></i>, so maybe they changed the name at some point for who knows what reason.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aZ8I0KUhS1VW-FG-FvH_9RZYyNwYx2h9mbZRNBbWaNpyUFjKMhcncGafQQPa15sNimCPfnaam531CTt6bDvfFrjYkb-pPyRjvzcXoVmUYJxmwtAJRA856b34Cky2bI8HEmSPqx0vpJh1RXC0fXnDEU9sNfPVdvOnL5xn24TFroPKtHiQjpYwNuWs7qlq/s999/swhs%2007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="999" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aZ8I0KUhS1VW-FG-FvH_9RZYyNwYx2h9mbZRNBbWaNpyUFjKMhcncGafQQPa15sNimCPfnaam531CTt6bDvfFrjYkb-pPyRjvzcXoVmUYJxmwtAJRA856b34Cky2bI8HEmSPqx0vpJh1RXC0fXnDEU9sNfPVdvOnL5xn24TFroPKtHiQjpYwNuWs7qlq/w400-h308/swhs%2007.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Reggie!</b><br />A round "candy bar" named after and endorsed by MLB player Reggie Jackson. I <i>suppose</i> I could be generous and say this one might have been aimed at kids, since they love candy. I suppose I could do that, but I don't see why I should.<br /><br />• <b>General Motors</b><br />Yet another commercial from the auto behemoth, this time demostrating how they test each engine before it's shipped out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5JJJEYUA7Qy5O6AAHypXbpR2GKmVxpTzGig67QUc3W29sKoyVX_1JLKtsRzEFyRM9etgTQ-R6vm1w_u_6to4342-mYaBUr-gWbH60uHJs3BD0bqpYCoy7W-maB8sZuVS67rsy91bF2YnpqXrLB7kfIyrp0reuy8KCvREin_IkhqWmBdTZIozSRxIARbT/s991/swhs%2008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="991" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5JJJEYUA7Qy5O6AAHypXbpR2GKmVxpTzGig67QUc3W29sKoyVX_1JLKtsRzEFyRM9etgTQ-R6vm1w_u_6to4342-mYaBUr-gWbH60uHJs3BD0bqpYCoy7W-maB8sZuVS67rsy91bF2YnpqXrLB7kfIyrp0reuy8KCvREin_IkhqWmBdTZIozSRxIARbT/w400-h310/swhs%2008.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Pillsbury Plus Yellow Cake Mix</b><br />OK, kids like eating cake, so I guess I'll allow this one. I actually remember seeing these commercials, as their big selling point was the fact that there was puddling in the cake mix, which made it moister. Looks like cake baking technology peaked in the 1970s!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimzD38qCqPAj-1NOxWG8sz2FaO3i4Dvop4gT8SCopHFNCjXxMMtqCRHnibGL3SSNfAozkUoRe4hHO5y_LJc6oCZXvPK874yjdwCE6pN3_ljmHZ3sfvg2dA5tNE8S2Hcz5YESx4tMlzoO0l3xlYZThRKUtuES9MPFr1hX-eHFypw4_Fwhda6oB6iEKJnbF/s995/swhs%2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="995" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimzD38qCqPAj-1NOxWG8sz2FaO3i4Dvop4gT8SCopHFNCjXxMMtqCRHnibGL3SSNfAozkUoRe4hHO5y_LJc6oCZXvPK874yjdwCE6pN3_ljmHZ3sfvg2dA5tNE8S2Hcz5YESx4tMlzoO0l3xlYZThRKUtuES9MPFr1hX-eHFypw4_Fwhda6oB6iEKJnbF/w400-h309/swhs%2009.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Hungry Jack Biscuits</b><br />This would have been a perfect spot for a Froot Loops or Lucky Charms commercial. Instead we got one for Hungry Jack Biscuits. Do kids even eat those? <br /><br />• <b>CBS News Break</b><br />Apparently they used to do quick news updates during prime time— something I doubt happens anymore.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuqOkeAVnQORUP_U4k_aMLfyC6ojYM7EUBmxJW0wnY4gzTElb48lc4fUEq6Tt7_Bfjyev4ycOhNusGXPvgpdszsfHVzP_u-Mwuth9SedSLfWXzSL8I5P3wn9ZG5K1xj7S5lHF8OiErseUzQMoIK59iBkeFpTo34_LpeFCb8gBcIcbjTaF4KRjrRJKRIC8/s1012/swhs%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1012" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieuqOkeAVnQORUP_U4k_aMLfyC6ojYM7EUBmxJW0wnY4gzTElb48lc4fUEq6Tt7_Bfjyev4ycOhNusGXPvgpdszsfHVzP_u-Mwuth9SedSLfWXzSL8I5P3wn9ZG5K1xj7S5lHF8OiErseUzQMoIK59iBkeFpTo34_LpeFCb8gBcIcbjTaF4KRjrRJKRIC8/w400-h304/swhs%2010.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>CBS Promo</b><br />Another in-house ad, this time for the ultra forgettable <b><i>Bobby Vinton's Rock & Rollers</i></b> special. Wouldn't this have been the perfect time for CBS to tout their Saturday morning cartoon lineup? Do I have to retroactively program ALL their commercials for them?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94bgsHfKantzeyvyHWA-rE2wsr4H9mhHx7MZKHnK57BF_T203lS6sjuH9X5dMeZ_9oYwcAeW2C0aYG6rxOqA-vQYSxCDUgFY2tbAS0u0eizPALTMlShZC7NJZWJ6uSbgjN-ApjQIqgUqXzBJQyHGoNq44GJHm3m5BtYbDZtDePsI1rus6B59v33M1tFfz/s1010/swhs%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1010" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94bgsHfKantzeyvyHWA-rE2wsr4H9mhHx7MZKHnK57BF_T203lS6sjuH9X5dMeZ_9oYwcAeW2C0aYG6rxOqA-vQYSxCDUgFY2tbAS0u0eizPALTMlShZC7NJZWJ6uSbgjN-ApjQIqgUqXzBJQyHGoNq44GJHm3m5BtYbDZtDePsI1rus6B59v33M1tFfz/w400-h304/swhs%2011.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b><i>The Wild Geese</i></b> movie trailer<br />A film I've not only haven't seen but never even heard of. It starred Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris as British mercenaries hired to rescue a deposed president from an African dictator. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Welsh Richard Burton and the Irish Richard Harris were both notorious drinkers, so I'm betting that was a <i>wild</i> shoot.<br /><br />The movie's premiere was marred by Anti-Apartheid protestors, who were angry that it was filmed in South Africa. For what's it worth, it has a mediocre 6.8 out of 10 rating on IMDB.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KxS4ax3yU6xQ2x0VMfeqPHLZGr7vqZ9HTgUoOh3zKGQmqSTBC2JLEGwKFalcDbonInorms3wy7oyYCgUUhCF4-DvI17R8eYqR1ycRDn6Flu9a-2674VsKbC69VSgHDB0NaxunUih8GnkyH9jrQOVHydTIddR5ZHrRkgKhtGmOH-inp5q3_I7LbLGeyU9/s1014/swhs%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1014" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KxS4ax3yU6xQ2x0VMfeqPHLZGr7vqZ9HTgUoOh3zKGQmqSTBC2JLEGwKFalcDbonInorms3wy7oyYCgUUhCF4-DvI17R8eYqR1ycRDn6Flu9a-2674VsKbC69VSgHDB0NaxunUih8GnkyH9jrQOVHydTIddR5ZHrRkgKhtGmOH-inp5q3_I7LbLGeyU9/w400-h303/swhs%2012.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Consumer Catalog</b><br />You have no idea how ubiquitous these commercials were in the 1970s and 1980s. They were everywhere, constantly urging us all to write to Pueblo, Colorado for a free catalog. Sadly, I never took 'em up on the offer to find out what the hell was in it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5TE-oG03Swmtldy9_ozRw3Gz1klLb_rR07fi_NEKpVHbWl0Zu_ANi1K-lNXmG_1kl91-qjKp0vuxKSsClg1a6FFbNLw9RbWw3So9hQMx-zxDRmkQL60kte0N-pcso_1Z2UBD-LYuTn_YAkV009wQDQLwrg0pjUwqsGOtA36xrzj0FyoJlch38P9BdaP-/s450/tobor.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5TE-oG03Swmtldy9_ozRw3Gz1klLb_rR07fi_NEKpVHbWl0Zu_ANi1K-lNXmG_1kl91-qjKp0vuxKSsClg1a6FFbNLw9RbWw3So9hQMx-zxDRmkQL60kte0N-pcso_1Z2UBD-LYuTn_YAkV009wQDQLwrg0pjUwqsGOtA36xrzj0FyoJlch38P9BdaP-/w400-h300/tobor.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>TOBOR</b><br />The second of the three actual toy commercials that aired during the <b><i>Special</i></b>. TOBOR was a battery operated robot from Schaper, that was controlled by a "Telesonic" remote. Despite how hi-tech that sounds, all it did was make a clicking sound the toy responded to.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Clearly kids were much more easy to entertain in the 1970s.<br /><br />For some reason it was very important for Schaper to point out that "TOBOR is 'robot' spelled backwards." Did that really affect sales in any way? Did some harried parent ever think, "Say, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I wasn't gonna buy one of those things for my kid, but that backwards business pushed me over the edge!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3slfP-GfkUPzUDefue0-KNO42nCaTtJQtBs3WmQmRQJIoVQmxkLxknDXxUU1M9XzsbA811VLDVxBm8VLw0lOAuF9jBhyphenhyphenHZFDkbbQnZ6ZTtwSNW1WK3CILR-1xk2l2zs9BIZQ8XweNQGfuyi0a_727sTIm4xjeJ7X3ZGBM_WuZ0vk0Bo3j6SaJppPTlgW/s1008/swhs%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3slfP-GfkUPzUDefue0-KNO42nCaTtJQtBs3WmQmRQJIoVQmxkLxknDXxUU1M9XzsbA811VLDVxBm8VLw0lOAuF9jBhyphenhyphenHZFDkbbQnZ6ZTtwSNW1WK3CILR-1xk2l2zs9BIZQ8XweNQGfuyi0a_727sTIm4xjeJ7X3ZGBM_WuZ0vk0Bo3j6SaJppPTlgW/w400-h305/swhs%2014.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Revlon Cream-On Blush</b><br />One of many commercials for women's products. Who was the demographic for this show again?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbOS8dkzFQKPuPi5fw1c8i9dQXjLX2YGZB_wctxr2Y3_HKnUuBx-rUcaOupAuF4-b5pQ85tJhQoWkpCwRO6jSOeT7nHQiey_EBL1jicdIB2z5l5VSsqIKJsaJP1jRQH9kN303Pyg2RafaYq7bRvTmF1UMAMmRQDMj3fYnFhoJlusDXXwH3K6J8iAKRrmw/s450/whirlpool.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbOS8dkzFQKPuPi5fw1c8i9dQXjLX2YGZB_wctxr2Y3_HKnUuBx-rUcaOupAuF4-b5pQ85tJhQoWkpCwRO6jSOeT7nHQiey_EBL1jicdIB2z5l5VSsqIKJsaJP1jRQH9kN303Pyg2RafaYq7bRvTmF1UMAMmRQDMj3fYnFhoJlusDXXwH3K6J8iAKRrmw/w400-h300/whirlpool.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Whirlpool</b><br />Wow. If ever there was a commercial that didn't age well, it's this one. It features endless scenes of a majestic bald eagle swooping over a lake and plucking fish out of the water, accompanied by a gravely-voiced narrator who ominously drones on about how our country will be doomed unless consumers buy American products:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"This country may be in danger, and could be losing something we can't afford to lose. Once in this country, when a man produced a product, it was the best he could possibly make. He stood behind it, with pride. He lived a simple idea— do it right, or don't do it at all. Nobody told him that; no government agency dictated it. And it built a standard of living, for the world to aim at. Now that idea is threatened, by the slipshod, the second-rate. For some it means a quick death for the standards we have built. Some are fighting this threat. Whirlpool Corporation believes in one simple idea: to continue to design, build and service home appliances with pride. So you can live with them, comfortably for years— or they will not build them at all. If we can't keep this simple idea alive, then indeed, WE are the endangered species."</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Did you get all that? If consumers don't buy American products, then our country will become extinct. This message is especially ironic, since at one point Whirlpool was the biggest employers in my hometown. Then the 1990s happened, and they begin quietly moving their manufacturing to Mexico, and laying off workers by the hundreds. Sadly, their factory closed for good in 2010.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgBxyExPtOzLZjLZvHR6ZdWLldU7fI61bgf7nMdAjDJiBxTeJPJtcz7Exz5gScqvTKUplNh2vlwBeTFV0LyOQ4pQBkB6vV7qLM-lO8bKI2LtAaUtqlHlAV_t-HFb3NcP7BHVN8hrv0q-o_BFLPmEFGkic6tdUhw30kB7xkVA0uh6ZQYMJjktm-1A-LQ2G/s1010/swhs%2016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1010" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgBxyExPtOzLZjLZvHR6ZdWLldU7fI61bgf7nMdAjDJiBxTeJPJtcz7Exz5gScqvTKUplNh2vlwBeTFV0LyOQ4pQBkB6vV7qLM-lO8bKI2LtAaUtqlHlAV_t-HFb3NcP7BHVN8hrv0q-o_BFLPmEFGkic6tdUhw30kB7xkVA0uh6ZQYMJjktm-1A-LQ2G/w400-h304/swhs%2016.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>• <b>Anacin</b><br />Again with the drug commercials in a kids' show! Although perhaps this ad would come in handy for anyone watching this train wreck of a special.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuxhdGi6QSvXz-HJB5Qefd8l4UA2HJuVQMVaKJdFllAtAhG1nC_jTPzd3DwMIdeoJwoSzsjDlUJ7jzk0qI5sOi293l5WM69kVQdzCJ8jZTrwgXGUKuzd9ANi5P-DSAbgf8GrcfFPV2IYLBxELAOIBnEuge5vqT9ZlmQi4b0A-yw7Tc9hNx3OVkV_HpN65/s1004/swhs%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1004" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuxhdGi6QSvXz-HJB5Qefd8l4UA2HJuVQMVaKJdFllAtAhG1nC_jTPzd3DwMIdeoJwoSzsjDlUJ7jzk0qI5sOi293l5WM69kVQdzCJ8jZTrwgXGUKuzd9ANi5P-DSAbgf8GrcfFPV2IYLBxELAOIBnEuge5vqT9ZlmQi4b0A-yw7Tc9hNx3OVkV_HpN65/w400-h306/swhs%2017.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Woolite</b><br />For all the kids out there who hand wash their fine delicates.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleyGoWqh9-9KC08PsPjUPklR9TdaYgIU1bu1K3GuxZCWvfELAWhtnXWPL8C7IVDMAudrnLv9PzHHsv_3Vh_rPSbqPE2wsjHhMgEAdUsCUjeb_3YwZCXs6ekv5TPOKfMpPxQGtgvcWVcNTRnZQ4zRJKCZWp5WkvojfdLx5u3C08aNpI9nhoNmU3XO5eNcC/s1008/swhs%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleyGoWqh9-9KC08PsPjUPklR9TdaYgIU1bu1K3GuxZCWvfELAWhtnXWPL8C7IVDMAudrnLv9PzHHsv_3Vh_rPSbqPE2wsjHhMgEAdUsCUjeb_3YwZCXs6ekv5TPOKfMpPxQGtgvcWVcNTRnZQ4zRJKCZWp5WkvojfdLx5u3C08aNpI9nhoNmU3XO5eNcC/w400-h305/swhs%2018.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>Sheer Indulgence Panty Hose</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Again, who the hell did CBS think their target demographic was here? Young upwardly mobile gals working their first professional jobs?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-ABa0TEtIhIUtuyfaWUHw7cJ457pGVAbjP1oZkc5JGkIYdB46CB7wrCzShVxe7J0pmkUqJeoRQU79B3aFAxSqz1u4OWLU45OwMBdQ0jmh9FpQRTQe21y-RwcfD5ehcXl4Y2qjS7igAnyUj0gbBBdhH7a2hJ8qCcVZ8Xb5S0nFupnrwE6WeuXXD6YykOe/s1008/swhs%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-ABa0TEtIhIUtuyfaWUHw7cJ457pGVAbjP1oZkc5JGkIYdB46CB7wrCzShVxe7J0pmkUqJeoRQU79B3aFAxSqz1u4OWLU45OwMBdQ0jmh9FpQRTQe21y-RwcfD5ehcXl4Y2qjS7igAnyUj0gbBBdhH7a2hJ8qCcVZ8Xb5S0nFupnrwE6WeuXXD6YykOe/w400-h305/swhs%2019.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>McDonald's Egg McMuffin</b><br />I was gonna comment that McDonald's really dropped the ball here by not going with a commercial for Happy Meals during what was ostensibly a kids' show. But then I remembered that the Happy Meal didn't come out till 1979— a year after the Special aired. So never mind.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the way, the McDonald's Marketing Team was really into tongue twisting jingles back in the day. They had their Big Mac one, which went, "Two All Beef Patties, Special Sauce, Lettuce, Cheese, Pickles, Onion On A Sesame Seed Bun," which ran for years. Then there was this one— "There's More In The Middle Of An Egg McMuffin Than An Egg In The Middle Of A Muffin."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCztcoBemsRIseep0WX4GTc8hZWFIPLKuHB8NAJpUffc2PM6FNmr-g5cY549V6qW2cwZ8O4KppknTO4bwihd3e8Xyxzd6sJ4vR_Rth6ZKxxNuToCiWjGXq2fZNOUFLukdq56be29EG3Nifn-qzDJvvlOBEF2l59bSCnBUNL-JrzlEo2l00dv0wiAyz2wf/s1012/swhs%2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1012" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCztcoBemsRIseep0WX4GTc8hZWFIPLKuHB8NAJpUffc2PM6FNmr-g5cY549V6qW2cwZ8O4KppknTO4bwihd3e8Xyxzd6sJ4vR_Rth6ZKxxNuToCiWjGXq2fZNOUFLukdq56be29EG3Nifn-qzDJvvlOBEF2l59bSCnBUNL-JrzlEo2l00dv0wiAyz2wf/w400-h304/swhs%2020.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>CBS promo</b><br />Another in-house ad, this time for the short-lived sitcom <b><i>Flying High</i></b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was your typical "jiggle" sitcom of the 70s, which were all short on plot and long on buxom young babes in various stages of undress. Unlike most of these shows though, this one was an equal opportunity exploitation vehicle, as it included a couple of guys for the ladies in the audience to leer at.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• <i><b>Lincoln-Mercury Cars</b></i><br />Again with the cars! How many kids had the budget to buy a dull looking new 1978 car?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRqqzQ5QzyuxBmsd32Z2brWyCeYPrio45AAXOeXCi9_rD-g-beZwvMufsDQm-0GnSa35etna8jiTlC1mSDj-dmPvmhfYewiU5dqCn2GMkGLIcjdH1e2bk_r1y50twK7B_mWY2VKBcnAzo3Ss8JmXJ00iTHz_LUZnv1PR2XpuISZZveoyx0cu_cE4uPKbO/s1010/swhs%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1010" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRqqzQ5QzyuxBmsd32Z2brWyCeYPrio45AAXOeXCi9_rD-g-beZwvMufsDQm-0GnSa35etna8jiTlC1mSDj-dmPvmhfYewiU5dqCn2GMkGLIcjdH1e2bk_r1y50twK7B_mWY2VKBcnAzo3Ss8JmXJ00iTHz_LUZnv1PR2XpuISZZveoyx0cu_cE4uPKbO/w400-h304/swhs%2021.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b><i>The Wiz</i> promo</b><br />A trailer for the film version of <b><i>The Wiz</i></b>, which was based on the musical of the same name, which was a race-swapped version of the classic 1933 film <b><i>The Wizard Of Oz</i></b>. This one features numerous clips of audience members excited exclaiming how great the movie was, in a flailing and obvious attempt to generate interest in it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While most kids love <b><i>The Wizard Of Oz</i></b>, I can't imagine very many of them getting into this off-putting updated version.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiTmoFkMM3T9YGdf0ZlZCKVEuzRNLGIcl-jlV6AHSyP5OYm0lI6odOjesJwjthoLnHWs7n2CxqkI8iYcm1wZxVl5uUbzbMi0mMGNw39cLWMl9zlABu7CcFegCfykh6Q0JPlwaOofB_uVzPr3-SPTFkHsDbiGM08wS6cwFZOKSV0S7BZScPVOWTvKAu7-F/s997/swhs%2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="997" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiTmoFkMM3T9YGdf0ZlZCKVEuzRNLGIcl-jlV6AHSyP5OYm0lI6odOjesJwjthoLnHWs7n2CxqkI8iYcm1wZxVl5uUbzbMi0mMGNw39cLWMl9zlABu7CcFegCfykh6Q0JPlwaOofB_uVzPr3-SPTFkHsDbiGM08wS6cwFZOKSV0S7BZScPVOWTvKAu7-F/w400-h308/swhs%2022.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>FTD Wishing Well Bouquet</b><br />A commercial featuring a FTD's Mercury mascot, clad in a form-fitting gold spandex onesie. Because kids send flowers to one another all the time, dontcha know.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't ever remember seeing this ad back in the day, so I have a feeling their fey, be-helmeted spokesperson was most likely laughed off the screen and was quietly and quickly retired.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnOxNWcRgFHYt3KFT0ysCftJJfzkbN170VEbkBt-msxa15j_Fg2cCq0WsqOL5DlZV0QPKzyX5-L0FDqRuBs4eLoidTy2fYwOsM-x45rxRLAZsx1VWF-q-KIHH3uaxaZqNrI1EIi6tXejMsljN9p44Gc3cIuEOmlZaiBy6l1-ZKj0PhFys5f9GVxIzqBL/s1014/swhs%2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1014" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MnOxNWcRgFHYt3KFT0ysCftJJfzkbN170VEbkBt-msxa15j_Fg2cCq0WsqOL5DlZV0QPKzyX5-L0FDqRuBs4eLoidTy2fYwOsM-x45rxRLAZsx1VWF-q-KIHH3uaxaZqNrI1EIi6tXejMsljN9p44Gc3cIuEOmlZaiBy6l1-ZKj0PhFys5f9GVxIzqBL/w400-h303/swhs%2023.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>• <b>Fruit Of The Loom underwear</b><br />Kids the world over just <i>love</i> getting underwear for Xmas, so this commercial was a natural for them.<br /><br />• <b>Bell Telephone</b><br />Their second commercial of the evening, as they were apparently also a major sponsor. This one touted the benefits of calling long distance, which used to be a thing and something I'm sure kids did on a regular basis.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLJmgzbyt8FxvORxLDJE3ME9DLewHsFB_26P8DekQk_cwoChdKQrioQSlJk9mEJh3W6vlc9YCDJ0saUpFCaHFXaAMcWy91kXV6SETT5PjYxOeGfGLYIvrbaN18p2KnBnmdOYywyhRumKb89IQfkEPHi0_5KVt0n6xpFzCWHFFCSwOUeyNeRSf6lD65iaY/s1006/swhs%2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1006" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLJmgzbyt8FxvORxLDJE3ME9DLewHsFB_26P8DekQk_cwoChdKQrioQSlJk9mEJh3W6vlc9YCDJ0saUpFCaHFXaAMcWy91kXV6SETT5PjYxOeGfGLYIvrbaN18p2KnBnmdOYywyhRumKb89IQfkEPHi0_5KVt0n6xpFzCWHFFCSwOUeyNeRSf6lD65iaY/w400-h305/swhs%2024.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• <b>No Nonsense Panty Hose</b><br />Yet another puzzling product to advertise during a children's show. This one stands out for featuring <i>this</i> ghastly and horrifying image, which will be forever seared into my brain.<br /><br />• <b>Twice As Fresh air freshener</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've nothing to say about this commercial, other than once again, it misses its target demographic by a country mile.<b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxAmT5vYniPo3LN7SQk0PkXn71oHOfRqrGGe8_4dueYBeJm-DeLbB4ape1gj7obCzUyW_ZGwAaSqzn4YRedmTNjKOaOyBkxb80jzJNM36nwF2iiDA7LRUxrB51hRi7v3sJ-H1Xsx6A0G69SfKV_6JbHrupeP1-S-taEAp6QBJIcFVXcw8tM1LJC7o3NDq/s450/kenner.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxAmT5vYniPo3LN7SQk0PkXn71oHOfRqrGGe8_4dueYBeJm-DeLbB4ape1gj7obCzUyW_ZGwAaSqzn4YRedmTNjKOaOyBkxb80jzJNM36nwF2iiDA7LRUxrB51hRi7v3sJ-H1Xsx6A0G69SfKV_6JbHrupeP1-S-taEAp6QBJIcFVXcw8tM1LJC7o3NDq/w400-h300/kenner.gif.gif" width="430" /></a></div>• <b>Kenner Star Wars toys</b><br />FINALLY, something that makes some damn sense— a commercial for <b><i>Star Wars</i></b> toys during a <b><i>STAR WARS</i></b> show! How hard was that to figure out? They should have aired four or five of these during the <b><i>Special!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZWK6dJmkEVElbRfBwPyE3ZrpJlbgrh_RfcNFA_v57pnj4X_BrjKPapptssOsZ7qUibPjoQKISWyynHKOR0EpJJFRPcKW36aQo1l8wsxC-Gx0jCK9LChDaaW0YjtiTHPM-ltgDJj8PLghtoOtNreNvnkCYQl567e49njsArOeeQMNuPOdaRub9khIuZ_J/s450/ebkit-catalog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="450" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZWK6dJmkEVElbRfBwPyE3ZrpJlbgrh_RfcNFA_v57pnj4X_BrjKPapptssOsZ7qUibPjoQKISWyynHKOR0EpJJFRPcKW36aQo1l8wsxC-Gx0jCK9LChDaaW0YjtiTHPM-ltgDJj8PLghtoOtNreNvnkCYQl567e49njsArOeeQMNuPOdaRub9khIuZ_J/w400-h309/ebkit-catalog.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At least in 1978 they actually had some<b><i> Star Wars</i></b> toys to sell! If you'll recall, the year before, Kenner actually sold consumers and empty box!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">See, in 1977 Kenner signed on to produce action figures based on the film. Unfortunately it takes at least a year to develop such figures and get them into stores. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kenner desperately wanted to cash in on </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Star Wars</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> mania for the 1977 Xmas season, but didn't have anything tangible. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Incredibly, they came up with the idea to see the <b><i>Star Wars Early Bird Package</i></b>. For the low price of $7.99 (over $40 bucks in 2023 dollars!), parents could buy their kids a box filled with stickers, pictures and a mail-in certificate that could be sent in and redeemed for the first four Star Wars figures, which would arrive sometime in early 1978.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I can't tell if that idea is genius or insidious.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9fKdAP_4VJy7u_VGRhU3RdMdTtO2cwWRfm__l4c31d3WjYgZdg_tsqpHzttIOPSDSvcpDTzfA9BajckA5WgHFK5bLSllAJK-JqKeDXK80Fa1-Ez_OULRKUxv5fiaafp-ypmIVxlu1NXrJlFKU665tXL_tuDtDPGQJiUR4_C7V0nIWksCe4uNJlevDcls/s1008/swhs%2026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1008" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9fKdAP_4VJy7u_VGRhU3RdMdTtO2cwWRfm__l4c31d3WjYgZdg_tsqpHzttIOPSDSvcpDTzfA9BajckA5WgHFK5bLSllAJK-JqKeDXK80Fa1-Ez_OULRKUxv5fiaafp-ypmIVxlu1NXrJlFKU665tXL_tuDtDPGQJiUR4_C7V0nIWksCe4uNJlevDcls/w400-h305/swhs%2026.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>• <b>Colony Wine</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Incredibly, the final ad of the evening was for a brand of wine that doesn't exist anymore. Are you freakin' kidding me? A goddamn wine commercial in a children's show? What the hell?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Although to be fair, any adults who were roped into watching the <b><i>Special</i></b> with their kids likely needed a couple belts of booze by this point in the evening.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBujQ9E9-2Cayoakbq2e6kkfiXKrXl7cFWYnG-jW5EZ5_XNfPO1WW3MzNOpm3yqSgrxkfCmjNKRk94oPYz2Q358ei5e610LkYmfeBKhGdX3OkHYweWZYdkGjMusbVzOsAaPcAVt_3qCOWs-6jP6swHaUBo-PIFkjOXFbYqbNKFBzbG4hXFYMFkgJSjwbK/s3066/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%207.34.17%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="3066" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBujQ9E9-2Cayoakbq2e6kkfiXKrXl7cFWYnG-jW5EZ5_XNfPO1WW3MzNOpm3yqSgrxkfCmjNKRk94oPYz2Q358ei5e610LkYmfeBKhGdX3OkHYweWZYdkGjMusbVzOsAaPcAVt_3qCOWs-6jP6swHaUBo-PIFkjOXFbYqbNKFBzbG4hXFYMFkgJSjwbK/w400-h180/Screenshot%202023-12-30%20at%207.34.17%20PM.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, that's actor Spencer Milligan— aka Rick Marshall of <b><i>Land Of The Lost</i></b> fame— in the Colony Wine commercial. Wow, good gig!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm halfway convinced that Milligan also appeared earlier in the Anacin commercial as well, as the friendly pill-pushing druggist. It certainly looks like him to me, but the video quality's so poor it's honestly hard to tell for sure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there you go— yet another perplexing aspect of the <b><i>Star Wars Holiday Special</i></b>— one that's just as baffling as the show itself!</div></span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-46128845509607761932023-12-24T08:53:00.001-06:002023-12-24T09:40:09.184-06:00Death Wish <span style="font-family: helvetica;">Today I found out that "Cute Snowman Holding A Candle That Will Surely Kill Him" is apparently a popular sub-genre of holiday clip art.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifei5Al-s83r2cdkH9ZICjmnoW7iz0IX-J4sEDVYvIT805k7ZI1WD7EfBxeCWvS7WAq30TqiT8-LJg8sclk5EehAkS2uLEmj0FBbc74cIdEg2sPBX3LKhwmnzskQVlwtFBnB5OZpCdIXjfbgVTBirFFfjGGyPRDciDpAoTKIhLZrg07s1j9VLMDsCugK3P/s800/snowman-standing-snow-beautiful-candle-cute-scarf-winter-ai-generated-image-265654474.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifei5Al-s83r2cdkH9ZICjmnoW7iz0IX-J4sEDVYvIT805k7ZI1WD7EfBxeCWvS7WAq30TqiT8-LJg8sclk5EehAkS2uLEmj0FBbc74cIdEg2sPBX3LKhwmnzskQVlwtFBnB5OZpCdIXjfbgVTBirFFfjGGyPRDciDpAoTKIhLZrg07s1j9VLMDsCugK3P/w400-h268/snowman-standing-snow-beautiful-candle-cute-scarf-winter-ai-generated-image-265654474.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoMYNZGKe7tGr4Q8_OrUWoQYifSY83MsgaorXxOg5QfnX9U0Rrt1Fnk7Mk7tb_zgVJZ2bK_LI-DqdJksMA1C14TvbF4woQYUQ3GORBTrindADfQZ2iaTsoYc5FYd9lq4JU_8oll0PCTY0LfUYMi_ByC3fawXvTEB8zGAfwxgb5w1u0M-bvFRMUKolmzMu/s800/cute-snowman-holding-candle-looking-window-home-winter-wearing-red-scarf-snow-falling-illustration-ai-264747636.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoMYNZGKe7tGr4Q8_OrUWoQYifSY83MsgaorXxOg5QfnX9U0Rrt1Fnk7Mk7tb_zgVJZ2bK_LI-DqdJksMA1C14TvbF4woQYUQ3GORBTrindADfQZ2iaTsoYc5FYd9lq4JU_8oll0PCTY0LfUYMi_ByC3fawXvTEB8zGAfwxgb5w1u0M-bvFRMUKolmzMu/w400-h268/cute-snowman-holding-candle-looking-window-home-winter-wearing-red-scarf-snow-falling-illustration-ai-264747636.webp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFWhT_7QT3VUb-q5kMgYEe8An9QyqCJ5HzbSoiRks7SgfoySjUPpDS0i4LJe7T4PJGvZcKhjRQuxzJNzBgD9ToWnM8ySlOEeJxAFO9SXdd949RbhDqiP6t47r7_T8xgN1jmHijbSUU2q60rZ5_jBoiyZPf6Rs3I_-8ArPBLMCXRWDwCPIB4j73DSpa0Uk/s297/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFWhT_7QT3VUb-q5kMgYEe8An9QyqCJ5HzbSoiRks7SgfoySjUPpDS0i4LJe7T4PJGvZcKhjRQuxzJNzBgD9ToWnM8ySlOEeJxAFO9SXdd949RbhDqiP6t47r7_T8xgN1jmHijbSUU2q60rZ5_jBoiyZPf6Rs3I_-8ArPBLMCXRWDwCPIB4j73DSpa0Uk/w400-h229/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-69599774711560412242023-12-23T08:53:00.001-06:002023-12-24T08:55:06.503-06:00I've Got A Lot Of Problems With You People!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="660" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OteBi4h8p8/Xfp_x19R4QI/AAAAAAAAkCs/vPXb7bYVTd4WOeH23Sxq_1-rdlVDrnH5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/festivus%252Bcard%252Bfinal%252Bblog.jpg" style="text-align: right;" width="430" /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;">Hey guys, Festivus is finally here!</span><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;">During this hectic time of the year, I hope you'll all pause for a moment and think about the true reason for the season. Festivus is a time for quiet contemplation and reflection as you gaze in awe at the bare aluminum pole in the living room, free of distracting tinsel.</span><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;">It's also for sharing a nice meatloaf with friends and family and telling them how much they've disappointed you over the past year during the Airing of Grievances. And it's about wrestling the head of the household and pinning them down during the Feats Of Strength. It's about togetherness and sharing a nice meatloaf with friends and family. But most of all it's about togetherness.</span><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><br style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;" /><b style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Happy Festivus, everyone! Hope you have a true Festivus Miracle this year!</span></b></span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-80049647194586857412023-12-10T18:59:00.003-06:002023-12-10T18:59:43.847-06:00Xmas Relic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's the Holiday Season, so you know what that means— it's time for tons of overpriced and bizarre Xmas ornaments to line the shelves of your local Hallmark store! Let's see what offerings they have this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8imgzn9ZQRVFhrAPq8Rc0H9b1JAlL5_lSHzLPJtySw9JHqBuOaWpVUxrX67855S9p0eD7dLsS0aKICtO3vfq54b1Q_zgFkhg8hfAJGSf7NyeT70E2UtSMAoN2_SVLyH1AzLi3pmVktd5bRyovLB6Tqv-jYbwoiMXWXiPu7RP7zET4AQUxPIe-GkBVI6f/s1782/thumbnail-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8imgzn9ZQRVFhrAPq8Rc0H9b1JAlL5_lSHzLPJtySw9JHqBuOaWpVUxrX67855S9p0eD7dLsS0aKICtO3vfq54b1Q_zgFkhg8hfAJGSf7NyeT70E2UtSMAoN2_SVLyH1AzLi3pmVktd5bRyovLB6Tqv-jYbwoiMXWXiPu7RP7zET4AQUxPIe-GkBVI6f/w387-h640/thumbnail-1.jpg" width="387" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How about this <i><b>Star Trek: The Next Generation</b></i> ornament? It's based on the Season 6 episode <b><i>Relics</i></b>, in which Scotty wakes from suspended animation and finds himself in the 24th Century, where he meets Captain Picard & crew.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yikes! What the hell happened to poor ol' Scotty here? I get that they had to put the ornament hook <i>somewhere</i>, but Jaysis! Did they have to stick it right in his shoulder? It looks for all the world like our Mr. Scott was in a really bad accident in Engineering!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0a5rod1L5zagS29eVrsq7fgFnX5MYFJayMGyt4Ie2qu0T6huLCscTsiq-COSXbXuqElgFPLWBeKTukXSn1kteGtJhy3xd5tRYlY5RJ00lRVPbPIw9kJDh6hR1G0IYHfZDCSdWcUy8MvpPUhUww8s7oGX0hJ16ifOGJhrMhhxiPwR8uGyMaS8j-ESn41y/s1719/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1719" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0a5rod1L5zagS29eVrsq7fgFnX5MYFJayMGyt4Ie2qu0T6huLCscTsiq-COSXbXuqElgFPLWBeKTukXSn1kteGtJhy3xd5tRYlY5RJ00lRVPbPIw9kJDh6hR1G0IYHfZDCSdWcUy8MvpPUhUww8s7oGX0hJ16ifOGJhrMhhxiPwR8uGyMaS8j-ESn41y/w402-h640/thumbnail.jpg" width="402" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's even worse when viewed from the other side! Holy crap! Now it looks like the Klingons harpooned Scotty right in the top of his noggin!</span><br /><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-90484531618968054712023-12-10T18:59:00.002-06:002023-12-10T18:59:39.384-06:00The Flash, Season 9, Episode 13: A New World, Part Four<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXez13FArc43BL5fc2j6bY_GLPzVpDDh0S3lYHSNnJKsK91hjshO83LXaGBe0MT_i0ynDYOJOAgqBnuyZe98DMWsJaL-hATkedSc6s287nguwSfWshDUKLaQnLfMaQ1xLMgsdTZtDZTPv7AmKgWOB7NPnSlrVDbwWwuRFnJJvzNoxtz_8UnsukGR38HCP/s600/flash%200913%20legion%20of%20zoom.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXez13FArc43BL5fc2j6bY_GLPzVpDDh0S3lYHSNnJKsK91hjshO83LXaGBe0MT_i0ynDYOJOAgqBnuyZe98DMWsJaL-hATkedSc6s287nguwSfWshDUKLaQnLfMaQ1xLMgsdTZtDZTPv7AmKgWOB7NPnSlrVDbwWwuRFnJJvzNoxtz_8UnsukGR38HCP/w400-h194/flash%200913%20legion%20of%20zoom.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At long, long last, I finally posted this review! I bet you all thought it was never gonna happen! Me too! I've no excuse for it being literally months late, other than it was so bad I literally had to force myself to write it.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAz2CHLfZM_i091Zr8TQXADMVEGTigXkv_HvlPlhHaDZ7Lx4YfMmdgwLrzp-OtNUNFP2YhgpPoY302V3bhk0Xd-q9TjyKBvhWy0J-kgH1W14zgNAqInSMxZtBrn4V6AUIYylsJNEivDCRXedcte6_9QCvXI-tLb3AGTtwQVYvPtNNGm277te3zXEl9z9zh/s1366/hurt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAz2CHLfZM_i091Zr8TQXADMVEGTigXkv_HvlPlhHaDZ7Lx4YfMmdgwLrzp-OtNUNFP2YhgpPoY302V3bhk0Xd-q9TjyKBvhWy0J-kgH1W14zgNAqInSMxZtBrn4V6AUIYylsJNEivDCRXedcte6_9QCvXI-tLb3AGTtwQVYvPtNNGm277te3zXEl9z9zh/w400-h225/hurt.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seriously, watching this one multiple times in order to review it was downright <i>painful</i>. In fact there were times I didn't think I was gonna get through it. You all owe me big time for this one! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">————————————————————————————</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Welp, this is it! At long last, it's the SERIES FINALE of <b><i>The Flash!</i></b> It's taken us nine years, but we're finally here.<br /><br />So how was it? <i>Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh</i>. In case you couldn't tell, that was a transcript of my soul slowly leaking out of my body. Does that answer the question?<br /><br /><b><i>A New World, Part Four</i></b> is a terrible, terrible wrap up to an even more terrible season. It's poorly written, indifferently acted and shoddily directed. The plot, if you can call it that, feels rushed, incoherent and completely disposable. Worst of all, the whole thing's just plain <i>dull</i>, and about as fun to sit through as a Hannah Gadsby "comedy" special.<br /><br />The plot, such as it is, concerns Eddie Thawne, who's been moping around killing time for the past three episodes. This week he <i>finally</i> springs into action, as he goes full evil, transforms into Cobalt Blue and recruits a team of evil speedsters to help him kill Barry. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's actually a pretty cool concept, and one I don't think they've done yet. In fact they should have made this a season-long story arc, as each week Cobalt Blue slowly assembled his nefarious army and went after Team Flash.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead, the writers chose to cram it into half of the final episode. What the hell?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of the highlights of this horrible, horrible episode: Team Flash somehow defeats and entire squad of evil speedsters in under five minutes. Khione goes full god mode and "ascends," leaving Caitlin in her place— making everyone wonder why the hell she was ever on the show in the first place. And of course Barry defeats Cobalt Blue by talking things out rather than fighting him. Because that's what you want in a superhero show— no superhero action.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As silly as it was, the actual Team Flash/Evil Speedster Battle was definitely the highlight of the episode. Unfortunately they rushed through it as quickly as possible, as if showrunner Eric Wallace couldn't wait to get through it so he could concentrate on his beloved side characters and give them a cringeworthy send-off. <br /><br />This final episode was typical of the entire season, as the entire thing was a massive dumpster fire, with thirteen smaller dumpster fires blazing away inside it. <br /><br />We got a pointless <b><i>Groundhog Day </i></b>episode, in which Barry & Iris relive the same day over and over. Then there was the dreary Red Death storyline, in which an evil Batwoman from the Multiverse tries to kill Barry, despite never having met him before. <br /><br />Then we got a series of inconsequential filler episodes, that did nothing but run out the clock till the finale. We got the return of Hazard, a character so minor that even hardcore fans would be hard pressed to remember her. Then they gave us the origin of Dreamer, a character from <b><i>Supergirl</i></b> who will absolutely never be seen or heard from again. <br /><br />The only bright spot of the entire season was the return of Oliver Queen and Bloodwork. Although technically a filler as well, it was hands down the best episode of the season. Too bad they didn't end the series with that one.<br /><br />And then we dove headfirst into the whole<b><i> A New World</i></b> arc, in which they dredged up long-deceased character Eddie Thawne. Unfortunately they it appears brought him back just to shit on him by negating his sacrifice and destroying his legacy. <br /><br />Jaysis. Even though I'm just a schlub from Indiana, I fully believe I could have come up with a better season than the actual writers did.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One reason that </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>A New World, Part Four</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">may have been so subpar is because actor Grant Gustin contracted Covid during filming, which limited his availability. Supposedly he was scheduled to film a lengthy scene with actor Teddy Sears, who plays Zoom. Sadly, that confrontation had to be scrapped due to the 'rona. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fair enough. But why not just postpone filming then till he recovered? Surely they could have aired a couple or reruns till he was better. Maybe it was a contractural thing, I dunno.<br /><br /><b><i>The Flash</i></b> was never a <i>great</i> show, but it was often a <i>good</i> one— especially in its early seasons. So what the hell happened to it? Two words: Eric Wallace became the showrunner. OK, that was five words, but my point still stands.<br /><br />The first five seasons of the series featured various combinations of Andrew Kreisberg, Aaron Helbing and Todd Helbing as showrunners.<br /><br />Under their watch they gave us such memorable storylines as Eobard Thawne and his vendetta against the Flash, Barry teaming up with Oliver Queen, the introduction of the Multiverse and many others.<br /><br />Unfortunately they all left in Season 6, and Eric Wallace became the new showrunner. And thus began <b><i>The Flash's</i></b> long, slow decent into mediocrity and downright awfulness.<br /><br />Wallace was the amazingly talented visionary who gave us the dreary Mirror Master/Mistress/Monarch storyline, along with the nonsensical Four Forces arc (in which a quartet of thirty-somethings consistently refer to Barry & Iris as their parents). He's also responsible for building up the character of Godspeed for literally months, only to completely botch his plotline and turn him into a <b><i>Power Rangers</i></b> villain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />He also introduced Allegra Garcia and Chester P. Runk to the show and made them full-fledged regulars. Wallace created Allegra in the comics, so her inclusion here shouldn't come as a surprise. Amazingly, he shoehorned these two into the show </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">as replacements for Harrison Wells and Cisco (no, really!). To say they were pale imitations would be the understatement of the century.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wallace also gave us mega-douche Chillblaine and actually made him a member of Team Flash. And he pointlessly killed off fan-favorite character Caitlin Snow, only to instantly replace her with a dime store goddess who looked just like her. <br /><br />Oh, and don't forget his weaponization of the Speed Force, as Barry and various other speedsters learned to create spears, shuriken and even frakin' lightsabers out of their lightning!<br /><br />There was also the constant overuse of already familiar storylines, such as Barry losing his speed, the Reverse-Flash returning for the umpteenth time and worst of all, Barry defeating his enemies with the Power Of Love.<br /><br />By far though the most insidious aspect of Wallace's tenure was his bizarre focus on Cecile Horton. For some reason he had a massive boner for the character, and increased her powers each season till she basically became a Jean Grey clone. <br /><br />Even worse, he swept aside Barry Allen in favor of Cecile, diminishing him till he was little more than a side character in his own series! I cannot emphasize this enough. In fact, toward the end they might as well have renamed the show <b><i>The Cecile</i></b>. It was truly, truly strange.<br /><br />Despite the fact that the show went straight into the crapper in its final seasons, I'm still gonna miss watching it and reviewing it. The end of <b><i>The Flash</i></b> also marks the end of the <b>Arrowverse</b> as we know it. Yes, I know, <b><i>Superman & Lois</i></b> is still around (for one more season), but it's in its on separate little corner and doesn't have anything to do with the other shows.<br /><br />It's been a fun ride following the various interconnected shows over the years— especially during the big yearly multi-series crossovers. Alas, all good things come to an end. <br /><br />This is actually a momentous occasion, as it's one of the few times I've reviewed an entire series from start to finish! Usually I either get bored with a show and stop (cough <i><b>Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.</b></i> cough), or the showrunners piss me off and I rage quit it before the end (I'm lookin' at you, <b><i>The Walking Dead</i></b>). Amazingly, I made it all the way through <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, and reviewed every single episode!</span></div><div><b style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS, I GUESS!</span></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>The Plot:</b><br />At STAR Labs, Cecile tells Team Flash about the adventures she had last week in 2049. She says Eddie Thawne is alive and well in the future, and has become the Negative Speed Force's new avatar. The Force is now charging itself up for a final confrontation with them.<br /><br />Barry contacts the team, telling them he's stopped time-hopping and has somehow made it back to the present. He says he's on his way to the hospital to be with Iris when Nora's born, and also nonchalantly warns them that the Negative Speed Force is threatening all of existence. The skies turn red, as lightning stabs down at the city.<br /><br />Cut to Eddie's house in 2049 (I guess?), which is actually a construct created by the Negative Speed Force for him to live in (got all that?). The place is now bathed in a hellish red light, to hammer home the idea that it's an evil realm. Hunter Zolomon (aka Zoom) appears, confused as to how he got there (just like the audience!). Godspeed appears as well, and the two trade insults & threats for a while.<br /><br />Just then the Reverse-Flash (the Harrison Wells version) appears, and informs them they're all inside the Negative Speed Force. Savitar pops in too and begins mouthing off to the others.<br /><br />Finally Eddie Thawne enters and greets them all. Zoom, Godspeed & Savitar demand to know who he is and what's going on. Reverse-Flash introduces him as Eddie Thawne, the dumbest branch of his family tree.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eddie then informs the evil speedsters that they're all dead, but he was able to pluck them from their respective timelines and bring them here to form a team to defeat the Flash once and for all. Apparently he like the plot of <b><i>Spider-Man: No Way Home</i></b> so much that he decided to recreate it for himself. <br /><br />When the others balk and ask why they shouldn't just kill him where he stands, he slaps the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal to his chest. It instantly transforms him into new evil speedster Cobalt Blue— complete with a spiffy new costume. Eddie then uses his newfound powers to charge the others with enough Negative Speed Force energy to kill Barry.<br /><br />Elsewhere, Barry arrives at the hospital, where Iris is happy to finally see him. Unfortunately she <i>still</i> hasn't had the baby yet. Just then Eddie shows up, and tells them he's now going by Cobalt Blue. He calmly informs them he's going to kill Barry so he can be the hero and have the life he should have had. <br /><br />Barry & Iris try to reason with Eddie and convince him the Negative Speed Force is just using him. Eddie refuses to listen, and Iris says she has just three words for him— "Run, Barry, Run." Barry zooms off, taking the fight outside. He & Eddie then have a good old fashioned speedster battle through the middle of Central City.<br /><br />Eddie manages to get the upper hand, and is about to deliver the killing blow to Barry. Just then Nora (Barry's daughter from the future, not the Speed Force— too many Noras on this show) appears and knocks Eddie for a loop. She's accompanied by Team Flash, consisting of herself, Cecile, Allegra and Khione for some reason.<br /><br />Eddie summons <i>his</i> speedster team, and the two groups pose and try to look menacing for a minute or two. Suddenly Barry orders his team to perform "Delta maneuvers," and everyone pairs up and fights one on one.<br /><br />Nora faces off against Savitar, who grabs her by the neck & lifts her off the ground. He stabs her through the gut with his wrist blade, but she survives by phasing part of her body. She then snaps off the blade and stabs him in the back with it, killing him instantly. That was easy! Wait, isn't Savitar secretly a time remnant of Barry? Is she aware that she just gleefully killed a version of her father?<br /><br />Elsewhere, Cecile battles Godspeed, who generates dozens of clones of himself. She easily defeats this army of deadly speedsters by <strike>awkwardly waving her hands at them</strike>, er, I mean using her telekinesis to disable them. She then uses her psychic powers to put Godspeed Prime to sleep. Or maybe she kills him, I don't care. That was easy!<br /><br />At STAR Labs, Eobard Thawne appears and attacks Chester, frying him with Negative Speed Force energy. Chester's seemingly killed, just as Allegra rushes in. She cradles his body, as Thawne taunts her. She lets loose with a massive blast of energy, knocking out Thawne. Or again, maybe he's dead. That was easy!<br /><br />Against all logic and reason, Chester comes to, and he and Allegra start making out (?).<br /><br />Meanwhile, Zoom shows up in a Central City tunnel, where he's confronted by Chief Singh, Kristen Kramer and Officer Korber. Khione appears (with a useless Chillblaine in tow) and tells Zoom to stand down. He races around and around the tunnel for several minutes, presumably building up a Negative Speed Force charge. He fires it at Khione, who "catches" it and hurls it back at him. Apparently he isn't immune to his own energy, and is knocked out or killed. That was easy!<br /><br />Eddie zooms into Jitters, followed closely by Barry. Eddie conjures up a Negative Speed Force lightsaber, just like Thawne did back in Season 8 (oy). He grabs a hostage & threatens to kill him unless Barry surrenders. <br /><br />Barry forgets he's a speedster and could disarm Eddie in a millionth of a second, and chooses to reason with Eddie instead. Sure, that always works! Just then Eddie's powers begin to glitch, as he wonders what's happening. Jay Garrick makes a sudden and timely appearance, and absorbs the Negative Speed Force energy from Eddie.<br /><br />Barry pleads with the now powerless Eddie to quit being a big meanie. Eddie says he'll never stop till he's the hero, and begins absorbing speed from the Legion Of Zoom. He cackles insanely as he vanishes. The various evil speedsters all disappear as well, and are never seen again.<br /><br />Khione & Chillblaine arrive at Jitters, as the lightning in the red skies intensifies. Barry says Eddie's causing the timeline to fracture. Jay says if Eddie wants more power he'll go to the source— into the Negative Speed Force. <br /><br />Barry worries that if Eddie absorbs all the energy there he'll die, exactly like Thawne did last season. Chillblaine says they should just let him explode and be done with him. Barry refuses to let that happen, claiming Eddie's a "hero."<br /><br />Barry says he needs to get into the Negative Speed Force to stop Eddie. Khione says she can easily get him there, but wonders what he'll do once he's inside. He says for too long the positive & negative forces have been at war, so he wants to find a way to balance them. Khione says it would be better if the two sides learned to coexist. Trippy, man!<br /><br />Khione zaps Barry into the Negative Speed Force, where Eddie's now occupying a nightmarish version of the Loft. Eddie stands with his arms outstretched, attempting to absorb ALL the energy inside the other-dimensional realm.<br /><br />Barry realizes that Eddie's mind is almost gone, replaced by the Negative Speed Force's sentience. He pleads with Eddie to stop before it's too late, but he ignores him. So Barry comes up with a cunning plan— he simply tackles Eddie & knocks him to the floor. Amazingly, that's the closest he ever comes to any superhero action in this episode.<br /><br />Eddie begins fighting Barry, punching him and hurling him about the room. Since this is late-stage <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, Barry refuses to fight back. This makes Eddie even madder, fueling his hate and causing him to pummel Barry even harder.<br /><br />Finally Barry tells him the only way to stop the madness is for Eddie to embrace his role as the Negative Speed Force's avatar, but to NOT give in to the hate. He says it's the only way to build a better world or some such drivel.<br /><br />This triggers a montage in Eddie, as he remembers his past with Iris. Amazingly he realizes Barry's right, and stops fighting. Huzzah! Once again Barry defeats a villain with the Power Of Friendship!<br /><br />Eddie then reaches up, pulls the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal from his chest, throws it to the floor and stomps on it. Which I guess destroys it for good? That was easy!<br /><br />Eddie accepts his fate and tells Barry that they won't always see eye to eye, since technically he's still the Negative Speed Force's avatar. He says to tell Iris he's happy for her.<br /><br />And that's it! That's how the show's final superhero battle ends! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not with a bang, not even with a whimper— it just... stops.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The rest of the episode is then spent wrapping up all the various relationship drama. Barry zooms to the hospital, where he's just in time to see Baby Nora be born. <br /><br />At STAR Labs, Team Flash confirms the timeline's back to normal. Chillblaine runs tests on Chester, and finds he now has black hole powers (just like in the comic) after his run-in with Thawne. Timeless Wells (remember him?) appears for some reason, and tells Khione it's time for her ascension.<br /><br />Khione says goodbye to all her friends, including Chillblaine— who earlier in the season tried to erase her from existence. She then summons a vortex around her and ascends to another plane or becomes the Earth's protector or some such hooey. In her place we see Caitlin, alive and well and restored back to life (!).<br /><br />One week later, Barry & Iris throw a shindig at the Loft to welcome Baby Nora to the world. The entire cast is there, including a few puzzling guests like Iris' employees, Timeless Wells and Jay Garrick's wife Joan. Everyone but Cisco.<br /><br />Barry apologizes to Caitlin for destroying her attempts to restore Frost last season. She forgives him, saying she realizes what she was doing was wrong.<br /><br />Joe then hijacks the party and finally proposes to Cecile. She accepts, but doesn't indicate she'll be giving up her superheroing, casting doubt on their long-distance marriage. <br /><br />After the party, Barry tells Baby Nora a story about believing in the impossible, and says it's time he shared his gift.<br /><br />We then see Barry running through the city, building up a massive charge of Speed Force lightning. He fires off three blasts, which strike Avery Ho, Max Mercury and Jess Chambers— presumably turning them all into new speedsters to help protect Central City.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The End.<br /></span><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Thoughts:</b></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH29Qp71Xj_6JzG6ZwiB4kpEMWG06lKKSfjin-OFG_liCf-zWkKF3qK67tXcYG3V8Y3lX_wre5IrTiRWUht67fpM1sJ1ZxMJTl5r9_Dx_PYvmh_qQQ1YMWracGRZvTFiHll3c8duCZMH7-tYSkZHSnAwdXAY_DhgaQrZV7_PTGmX4GC5zlSyQUlRFUhjq/s1366/flash%200913%2001.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH29Qp71Xj_6JzG6ZwiB4kpEMWG06lKKSfjin-OFG_liCf-zWkKF3qK67tXcYG3V8Y3lX_wre5IrTiRWUht67fpM1sJ1ZxMJTl5r9_Dx_PYvmh_qQQ1YMWracGRZvTFiHll3c8duCZMH7-tYSkZHSnAwdXAY_DhgaQrZV7_PTGmX4GC5zlSyQUlRFUhjq/w400-h199/flash%200913%2001.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• The first three parts of this final arc have begun with a shot of blue roses in Eddie's house. For some reason this last part begins with the camera flying through the clouds. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Why the change? Welp, the cloud shot is accompanied by a voiceover from Barry Allen (you know, the guy who used to be the star of the show), repeating the exact same lines he uttered in the opening of <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-flash-season-1-episode-1-pilot.html" target="_blank">Pilot</a></i></b>, nine long years ago.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>Clearly they changed the pattern this week so this episode could echo the first one and form a nice little bookend. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We then see Team Flash at STAR Labs in 2023. Cecile's mind is back from its visit to 2049, and she tells the gang that Eddie Thawne is now the Negative Speed Force's avatar. Just then Barry shows up at STAR in the present as well. Wait, hasn't he been bouncing back & forth through time all through this arc? So how is it he's finally back where he belongs? Don't know! And it's apparently none of our business, as it's never explained.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nPDqslUlqoaHzTBB9_2Uojchg5QAwQmO01kybEu8e9v0nEwuMykdM3Y0nGAHdDELekwZ8rnJURq6dzFV5H6vxf6TvgKcJ_l5Y2FqAUs1FI138efTLuIwenITplJIhEgPRL-b-uqI71h-wMUYgPY1S-pDANxv0r15Ktlq1F9Z4rAa8BPgXDGM8V4iOYQU/s1366/flash%200913%2002.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1366" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nPDqslUlqoaHzTBB9_2Uojchg5QAwQmO01kybEu8e9v0nEwuMykdM3Y0nGAHdDELekwZ8rnJURq6dzFV5H6vxf6TvgKcJ_l5Y2FqAUs1FI138efTLuIwenITplJIhEgPRL-b-uqI71h-wMUYgPY1S-pDANxv0r15Ktlq1F9Z4rAa8BPgXDGM8V4iOYQU/w400-h200/flash%200913%2002.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We do eventually get the shot of the blue roses inside Eddie's house one last time— just not at the beginning of the episode. Also, this is the first episode of this arc that doesn't feature a few bars of <b><i>I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues</i></b>. Consistency, Schmuschmistency!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWpcj5rP5zsGpDbkQKa_Iujp8T_eCUFbeAH9bxbTxgy-UkDvwrE1ytxS1RG7VmDEyrjqW2_tDcP_U09ki35pKhCdjq9I7EM8fGxTjO1qtu0Ju3ZzGxzX67qmVFZB2xVE59ABoA-OBfDBdhE-4pzXI8NpVMvr-rsEPLqxB21MpogiYje8CRKrGqDx11qSp/s1366/flash%200913%2003.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWpcj5rP5zsGpDbkQKa_Iujp8T_eCUFbeAH9bxbTxgy-UkDvwrE1ytxS1RG7VmDEyrjqW2_tDcP_U09ki35pKhCdjq9I7EM8fGxTjO1qtu0Ju3ZzGxzX67qmVFZB2xVE59ABoA-OBfDBdhE-4pzXI8NpVMvr-rsEPLqxB21MpogiYje8CRKrGqDx11qSp/w400-h198/flash%200913%2003.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Hunter Zolomon, aka Zoom, suddenly appears inside Eddie's house. He's confused as to how he got there, as the last thing he remembers was being attacked by Time Wraiths.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>For weeks now I've been wondering why Eddie's living in the West home in 2049. Obviously the real world reason is because the show simply couldn't afford to build a new set, or the producers just didn't give a shit at this point and repurposed the old one. But what's the in-universe reason?</span><br /><br /><span>Last week Barry implied that the house wasn't real, and was actually a construct created by the Negative Speed Force for Eddie to live in after his resurrection. Sure, why not.</span><br /><br /><span>By the way, if you like red, then this is the episode for you! For some reason, this week Eddie's fake home is bathed in eye-searing red light—I guess to make sure we know there's EVIL going on.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xft9KnZbQRl2I2K9RpWwXBFlMNS-qmf_b-tPLJBQOF_fH3nv_8c9ey-pBNR-R03hyD-CjMv6a-1ogrJvbtMbWME6Ih3qKj5MkZeRBJ5Qs5q6iqzchAl0DzdaRcz8hU0T2aNVAWSLZpN5Z2ANlKsG6paalLLef3EV21xkK17n-NlYME4hvO4eiHg9LmZh/s1366/flash%200913%2004.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1366" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xft9KnZbQRl2I2K9RpWwXBFlMNS-qmf_b-tPLJBQOF_fH3nv_8c9ey-pBNR-R03hyD-CjMv6a-1ogrJvbtMbWME6Ih3qKj5MkZeRBJ5Qs5q6iqzchAl0DzdaRcz8hU0T2aNVAWSLZpN5Z2ANlKsG6paalLLef3EV21xkK17n-NlYME4hvO4eiHg9LmZh/w400-h200/flash%200913%2004.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Godspeed then materializes in Eddie's house as well, claiming he'd just been trying to kill Bart Allen— which implies he's from 2049 (the only future year that exists on this show).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But wait... Godspeed was defeated back in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-flash-season-7-episode-18-heart-of.html" target="_blank">Heart Of The Matter, Part 2</a></i></b> (the one with the Speed Force lightsabers), had his mind wiped and was imprisoned in Iron Heights. Did he somehow regain his memory and escape when we weren't looking?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmkdycHBfy0p06LK-5EZsNZUHxmJ5UmrTxU2RAbuFxmnsckGako9Hjpfw9sGawJfNGfn4uya5WZZ5RPqALwVd6TgoRHBUzuV1V-5huJhmpIBUgf0IamCpnZIw1sVcfkbB0MvsL597_Ve63RAWPIXJz73U7EOARK1HeyfpEssxO8fYtEIwRSvT-LVB6gZI/s1366/flash%200913%2005.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmkdycHBfy0p06LK-5EZsNZUHxmJ5UmrTxU2RAbuFxmnsckGako9Hjpfw9sGawJfNGfn4uya5WZZ5RPqALwVd6TgoRHBUzuV1V-5huJhmpIBUgf0IamCpnZIw1sVcfkbB0MvsL597_Ve63RAWPIXJz73U7EOARK1HeyfpEssxO8fYtEIwRSvT-LVB6gZI/w400-h196/flash%200913%2005.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eobard Thawne (the version with Harrison Wells' face) shows up too, and trades barbs with the others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicclbonS4dbstBsy0vk5X7NnVpRlozyQp1FjzBnlZxmvXLq5IGDWJrmpRzJsESFx9rRDvlG5N_WopzMy7z-dMblsQJXvFGZ5FJGVLFtFRvQCaJG5LEhyy7OLY1QRqkSB9sGS3AVGmdedtxz2ukvpBV2vXq23hBAiMoApl5W8m0Qiwl9um8uju3HdzmqSQk/s1366/flash%200913%2006.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicclbonS4dbstBsy0vk5X7NnVpRlozyQp1FjzBnlZxmvXLq5IGDWJrmpRzJsESFx9rRDvlG5N_WopzMy7z-dMblsQJXvFGZ5FJGVLFtFRvQCaJG5LEhyy7OLY1QRqkSB9sGS3AVGmdedtxz2ukvpBV2vXq23hBAiMoApl5W8m0Qiwl9um8uju3HdzmqSQk/w400-h198/flash%200913%2006.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A few seconds later also pops in, rounding out the evil speedster quartet.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is it just me, or does Savitar look awfully... <i>zaftig</i> here? I don't remember him being quite so chunky back in Season 3.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>• By the way, when Thawne first appears, he greets the other speedsters by saying, "Welcome to the Negative Speed Force, fellas. First time?"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7tXS-Kaf-VNbsYaN6sjRE_SmJGeXb3XHh_nfexaX0ZijcK8cUmoq2rJNdbc_o5ii565xnc7xtPu6d7wFjp0jwnUWz4otmvqgWSbE2BwOeEz8APPIn2bdjE_KAwUHCsZxugCi-7UTUEx3BIe7uYCTTrNU8Rr6IlJmdPXIqQfuuxTSd4l_eohvL_BGEsoP/s795/07B89120-B48D-45FB-AF1D-49AF6CD16790.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="795" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7tXS-Kaf-VNbsYaN6sjRE_SmJGeXb3XHh_nfexaX0ZijcK8cUmoq2rJNdbc_o5ii565xnc7xtPu6d7wFjp0jwnUWz4otmvqgWSbE2BwOeEz8APPIn2bdjE_KAwUHCsZxugCi-7UTUEx3BIe7uYCTTrNU8Rr6IlJmdPXIqQfuuxTSd4l_eohvL_BGEsoP/w400-h225/07B89120-B48D-45FB-AF1D-49AF6CD16790.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not entirely sure, but I <i>think</i> that might have been a nod to the <b><i>The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs</i></b> meme, in which James Franco's character is about to be hung and looks over at his fellow prisoner and says, "First time?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clearly the joke here is that Thawne's used to being resurrected by this point, unlike the others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>• Godspeed threatens Thawne by asking if he has any last words. Thawne replies, "Never wear white after Labor Day."</span><br /><br /><span>OK, that was actually pretty funny. Well done!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMuzEkBieNWsBqxYjLvekh9pOSYNTz1EcnsBRV9hrhmMhT1WmZ-9IZmbkABwkECQcTtPd-iEBORRgkaxF_OeDyyOznDBb9c7oC4CzzyQaKFP-ZTsrz-32fNQzsRIvzjBqJpbJ4cyHpz56aeCzJfRH8NPyj-mSGNy-ahMQu0SQch1wioM5eX1s5dlY0FXO/s1366/flash%200913%2009.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1366" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMuzEkBieNWsBqxYjLvekh9pOSYNTz1EcnsBRV9hrhmMhT1WmZ-9IZmbkABwkECQcTtPd-iEBORRgkaxF_OeDyyOznDBb9c7oC4CzzyQaKFP-ZTsrz-32fNQzsRIvzjBqJpbJ4cyHpz56aeCzJfRH8NPyj-mSGNy-ahMQu0SQch1wioM5eX1s5dlY0FXO/w400-h200/flash%200913%2009.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Eddie then materializes, looking like the least dangerous villain ever in his Steve Jobs cosplay. </span>He informs the evil speedsters that they all died fighting the Flash. Fortunately he plucked them from their various timelines a microsecond before their deaths and brought them here, where he can boost their speed in order to seek revenge on their mortal enemy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At first I was impressed with this plotline, as it was pretty darned cool and a great way to bring back all the evil speedsters who'd ever appeared on the show. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then it hit me— it's <i>literally</i> the plot of <b><i>Spider-Man: No Way Home!</i></b> The writers just shamelessly swiped <i><b>The Flash</b></i> series finale from Marvel! The only thing missing are two multiversal versions of Barry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hey, I guess if you're gonna steal, steal from the best!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Speaking of this episode's</span> plot...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Last week the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal told Eddie its plan— to round up Zoom, Godspeed, Savitar and Reverse-Flash so they could team up and destroy Barry once and for all.</span><br /><br /><span>At the time I pointed out that its choices made little or no sense. Zoom had nothing to do with the Negative Speed Force, and got his powers from taking Velocity-9. Same goes for Godspeed. Savitar WAS Barry Allen (or an evil time remnant of him), and as such had his own power source. Of them all, only the Reverse-Flash got his abilities from the Negative Speed Force.</span><br /><br /><span>Credit where it's due— the writers actually remembered all that this week!</span><br /><br /><span><b>Zoom: </b>(to Thawne) "I'm the fastest man alive!"</span><br /><span><b>Thawne: </b>"No, you're just a strung out, jumped-up Velocity-9 junkie."</span><br /><br /><span>I'm honestly amazed they knew that! Good job. </span><br /><br /><span>That said, I <i>still</i> don't believe these four would ever willingly work together— even to kill Barry. </span>Zoom and Godspeed are both way too arrogant to ever be part of a team. And as I said, Savitar was a time remnant of Barry. An unhinged version of him to be sure, but still one who would never join up with his old enemies. And Thawne consistently belittled Eddie, calling him "the dumbest branch on his family tree." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It also seems unlikely that Eddie would want to work with Thawne— the guy he threw his life away trying to kill. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>And yet here we are, with all of them working together, despite the fact it makes no sense.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• When it was first announced that the series' final Big Bad would be Cobalt Blue, I'd never heard of the character and new absolutely nothing about him. That said, I was curious and thought it might be interesting to see one last brand new villain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEg0IHNoA1qYykOnVonSuHOzURQjenlwTu9KPTbPSkKed_3eFmJoXlaXu1rROraxG8yOsdvs_VqiK8CqM1DQHzntmf91oRKw4nbTAw_WdP_oRkRxzXxJCwXUQHMFCDC7HE__VIf7WLqdCMGYH5mftcu9YU6LofYEAAZjYlu51cMTEhmK-cBVTWjHizCnq/s1366/flash%200913%2010.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEg0IHNoA1qYykOnVonSuHOzURQjenlwTu9KPTbPSkKed_3eFmJoXlaXu1rROraxG8yOsdvs_VqiK8CqM1DQHzntmf91oRKw4nbTAw_WdP_oRkRxzXxJCwXUQHMFCDC7HE__VIf7WLqdCMGYH5mftcu9YU6LofYEAAZjYlu51cMTEhmK-cBVTWjHizCnq/w400-h196/flash%200913%2010.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be careful what you wish for, I guess. In this episode finally assumes his true form as Cobalt Blue. Unfortunately he looks like another Power Rangers reject, or a dancer in a Vegas revue.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWzoPM-GcwOQ00m_SXTUFmH10TBkBiryh-aM0eopGtg8eaj88AQjGE4F73Tvhj2dFOBV5mCI1L-amQ6PC5Gd-oLcURnYSwH5a8hicVVwlwLf-BJbLI7XuUkR_NRd6fE-7UWj_bmIKT5sa_iT9pdTmY-XPn1JGOppTNn1Q74EWUleEk5jsodtV4WhIbrqj/s839/cobalt.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="673" height="535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWzoPM-GcwOQ00m_SXTUFmH10TBkBiryh-aM0eopGtg8eaj88AQjGE4F73Tvhj2dFOBV5mCI1L-amQ6PC5Gd-oLcURnYSwH5a8hicVVwlwLf-BJbLI7XuUkR_NRd6fE-7UWj_bmIKT5sa_iT9pdTmY-XPn1JGOppTNn1Q74EWUleEk5jsodtV4WhIbrqj/w514-h640/cobalt.png" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To be fair, they did a decent job of bringing him to the screen, as he looks very much like the comic version— it's just that in this case the source material is awful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7sH_Ywp4Crbi4ZsQjxG8HfD3NOhunbdW8B4SqQwOZtle_3QFTy-wl-2Shfc99ORYpZRRUEkqL8qjce2l9gIYjeEIgRh8eJEwUS54Msx5OCEJA4NGLJErpPNN1hZLZGgA7CS3vRVFqEVIU48a8qVwgn-X3ScO70SgDlw-ucJ7Y7cuvrkqRkz-65melpx6/s600/flash%200913%20intro.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7sH_Ywp4Crbi4ZsQjxG8HfD3NOhunbdW8B4SqQwOZtle_3QFTy-wl-2Shfc99ORYpZRRUEkqL8qjce2l9gIYjeEIgRh8eJEwUS54Msx5OCEJA4NGLJErpPNN1hZLZGgA7CS3vRVFqEVIU48a8qVwgn-X3ScO70SgDlw-ucJ7Y7cuvrkqRkz-65melpx6/w400-h199/flash%200913%20intro.gif.gif" width="430" /></a></div></div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Get a good look, kids, as this is the last time we'll ever see the "floating heads" titles— the one that looks for all the world like a soap opera intro. I still miss the old "My Name Is Barry Allen, And I'm The Fastest Man Alive" opening. Ah well.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHVGysrc0i9-QE3YlQQS2jK2noBvx4FI8nW7ktEbt5podmRTfziWhc_XS52o8y6cWJ1-hlt4zHeZgaiFjr0lDiOsvb11PldSfyPeAfVkIAWKdygUWDy6voyXrY0fyXhYy0Ww7TPeOHKh45C_TJxTRcn1KdqtEI7pV1BWVghN4QaQFOWqgWjMeFtWwUnVb/s1366/flash%200913%2008.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1366" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHVGysrc0i9-QE3YlQQS2jK2noBvx4FI8nW7ktEbt5podmRTfziWhc_XS52o8y6cWJ1-hlt4zHeZgaiFjr0lDiOsvb11PldSfyPeAfVkIAWKdygUWDy6voyXrY0fyXhYy0Ww7TPeOHKh45C_TJxTRcn1KdqtEI7pV1BWVghN4QaQFOWqgWjMeFtWwUnVb/w400-h200/flash%200913%2008.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Once again, the opening credits spoil the appearance of the various guest stars. Stupid Opening Credits!</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FUEtQy5PcDCQmQXW9o1JCa-ekjXVNbYsddcn385pTi15LTySZcMqMW3D6AB3BC9Q8fm1m1iKPTawKR8ty2waiHbUCoN9MzAjLormVsPKL11vgyoKxDhJhB7Idq6PO52WplzkV-4IYvkPhSSfWm6cHMm9L7hxxg4Jgz6eMFm2-CN_qYZrNCvoqA_QsF_U/s1366/flash%200913%2007.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FUEtQy5PcDCQmQXW9o1JCa-ekjXVNbYsddcn385pTi15LTySZcMqMW3D6AB3BC9Q8fm1m1iKPTawKR8ty2waiHbUCoN9MzAjLormVsPKL11vgyoKxDhJhB7Idq6PO52WplzkV-4IYvkPhSSfWm6cHMm9L7hxxg4Jgz6eMFm2-CN_qYZrNCvoqA_QsF_U/w400-h199/flash%200913%2007.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Although they did manage to synch Tobin Bell's credit with Savitar's appearance. Well done, I guess.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Speaking of Bell... I assume the audience was supposed to be impressed by his participation in this episode. If I'm being honest though, they electronically deepened and processed his voice so much that it could have been ANYONE saying Savitar's lines and we literally wouldn't have known the difference.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIeclC-fS-BFYaa3dbdZzJ8bAyTkaqlWo4GjJQyoh5Z7_bnrYwO_PotUoDvVHW2ZyJ5jd6u4z8Td0rvN4AhbAWASd2X7wlSZqF0LOb4z2D8llWKDQxkUlmquJo918_L_gTBlJ88adhhNEK2Yj5w1QEMIA2-GUGuBy3o6MearNb4PVQt9EurPXizSFtySQ/s1366/flash%200913%2011.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIeclC-fS-BFYaa3dbdZzJ8bAyTkaqlWo4GjJQyoh5Z7_bnrYwO_PotUoDvVHW2ZyJ5jd6u4z8Td0rvN4AhbAWASd2X7wlSZqF0LOb4z2D8llWKDQxkUlmquJo918_L_gTBlJ88adhhNEK2Yj5w1QEMIA2-GUGuBy3o6MearNb4PVQt9EurPXizSFtySQ/w400-h198/flash%200913%2011.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We then cut to the Central City Hospital, where Iris is still in labor. I don't remember for sure, but this may be the first time we've ever seen this building.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOSP-MiKXtbtyr_Jdh_M-hbZ_SEPWJV1xP_Zi-ePbm0CGGr7puA347pIJR5LdOcCr7lZqWcJwDD6wKL7giDwB6kHscw53HPIVRSRRyxgbLSezYzPEjaTzWCzemxhPr9llY6ZFo7_O9TUWAabAaxTPBWWcHHXEd3-WMT5DzYptPH7hBDEqR3k9Tu_z1pXB/s1366/0flash1701.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghOSP-MiKXtbtyr_Jdh_M-hbZ_SEPWJV1xP_Zi-ePbm0CGGr7puA347pIJR5LdOcCr7lZqWcJwDD6wKL7giDwB6kHscw53HPIVRSRRyxgbLSezYzPEjaTzWCzemxhPr9llY6ZFo7_O9TUWAabAaxTPBWWcHHXEd3-WMT5DzYptPH7hBDEqR3k9Tu_z1pXB/w400-h225/0flash1701.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In many other episodes, the characters have always gone to the Central City <i>Medical Center</i> (which was represented by this piece of video clip art). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This isn't necessarily a mistake, as many large cities have more than one medical facility. I just thought it worth mentioning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIsMhL90IYCyHQ1xBe5miixjXqiQMAbhuNIiE-vsfm9I-Hj0wmtV4bR5WN6Juh_hj4Hs7lMfZsF-Nn8biTuwSLfgkgy_wQB_9AFUOAsua8o5KDYGTRLETAFLmVcBWmPOsMeL9Drc9OTSIXLkkaj2SmlF9pAGf7IoZEQbPlW_fvT8nNEN-ruHkzBrhhEfU/s1366/flash%200913%2012.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIsMhL90IYCyHQ1xBe5miixjXqiQMAbhuNIiE-vsfm9I-Hj0wmtV4bR5WN6Juh_hj4Hs7lMfZsF-Nn8biTuwSLfgkgy_wQB_9AFUOAsua8o5KDYGTRLETAFLmVcBWmPOsMeL9Drc9OTSIXLkkaj2SmlF9pAGf7IoZEQbPlW_fvT8nNEN-ruHkzBrhhEfU/w400-h198/flash%200913%2012.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• At the hospital, Barry's <i>finally</i> reunited with Iris. Unfortunately they're interrupted by the sudden appearance of Eddie— sorry, Cobalt Blue— in his spiffy new band uniform.</span><br /><br /><span>Last week Eddie was angry that Barry "stole" the life he was owed, and was intent on winning back Iris. This week he's changed tactics and wants to kill Barry and.... well, I'll let him explain it:</span><br /><br /><span><b>Barry:</b> "Eddie, you kill me, you kill the Speed Force too."</span><br /><span><b>Eddie: </b>"Exactly. And without the Speed Force to bind it together, the timeline will fall. And then I'll make a new one where I'm the hero."</span><br /><br /><span>Once again we're told that the Speed Force is the only thing holding our universe together, and if it dies, so does all of existence. And just like last week, I gotta point out that the Speed Force DID die two or three seasons back, and nothing even remotely like this happened. The only result was that Barry lost his powers.</span><br /><br /><span>I have no idea where all this nonsense is coming from, but it's definitely a HUGE retcon.</span><br /><br /><span>• Eddie then threatens to kill Barry & Iris, and we get one last mention of the show's catchphrase:</span><br /><br /><span><b>Eddie:</b> "Now, any last words?"</span><br /><span><b>Iris:</b> "I've got three. <i>Run, Barry. Run</i>."</span><br /><br /><span>OK, I gotta admit that was a damned cool line. And one of the last times we'll ever hear it. Almost makes me choke up a little. <i>Almost</i>.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyt0Vi4jJYvi41QRcqyPhYnK6AJTDAtaDL7IqdaZsoXmLogFkD5U1_AxEDYQJM85-fjDgzQ9N-qb5sPwSVW0kv47eKFSttO3aZdt2CDLVoycEspkNMnjFzRi3frLhL29SSKEZYIox8aYwAGSeHO54WLQstkygvdmbHByrvPehYc99et7rdKVC4g7YUCH4/s600/flash%200913%20spear.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyt0Vi4jJYvi41QRcqyPhYnK6AJTDAtaDL7IqdaZsoXmLogFkD5U1_AxEDYQJM85-fjDgzQ9N-qb5sPwSVW0kv47eKFSttO3aZdt2CDLVoycEspkNMnjFzRi3frLhL29SSKEZYIox8aYwAGSeHO54WLQstkygvdmbHByrvPehYc99et7rdKVC4g7YUCH4/w400-h200/flash%200913%20spear.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Barry & Eddie then have an epic speedster battle through downtown Central City. At one point Eddie conjures up a Speed Force spear. Barry does the same, and the two attack one another with their crackling energy weapons. Oy...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I've said it many, many times before, but I am NOT a fan of the whole "Speed Force As A Weapon" thing. Speedsters are already the most ridiculously overpowered superheroes there are, as they can attack faster than an opponent can even see. Giving them the ability to create energy constructs makes it even worse, as it basically turns them into Green Lanterns.</span><br /><br /><span>Also, Eddie has red lightning here. I get that it's because he's being powered by the Negative Speed Force, which is traditionally red, but... Cobalt <b>BLUE</b>, anyone?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also also, check out the CGI Eddie when he first whips up his spear and holds it over his head. Yikes! Most of the FX in this episode are pretty good, but they definitely dropped the ball with Eddie's face.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>• A few weeks back I noted that when the Negative Speed Force possessed Joe and Chillblaine, they didn't become speedsters. In fact nothing much changed for them, other than sporting glowing eyes and turning evil. One would think the first thing such an elemental force would do is make its hosts super fast.</span><br /><br /><span><i>Finally</i> this week, the Negative Speed Force possesses Eddie and makes him a speedster. I guess maybe it forgot it could do that, and just now remembered?</span><br /><br /><span>Oh, and before anyone mentions it, I'm aware that last week the Negative Speed Force possessed Nora, and she and Barry had a big ol' speedster battle. That was different though, as she was a speedster BEFORE she was possessed.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-fkWi0zF1zrM1TOMUzTThGHLcYUgYOIHfFUTN_RQI8Lop-Ou-i8qNgQ3E9TWqgUdx-UKMFNAJkutVPdU6zivUb9Qe8i52zbGk0PNhByWNCJL05v4ZpZ79zPgBT3iyOACfGId8COmwh4FTx_-ZWgnxUG-Q7kxticpxSjQEE4Jo13MMePdrP9hPb62hmfv/s600/flash%200913%20dead%20barry.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-fkWi0zF1zrM1TOMUzTThGHLcYUgYOIHfFUTN_RQI8Lop-Ou-i8qNgQ3E9TWqgUdx-UKMFNAJkutVPdU6zivUb9Qe8i52zbGk0PNhByWNCJL05v4ZpZ79zPgBT3iyOACfGId8COmwh4FTx_-ZWgnxUG-Q7kxticpxSjQEE4Jo13MMePdrP9hPb62hmfv/w400-h198/flash%200913%20dead%20barry.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Eddie's apparently much stronger than Barry, as his attack throws our hero several hundred yards, causing him to bounce off numerous cars and crash through a glass sign.</span><br /><br /><span>So once again, Barry's dead, right? Even with his speed healing, there's no way he could survive a beating like that.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0vcTKNDBYDNwyHZqrebd-VZG02TZSb7eEaTFOXffASw9xv-FHIeXKYpl8OdvlVYW4iDo-q0bcEjZTUP7AaHzGewqMMxn3IRLN92BNQdCtFbDD3F1EkeDXVLDTDshjePE4o-t8cDlODKV27byS74MUt3p49ywMqv2Ims-hp1xnAb9NgdjrFro2wpK2mq/s1366/flash%200913%2013.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat0vcTKNDBYDNwyHZqrebd-VZG02TZSb7eEaTFOXffASw9xv-FHIeXKYpl8OdvlVYW4iDo-q0bcEjZTUP7AaHzGewqMMxn3IRLN92BNQdCtFbDD3F1EkeDXVLDTDshjePE4o-t8cDlODKV27byS74MUt3p49ywMqv2Ims-hp1xnAb9NgdjrFro2wpK2mq/w400-h198/flash%200913%2013.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Barry's saved from certain death by the timely arrival of Team Flash— which consists of Chillblaine (who's managed to get his shirt off one last time), Khione (for some reason), Nora (who's apparently slumming here in 2023), Allegra and finally Cecile (in her spiffy new "Virtue" costume). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wow, Eddie's really in for it now! Especially when he gets a good look at this "formidable" team and laughs himself sick.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OK, why the hell isn't Barry's team made up of all the good speedsters who've ever appeared on the show? It should have been Barry, Wally, Nora, Bart and Jay Garrick. They'd have been a perfect counterpart to Eddie's team, but instead we just got the regular old cast.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OK, I get it— the regular actors were already contracted to appear, and it would have been prohibitively expensive to bring in four more guest stars. In the world of the show though, the lineup of Barry's team makes no damn sense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5do3W6-Y4mzr-7mIWshgtvOqsi6-H_klhbsrjyd1GDpxfAosjnH-P9w8JlNA1BRQmtlSEyl5ToQOVQsRWcKOGWMfWYqYiyWVscYmjOMClh4TTUt-njaJXQ4WgtA_aJIZLx_svwB5drEgiKTfshfcKcUGlpPIh12PhB-wmmvfs6mkmeCQCDDQudIrEajf/s1366/flash%200913%2014.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5do3W6-Y4mzr-7mIWshgtvOqsi6-H_klhbsrjyd1GDpxfAosjnH-P9w8JlNA1BRQmtlSEyl5ToQOVQsRWcKOGWMfWYqYiyWVscYmjOMClh4TTUt-njaJXQ4WgtA_aJIZLx_svwB5drEgiKTfshfcKcUGlpPIh12PhB-wmmvfs6mkmeCQCDDQudIrEajf/w400-h198/flash%200913%2014.png" width="430" /></span></a></div></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Eddie then teleports in his own team, consisting of Godspeed, Reverse-Flash, Savitar and Zoom. Several things here:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First of all, Eddie calls his little squad here the "Legion Of Zoom." Ugh... OK, I get it— it's a play on the Legion Of Doom. But one of the members of this particular little group is actually <i>named</i> Zoom, making it sound like it's his team— which is needlessly confusing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Second, note that Savitar's lights are now shining red, rather than blue as they did earlier. It's been a <i>lonnnnnng</i> time since I watched Season 3, so I couldn't remember if that was ever a thing on the show or not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Turns out it was, as his armor lights changed to red in the Season 3 finale <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-flash-season-3-episode-23-finish.html">Finish Line</a></i></b>. However, in that episode Savitar's lights changed from blue to red after Barry phased him out of his armor and took it over himself. So make of that what you will.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh6mQdrJku3TljiNvCzuDvJf52ybk8XK1WpRPw5X0xmutEvR9yf8D_zI0aqF0ymHXsz8Ej6w2F-lhDDNH4ZSSgW3oNW4bqlWq9VGizU_ASNhtBg1DIzdm17VVPk_OcU02hHaCw-xjebrM3qRBgxoXmcau5MHX3JzrbwQ4etP5fbnoVYiEbLCMuzCF7um-/s1929/Untitled2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1929" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh6mQdrJku3TljiNvCzuDvJf52ybk8XK1WpRPw5X0xmutEvR9yf8D_zI0aqF0ymHXsz8Ej6w2F-lhDDNH4ZSSgW3oNW4bqlWq9VGizU_ASNhtBg1DIzdm17VVPk_OcU02hHaCw-xjebrM3qRBgxoXmcau5MHX3JzrbwQ4etP5fbnoVYiEbLCMuzCF7um-/w400-h163/Untitled2.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lastly, what's up with Zoom's mask in this episode? On the left is how he appeared way back in Season 2, and on the right is how he looks this week. What the hell?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bear in mind that Eddie pulled him from his timeline at the moment of his death, so he should look <i>exactly</i> as he did seven years ago. And yet he's completely different. Did they lose the original molds and have to sculpt a new mask? Or did they forget how to light him properly?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whatever the reason, the difference is VERY noticeable and jarring.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFIWHiZk7MKnXcQk1cFVS7TyC0TyZOVG4eP7CEVaWlTKBTOKVIUB9mPjH7grt6-ol8uPGXq0sj3duS_4OYRhj8O65usJ0w6lY28wAmP1i2Qb28-rKeLMqGk8eA_RXCBg4MXozSIv9TTNZB9pnkX-58OQGrlc_UBCHTiZimwKY9eqQ1WhidB9WpKnGkEpA/s1366/flash%200913%2015.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFIWHiZk7MKnXcQk1cFVS7TyC0TyZOVG4eP7CEVaWlTKBTOKVIUB9mPjH7grt6-ol8uPGXq0sj3duS_4OYRhj8O65usJ0w6lY28wAmP1i2Qb28-rKeLMqGk8eA_RXCBg4MXozSIv9TTNZB9pnkX-58OQGrlc_UBCHTiZimwKY9eqQ1WhidB9WpKnGkEpA/w400-h198/flash%200913%2015.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• The two teams then take a few seconds to pose dramatically in front of one another before their big fight. There's a lot of that in this episode.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLYHSi3AFBvivs2pCkXv7JReeXc05xE99vVCOWyAz5gWw3r8t0lULCBFF9D4KOY7MEt7ayA3sNUn5SrG1y3K3C4KfnjP45cuPubZF6vA0r932Bvzn0K-b0VGf_UXEHWZ4E9yyOmKR9Y0w_jsx8IAaJaIu-IVHknAOSwWcnERZ03RjbHCnitKhBson6W_M/s1366/pitch.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLYHSi3AFBvivs2pCkXv7JReeXc05xE99vVCOWyAz5gWw3r8t0lULCBFF9D4KOY7MEt7ayA3sNUn5SrG1y3K3C4KfnjP45cuPubZF6vA0r932Bvzn0K-b0VGf_UXEHWZ4E9yyOmKR9Y0w_jsx8IAaJaIu-IVHknAOSwWcnERZ03RjbHCnitKhBson6W_M/w400-h225/pitch.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With apologies to Ryan George and his <b><i>Pitch Meetings</i></b>, pitting these two groups against one another is utterly ridiculous.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On one team you've got two speedsters, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a guy who can freeze things, a woman with light powers, a telepath/empath and Mother Nature.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The other team consists of 5, count 'em FIVE speedsters. Beings who can move so fast the rest of the world</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> seems frozen in place. There's no way in hell Barry's team could ever possibly hope to defend against that. The Legion Of Zoom could literally murder them all while they were blinking! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And yet as we'll see in a minute, FIVE whole-ass speedsters are no match for Team Flash!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rZSB-a1jGHP4YauFuEOXOViZHjjBAu_7YA7KFWjHS9JECmpMxKCv_HHPXlaNvI64EBcyX3n6Fo65eKsN9weVeyXZMIQCNr-PtMbkSnjL9UamFtvYO1LqQSyS5_clNG41EJRNr0wbr9A17KxIJR1r26wKiWVSMqVS-Qyncu5L8-li8tXknRIphQWOmTQN/s600/flash%200913%20delta.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rZSB-a1jGHP4YauFuEOXOViZHjjBAu_7YA7KFWjHS9JECmpMxKCv_HHPXlaNvI64EBcyX3n6Fo65eKsN9weVeyXZMIQCNr-PtMbkSnjL9UamFtvYO1LqQSyS5_clNG41EJRNr0wbr9A17KxIJR1r26wKiWVSMqVS-Qyncu5L8-li8tXknRIphQWOmTQN/w400-h199/flash%200913%20delta.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Eventually Barry has enough of the Legion's posturing and tells Team Flash to "Execute Delta Maneuvers." This move apparently consists of each member zooming off in different directions, as the various evil speedsters chase after them.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First we see Eddie pursuing Barry, as the two zoom through the city.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then Godspeed chases after Cecile, who's floating hundreds of feet above the streets below. Wait, what? She flies now? She flies now. Godspeed catches up to her by creating a series of Negative Speed Force platforms and leaping from one to the next (!). Cecile counters by using her Jean Grey powers to stop him in midair and then easily flings him to the ground.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Zoom races after Khione (and I guess Chillblaine as well?), who somehow manages to outpace him inside her blue vortex. We then see Thawne chasing after Allegra, who uses Nash Wells' teleport bombs to keep two steps ahead of him.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note that everything in this scene's moving so fast that I had to watch it about twenty times before I realized I was seeing both Khione AND Allegra being pursued by Zoom and Thawne. Their powers look so similar they kind of blur together. I dunno who thought it was a good idea to put two gals with blue smoke powers next to one another, but they need fired.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lastly we see Savitar chasing after Nora.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Credit Where It's Due: Even though it's patently ridiculous that Team Flash could ever beat a bunch of speedsters, it's still a pretty cool scene. It perfectly showcases everyone's powers, and is actually quite well done. More or less.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And enjoy this brief battle scene between everyone, as it's definitely the only action we get in the entire episode, as right after this everything turns to shit...</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• The big </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Team Flash Vs. Evil Speedsters" battle scenes have to be seen to be believed. There's a lot to talk about here, so I'm gonna go through each of the matchups one at a time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi--IPP9LWu_gl_IQKiKc7WN2DnaCmfBRxbCrptZBReN5Ugs5ei4qIgY3tRBQnMNm7zWYZZ5Ji5FY09PuupHY6i8zA9L2ar_KuIBzUBB5I5XW2dRZSyuxg2hY4OeJWAmkwTQq8Mg1h9g7eTFXoSzI-PwR0LCSBVJlDSFkQmOUWxJEFNWkfrv9Y-f3XDuGuj/s1366/flash%200913%2017.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1366" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi--IPP9LWu_gl_IQKiKc7WN2DnaCmfBRxbCrptZBReN5Ugs5ei4qIgY3tRBQnMNm7zWYZZ5Ji5FY09PuupHY6i8zA9L2ar_KuIBzUBB5I5XW2dRZSyuxg2hY4OeJWAmkwTQq8Mg1h9g7eTFXoSzI-PwR0LCSBVJlDSFkQmOUWxJEFNWkfrv9Y-f3XDuGuj/w400-h194/flash%200913%2017.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— We'll start with the Nora/Savitar pairing. Savitar manages to grab Nora by the neck, lift her above his head and stab her through the chest with one of his arm blades. Holy crap!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wgTMoJ1FRCM6tKLTM_iGEVhOKdtHHXbnjdgFm9qMrbEGsDkLcoVGW4DhAkYnVUvoXbYZ0wz4ZA_qwe8cFg7d7hVt4-YMZ6UPDnXI2v8Tmnc9UsNeEmo8D0QJemoFHDondgbbBr1WbbNVx_0qsgj9voU1s4n9_jtLnJ5cwxICKupkQvCtF5cU5upBNtKh/s1366/flash%200913%2019.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wgTMoJ1FRCM6tKLTM_iGEVhOKdtHHXbnjdgFm9qMrbEGsDkLcoVGW4DhAkYnVUvoXbYZ0wz4ZA_qwe8cFg7d7hVt4-YMZ6UPDnXI2v8Tmnc9UsNeEmo8D0QJemoFHDondgbbBr1WbbNVx_0qsgj9voU1s4n9_jtLnJ5cwxICKupkQvCtF5cU5upBNtKh/w400-h195/flash%200913%2019.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;">But SURPRISE— Nora has a trick of her sleeve, as she selectively phases her torso so the blade passes harmlessly through her.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGhVFrXNny3vec3f4GkMs0YJKRBtM6dDH14m25trd_DJ0V7nxbzgwM2PQbF5I1P_q89M_GvWwVGNy-x7aAf1x95_GFrIBMskgCYhYprFX2l6ZlIbgtl4o6FjippilTdb_BuJMH3KAxz-j3IMV5mVqUmpCdJf6aVs_i9itRJbmbTIdOgGdrxJEzB7T6tEp/s1366/flash%200913%2020.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGhVFrXNny3vec3f4GkMs0YJKRBtM6dDH14m25trd_DJ0V7nxbzgwM2PQbF5I1P_q89M_GvWwVGNy-x7aAf1x95_GFrIBMskgCYhYprFX2l6ZlIbgtl4o6FjippilTdb_BuJMH3KAxz-j3IMV5mVqUmpCdJf6aVs_i9itRJbmbTIdOgGdrxJEzB7T6tEp/w400-h196/flash%200913%2020.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then she snaps off the blade, zooms behind Savitar and stabs him in the back, instantly killing him (!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jaysis, so much to unpack here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYFljKsGRllAwMSwhQAHn4LPBdrnQ8ZwuFj3u8CSwIBWN1_7DqzY6I-ZLDe1mhOVJRDR2_wjZvBkThFGkSGEWTFFbzVISkHNP-MPqn8E9cxmHNxc2qgZlihhe43jRQrgcAqZATr_dTamDVYREspL1VznwMEBH491k0h0p6tg27jwhWxvvJtF3BCDMxOPR/s1366/flash%200913%2018.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYFljKsGRllAwMSwhQAHn4LPBdrnQ8ZwuFj3u8CSwIBWN1_7DqzY6I-ZLDe1mhOVJRDR2_wjZvBkThFGkSGEWTFFbzVISkHNP-MPqn8E9cxmHNxc2qgZlihhe43jRQrgcAqZATr_dTamDVYREspL1VznwMEBH491k0h0p6tg27jwhWxvvJtF3BCDMxOPR/w400-h225/flash%200913%2018.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First off, the shot of Nora being stabbed through the chest by Savitar mirrors the Season 2 episode <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-flash-season-3-episode-22-infantino.html" target="_blank">Infantino Street</a></i></b>, in which the evil speedster seemingly killed Iris the exact same way. Nice callback, I guess. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Second, this is likely some Heavy Duty Nitpicking, but whatever. Nora survives Savitar's attack by phasing just her torso. Pretty clever at first glance, but it doesn't make a lick of sense. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If she phased her gut so the blade couldn't hurt her, then it wouldn't encounter any resistance, and Savitar's entire arm would just pass right through her! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Plus I can only imagine the catastrophic physical damage that partial phasing would do to one's body. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>Third, Nora stabs Savitar with his own blade— which means his armor doesn't protect him from his own weaponry. I dunno, that seems wrong to me.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lastly, Nora straight up murders Savitar, then actually grins as she gleefully utters her trademark "Schway" catchphrase to punctuate the kill.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Holy shit! </span><br /><br /><span>Um... did everyone on the show suddenly forget that Savitar IS Barry Allen? OK, he wasn't OUR Barry, as he was a time remnant from an aborted future, who went bad and became evil. But technically he was still Barry.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Which means Nora just killed her own father and wasn't the least bit affected by his death. In fact the only emotion she showed at all was one of smug victory after she offed him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus Christ! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I cannot overemphasize just how utterly </span><i>wrong</i><span> all this is. </span><span>This scene only confirms my suspicion that the current crop of writers have never actually watched the show, and have no idea what happened in the early seasons.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Things are about to get even more outrageous though, as Cecile takes on Godspeed. Hold on to something!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImuVYKqvKe5zyRJE2IBmMjtfzS8n9A7mlbnaHeq7wQ8HHiL7_4-5bi4EsID6xGKUuIIfnk_GSYSiV-F7MtiS3z7Qch4PVsF312S0Q7wH7VfRXOo1-GNdTEG1cJXB9Es3RmczDdutrLHzswxvjceYA7hz_9u1AM8LdVhRptvsUTIRVj8UqsaN5iFDYsHJu/s1366/flash%200913%2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImuVYKqvKe5zyRJE2IBmMjtfzS8n9A7mlbnaHeq7wQ8HHiL7_4-5bi4EsID6xGKUuIIfnk_GSYSiV-F7MtiS3z7Qch4PVsF312S0Q7wH7VfRXOo1-GNdTEG1cJXB9Es3RmczDdutrLHzswxvjceYA7hz_9u1AM8LdVhRptvsUTIRVj8UqsaN5iFDYsHJu/w400-h199/flash%200913%2022.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The two zoom into the Central City Institute Of Technology, where they stop to pose in front of one another.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7D7Q6HDJ9tKXlMgIhzXOYF-xCj1ClOn8SBsSkelHKw_xke-XDzZIZElWO-WD6pXqUrVA46kChuQlwcnv2oS4PgJcizx-8p7lem4SjA9z1u1Ay2mUSoMG0RIvSHS6VTQrOCbZ9EZ5TzQ-zcdrX2yCyBinKxKPLBMSTKXfyd5Euv_iSvXljQrzNYVkxqvG/s1366/flash%200913%2023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7D7Q6HDJ9tKXlMgIhzXOYF-xCj1ClOn8SBsSkelHKw_xke-XDzZIZElWO-WD6pXqUrVA46kChuQlwcnv2oS4PgJcizx-8p7lem4SjA9z1u1Ay2mUSoMG0RIvSHS6VTQrOCbZ9EZ5TzQ-zcdrX2yCyBinKxKPLBMSTKXfyd5Euv_iSvXljQrzNYVkxqvG/w400-h198/flash%200913%2023.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cecile taunts Godspeed, who becomes enraged and creates an army of clones to overrun her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-vzrZDQ_fnqbFSg0KakBYNTuFwdOvyAd6gXJsvrN-Sk3O6v7E7fmuLF6nP3ar8dsb6_8wdFaF_gHulUM4LHGIebFUYhP6Vb2kEC5o3dW1OkGY6TA4NHO99OiV9-Hb2NVrlCvrZDGPjQ1yH_N18mgdXCLtfD2Tomt9EWPc-u46h7QafbMfP1gRr5bafwQ/s1366/flash%200913%2024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-vzrZDQ_fnqbFSg0KakBYNTuFwdOvyAd6gXJsvrN-Sk3O6v7E7fmuLF6nP3ar8dsb6_8wdFaF_gHulUM4LHGIebFUYhP6Vb2kEC5o3dW1OkGY6TA4NHO99OiV9-Hb2NVrlCvrZDGPjQ1yH_N18mgdXCLtfD2Tomt9EWPc-u46h7QafbMfP1gRr5bafwQ/w400-h199/flash%200913%2024.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Amazingly this platoon of evil speedsters is no match for her, as she easily dispatches them one at a time. She then fries Godspeed Prime's mind with her psychic powers, killing him (I guess?). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that's apparently that! It's just <i>that</i> easy for a non-speedster to defeat the self-proclaimed God Of Speed and his army of duplicates!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Again, this scene is a veritable goldmine of ridiculousness. So much to go through!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrjeRH4ybR_NIaQLKJjebBcYisoK9PH4INAneqzys0JaqLH37iBJcd1TdgKFgRBPA6Uk2v4CFQotm4YdMulcKCYoawly0COMUU66Khlf29w0aK0pPgFXx7h7eoEM0nTU0_wGewUTIq5eEVZ98K0fQj_AKMy9msgepY1k9p7-cSVajBnWpIH6DTItJevOX/s1366/flash%200913%2021.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrjeRH4ybR_NIaQLKJjebBcYisoK9PH4INAneqzys0JaqLH37iBJcd1TdgKFgRBPA6Uk2v4CFQotm4YdMulcKCYoawly0COMUU66Khlf29w0aK0pPgFXx7h7eoEM0nTU0_wGewUTIq5eEVZ98K0fQj_AKMy9msgepY1k9p7-cSVajBnWpIH6DTItJevOX/w400-h199/flash%200913%2021.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First off, the vast interior of the Central City Institute Of Technology...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIAph3zaLmZoc6S3clZCyNUmzMw7k3Yc0h5B8DJKG5eoYETY6Z9BPoxnUlJYsJWQBvSRdoDCJGePOhjKFLYE82V1hvafAOyvIGW2-23lrjxGPPBltWrtNDsSsyleN7jqF0jeJ1UEJd_p6oUI_16hwpMBLy2S2RDmuONisEjSwN5AeV8orDfeLbf3kQlDP/s640/Revery_SFU_1229-web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="640" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIAph3zaLmZoc6S3clZCyNUmzMw7k3Yc0h5B8DJKG5eoYETY6Z9BPoxnUlJYsJWQBvSRdoDCJGePOhjKFLYE82V1hvafAOyvIGW2-23lrjxGPPBltWrtNDsSsyleN7jqF0jeJ1UEJd_p6oUI_16hwpMBLy2S2RDmuONisEjSwN5AeV8orDfeLbf3kQlDP/w400-h368/Revery_SFU_1229-web.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Is played by Simon Fraser University in Surrey, British Columbia— just across the river from Vancouver.<br /><br />The University also doubled as the interior of Mercury Labs back in <b><i>A New World, Part 1</i></b>.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Second, Godspeed confronts Cecile and calls her "Virtue." Wait, <i>what?</i> How the hell does he know her by <i>that</i> name? As I pointed out above, he was defeated in battle in Season 7 and had his mind wiped— </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">lonnnnng</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> before Cecile ever adopted her new superhero identity.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Let me guess— the Negative Speed Force clued him in, right? I have a feeling that's gonna be the answer to EVERY question in this episode.<br /><br />Third, Cecile stands high above Godspeed and goads him, prompting him to create an army of clones to attack her. Wow, she's really in trouble this time, right? I mean it'd be impossible for someone like Cecile to defeat even <i>one</i> speedster, much less an entire squadron of them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZB27nYYsCXpgpj2GI06kGbvtMC-4CgpA6Q8A2uiTIvC-iA7MvwH4wSpKsZjQWQQkwlDFoJl6HA0W3WK1xrfNd0GHsqyZSL3tJ9ZVkhHcBpMXFaaeXFkQSECYVFqlarK9bnrMpzammML-MsiCKq2NNNxu-0de2yi7S9yZUZSSE5en42Bqns9dA3yvBkHd/s600/flash%200913%20cecile.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZB27nYYsCXpgpj2GI06kGbvtMC-4CgpA6Q8A2uiTIvC-iA7MvwH4wSpKsZjQWQQkwlDFoJl6HA0W3WK1xrfNd0GHsqyZSL3tJ9ZVkhHcBpMXFaaeXFkQSECYVFqlarK9bnrMpzammML-MsiCKq2NNNxu-0de2yi7S9yZUZSSE5en42Bqns9dA3yvBkHd/w400-h199/flash%200913%20cecile.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And yet that's precisely what she does. Take a moment to savor the unintentional and absolute hilarity of this shot. You haven't lived until you see Cecile frantically waving her arms around at the Godspeed clones, which somehow instantly knocks 'em all out. I laughed out loud for a good five minutes the first time I saw this scene. I bet actress Danielle Nicolet felt really stupid filming this shot. And if she didn't, she should have. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's the most laughable scene in the entire series. It's so embarrassing it'd make Ed Wood look away in shame.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FVsdGl-roC5Ip32Fksd9EIZmUMgSzTKQv5Iup9GJsIzcin8DGhS6foS-BiIpwkSH1tY3gu5gjY1By33asnwe7Ukyvil2JN0OLOzRD-6AnPjq6fjA1fdwxocbuyj2cm-GT-EddkrovyKtnFauY8Wbntb44eWp_ZCaWYg6fp9mG72Ydu9t_32m4Xzz5MTS/s600/cecile%20fx.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FVsdGl-roC5Ip32Fksd9EIZmUMgSzTKQv5Iup9GJsIzcin8DGhS6foS-BiIpwkSH1tY3gu5gjY1By33asnwe7Ukyvil2JN0OLOzRD-6AnPjq6fjA1fdwxocbuyj2cm-GT-EddkrovyKtnFauY8Wbntb44eWp_ZCaWYg6fp9mG72Ydu9t_32m4Xzz5MTS/w400-h200/cecile%20fx.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm wondering if the producers actually planned on adding some kind of psychic energy effect here, and either ran out of time or money, or simply just didn't give a shit. Just for fun, I took the liberty of adding some psychic blast FX to the scene to see if that might improve it. I think it made it <i>slightly</i> better, but it's still pretty darned silly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9v2jc2TnMui0PGrXTvz9ePqWIzJPgOAhp6XPRZV8E4HPWnObAswq03gIfP1YBlSeeh_ycNkZh54hvNDs_iAOn0jp5SwQRlg4EJ53AFHVC7YbNEDIq0y7nAonnBsVLZSyQv216Z4JFCitwf45PhCmHfw9-OrjGEYXatFdxSevR9M8XfDpCxbCKfwLlpwh/s596/flash%200913%20stunt.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="596" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9v2jc2TnMui0PGrXTvz9ePqWIzJPgOAhp6XPRZV8E4HPWnObAswq03gIfP1YBlSeeh_ycNkZh54hvNDs_iAOn0jp5SwQRlg4EJ53AFHVC7YbNEDIq0y7nAonnBsVLZSyQv216Z4JFCitwf45PhCmHfw9-OrjGEYXatFdxSevR9M8XfDpCxbCKfwLlpwh/w400-h200/flash%200913%20stunt.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's too bad, as there's actually some pretty impressive stunt work in this scene, as the Godspeeds plummet from hundreds of feet and crash into objects below. Unfortunately their hard work was overshadowed by Cecile waving her hands around like a lunatic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Next up, Thawne appears inside STAR Labs and goes up against... Chester? Jaysis, he doesn't even have any powers! Talk about an unfair fight!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLm8rZIZ0W38PjYf1kwAIAXtDNpJXqQz6xwVpanhvEXT2eKZPzOrPji-jwlVQkV8JJ7cTapn9AAYhnr-61fq02CCr0q4AdJ6mnLHS1AL7pQ7b082e7ZnAkFLFH3zre_QY72Kh5b02iWT7qPwiXFFqvOh3jX87YZphgeTTrvpe6HskSxF6yjE-1Ob0HRZF/s600/flash%200913%20palpatine.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLm8rZIZ0W38PjYf1kwAIAXtDNpJXqQz6xwVpanhvEXT2eKZPzOrPji-jwlVQkV8JJ7cTapn9AAYhnr-61fq02CCr0q4AdJ6mnLHS1AL7pQ7b082e7ZnAkFLFH3zre_QY72Kh5b02iWT7qPwiXFFqvOh3jX87YZphgeTTrvpe6HskSxF6yjE-1Ob0HRZF/w400-h200/flash%200913%20palpatine.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sure enough, Thawne then goes full Palpatine on Chester's ass, frying him with Negative Speed Force energy. And I do mean fry! As filmed, there's clearly no way in hell a human could survive such an attack.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj377XGxibGbAA5DkiqYtDkDWWVJqAcwU7NG7lcDHbGDMExn7a6lKMQ0E2Xs4s3SEOXQj6ZBI01_sM8pnCG2TOkCjV_ehU3Ow3tB3eaXcm0cpq4dQo3t9OOIvZxkemaSddZ5_6vAx4yvptl0LqsfCWmiI48WLFPIRWsezi-vsCUJNfGOZZ9WUP5KZh8jp-/s1366/flash%200913%2026.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj377XGxibGbAA5DkiqYtDkDWWVJqAcwU7NG7lcDHbGDMExn7a6lKMQ0E2Xs4s3SEOXQj6ZBI01_sM8pnCG2TOkCjV_ehU3Ow3tB3eaXcm0cpq4dQo3t9OOIvZxkemaSddZ5_6vAx4yvptl0LqsfCWmiI48WLFPIRWsezi-vsCUJNfGOZZ9WUP5KZh8jp-/w400-h198/flash%200913%2026.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Allegra then makes an entrance, and fires a concentrated blast of UV light at Thawne, knocking him across the room and maybe killing him as well. <br /><br />She then begins sobbing as she cradles Chester's lifeless body in her arms. But SURPRISE—as improbable as it seems, he's not dead after all.<br /><br />Again, LOTS to unpack here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG8LkePLiAKvqUjKvebjIbAyKMZdgxA2wWkovM9kkD-Op596zu-Fy2pF6eljOgfjnnVLmbqs_T3QFHSNe-8LIkzQQ0DuFUogFs5BCrG3zra38BVJBkjsy7tbtqZjqNc4xzt4OVaLrxpIcvOVJ7xFoHnwLU_eeihihIt2iqsP3FrdIY1e0oU4Jey2CHm4i/s1366/flash%200913%2025.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG8LkePLiAKvqUjKvebjIbAyKMZdgxA2wWkovM9kkD-Op596zu-Fy2pF6eljOgfjnnVLmbqs_T3QFHSNe-8LIkzQQ0DuFUogFs5BCrG3zra38BVJBkjsy7tbtqZjqNc4xzt4OVaLrxpIcvOVJ7xFoHnwLU_eeihihIt2iqsP3FrdIY1e0oU4Jey2CHm4i/w400-h199/flash%200913%2025.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First off, note that when we first see Thawne in the Cortex, he's inexplicably sitting in a wheelchair. Clearly this is an homage to Season 1, when Thawne was impersonating the handicapped Harrison Wells. OK, I get it, but... whose wheelchair is this? And why's it there?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Obviously this a Member Berry Callback, even though it doesn't make any sense. Don't think! Just watch pretty pictures and clap at things you recognize!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Second, having Chester somehow survive Thawne's attack is patently ridiculous. I don't actively hate the character of Chester, but I really do think he should have been killed here. His death would have upped the stakes, and given the episode some much-needed weight.<br /><br />Having him wake up and shake off such a clearly lethal attack was insulting to the audience, and felt like a huge cheat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK6eKi8FgIV8GO2RMXx9fOiKBTkBVg_01At7IfGxs6C_rJWHjpkGGggzEwo4OJnaQ-d9gJxmR98HpqPTenX6wOFillS7y13d1XZjxZPdfhqvle7_Cmvlr-iNtXd-YyA4ZETsGgfL-iCPiFbWYH6IYojsElQxg34-n_HpCe864zjaKBRDfm73VrRqOMwmw/s1366/flash%200913%2027.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK6eKi8FgIV8GO2RMXx9fOiKBTkBVg_01At7IfGxs6C_rJWHjpkGGggzEwo4OJnaQ-d9gJxmR98HpqPTenX6wOFillS7y13d1XZjxZPdfhqvle7_Cmvlr-iNtXd-YyA4ZETsGgfL-iCPiFbWYH6IYojsElQxg34-n_HpCe864zjaKBRDfm73VrRqOMwmw/w400-h196/flash%200913%2027.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lastly, I love how once Chester revives, he and Allegra decide it's the perfect time to make out— all while a deadly evil speedster lies unconscious (or possibly dead?) behind them. Classic!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— We then get another "epic" battle as Zoom faces off against Khione & Chillblaine (along with Central City's finest). He poses dramatically in a tunnel, where he's confronted by a police roadblock (?). Khione appears & tells him to give up peacefully. He refuses of course, and attacks her. She easily reflects his blast back at him, and knocks him out or kills him— who knows or cares at this point. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This brief scene is yet another treasure trove, and there's tons to go over.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuUcWseRKFLUJkus8RTfOEdLxxdf95vG9HqMvDy3o-dtBuYKKboNNRsmS0orE6KdGx1JbEOIml5ll0K9mvly5Y2nNud5VB4k5freI-2cPfXvWeyBaABgP0AqbH4WnWAFgzGKDiPsFKZ7hsulQjh2e0-RQ88svB-ayGmHJ4gQ0eRuk2d7jeHEk4HEXdNqj/s1366/flash%200913%2028.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuUcWseRKFLUJkus8RTfOEdLxxdf95vG9HqMvDy3o-dtBuYKKboNNRsmS0orE6KdGx1JbEOIml5ll0K9mvly5Y2nNud5VB4k5freI-2cPfXvWeyBaABgP0AqbH4WnWAFgzGKDiPsFKZ7hsulQjh2e0-RQ88svB-ayGmHJ4gQ0eRuk2d7jeHEk4HEXdNqj/w400-h198/flash%200913%2028.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First off, I love how the CCPD sets up this little roadblock inside the tunnel— as if that could ever possibly stop a determined evil speedster. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Years back there was an episode in which Barry stopped a runaway train by literally dismantling it into its component parts at superspeed— while the thing was moving. Surely Zoom could do something similar here with these police cars blocking his path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or he could, you know, just jump over them at super speed.</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV_cVPBel5zmi-ooCC4M8ZndHfV1n1y2ky55E5wfdtjOGnFQQqVN34SLHyjcTHoP2azEqwM7yxnmpmWJxvphBF4eedxAVaHjU_i7TUu4_NGSC4N0AeclWFaalT0BCXR5lK3gASc63HKbqsIvSo-_otEsL4T1b6q6_mjMpZ9hbKCtuJkr5OoH1uIwdZpxx/s1366/flash%200913%2029.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV_cVPBel5zmi-ooCC4M8ZndHfV1n1y2ky55E5wfdtjOGnFQQqVN34SLHyjcTHoP2azEqwM7yxnmpmWJxvphBF4eedxAVaHjU_i7TUu4_NGSC4N0AeclWFaalT0BCXR5lK3gASc63HKbqsIvSo-_otEsL4T1b6q6_mjMpZ9hbKCtuJkr5OoH1uIwdZpxx/w400-h196/flash%200913%2029.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second, we get last hurrah appearances by Officer Korber (who was killed by Eddie last week in 2049, but is still alive here in 2023), Chief Singh and Captain Kramer.<br /><br />Note that Korber & Singh are both sportin' futuristic hi-tech ordinance that they got from gods know where. ARGUS, maybe? Even more curious, Kramer's holding the price scanner-looking weapon that Korber pointed at Eddie in 2049 a few weeks ago. WHOOPS! Where the hell did she get <i>that?</i><br /><br />Is... is this scene supposed to be happening in the future, but the script forgot to tell us? I don't think so, but how else to explain Kramer's gun? Other than the prop guy screwed up, of course. Or again, just didn't care and wanted to get this over with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I gotta point out just how face-palmingly ridiculous this all is, as guns ain't gonna do anything against a speedster who can move faster than the human eye can see. <br /><br />Third, Zoom sees Khione and Chillblaine in the tunnel and mockingly says, "The Goddess and her sidekick."<br /><br />Wait, <i>what?</i> How does Zoom know about Khione and what she is? He was literally plucked from his timeline (in 2016) just minutes ago. There's no way in hell he could possibly know that Caitlin died and was reborn as Khione, nor could he possibly be aware of the powers she has.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, back in Season 2 Zoom was in love with Caitlin, as the two had a flirty little relationship going. So when he sees Khionne, as far as he's concerned he should just think she's Caitlin with blue highlights in her hair. Again, have the current writers ever watched the show before?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I suppose again the answer is that the Negative Speed Force briefed him on Khionne and told him all about her. They're really leaning into that excuse though. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaiC5wqsZxX4So8rJ-ukPDVux9sQ0AV6gXr-r23owGe8quuGYTPkMk5EMtdnNPQ2jMLpPbK6T02iHVR8gRZOeNgDRtFlLjcLp_7zA0HA0dVGqITUzPz9YIHTn2aONQX1LUebu6EfLZdSR87N94uzm9zwvrHesJq_IK6xuee4sFSclZ_DfXTffDiKQBpzZ/s1366/flash%200913%2030.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1366" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaiC5wqsZxX4So8rJ-ukPDVux9sQ0AV6gXr-r23owGe8quuGYTPkMk5EMtdnNPQ2jMLpPbK6T02iHVR8gRZOeNgDRtFlLjcLp_7zA0HA0dVGqITUzPz9YIHTn2aONQX1LUebu6EfLZdSR87N94uzm9zwvrHesJq_IK6xuee4sFSclZ_DfXTffDiKQBpzZ/w400-h200/flash%200913%2030.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>Fourth, Zoom then "attacks" Khione and Chillblaine, by... running in circles around the tunnel walls for a few minutes. I guess he's building up a big ol' charge of Negative Speed Force energy to throw at them? Maybe?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's pretty obvious why he does this. If he acted like a proper speedster here, he could slit everyone's throats before they knew they were dead and zoom (heh) out of the tunnel before they hit the ground. So the producers had him circle the tunnel to extend the scene and pad out the runtime a bit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FZbVabfP6xrfR75PFD_bqTi5M5mZ3m0tjE4r9mrJFxcy1WSHPi8MVO4frG1GZrMCq9csyO-PulVu2IdNgRx-hv0_vPjtUM7ZNkG91eeUugjXuDc-rHajGf6b8lvU5eAO9ovrpk3U5OpxAU9zcGoJmChscWcfpKhsKSadB-JSpGAGZM_aQHqYWvut6Lk9/s600/flash%200913%20khione%20yoda.gif.gif" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FZbVabfP6xrfR75PFD_bqTi5M5mZ3m0tjE4r9mrJFxcy1WSHPi8MVO4frG1GZrMCq9csyO-PulVu2IdNgRx-hv0_vPjtUM7ZNkG91eeUugjXuDc-rHajGf6b8lvU5eAO9ovrpk3U5OpxAU9zcGoJmChscWcfpKhsKSadB-JSpGAGZM_aQHqYWvut6Lk9/w400-h198/flash%200913%20khione%20yoda.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div>Fifth, Zoom hurls a concentrated blast of Negative Speed Force energy at Khione. She easily palms it like Yoda, then flings it right back at him. Amazingly he's knocked out by his own energy blast! Wha...? Does that seem right? He isn't immune to his own power? Ah, whatever. Let's just roll with it or we'll be here all day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, I have to point out here that Chillblaine did absolutely NOTHING throughout this entire scene. Khionne even teleported him to the tunnel— he didn't even get there on his own! And once there, he just stood and passively watched everything unfold. Why the hell was he even in this scene? He was about as useful as taste buds on an asshole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsvP7_jfZDbf_dOymzM6313HNzaUk2WKKd0VGEkAUPGW06-NzK1XHcGWfbYI--469qo74zpD2JddBFc7-Wamv05XAb2bbDFyrPqPD_anFzrb-M3kTv-FGp80_N1m-8qg3P6co_tQM8OgTM8y2XkuKSDeDwH9-WqooHDXw5lr-A6FgMEjiiNjuAZG0fQwE/s1366/flash%200913%2031.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsvP7_jfZDbf_dOymzM6313HNzaUk2WKKd0VGEkAUPGW06-NzK1XHcGWfbYI--469qo74zpD2JddBFc7-Wamv05XAb2bbDFyrPqPD_anFzrb-M3kTv-FGp80_N1m-8qg3P6co_tQM8OgTM8y2XkuKSDeDwH9-WqooHDXw5lr-A6FgMEjiiNjuAZG0fQwE/w400-h198/flash%200913%2031.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>Lastly, the scene ends with everyone crowding around this ultra deadly speedster, who could murder them all in a millionth of a second. And yet he doesn't even attempt to fight back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For extra yuks, check out the "intense" way Kramer's pointing her price scanner at Zoom. It looks like she couldn't possibly be any less interested in this scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">— Finally we cut to Barry & Eddie, as they "battle" one another (well, kind of) inside Jitters. Eddie threatens the patrons, but an unexpected guest star shows up and chases him off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You guessed it! Lots to talk about here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM71iEmrzR8W3--6JaOfntd5vD1eQSOgVg8AkNudElX-c7c8X5Xeop2VCVDioniMZF7d1yPnXGADo2Qj08a-46C1F-4XYgfD49d2qyZN3QQgCJqs7yLI4YP5_oaFRobxduzaf6Ma0BKYI6wmRZkZyL259yS4rS-uMjLQ4_PTyQ0md9tdxGM3sjP6-Plrjo/s1366/flash%200913%2032.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM71iEmrzR8W3--6JaOfntd5vD1eQSOgVg8AkNudElX-c7c8X5Xeop2VCVDioniMZF7d1yPnXGADo2Qj08a-46C1F-4XYgfD49d2qyZN3QQgCJqs7yLI4YP5_oaFRobxduzaf6Ma0BKYI6wmRZkZyL259yS4rS-uMjLQ4_PTyQ0md9tdxGM3sjP6-Plrjo/w400-h195/flash%200913%2032.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>What's up with the lighting inside Jitters? Or should I say LACK of? Is management trying to save a few bucks by turning off the lights? Or is it closing time and they're hinting for the stragglers to get the hell out?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t9I0lNz3cqUvBUFMpaV3zrnWx0j7UR0RtmQNbOAVfkeaaQAz2d_O3Sbh6ERVxFHGd3JCtoCNCjSXEV_QoPobVHjWU36N4cImgjqrPRBDfVB-5tIdb9jALi-qUH0LPdd_cah_a_yt0EElBwhrumA_jf2olms9JyNAQh1s2qXzc7eAdH2pSvX8CJLZOdl8/s1366/flash%200913%2033.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4t9I0lNz3cqUvBUFMpaV3zrnWx0j7UR0RtmQNbOAVfkeaaQAz2d_O3Sbh6ERVxFHGd3JCtoCNCjSXEV_QoPobVHjWU36N4cImgjqrPRBDfVB-5tIdb9jALi-qUH0LPdd_cah_a_yt0EElBwhrumA_jf2olms9JyNAQh1s2qXzc7eAdH2pSvX8CJLZOdl8/w400-h196/flash%200913%2033.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At one point Eddie threatens the Jitters staff with a lightsaber made of Negative Speed Force energy, just like Reverse-Flash did back in <b><i>Heart Of The Matter, Part 2</i></b>. Except this time it's a scary, extra-crackly blade, much like Kylo Ren's in <b><i><a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/12/it-came-from-cineplex-star-wars-force.html" target="_blank">The Force Awakens</a></i></b>. Sorry, but it's just as dumb an idea now as it was in Season 7.<br /><br />At least when Eobard Thawne did it though, he'd been a speedster for years and was a pro at manipulating the Negative Speed Force. Eddie here's been a speedster for all of ten minutes, so it seems unlikely he'd have the skill and know-how to create energy constructs already.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8UhjvB1irqStxSdkYyekGSuGrDXrv6yrxHP429991nsYeY6EdJjINVOVBfwBqiZ6bnO3aRszwVu_DEiQIKuyWL9-JLIrEH8MFQb3gRGoYIlUZRBMZfQFfZdozbIxw9F6z3Xkq6kgUN9grlGNZX6SytYto1xc-_7pKNk6vhCRS0zLX0EfEbJZ5zo7y5q9/s600/flash%200913%20flaccid.gif.gif" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8UhjvB1irqStxSdkYyekGSuGrDXrv6yrxHP429991nsYeY6EdJjINVOVBfwBqiZ6bnO3aRszwVu_DEiQIKuyWL9-JLIrEH8MFQb3gRGoYIlUZRBMZfQFfZdozbIxw9F6z3Xkq6kgUN9grlGNZX6SytYto1xc-_7pKNk6vhCRS0zLX0EfEbJZ5zo7y5q9/w400-h198/flash%200913%20flaccid.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eddie's lightsaber then goes flaccid as he loses his powers. Don't worry, Eddie, it happens to all speedsters from time to time!</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVmxiQsR6dBPsgsfAtOwD7H8Jb0Fl_n4xb7Cu4D80bB-kbbrG0g55qr858m8mpd-wQAC96exfyrGrCDbwuRE2XEMBgyPJAddpKO42WqBP_0W-AHFUp6zKWxVcyZhVEQ3wj7PhSFBnVv9NS52GqvayBvWZ7Be9nmTJMtw_xbximy_CMiQpnwdbJ_vOAA4W/s1366/flash%200913%2034.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVmxiQsR6dBPsgsfAtOwD7H8Jb0Fl_n4xb7Cu4D80bB-kbbrG0g55qr858m8mpd-wQAC96exfyrGrCDbwuRE2XEMBgyPJAddpKO42WqBP_0W-AHFUp6zKWxVcyZhVEQ3wj7PhSFBnVv9NS52GqvayBvWZ7Be9nmTJMtw_xbximy_CMiQpnwdbJ_vOAA4W/w400-h198/flash%200913%2034.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then see the cause of Eddie's impotence is the timely arrival of Jay Garrick, who absorbs all the Negative Speed Force energy.<br /><br />Just as I was about to say, "How the hell does Jay know how to do that," he quips, "Just another trick I picked up from my Earth-90 doppelgänger."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wait, <i>what? </i>So many questions here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First off, it's always great to see John Wesley Shipp on the show as Jay Garrick, so I'm glad they brought him back one last time.<br /><br />That said... OF COURSE someone besides Barry saves the day here. Because gods forbid the main character actually do something or have any agency in his own series. This has been a recurring problem for the past few seasons now— giving credence to the fan theory that Eric Wallace actively hates the show's main character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second, wouldn't absorbing a crap ton of Negative Speed Force energy have a, well, <i>negative</i> effect on Jay? Just a few minutes earlier we saw Chester was nearly killed by a similar blast from Thawne. At the least, surely internalizing all that dark energy would turn him evil or something. Apparently not though, as he's completely fine afterward.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ow0DyRAPyUOICjeLOBD2BIcek5a2oyE9mxFF0lKWTLl4VnCc-d5ICRCMFq1Tjs41DOzXJ5j1u6AoZTQC_yn8s4g5OrLTR__wv_2zRVPb5UZqDuSgREkowu1YQvg8OwdEeaz8IJZUNb6V4fitnQ_JX1Wdgn0fs0hEbQrf2ZrnqQBbXV1jore40U62lAIb/s600/flash%20death.gif" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ow0DyRAPyUOICjeLOBD2BIcek5a2oyE9mxFF0lKWTLl4VnCc-d5ICRCMFq1Tjs41DOzXJ5j1u6AoZTQC_yn8s4g5OrLTR__wv_2zRVPb5UZqDuSgREkowu1YQvg8OwdEeaz8IJZUNb6V4fitnQ_JX1Wdgn0fs0hEbQrf2ZrnqQBbXV1jore40U62lAIb/w400-h225/flash%20death.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, I'm puzzled by Jay's doppelgänger comment. Clearly he's talking about the Flash who starred in his own series over on CBS way back in 1990. The same version who sacrificed himself to save the multiverse back in <b><u><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-flash-season-6-episode-9-crisis-on.html" target="_blank"><i>Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part Three</i></a></u></b>.<br /><br />There's just one problem with that— the Earth-90 Flash <i>died</i> in the Crisis. In fact he's the one who took Barry's place, to fulfill the whole "Flash Vanishes In Crisis" headline we saw for years.<br /><br />Even if that Flash didn't die, Earth-90 was certainly destroyed by the Anti-Monitor. Unless Oliver Queen/The Spectre brought it back when he secretly restored the Multiverse? Did he bring back the Earth-90 Flash as well? Did Jay somehow meet and learn from him before he died?<br /><br />Obviously this line is nothing more than pure, 100% fan service, but the writers didn't put any thought into it or worry about whether it made any sense or not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9YmQsy6ac405pHgE9phev-Pi4i2PY-fEhOvx3HMktfVqVx2RupDSsbsu3e5MWJ6cscOA3RLQEnCP1HYt4dkkhlIM9ppcmJuKySVvF9VH3SS60YjriYPZDh0--aT7vmnrxj1K6JmhfA939Ged92Q2WeXWmwG4gOmKurmePBPWeX3AXwfcd8G-E8hTrgAW/s1366/flash%200913%2038.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9YmQsy6ac405pHgE9phev-Pi4i2PY-fEhOvx3HMktfVqVx2RupDSsbsu3e5MWJ6cscOA3RLQEnCP1HYt4dkkhlIM9ppcmJuKySVvF9VH3SS60YjriYPZDh0--aT7vmnrxj1K6JmhfA939Ged92Q2WeXWmwG4gOmKurmePBPWeX3AXwfcd8G-E8hTrgAW/w400-h198/flash%200913%2038.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Temporarily defeated, Eddie then absorbs the Negative Speed Force energy from the dead/unconscious evil speedsters into his own body. Sure, why not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihtlzWe8aB1P_x-QPAwkNJJIHvsEssBeEkJ5P84x3wAka4t0PLf2HgLnb-eG6vmI1YrI1zFYUv6mtzh0uEqivfdiara9mtkUYP_zJFK1KJk8pgH0j5VzwO_UsAO6S6eImtUslUga4gSlJoO-tTzRA-EgEetwo5f7Z2F1E9nQRBisor1did-02FpUmJJuf/s1366/flash%200913%2039.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihtlzWe8aB1P_x-QPAwkNJJIHvsEssBeEkJ5P84x3wAka4t0PLf2HgLnb-eG6vmI1YrI1zFYUv6mtzh0uEqivfdiara9mtkUYP_zJFK1KJk8pgH0j5VzwO_UsAO6S6eImtUslUga4gSlJoO-tTzRA-EgEetwo5f7Z2F1E9nQRBisor1did-02FpUmJJuf/w400-h199/flash%200913%2039.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>I love how as Eddie's surrounded by all the deadly crackling energy, Jay holds his helmet in front of his chest for protection!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wait a minute... A minute ago, Jay nonchalantly absorbed all of Eddie's Negative Speed Force energy into his own body— with no ill effects. So why's he flinching from it here? WHOOPS!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlfoJn-I_9Zfi44wps9AcK3BhzXzwZQ00VTw49HshZhKgILYTGDQDk4GvjctyLzPcwFklQAIrsBD_ee9W-ELsMJmYDXfb1IURl5HMQpXG9PcWkf4FKTnWUb3kyvEU2ZBPCZSYqspj4WaJbXjzGhfCah4mOWlJVSO0eWBQWIiecNRMrzswGlzG9cBmXYJT/s1366/flash%200913%2035.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlfoJn-I_9Zfi44wps9AcK3BhzXzwZQ00VTw49HshZhKgILYTGDQDk4GvjctyLzPcwFklQAIrsBD_ee9W-ELsMJmYDXfb1IURl5HMQpXG9PcWkf4FKTnWUb3kyvEU2ZBPCZSYqspj4WaJbXjzGhfCah4mOWlJVSO0eWBQWIiecNRMrzswGlzG9cBmXYJT/w400-h198/flash%200913%2035.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I said it earlier, but I'm gonna repeat it— seeing these two Flashes together made it abundantly clear that THIS is what Barry's team should have looked like. It should have consisted of Barry, Jay Garrick, Wally West and Nora & Bart Allen. You know, an entire team of SPEEDSTERS battling against a team of evil ones.<br /><br />I get that the real world probably intruded here, and the various speedster actors' schedules made it impossible for them all to appear in the finale. But... it's not like this last ever episode was a surprise to anyone. They had NINE YEARS to prepare and arrange for it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaUJQD3iJg_bju7BcmD23AUj13IH2gUfKqWAT7WAvpvlZ28Dzt8vmEaD5iJjqTWptENTsMFDJRApP93Qofji-OGgrin53xofoDyyHvDEyoNyxGdNNSZWrg9C5lXgNxnecuNFx9kS0C1EiON127ZOBU1TWn3NghJ44Fhx90gB1amlMHjP9gSI-HNta8QZe/s1187/gang.png" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1187" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaUJQD3iJg_bju7BcmD23AUj13IH2gUfKqWAT7WAvpvlZ28Dzt8vmEaD5iJjqTWptENTsMFDJRApP93Qofji-OGgrin53xofoDyyHvDEyoNyxGdNNSZWrg9C5lXgNxnecuNFx9kS0C1EiON127ZOBU1TWn3NghJ44Fhx90gB1amlMHjP9gSI-HNta8QZe/w400-h246/gang.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So THAT'S the end of the Legion Of Zoom! Somehow the ridiculously underpowered Team Flash was able to take out not one, not two, but a whopping FIVE evil speedsters (actually DOZENS of them, if you count Godspeed's clones). Beings who, as I've said numerous times already, could kill them all in a millionth of a second.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is complete and utter bullshit, as well as an insult to the fans of the show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Normally in my reviews I do a lot of Heavy Duty Nitpicking, in which I go <i>wayyyy</i> overboard and complain about some picayune mistake that no one else would ever care about or even notice.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />For the first time ever, I'm switching things up and doing some <b>Heavy Duty Praising!</b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE1gu1WzcUKTGSFeB6O-U7s48mzENE76zX6khhzy2-Avi6WMV6WL0KSuxcstqEUzCl-Ij1wjiEw_PvQcu5vzUD4m4SadsFHapDrAiHMPMvxIeL0I5XxQYGEENLVOvR_pQxOHxE_l7Tt1XyjYYC7_wVPXwFspMrB-taJ8TaAaJXcPFCoA2IvrrF0aWq6Hu/s1366/flash%200913%2036.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE1gu1WzcUKTGSFeB6O-U7s48mzENE76zX6khhzy2-Avi6WMV6WL0KSuxcstqEUzCl-Ij1wjiEw_PvQcu5vzUD4m4SadsFHapDrAiHMPMvxIeL0I5XxQYGEENLVOvR_pQxOHxE_l7Tt1XyjYYC7_wVPXwFspMrB-taJ8TaAaJXcPFCoA2IvrrF0aWq6Hu/w400-h198/flash%200913%2036.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After he's defeated, Eddie reaches out and absorbs Godspeed's, er, speed into his own body. As the Negative Speed Force energy arcs upward from Godspeed, note that we can see the lightning reflected in the glass next to Cecile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYhHpN_SqzH0UQG-5sN2b5YmtVugezpxVgiPEapnAQ9unz7s1o3-KpaeJDFtbsq2bqoD4Uqbnhgcaw85pRk8CIYuwac53deJpq2N9GKtkBfE3gGdqMhBjznM3Lr604AEqfWmX-P-W1ApREEPTrCqaBE2J5Y60MdYHEx4bLUWfeglhp_gtcWAvbZ9KTOJ9/s1366/flash%200913%2037.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYhHpN_SqzH0UQG-5sN2b5YmtVugezpxVgiPEapnAQ9unz7s1o3-KpaeJDFtbsq2bqoD4Uqbnhgcaw85pRk8CIYuwac53deJpq2N9GKtkBfE3gGdqMhBjznM3Lr604AEqfWmX-P-W1ApREEPTrCqaBE2J5Y60MdYHEx4bLUWfeglhp_gtcWAvbZ9KTOJ9/w400-h195/flash%200913%2037.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Same thing happens when Eddie absorbs Savitar's speed— you can see its reflection in the glass guardrail next to him. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now <i>that's</i> some outstanding attention to detail! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well done!</span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Eddie vanishes to the Negative Speed Force to soak up all its energy, prompting Team Flash to have this discussion:<br /><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Khione: </b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"There's lightning all over the city. Does that mean..."</span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Barry: "</b> The whole timeline's breaking down."<br /><b>Chillblaine: </b>"How do we stop Eddie?"<br /><b>Jay:</b> "Now that he's the Negative Speed Force avatar, the only way to defeat him is to let it destroy himself. Just like that last one."<br /><b>Chillblaine: </b>"Okay, so let's do that!"<br /><br />I can't believe I'm saying this, but for once I agree with Chillblaine! Let Eddie absorb all the energy in the Negative Speed Force and then go boom, just like Eobard Thawne did last season in <i><b><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-flash-season-8-episode-20-negative.html" target="_blank">Negative, Part Two</a></b></i>. Problem solved!</span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, environmentalists must be huge fans of Eric Wallace, as he really loves recycling his plots! How many times in the past three or four years have we seen an evil meta die after absorbing too much energy or power?<br /><br />The discussion continues:<br /><br /><b>Barry:</b> "Eddie's a hero. He saved my life once by sacrificing himself to stop Thawne— I won't let him die again. I need to find a way into the Negative Speed Force somehow."<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Uh, I think maybe saving the universe is a lot more important than just one guy."<br /><b>Barry: </b>(enraged) "My wife is in the hospital right now about to give birth to our child! I am trying to save the timeline and Eddie's life!"<br /><b>Jay:</b> "Son, as hard as it sounds, that may just be impossible."<br /><br />Once again, Chillblaine's channeling my thoughts, as he suggests simply letting Eddie take himself out of the equation.<br /><br />I also liked Jay's wiser, calmer approach here, as he gently tells Barry it may not be possible to save everyone this time. Well done!<br /><br />Kudos to Grant Gustin here, as he acts the hell out of this scene. This is a truly subpar episode, but damned if he doesn't still give it his all, like a true pro! <br /><br />• Barry wants to stop Eddie, but knows if he does the Negative Speed Force will just pick a new avatar, and the War Between The Forces will go on forever. Khione tells him there's a second option:<br /><b><br />Khione: </b>"What if there's another way forward? The more I embrace who I truly am, the more I see the natural order of things. You say balance is about violence and death, but it doesn't have to be that way. Nature is about more than balance. It's about coexistence. All things living together. Not in conflict, but in mutual trust."<br /><b>Barry: </b>"Khione, the last avatar I faced... I sat down. I stopped fighting. Thawne didn't. You want coexistence, but I'm sorry. It's impossible."<br /><b>Khione: </b>"<i>Then you need to believe in the impossible</i>, because it's the only way to create a better world."<br /><br />I see what you did there, <i><b>The Flash </b></i>writers. They used Barry's opening narration about "believing in the impossible" against him.<br /><br />I know it ain't Shakespeare, but it's the closest thing to decent writing you're gonna find in this dumpster fire of an episode.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriw-5gZmj6hxtY8x9X6DUuIAoeJNPcqy3L9q6xAITRgYpE2DR0r8muDnlHwn5CYQTwj9Zx9XjHOfD8y28UhsBX6VpLQ_wIjLWGjdU9EE1Ms2NDNfbxxFmlR0XT-AD_X_95Gg-YVxWU4EczAHDmMa8QGM1daWlC-70g3piDseyhyEK8gMMWz7aXUekzqVl/s1366/flash%200913%2040.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriw-5gZmj6hxtY8x9X6DUuIAoeJNPcqy3L9q6xAITRgYpE2DR0r8muDnlHwn5CYQTwj9Zx9XjHOfD8y28UhsBX6VpLQ_wIjLWGjdU9EE1Ms2NDNfbxxFmlR0XT-AD_X_95Gg-YVxWU4EczAHDmMa8QGM1daWlC-70g3piDseyhyEK8gMMWz7aXUekzqVl/w400-h198/flash%200913%2040.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Cut to the Negative Speed Force realm or dimension or whatever it is, where we see Eddie's apparently moved out of Joe's old house, and into a facsimile of Barry & Iris' loft.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just as with the construct of the West home, they did this to save some dough and avoid having to build a new set. Which is fine, I guess, as it leaves more money in the budget for FX, but... it's just beyond obvious.</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwmMUyT_Dx-qhyO9yKUtgPqqmWvEeUlUECiSQQb471cGP497UxyJXxwsF2g70rKKur2BJSMPs7ZVL0_4MLjqzaMi7T-hVeklclfmqawb4hsqdrzTujFJQlCfj-P8Zl4heaROPNcwRLdA4flf3IMZ56CaI6cO9Yyf2vN0BcU_RoZuLWkgtmZ8LnZ4OyROg/s1366/flash%200913%2041.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwmMUyT_Dx-qhyO9yKUtgPqqmWvEeUlUECiSQQb471cGP497UxyJXxwsF2g70rKKur2BJSMPs7ZVL0_4MLjqzaMi7T-hVeklclfmqawb4hsqdrzTujFJQlCfj-P8Zl4heaROPNcwRLdA4flf3IMZ56CaI6cO9Yyf2vN0BcU_RoZuLWkgtmZ8LnZ4OyROg/w400-h198/flash%200913%2041.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• <strike>Deux Ex Machina</strike>, er, I mean Khione, pops Barry into the Negative Speed Force. Once there, he sees Eddie absorbing all the energy the realm has to offer. Yawn, this again! As previously mentioned, this plot element is lifted straight from <b><i>Negative, Part Two</i></b>.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is as good a time as any to bring this up, but... why does the Negative Speed Force need Eddie to be its avatar in the first place? The regular Speed Force never had one— from the start it was able to create a physical form, usually manifesting itself as Barry's late mother Nora Allen.<br /><br />So why's the Negative Speed Force need a human puppet? Why can't it create a body for itself like its opposite force? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course the real world answer is the writers needed a way to turn Eddie into an evil speedster— but there's no in-universe reason or explanation for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7e1BFBBHAZ70od-84tnKjc_5Pz4h5l0FBQByhgOcy0JYgnBgCE_hXQk78dm9xLn20b50rxyFTQ8eXusw1g6e0jrcSBT8hfdV-y9ziaWqJxL_SPRtY73Bn_NvRt8saI3N3Howqk0vNrThe9bxa-t5p4atvVkLYkMJHxZJ63bbK0U4YfDidB2BeIg8nUfu/s1366/flash%200913%2042.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7e1BFBBHAZ70od-84tnKjc_5Pz4h5l0FBQByhgOcy0JYgnBgCE_hXQk78dm9xLn20b50rxyFTQ8eXusw1g6e0jrcSBT8hfdV-y9ziaWqJxL_SPRtY73Bn_NvRt8saI3N3Howqk0vNrThe9bxa-t5p4atvVkLYkMJHxZJ63bbK0U4YfDidB2BeIg8nUfu/w400-h199/flash%200913%2042.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barry pleads with Eddie to stop, but of course is ignored. He then comes up with the cunningly brilliant and unintentionally hilarious plan to <i>tackle</i> Eddie in order to stop him! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Get a good look at this shot, because it's as close as Barry comes to actually taking any sort of action in the entire episode.</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-EhHYh6_xYRqk80xg0jESh-TVUL46ZLA6UlQrZB-B_M0sV2rl79z8zKXc-Zz9kaWd5dKBOz94-bvOLnf8PEXSpMatu9Ycm0ozjM9XbOYokp-HmOx51eP_VJLL3LR-EYQZ-inWudhzrtrgLR9rscq3vQfpR_GGsgQ-1KHBrcGcQHCqfw3Yb3BGnLiA7fV/s1366/flash%200913%2043.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-EhHYh6_xYRqk80xg0jESh-TVUL46ZLA6UlQrZB-B_M0sV2rl79z8zKXc-Zz9kaWd5dKBOz94-bvOLnf8PEXSpMatu9Ycm0ozjM9XbOYokp-HmOx51eP_VJLL3LR-EYQZ-inWudhzrtrgLR9rscq3vQfpR_GGsgQ-1KHBrcGcQHCqfw3Yb3BGnLiA7fV/w400-h198/flash%200913%2043.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because this is late stage <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, Barry refuses to fight Eddie, preferring to reason with him and talk things out. Rightly so, Eddie sneers at that notion and beats the ever-loving snot out of Barry— who of course refuses to fight back. Again, just like in from <b style="font-style: italic;">Negative, Part Two</b>.</div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKun-bmYih9CX8Ea0JR4-2xZHcKF0vyDkOaCtsuwBV-s6ReDtuUBCU3U2WQ8U49U28Tu_EfinXSpaZjd63J1VzYdoboiVzmRVp5hBGkyZapJSU5vGFBy-whg-0XHpiqSxiNzFkCnJLmm5FkjUG6HKUVi0RGHdlkZiSNKFLXyjUJ2sIImWvhyiAFAXce0zB/s1366/flash%200913%2044.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKun-bmYih9CX8Ea0JR4-2xZHcKF0vyDkOaCtsuwBV-s6ReDtuUBCU3U2WQ8U49U28Tu_EfinXSpaZjd63J1VzYdoboiVzmRVp5hBGkyZapJSU5vGFBy-whg-0XHpiqSxiNzFkCnJLmm5FkjUG6HKUVi0RGHdlkZiSNKFLXyjUJ2sIImWvhyiAFAXce0zB/w400-h196/flash%200913%2044.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eddie then hurls Barry across the room, where he crashes through numerous pieces of furniture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can tell this was the final episode of the show by how many sets were trashed. Allegra attacked Thawne in STAR Labs, destroying the Cortex in the process. Barry & Eddie wrecked the interior of Jitters. And now Eddie smashes up the Loft during his skirmish with Barry.<br /><br />I assume the producers figured they were gonna dismantle the sets after filming this episode anyway, so why not demolish 'em for maximum production value?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Barry then somehow convinces Eddie to remain the Negative Speed Force's avatar, urging him to fight it so they can work together and create a better world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CDylh__TUXz_16xEpRUmp01u-C1KQhNXTzrZuEvC6GtSTz1D6RmNtLqC2q_HjW2AzoaAJZy-Io7Y2ObU5NOuS7ZdGq-roAgBQ4WrI-tuCdZVVqZzLF4C5x8JA1PfLyckABkSWoQNOtN1hABSW1ZA82lYeXXbbzkFLf6_XN326xB4CgkT-wdQU1BMNbKa/s600/flash%200913%20easy.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CDylh__TUXz_16xEpRUmp01u-C1KQhNXTzrZuEvC6GtSTz1D6RmNtLqC2q_HjW2AzoaAJZy-Io7Y2ObU5NOuS7ZdGq-roAgBQ4WrI-tuCdZVVqZzLF4C5x8JA1PfLyckABkSWoQNOtN1hABSW1ZA82lYeXXbbzkFLf6_XN326xB4CgkT-wdQU1BMNbKa/w400-h199/flash%200913%20easy.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Negative Speed Force desperately tries tempting Eddie, but he realizes Barry's right. He then reaches up, yanks the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal from his chest and throws it to the floor. He stomps on it, and the red skies disappear. The Loft changes from red back to normal as well.<br /><br />Well that was easy! Wait, did I say easy? I meant dull, plodding and utterly, utterly ridiculous. Once again the show resolves a major "conflict" before it even starts, through The Power Of Friendship & Love. Jesus wept.<br /><br />This non-resolution is lifted directly from Season 7's execrable <i><b><a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-flash-season-7-episode-3-mother.html" target="_blank">Mother</a></b></i>, which I still contend is the all time worst episode of the entire series. If you'll recall, in that storyline, Mirror Master/Mistress/Monarch used her clones to take over Central City. She was defeated when Iris told her to stop being such a big meanie, and that <i>literally</i> caused her to stop.<br /><br />I don't know why Eric Wallace has such a boner for this unsatisfying plotline, but it's clearly his favorite as he's used it over and over throughout the seasons. Gods, how far this series has fallen.<br /><br />Also, this scene completely glosses over an unsettling and disturbing fact. As I interpret it, the Negative Speed Force will reside inside Eddie from now on, and he'll have to spend every waking moment resisting its evil. </span>Fun!</div><div><br /></div><div>So this is considered a win for everyone? Doesn't seem like it for poor Eddie, who ended up getting royally screwed! Better he should have died in this episode!</div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• So wait... Barry & Eddie are standing in a Negative Speed Force construct of the Loft, right? If so, shouldn't it have disappeared when the Negative Speed Force dissipated, or whatever happened to it? Is Eddie keeping it intact with his newfound powers? Or are they in the actual Loft, which was just being lit by red energy? Eh, I honestly don't care at this point. Let's just keep going.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgaoCzoND7AGzOezxM3RkRE7DracbgmYiurgYND9gqYZnMPdEZ4LujRnk5fOztF0iiK6dxIdUmxGO7dwILMSeC5Z26FqD5EeOXOV1PH1gWJMrO84i96XgvAyoKkC038Ue8n6_QaJQ6lWade2y3t4aleGsDdL-1iSDweG2dip-pD1rJtVKWXozueEnrCvP/s1366/flash%200913%2045.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgaoCzoND7AGzOezxM3RkRE7DracbgmYiurgYND9gqYZnMPdEZ4LujRnk5fOztF0iiK6dxIdUmxGO7dwILMSeC5Z26FqD5EeOXOV1PH1gWJMrO84i96XgvAyoKkC038Ue8n6_QaJQ6lWade2y3t4aleGsDdL-1iSDweG2dip-pD1rJtVKWXozueEnrCvP/w400-h198/flash%200913%2045.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>• And so ends the actual plot of the show's final ever story arc. Rather than one last all-out superhero battle, we got Barry defeating Eddie through the Power Of Friendship. The last seventeen minutes of the episode are filled with </span>maudlin relationship drama and the resolution of a few loose ends. </div><div><br />Jesus Christ. Talk about a disappointment! I cannot overemphasize enough how thoroughly unsatisfying this was. The storyline didn't end so much as it just <i>stopped</i>. It felt for all the world like Eric Wallace wanted to get the superhero shenanigans over with as quickly as possible, so he could focus on the characters talking about their feelings. <br /><br /></div><div><i>Feh.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>• Over at STAR Labs, everything's back to normal:</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><b>Allegra:</b> "Guys, Jay's confirmed it. The red lightning is gone. The timeline is back to normal."<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Which means the whole Legion Of Zoom is right back where they belong too."<br /><br />OK, <i>one </i>look out the freakin' window would have confirmed the red lightning was gone. Did they really need Jay to tell them that? Another prime example of unnecessary exposition— no doubt for the benefit of the viewers who're diddling with their phones instead of watching their TV screens.<br /><br />And how convenient that Thawne, Zoom, Savitar and Godspeed were all restored and sent back a split second after Eddie plucked them from their timelines— where they'll now all instantly die.<br /><br />That's what happened, right? Eddie confirmed earlier that he took them from their individual timelines a split second before their deaths. So if Chillblaine's right and they're "all right back where they belong," then they're dead again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Methinks the writers completely glossed over this little fact.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYEsxfq8KW88zN1h8ymZ3q0dL3SwKfwxttQPVlqgb_yteP7Zg4h2ginS8SLS4jOhB2JQbMVFLizHFd41Vmy7dP5F3ZX5dU4kz3dNaIiz1jWNBJC40Kaw2cfwfL9au_d2tpdM45fWfq8AbHSaRgnpC2HUjl7uiC0objoQbXR2nwB1LFaa7Sxoi3HFDS4nl/s1366/flash%200913%2046.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYEsxfq8KW88zN1h8ymZ3q0dL3SwKfwxttQPVlqgb_yteP7Zg4h2ginS8SLS4jOhB2JQbMVFLizHFd41Vmy7dP5F3ZX5dU4kz3dNaIiz1jWNBJC40Kaw2cfwfL9au_d2tpdM45fWfq8AbHSaRgnpC2HUjl7uiC0objoQbXR2nwB1LFaa7Sxoi3HFDS4nl/w400-h198/flash%200913%2046.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Chillblaine examines Chester and gives him his report:<br /><br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Despite being hit by enough electricity to kill an entire circus full of elephants, Runk here doesn't have a scratch on him. And I think I know why."<br /><br />Wait, <i>what?</i> As we saw a few scenes back, Thawne savagely blasted Chester with Negative Speed Force lightning, coming very close to killing him. So now we're meant to believe those blasts were just plain old electricity? That doesn't seem right. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I assumed the Negative Speed Force was composed of some form of esoteric energy not normally found on Earth. If it really is just everyday electricity, how the hell would that give Thawne speedster powers?<br /><br />Chillblaine continues:<br /><br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Buddy, your blood is generating Hawking radiation at a molecular level."<br /><b>Chester:</b> "But that's the same kind of energy that you find inside of black holes."<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "So I think that back in the day, when your consciousness bonded with that black hole, some of that cosmic energy bonded right back with you."<br /><b>Chester: </b>"Okay are you saying that I have black hole powers? Like I'm a meta?"<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Technically, your genes do contain a Consciousness-Honed Universally Neutralized Kerr anomaly."<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Hold on. I'm a C.H.U.N.K.? I'm a CHUNK, baby! I'm a CHUNK! C-H-U-N-K! Oh, dazzling Dwayne McDuffie. Wait, does this mean I'm gonna be a superhero now?"<br /><br />Lots to unpack here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xelLvdf6jedCSQspurfIK_DPwAb8z-fYKJGdmwfOnPj-QPQVUlPisxkW0bc3pABrf9cmifEm4S_lG-CIz1Ky3zoB8c5LPZpoU09df2b-pdyNpX6CQoO5Jcf1VR2DuPumAMdwGZ34-oNLkLgCu96P5DdP_tTRcdw7i4YE99lt3YCG0NDKW_-HEjKDFgCH/s709/Chunk%202.jpg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="663" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xelLvdf6jedCSQspurfIK_DPwAb8z-fYKJGdmwfOnPj-QPQVUlPisxkW0bc3pABrf9cmifEm4S_lG-CIz1Ky3zoB8c5LPZpoU09df2b-pdyNpX6CQoO5Jcf1VR2DuPumAMdwGZ34-oNLkLgCu96P5DdP_tTRcdw7i4YE99lt3YCG0NDKW_-HEjKDFgCH/w374-h400/Chunk%202.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First of all, Chunk was a character from the comics, who debuted in 1988's <b><i>The Flash</i></b> Vol. 2, #9. Chester P. Runk developed a matter transmitting machine, but for reasons it imploded and became part of his body. He then became a living black hole, as his body could absorb any form of matter. Now calling himself Chunk, he had to absorb large amounts of matter every day in order to keep the machine inside his body from consuming him as well.</div><br />Chunk started out as an adversary to the Wally West version of the Flash, but eventually became a trusted ally.<br /><br />Clearly that's the direction the writers are heading here with TV Chester. Though why in the name of Stan Lee's toupee they waited till the final episode to do so, I have no idea.<br /><br />When Chester hears he's now a meta, he utters another of his Black History Month epithets, saying, "Dazzling Dwayne McDuffie!"<br /><br />McDuffie (who of course was black) was a prolific comic writer who worked for Marvel, DC and other companies. In the early 1990s he was one of the founders of the Milestone line of comics, which featured numerous black, Asian and Latino characters. Sadly, McDuffie died in 2011 at the much too young age of just 49.<br /><br />Oddly enough, McDuffie had absolutely NOTHING to with creating Chunk, nor did he ever write even a single issue of <b><i>The Flash</i></b>.<br /><br />Chunk was created by writer Mike Baron and artist Jackson Guice, so it would have made <i>WAYYYYYY </i>more sense for Chester to have invoked their names. They're both white though, so clearly that just wouldn't do. Instead they just had Chester shout out a random writer's name, for no other reason than because he was black. <i>Racist!</i></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKSR8Lz2_qJrOv2Qv47gJ9kJlii4vcN4HiVIQ1_eZfPx5n6y6E-67W96cEIEoB6Oq4gyjwB_Qxzr6_GkRKGz_dgHjbgiPyRbbXD6bb7DASsD70oYVorNWMN4xvs7DQo_jt4_I9P9ALgzk1S99ormoz8jTrbAJvUtYChT8ZonJz5uS3gPAQiF1pCS4Un-V/s1366/flash%200913%2047.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKSR8Lz2_qJrOv2Qv47gJ9kJlii4vcN4HiVIQ1_eZfPx5n6y6E-67W96cEIEoB6Oq4gyjwB_Qxzr6_GkRKGz_dgHjbgiPyRbbXD6bb7DASsD70oYVorNWMN4xvs7DQo_jt4_I9P9ALgzk1S99ormoz8jTrbAJvUtYChT8ZonJz5uS3gPAQiF1pCS4Un-V/w400-h196/flash%200913%2047.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;">• Enjoy this final skyline view of Portland, Oregon, which has played the part of Central City for the past nine seasons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnDZY1fu1jFavXYx1Std1gQrwbvmdwFS61QnH1qQS1kfh2Y-_D__Dfe8pjm6SRvcUPgE-grrZqTIARQvwrvdQtiyCNuzNeJAur1j7paueulLSy38tnq4mTk5q55scqPsalTbW-wT2dLj_hHMxJCRKoOf6va4rW9hErjGQGoRo-tW3vWSZmo45n5UfCwQj/s1366/flash%200913%2048.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnDZY1fu1jFavXYx1Std1gQrwbvmdwFS61QnH1qQS1kfh2Y-_D__Dfe8pjm6SRvcUPgE-grrZqTIARQvwrvdQtiyCNuzNeJAur1j7paueulLSy38tnq4mTk5q55scqPsalTbW-wT2dLj_hHMxJCRKoOf6va4rW9hErjGQGoRo-tW3vWSZmo45n5UfCwQj/w400-h196/flash%200913%2048.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>• Cut to the hospital, as Team Flash anxiously waits for Baby Nora to be born. Once more, a lot to cover here!<br /><br />First of all, Joe's back! I'm surprised by this, as earlier this year there were numerous articles stating he'd signed on to appear in just <i>five </i>episodes in this final season. They foolishly wasted FOUR of those appearances in the abysmal Red Death story arc, and then he appeared in <b><i><a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-flash-season-9-episode-10-new-world.html" target="_blank">A New World, Part One</a></i></b>. I figured that meant he wasn't gonna be in the freakin' series finale, which would have been bullshit.<br /><br />And yet here he is. Maybe the articles were wrong (inaccurate info on the internet— madness!). Or maybe they were smart and shot these final scenes during one of his other appearances and then spliced 'em in here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However it worked, I'm glad to see him here in the finale.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I also find it weird that Adult Nora is there... basically waiting for herself to be born. Only in a comic book show!<br /><br />And why is Khione standing five hundred feet away in the distant background? Is she social distancing?<br /><br />Lastly, note the various gifts the members of Team Flash have brought for Baby Nora. You can't really make it out here, but Adult Nora is holding a purple onesie with her XS logo on it. Chester's got a tiny baby-sized version of Jay Garrick's Mercury helmet. And Chillblaine's got his arm wrapped around a plush polar bear. Because he has ice powers, get it? Eh? <i>EHHH?</i><br /><br />OK, I'm sure Chillblaine probably walked down to the gift shop and picked out the bear. But where in the name of sanity did Nora get a onesie personalized with her own logo? Or Chester a miniature Mercury helmet? This isn't a case of <b>Heavy Duty Nitpicking</b> here— it just plain doesn't make any sense!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwmKbrUecFG08XnL-Z_EkxRL6Onovtf5MwLlaQF4ZssVmmZ7Sq8mbGWkdCSPI-vmnpjRxLElWEhGwO578IaQQO81ESFRd8ZRPGLauFMuLTl3EexXDbM-_iaKt_0uIu-HuvT5QBwhTa4Rnb9xg1iv36G4a-Z7WLoV-lS8GksnYghImhY48velzuSu6Wl0r/s1366/flash%200913%2049.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwmKbrUecFG08XnL-Z_EkxRL6Onovtf5MwLlaQF4ZssVmmZ7Sq8mbGWkdCSPI-vmnpjRxLElWEhGwO578IaQQO81ESFRd8ZRPGLauFMuLTl3EexXDbM-_iaKt_0uIu-HuvT5QBwhTa4Rnb9xg1iv36G4a-Z7WLoV-lS8GksnYghImhY48velzuSu6Wl0r/w400-h198/flash%200913%2049.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div>• Timeless Wells then shows up, and informs Khione that it's time for her to ascend. You remember him, right? He's the original Harrison Wells, builder of the Central City Particle Accelerator. He was murdered back in the year 2000 by Eobard Thawne, who assumed his appearance and identity.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Nash Wells sacrificed himself to save the Speed Force, leftover energy particles somehow resurrected the original Wells. He now had the memories of all the various Wellseses, and could time travel to any point in his lifespan (<i><b>Quantum Leap</b></i> style). He now spends his life living the years he had with his wife Tess over and over, occasionally helping out Team Flash. </div><div><br /></div><div>So why's Timeless Wells acting like he's old friends with Khione, when the show's never once hinted of any connection between the two of them? Don't know! <br /><br />It's also a shame that Timeless Wells was apparently too busy to help Team Flash with the Legion Of Zoom, as I'm sure they could have used his help. Ah well, it all worked out anyway.</div><div><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3J2Py96XVf6tY1CDy08odYRUi7tf5L_uJ0TaVXfOSnBTcsgixBI0kweXm9nb85kGhBInCEqk9dPa5vTF39wouEwULVz4QBy0tZCcVUdpg7f9_68qTBhqVeR0ZoppWJ5qW15uDDIqNUkFamhjOJhvuq5AOcMgGbisLSaDIjruwJBgHD_lUSuIVA7lv8Xv/s1366/flash%200913%2050.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3J2Py96XVf6tY1CDy08odYRUi7tf5L_uJ0TaVXfOSnBTcsgixBI0kweXm9nb85kGhBInCEqk9dPa5vTF39wouEwULVz4QBy0tZCcVUdpg7f9_68qTBhqVeR0ZoppWJ5qW15uDDIqNUkFamhjOJhvuq5AOcMgGbisLSaDIjruwJBgHD_lUSuIVA7lv8Xv/w400-h196/flash%200913%2050.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• At long, long, LONG last, Baby Nora is <i>finally</i> born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out the intense and pointless lens flares in this shot. Who directed it, JJ Abrams?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0eMXL3r5oLRboAA9zbvEx5fz1yAoVXGL5Z7YnuDi1UBg0ENKohPydiOYgc-v_rgpZszwYboiXOzEE6GgUxai1m3SX8VQF6DVVmEyYF5AcxNysQFmmQJ6mNRBEnROyeAtR__YU8LfsSY4W94KgHOH9D8NZY-QMd3EIMcvW09dDeQtxawFkMoc7bnOW1K8/s1366/flash%200913%2051.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0eMXL3r5oLRboAA9zbvEx5fz1yAoVXGL5Z7YnuDi1UBg0ENKohPydiOYgc-v_rgpZszwYboiXOzEE6GgUxai1m3SX8VQF6DVVmEyYF5AcxNysQFmmQJ6mNRBEnROyeAtR__YU8LfsSY4W94KgHOH9D8NZY-QMd3EIMcvW09dDeQtxawFkMoc7bnOW1K8/w400-h196/flash%200913%2051.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>• Barry grips Iris' hand as she gives birth, which generates a yellow & purple spark. I guess we're still doing the "Iris Carries A Bit Of The Speed Force Within Her" hooey, eh? Can't say I was ever a fan of that particular little trope, but there's no point in complaining about it now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIyT0ws5X9PPSKnXqrPaa0cf2FwUSykE-VEjmA-JZRbQpq4nLqMD8IKVWcPdtFWCNc1S9hb4KS_pZxUFfaA6PZH-JRfg5KVCSimFGwWDcHGWy5vIUhZyccUmPPxKjK5kBXQ5ufP69XWVmZ6IBTjYIBq90v87rQE-nu6gi16ti8fEP2B5UiSeaWV8Ee0Kz/s1366/flash%200913%2052.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIyT0ws5X9PPSKnXqrPaa0cf2FwUSykE-VEjmA-JZRbQpq4nLqMD8IKVWcPdtFWCNc1S9hb4KS_pZxUFfaA6PZH-JRfg5KVCSimFGwWDcHGWy5vIUhZyccUmPPxKjK5kBXQ5ufP69XWVmZ6IBTjYIBq90v87rQE-nu6gi16ti8fEP2B5UiSeaWV8Ee0Kz/w400-h198/flash%200913%2052.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>• Iris then gives birth to a healthy six month old baby girl! Seriously, look at the size of it— that kid's half a year old if it's a day!<br /><br />To be fair, TV shows have been pulling that trick all the way back to<i><b> I Love Lucy</b></i>, so I can't fault <b><i>The Flash</i></b> for doing the same thing here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhH_x2W_eIthiSI04X77pUAWM_-ZzEKa5s1VTlOTcwhYdR7hLjGETdUGlQ08nkjIdgqPyZI2rskn1Ccse2dd67QGO-i4aqhUAJnPNy06HxS80GGfBRRXUEvAYm7hNhGfLW7WbViv_zO3x7pnaJY02gQuCZUkBmyV0gWwe0pnJE8DSX7pBW7egmazAjLQ7/s600/flash%200913%20ascend.gif.gif" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhH_x2W_eIthiSI04X77pUAWM_-ZzEKa5s1VTlOTcwhYdR7hLjGETdUGlQ08nkjIdgqPyZI2rskn1Ccse2dd67QGO-i4aqhUAJnPNy06HxS80GGfBRRXUEvAYm7hNhGfLW7WbViv_zO3x7pnaJY02gQuCZUkBmyV0gWwe0pnJE8DSX7pBW7egmazAjLQ7/w400-h201/flash%200913%20ascend.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Later at STAR Labs, Khione says her heartfelt and "tearful" goodbyes to everyone, and then ascends to... somewhere. And just like that, the smoke clears and Caitlin's standing there, none the worse for wear.<br /><br /><i>Jesus wept.</i><br /><br />Can someone please explain the purpose of Khione's character and her non-arc? As shown last season, Caitlin & Chillblaine invented a technobabble machine to try and bring back Frost. Caitlin got in it, but it transformed her into Khione— who turned out to be some sort of Earth elemental or goddess or some such nonsense. Now that the series is over, Khione's decided to ascend to a higher plain, restoring Caitlin to her factory settings.<br /><br /><i>WHAT!?!?!? </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So basically Khione did a whole lot of nothing all season, and then in the series finale she buggers off and leaves Caitlin in her place. What the hell was the point of any of that? WAS there even a point? If so, it's completely lost on me. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I can't speak for anyone else, but all this scene did was infuriate me. We could have had an entire season of the highly superior Caitlin, but instead were saddled with this Wish.com knockoff. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, wouldn't it have been nice if when Khione ascended, she restored FROST as well as Caitlin? She's a goddess after all, so surely she could have easily done so. Plus this finale was all about happy endings, so what could have been happier than reuniting Frost with Chillblaine?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vqMvwy_NK6jN3dwtBWb_KWuxCIkIN59UgCKkFUovkt9lFAnvFwHerjrBIAwFLV6qrQhU_oHAfQjod2xJXUyPtXuUfnI3Qmo2aYEeXP5awR3roOwQRwUkMd73OHj_KBCDz3LofHGfPtFji03VS7sT-NAhJRTkwQuKAzm9idPkfHYhquL_LaDpsIOR4g3t/s1366/flash%200913%2053.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vqMvwy_NK6jN3dwtBWb_KWuxCIkIN59UgCKkFUovkt9lFAnvFwHerjrBIAwFLV6qrQhU_oHAfQjod2xJXUyPtXuUfnI3Qmo2aYEeXP5awR3roOwQRwUkMd73OHj_KBCDz3LofHGfPtFji03VS7sT-NAhJRTkwQuKAzm9idPkfHYhquL_LaDpsIOR4g3t/w400-h196/flash%200913%2053.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• At the Loft, Barry & Iris throw a party for the entire cast. And I do mean ALL of them. A few things here:<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div>Joe, Cecile, Chester, Allegra, Chillblaine and Caitlin are also at the party. We also see Chief Singh (wearing his stupid fedora), but strangely no Kristin Kramer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Iris' Central City Citizen Media employees Taylor and Arriz are there as well. Wait, <i>what?</i> So... do they know Barry's secret identity now? They'd kind of have to, right? How else could Team Flash explain why Iris is hosting a party for all these metas?</div></span><div><br /></div><span><div>Timeless Wells is there too, for some reason (?). Why's he there? Isn't he supposed to be spending every second with his wife in some sort of time loop? Maybe he's tired of her constant nagging.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Also, at one point Barry apologizes to Caitlin for destroying her attempt to bring back Frost last season. Caitlin says it's fine, as if she's had an entire season to think about it and move on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Except that she hasn't! From her point of view that incident happened just a week ago, so I'm calling bullshit on her forgiving attitude here.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lv0YvvlYI7XnhBrl5CXb8Hlj7jo5SsSI1F-udw3dAY4TsxmcPqI_wlEL5jtzq03pbd9rub0LeWO8II4ALnbrQnpBHtN-GuET4ZVLzcFhHISGwj8RsowwkHlQkglBCHasnqpodP0YDJAfYNAxaI4zqHmFLsbsblNoRAnhqENjfJxUEJY8xdw1mruBx3ds/s1366/flash%200913%2054.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lv0YvvlYI7XnhBrl5CXb8Hlj7jo5SsSI1F-udw3dAY4TsxmcPqI_wlEL5jtzq03pbd9rub0LeWO8II4ALnbrQnpBHtN-GuET4ZVLzcFhHISGwj8RsowwkHlQkglBCHasnqpodP0YDJAfYNAxaI4zqHmFLsbsblNoRAnhqENjfJxUEJY8xdw1mruBx3ds/w400-h196/flash%200913%2054.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also see Jay Garrick at the party, with... Speed Force Nora? Or is it his wife Joan? Actress Michell Harrison's played so many different characters on the show that sometimes it's hard to figure out just who she's supposed to be in a given episode. The credits list her as Joan Garrick, so I guess that's what we're going with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But wait... aren't they both from Earth-3 now? So I guess they hopped universes just to be at this party? How'd they get invited? Multiversal texting?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><span><div style="text-align: left;">• Speaking of the Speed Force, what the hell happened to her? Last week in <b><i>A New World, Part Three</i></b>, she appeared in STAR Labs and said she was battling the Negative Forces on the astral plane. Later Team Flash has this conversation:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cecile: </b>"Speed Force Nora showed up in 2023. She said that she was under attack and that all that remains of the Speed Force lives in your family. And then she vanished."</div></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Nora:</b> "Big Nora's gone? Dad..."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Barry: </b>"I know. Explains why we can't feel her anymore."</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br />So what the hell did all that mean? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Did the Speed Force die, or did it get better? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Did </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the battle between the Forces end when Eddie chose coexistence instead of conflict? </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Does the Speed Force exist only in Barry & Nora now? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently none of this is any of our goddamned business, as it's never addressed. And never will be, since these are the final ever moments of the series.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRI0Y7CsYUd3tk01xrk7pKbVujeyxSHWlhySC5xHeHIXW3wffgE_LykEt2-fk1jmByUrSBDeJHFFHVsjB8GqPa2A-QOh4-bnT0LDhKgmB71_aqPS8nLxt3ttadTfmqN6Kzfzx3_bVnPdWpFPr0bJ8E5lZ673hVl9vuN9h_niAkJSiPkmiYVQMqLQE3mDi/s1366/flash%200913%2055.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRI0Y7CsYUd3tk01xrk7pKbVujeyxSHWlhySC5xHeHIXW3wffgE_LykEt2-fk1jmByUrSBDeJHFFHVsjB8GqPa2A-QOh4-bnT0LDhKgmB71_aqPS8nLxt3ttadTfmqN6Kzfzx3_bVnPdWpFPr0bJ8E5lZ673hVl9vuN9h_niAkJSiPkmiYVQMqLQE3mDi/w400-h199/flash%200913%2055.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• At the party, Nora holds her newborn self and coos at her. I don't care what anyone says, that should be against the laws of nature and destroy the timeline.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0HAuNRd6rvfgl2pa33zF5gH2Etcle9KkBkwKqDqI9Ut1L5mlRbNHCQsr1CdYKz39C1Njt4cGwr2C_r_bUvIwcVWnNsfImZx0tJ7gWzq2HunU0WT84DKLg7bqhBZQg1uDHDtLK3XMTudVcbLnR043QYqCWiz6aV4pvJXqujkUriLjP-fRSr7cqBON0UBf/s1366/flash%200913%2057.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0HAuNRd6rvfgl2pa33zF5gH2Etcle9KkBkwKqDqI9Ut1L5mlRbNHCQsr1CdYKz39C1Njt4cGwr2C_r_bUvIwcVWnNsfImZx0tJ7gWzq2HunU0WT84DKLg7bqhBZQg1uDHDtLK3XMTudVcbLnR043QYqCWiz6aV4pvJXqujkUriLjP-fRSr7cqBON0UBf/w400-h196/flash%200913%2057.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Joe then hijacks the party and makes it all about himself, as he <i>finally</i> proposes to Cecile. Yep, that's right! Contrary to popular opinion, the two of them were never married and have been shacking up ever since they met.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like most fans, I assumed they got hitched a long time ago too, till last season when Jay Garrick guest starred and called Cecile "Miss Horton."<br /><br />Joe's proposal is something to behold, as he says, "Babe, over the last few years, I have watched you take on a second career, become a superhero and be the best mother Jenna could ever have. And I know that wherever our dreams may take us, we will always keep loving each other."<br /><br />Well, she definitely took on a second career alright, as she decided to stay in Central CIty and play superhero while Joe & Jenna moved out of town! Everyone knows ALL the best moms abandon their children and only see them for a few hours on the weekends. Jesus Christ!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And astonishingly, Cecile's taken completely by surprise when Joe proposes to her. Cecile. You know, the person who with powerful empathic and telepathic abilities. <i>That</i> Cecile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Does anyone read through these scripts before they film them?</div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyE6xXm9BC3NRpqR_Y3Cs61-0Mf-deMw8HaLxkZX3629QZg_fUhqVHr7VI7g6Z_0DU_tFTB00UEJaATZQlWd7ucJaRSxjZ6Gd6YZIalMBikhLJ_HUUZ15-NB5xlVxCIZW-AaSB07gXkpAq6TnptGjHDZ-QhisPeUbLctN4X6ZyGX3T0B5p9PNR9FWrbzK/s1366/flash%200913%2056.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyE6xXm9BC3NRpqR_Y3Cs61-0Mf-deMw8HaLxkZX3629QZg_fUhqVHr7VI7g6Z_0DU_tFTB00UEJaATZQlWd7ucJaRSxjZ6Gd6YZIalMBikhLJ_HUUZ15-NB5xlVxCIZW-AaSB07gXkpAq6TnptGjHDZ-QhisPeUbLctN4X6ZyGX3T0B5p9PNR9FWrbzK/w400-h196/flash%200913%2056.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">By the way, Jesse L. Martin was CLEARLY drunk during this entire scene, and nothing anyone says will ever convince me otherwise.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And who could blame him? He likely needed some liquid fortification before he could force himself to say this dialogue! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4Va6CpFywDFRxXFO4s-fWI6EG3ug-JvFD8TLgk08huxV5NWcmz00QX29cXC1Lx8jvB8-HsP9dCUNU4e986bPrjeWU1SI9mDaRsf760ce8mhKLPhZ_hXZiOnatPI24ZKgGH73mUPzHQgbfA0oVbJYsiLHk5eVpiyjtzpcEQABc-b-msaPzjbEB2LA1KMc/s1366/flash%200913%2058.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4Va6CpFywDFRxXFO4s-fWI6EG3ug-JvFD8TLgk08huxV5NWcmz00QX29cXC1Lx8jvB8-HsP9dCUNU4e986bPrjeWU1SI9mDaRsf760ce8mhKLPhZ_hXZiOnatPI24ZKgGH73mUPzHQgbfA0oVbJYsiLHk5eVpiyjtzpcEQABc-b-msaPzjbEB2LA1KMc/w400-h196/flash%200913%2058.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• <b>CALLBACK TIME:</b> Sometime after the party, Barry looks wistfully at a copy of <b><i>The Runaway Dinosaur</i></b>, his favorite book as a child. Of course he'd buy it for little Nora to read to her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The book first appeared in Season 2's, er, <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-flash-season-2-episode-21-runaway.html" target="_blank">The Runaway Dinosaur</a> </i>(natch). Alas, it's not a real book and was made up just for the show. Many fans believe it's a nod to <i><b>The Runaway Bunny</b></i> by Margaret Wise Brown. It's the story of a young rabbit who thinks up various ways to run away from home— each of which is blocked by his mother.<br /> <br />By the way, the book underneath <b><i>The Runaway Dinosaur</i></b> is titled <b><i>John's New Broom</i></b>. It appears to be a fake book as well, as I searched all over the internet and came ip with nothing. Kudos to the Prop Department though, as both look like actual legitimate children's books. Well done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPYrho4NvHQDtxL8Fj5gUvVI8P6qvF4fbp2WORs4ywm6HddKr8Bt5Le9O1ryEvj35LptCEBDSL27MNykMmT9GfZTYch29UrcoTx_K2AvybmRs9CVarstin59Rf9iB1-RL5JnDKxGtK3F--SSRYBWARACvyIdEu2oYUm3CC1cO5RjBFNgvDeyd9T5aTQ00/s1366/flash%200913%2059.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPYrho4NvHQDtxL8Fj5gUvVI8P6qvF4fbp2WORs4ywm6HddKr8Bt5Le9O1ryEvj35LptCEBDSL27MNykMmT9GfZTYch29UrcoTx_K2AvybmRs9CVarstin59Rf9iB1-RL5JnDKxGtK3F--SSRYBWARACvyIdEu2oYUm3CC1cO5RjBFNgvDeyd9T5aTQ00/w400-h195/flash%200913%2059.png" width="430" /></span></a></div>• Nora's mobile is made up of her XS symbol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is an example of the Bootstrap Paradox, right? Barry & Iris probably had the mobile custom made after seeing the symbol on Adult Nora's costume. But she likely got the idea for it from the mobile. So where'd it come from originally? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />• <b>Circular Storytelling Time:</b> Barry picks up Nora and tells her a story:<br /><br /><b>Barry: </b>"I need you to believe in the impossible. Can you do that?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Baby Nora: </b>(coos)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Barry: </b>"Good."<br /><br />This is the same line that started the episode, and again, the one he used to kick off the entire series nine years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINhVNf-6NPzFIe_euNC1X6cKUa03YbrFaxsf948OFaGlH0HBSeBWwoVMo_dZ3f1eSB4YgnhDkuIsYpfIj0wjd6R8NepdNRy1JRbwfCBefi61akMywSGBXD4FfBq66sTJbGHGYS7Z1ji_iGc67a4tNPIWUJhFKG2zmxguEFcPXVF6bUQPEChI09WtNcBiR/s1366/flash%200913%2060.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINhVNf-6NPzFIe_euNC1X6cKUa03YbrFaxsf948OFaGlH0HBSeBWwoVMo_dZ3f1eSB4YgnhDkuIsYpfIj0wjd6R8NepdNRy1JRbwfCBefi61akMywSGBXD4FfBq66sTJbGHGYS7Z1ji_iGc67a4tNPIWUJhFKG2zmxguEFcPXVF6bUQPEChI09WtNcBiR/w400-h196/flash%200913%2060.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Barry then decides to create a better world for his daughter, and to that end takes off running. At one point he zooms past a sign for Ferris Air. In the comics it's where Hal Jordan, ala the Green Lantern, originally worked, but here in the <b>Arrowverse</b> it's just a generic aviation company. It's appeared on the show several times before, in <b><i>Pilot</i></b>, <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-flash-season-1-episode-10-revenge.html" target="_blank">Revenge Of The Rogues</a></i></b>, <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-flash-season-1-episode-22-rogue-air.html" target="_blank">Rogue Air</a></i></b>, <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-flash-season-4-episode-1-flash.html" target="_blank">The Flash Reborn</a></i></b>, <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-flash-season-4-episode-5-girls_11.html" target="_blank">Girls Night Out</a></i></b> and <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-flash-season-7-episode-12-good-bye.html" target="_blank">Good-Bye Vibrations</a></i></b>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note that Ferris Air is located in Coast City, so Barry apparently just ran halfway across the country!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a brief second I thought we were gonna see Barry give up his powers in the present by sending them to himself nine years in the past. Nope! That would have been poetic and a nice touch, as well as a nod to<b><i> The Flash</i></b> comics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Instead he's decided it's time to share his speed, so he flings three bolts of Speed Force Lightning into the air, in order to create more speedsters. Apparently he took it upon himself to turn three random people into superheroes, completely disrupting their lives. Remember that time years ago when Barry said they needed consent to give villains the meta cure? Apparently the writers don't! How was that situation any different than this one?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtV1Lbis9784fcChRuoSSVrPTfLHYAFLiGak7JLRibv9w_ZhII5bpC6TjGA_VnIXs-p1b681knsNTcr6bTNVWOPoNy31TiOc6u1d_4UBKvVB_X1x2jOHTnYDXHiz1y_Gc77XDYxl4D2WLyZW3RRUWXVtXGT7KA4meVj2rPvQg1zjXHyia7wNXcWYldP9M/s1366/flash%200913%2061.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtV1Lbis9784fcChRuoSSVrPTfLHYAFLiGak7JLRibv9w_ZhII5bpC6TjGA_VnIXs-p1b681knsNTcr6bTNVWOPoNy31TiOc6u1d_4UBKvVB_X1x2jOHTnYDXHiz1y_Gc77XDYxl4D2WLyZW3RRUWXVtXGT7KA4meVj2rPvQg1zjXHyia7wNXcWYldP9M/w400-h198/flash%200913%2061.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, the lightning strikes Avery Ho, who we first saw last season in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-flash-season-8-episode-6-impulsive.html" target="_blank">Impulsive Excessive Disorder</a></i></b>. She had the hots for Bart Allen, not realizing he was from the future and that there was little or no way their relationship could ever work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5rd-FTAVf8b5jL2loY8K7OqLxl2FVE_JYkRQ5JSF9YNcmWVABm9XGw-pgTCwz13RqBirNRAka-ZaczqiP2Edps9-qYqAc8CTqrAUKfRM7Sgn-27b6EZz61NlchXkCmya_OQJNGKCF-oNUv9w-rVjaGEhqdsiVoGGvVj7ALoG0Vb65zRi3sUTkOorKBDw/s960/Avery_Ho.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="960" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5rd-FTAVf8b5jL2loY8K7OqLxl2FVE_JYkRQ5JSF9YNcmWVABm9XGw-pgTCwz13RqBirNRAka-ZaczqiP2Edps9-qYqAc8CTqrAUKfRM7Sgn-27b6EZz61NlchXkCmya_OQJNGKCF-oNUv9w-rVjaGEhqdsiVoGGvVj7ALoG0Vb65zRi3sUTkOorKBDw/w400-h256/Avery_Ho.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>In the comics, Avery Ho is the Flash of China, as well as a member of the Justice League Of China— which I didn't realize was a thing. Kind of confusing for her to call herself "The Flash" as well, but whatever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtcABzkSlsfejVrPW4a4A0Nnco0wsHZB620HSHBVX6UbA2UWObqKhuZieH5TRrxXc_o4k-AziSPUCblA2OSL96X_rYsfKftm41QMNtw-7gtW-F1V3oOAwMOEdNTt48kYR5HKnrnJoPnQ4OH8U3FL4nKUhgWV9qi-NqZxB-6T0lxvSTKSWqg31xdk4XYCA/s1366/flash%200913%2062.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtcABzkSlsfejVrPW4a4A0Nnco0wsHZB620HSHBVX6UbA2UWObqKhuZieH5TRrxXc_o4k-AziSPUCblA2OSL96X_rYsfKftm41QMNtw-7gtW-F1V3oOAwMOEdNTt48kYR5HKnrnJoPnQ4OH8U3FL4nKUhgWV9qi-NqZxB-6T0lxvSTKSWqg31xdk4XYCA/w400-h195/flash%200913%2062.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The lightning also strikes Max Mercury, who to my knowledge has never appeared on the show before.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpw9TfSd8ZWfK5KVItVdLeU4j9vMeDEoAt0A-6-GTUOhAnVMtUvjGg9Lz2Sb4j6bjHIT9Ie-gzMjpFBlpiM9HoEv0L-esB1gG9ysGvdN-L5DKOlEoX6vO_axodROSpFNeEd0DupEbmobsV2F9kikgDm_4NIE4E8ZQrrbWI43mhbX_BudQ021AB12v-U8I/s807/Max_Mercury_Prime_Earth_001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="628" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpw9TfSd8ZWfK5KVItVdLeU4j9vMeDEoAt0A-6-GTUOhAnVMtUvjGg9Lz2Sb4j6bjHIT9Ie-gzMjpFBlpiM9HoEv0L-esB1gG9ysGvdN-L5DKOlEoX6vO_axodROSpFNeEd0DupEbmobsV2F9kikgDm_4NIE4E8ZQrrbWI43mhbX_BudQ021AB12v-U8I/w498-h640/Max_Mercury_Prime_Earth_001.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>Max is also from the comics, where he had an interesting history. He first appeared in<b><i> National Comics </i></b>#5, way back in 1940 (!). There he called himself Quicksilver (no relation to the Marvel superhero of the same name), and had powers virtually identical to those of the Flash.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Little was known about this version of Quicksilver, other than that his first name was Max. Oddly enough, his speedster powers were gradually downplayed, until they were virtually phased out altogether (?).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">DC Comics revived the character in the early 1990s, renaming him Max Mercury. This new version of the character was born in the 1830s, and was a member of the US Cavalry. He gained superspeed from a dying Indian shaman, and regularly traveled through time, attempting to enter the Speed Force. This landed him in the 1940s (where he became Quicksilver).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Eventually Max traveled to the 1960s, where he became a mentor to Wally West (aka Kid Flash), and later to the 1990s, where he did the same with Bart Allen (aka Impulse).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading all that, it feels like they took the mentor elements of Max Mercury's backstory and grafted them onto Jay Garrick. It would have been interesting to actually see Max added to the cast though. But his presence would have taken precious screentime away from Cecile, so I can see why he never appeared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4v6Lrrp9SjspnDlf7eSjr6tutRxmpLSOAUoEh_tWKljXug8qI8rSlQeQ5kjPqGw5f22aoqjcwww9f2fzJb6OUi0CxA5ABs0Cy2ET-wknu7kmueRMkm4gPI9oQRoCbUWLdXyy9WCGy2FrowAm2b8ni9m1w_61QDNM-g8PCQmDdOYN51O5LHavBaTm8Bx0/s1366/flash%200913%2063.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4v6Lrrp9SjspnDlf7eSjr6tutRxmpLSOAUoEh_tWKljXug8qI8rSlQeQ5kjPqGw5f22aoqjcwww9f2fzJb6OUi0CxA5ABs0Cy2ET-wknu7kmueRMkm4gPI9oQRoCbUWLdXyy9WCGy2FrowAm2b8ni9m1w_61QDNM-g8PCQmDdOYN51O5LHavBaTm8Bx0/w400-h195/flash%200913%2063.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, Barry's lightning strikes someone named Jess Chambers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaOYzlrAsyp4Ze4SsGiFZtB04E8Saxdo13OqVO_Cv8S-VA9Wc-5T7qptdOAIlXE9Qdmvn3mP12pY29pbzSjJYx4E-5joGhnmmV_nNPjU3nHQUcsuU2wGIZVfnrCqKr-9pMaQdBkWIaEcea-4qKQVjppdygHoEgcewcGkN1cWCpcoX2X2BrzbvRhnugCTL/s1239/Jess_Chambers_Earth_11_003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaOYzlrAsyp4Ze4SsGiFZtB04E8Saxdo13OqVO_Cv8S-VA9Wc-5T7qptdOAIlXE9Qdmvn3mP12pY29pbzSjJYx4E-5joGhnmmV_nNPjU3nHQUcsuU2wGIZVfnrCqKr-9pMaQdBkWIaEcea-4qKQVjppdygHoEgcewcGkN1cWCpcoX2X2BrzbvRhnugCTL/w552-h640/Jess_Chambers_Earth_11_003.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the comics, Jess is a non-binary speedster from Earth-11, who goes by the name of Kid Quick. Chambers serves as the sidekick to their aunt Jesse Chambers, aka Jesse Quick— which isn't the least bit confusing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kid Quick would often travel to Earth-0, and was a founding member of the group Teen Justice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Note that <i>none</i> of these characters are named in the episode— they're there strictly as fan service for comic readers. Civilians will have absolutely no idea who they are, and will likely wonder why these three complete randos are in the episode.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seems kind of pointless to me to introduce all these characters in the final thirty seconds of the episode, but what do I know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So wait a minute here... based on this scene, Barry's apparently been able to divvy up his powers and share them with others this whole time. Meaning he could have made an army of speedsters at any point in the series, but chose to wait till the finale to do so. Jesus Christ. I'm out of here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• And that's the end of <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, ladies & gents. And what an end it was, too. We should have gotten a thrilling and epic wrap up to the series, full of breathtaking action and startling revelations. Instead we got a loud and embarrassing wet fart of an ending, as the show literally shit itself and waddled off the screen in shame. Which perfectly sums up the quality of Eric Wallace's writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Feh.</div></div></div></div></span></span></span></div><div><p></p></div></div></div></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-72097937881301766872023-11-21T15:18:00.005-06:002023-11-22T13:41:53.149-06:00Doctor Who Cares Anymore?<div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As regular readers of my blog (all six of you) know, I used to be a HUGE<b><i> Doctor Who</i></b> fan. I dutifully watched both the old and new series, and bought tons of merch from the show. </span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That all ended in 2017, when the BBC made the boneheaded decision to cast actress Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. It was a stupid idea (in my opinion of course) and a blatant case of shameless pandering. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div>As if that wasn't bad enough, it was also the point where the show ditched creative storytelling in favor of identity politics. How fun!</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't the only one who felt this way, as the show's ratings plummeted after Whittaker entered the TARDIS (as I predicted they would). Audiences want to be entertained, not lectured!</div><div><br /></div><div>Things got so dire that it honestly looked like the show might be canceled. In a desperate attempt to avoid that, the BBC announced it was bringing back David Tennant (arguably the most popular actor of the new era) as the Doctor, along with showrunner Russell T. Davies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Davies was the one who revived the show back in 2005, updating it for modern audiences. The show hit new heights of popularity with him at the helm, becoming a worldwide phenomenon. </div><div><br /></div><div>The news of his return actually gave me a small glimmer of hope, as I looked forward to him course-correcting the show and restoring it to its former glory.</div><div><br /></div>Sadly, it doesn't look like that's gonna happen. In the years since he left, Davies has apparently hopped aboard the SJW train and is doubling down on the identity politics & pandering.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Case in point: Recently the BBC aired its annual </span><b><i>Children In Need</i></b><span> special (sort of the British equivalent to the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon). Each year the special features a <i><b>Doctor Who</b></i> mini episode, to lure in viewers and donors.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>This year's mini-episode featured David Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor encountering his archenemies the Daleks, as well as a familiar old foe. Well, <i>kind</i> of familiar.</span><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL-lmoX6tTdwChLRLz5dWC0b-QiYRMORqETTXRCtf4ACztV_3qjo3JUvXvxnW8yWZU8qD6nhTmXtKgA_trSJQQeneP24rxZNR-vUP6espjmgwIK8vEckBkedO-vQ_M3BF0RESKjlaQjZaOYBzGyUiuUfjvkw5N45ZBFDNjp40W87j0j4CZqdZDgblnqHN/s1080/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL-lmoX6tTdwChLRLz5dWC0b-QiYRMORqETTXRCtf4ACztV_3qjo3JUvXvxnW8yWZU8qD6nhTmXtKgA_trSJQQeneP24rxZNR-vUP6espjmgwIK8vEckBkedO-vQ_M3BF0RESKjlaQjZaOYBzGyUiuUfjvkw5N45ZBFDNjp40W87j0j4CZqdZDgblnqHN/w400-h266/thumbnail.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is Davros— a deranged Kaled scientist who created the Daleks. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clearly something bad happened to poor Davros at some point, as he's blind, missing his left arm and has a bionic hand. He may also be legless as well, and rides around in a Dalek-like mobility unit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Davros has sported this look since he first appeared </span><span>during Tom Baker's run back in 1975's </span><b><i>Genesis Of The Daleks</i></b><span>. He instantly became one of the show's most popular villains, and has returned numerous times over the years.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMOCWOPTEd_uHYbpS14CV3J1gVFI8x7pK3RqOqAfoCBuHHC3xHAf30Bp4g82Egfzdl9DrbI3ZLDy6AbQRx7yN8LUYahVwq_p6_6ByY9dYzdXDzRzh0e0QEPlyeUPZoVU9vz7rPtTcoQDJtETUiGhuEkUF-DquWjlZi5DEPgcXan-zlJEQ3CdVsRaZ479R/s1381/F_KbOgjWsAE8BmC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1381" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMOCWOPTEd_uHYbpS14CV3J1gVFI8x7pK3RqOqAfoCBuHHC3xHAf30Bp4g82Egfzdl9DrbI3ZLDy6AbQRx7yN8LUYahVwq_p6_6ByY9dYzdXDzRzh0e0QEPlyeUPZoVU9vz7rPtTcoQDJtETUiGhuEkUF-DquWjlZi5DEPgcXan-zlJEQ3CdVsRaZ479R/w400-h261/F_KbOgjWsAE8BmC.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oddly enough, this new mini episode features an all-new Davros, played by actor Julian Bleach— who's played the character for a couple decades now. For some reason, this updated Davros now looks like a hawk-faced Nazi and has four perfectly functioning limbs. What the hell?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At first I thought maybe this was a prequel, set sometime before Davros' accident. Makes sense, right?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nope! According to Russell T. Davies, this is how our boy Davros is gonna look from now on. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Said Davies:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><i>"We had long conversations about bringing Davros back because he’s a fantastic character. Time and society and culture and taste has moved on, and there’s a problem with the Davros of old in that he’s a wheelchair user who is evil. And I had problems with that, and a lot of us on the production team had problems with that, of associating disability with evil, and trust me, there’s a very long tradition of this. I’m not blaming people in the past at all, but the world changes and when the world changes, Doctor Who has to change as well."<br /><br />"So we made the choice to bring back Davros without the facial scarring, and without the wheelchair, or his support unit, which functions as a wheelchair. I say this is how we see Davros now. This is what he looks like. This is 2023. This is our lens. This is our eye. Things used to be black and white, they’re not in black and white anymore. And Davros used to look like that, and he looks like this now, and that we are absolutely standing by."<br /><br />"I thought it was absolutely vital to do this, and I’m very, very, very proud of the fact that we have."</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus wept. Nearly FIFTY YEARS' worth of continuity flushed right down the shitter, all because Davies feels Davros "associates disabilities with evil." Are you fucking kidding me? <br /><br />So now one of the best villains in the history of the show is ruined, because... we can't have evil people in wheelchairs due to representation or some crap like that. I assure you, at no time in the history of the show did ANYONE ever take a look at Davros and think "wheelchair user." And they certainly never thought, "Say, that disabled chap is evil. That means ALL such people are monsters as well!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here's a thought— if Davros is truly <i>that</i> problematic now in our miserable society, then... DON'T USE HIM! There are a crap-ton of other villains Davies could have dredged up that wouldn't have given him icky bad feelings.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjle2mHHrtqmkJK0kGlIMsLS0DNso1pQo4YvmfuvqYNIwsOyfhYlDHn3168BuhHJZw_kXOeuRAFCqNdKptWP5tKPKJPEC-1g33kMKxDyi6SYp-HIL2X5cBZQZRWddidV9KpB0qBTeJt3Dw0d59o6aLYwSu1gnArLMHR1DZUGWEQNQlPN9LatIfb0dgP26h/s1021/Screenshot%202023-11-21%20at%202.43.45%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1021" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjle2mHHrtqmkJK0kGlIMsLS0DNso1pQo4YvmfuvqYNIwsOyfhYlDHn3168BuhHJZw_kXOeuRAFCqNdKptWP5tKPKJPEC-1g33kMKxDyi6SYp-HIL2X5cBZQZRWddidV9KpB0qBTeJt3Dw0d59o6aLYwSu1gnArLMHR1DZUGWEQNQlPN9LatIfb0dgP26h/w400-h363/Screenshot%202023-11-21%20at%202.43.45%20PM.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I wasn't the only one who hated this pointless change. Many disabled fans actually <i>loved</i> the old Davros, and were offended that Davies apparently thought they were too frail and sensitive to handle seeing a handicapped villain, and complained about it online. His response to them? "Tough" and "Oh poor baby." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wow. What an asshole. Attacking the fans of your work for its shortcomings is <i>always</i> a classy move.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is without a doubt the absolute <i>stupidest</i> thing the show's ever done. Davies has proudly come up with a solution to a problem that never existed, and patted himself on the back for doing so.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH40ukQloVwraOZSWFLwPc_d0lPTDNIjZArtVjESXyyu3-f3QIbLsxibx_GvcL4xsN1ZRepfW8qm_HDD8fnERYrmxWkXGb91a6Ain14-oh4cR0jgqWcH9H3Wiun9oh5Ktyp7DNTTDHShKEeV4tOaBxoY8w55raAfLHKJ_hlM7ffZVb4a3NqwVfd68tfN8E/s600/Doctor-Who-Roger-Lloyd-Pack-600x338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="620" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH40ukQloVwraOZSWFLwPc_d0lPTDNIjZArtVjESXyyu3-f3QIbLsxibx_GvcL4xsN1ZRepfW8qm_HDD8fnERYrmxWkXGb91a6Ain14-oh4cR0jgqWcH9H3Wiun9oh5Ktyp7DNTTDHShKEeV4tOaBxoY8w55raAfLHKJ_hlM7ffZVb4a3NqwVfd68tfN8E/w400-h225/Doctor-Who-Roger-Lloyd-Pack-600x338.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I should also point out that the <i><b>Doctor Who</b></i> episodes <b><i>Rise Of The Cybermen</i></b> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Age Of Steel </i>featured a villain named John Lumic. Similarly to Davros, he was the creator of the Cyberman, and... was confined to a wheelchair!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note that these episodes aired in 2006, when the showrunner was (checks notes)... one Russell T. Davies. Hmm...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If that wasn't strange enough, in 2008 <b><i>The Stolen Earth</i></b> and <b><i>Journey's End</i></b> aired, and both episodes featured Davros as the antagonist. A quick check of those episodes reveals they were written by... Russell T. Davies!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently disabled villains were OK in the 2000s, but problematic here in the hellscape of 2023.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If villains are that upsetting for today's fragile audience, why bother having one on the show at all then? Why not just show the Doctor sipping tea with his companion for the entire season?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xSmDtPhWetMnKYOZhWN2MBZq_IMJ69OwoTzhUeojh0sz8jjh2CGxKuVNruE5vj4np1BHG5s79UQITmMdldI2eWx8b-0RARL6PORP7POg0Jles0Nc61aYf4TXaz-SjaT805gzt1AgPTC7hiG0tXT8bUA8y-gbebTrH21IOH5CNBCMnizTX6dxjW_V-MAS/s1069/p029sh8w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1069" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xSmDtPhWetMnKYOZhWN2MBZq_IMJ69OwoTzhUeojh0sz8jjh2CGxKuVNruE5vj4np1BHG5s79UQITmMdldI2eWx8b-0RARL6PORP7POg0Jles0Nc61aYf4TXaz-SjaT805gzt1AgPTC7hiG0tXT8bUA8y-gbebTrH21IOH5CNBCMnizTX6dxjW_V-MAS/w400-h270/p029sh8w.jpg" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>If Davros' physical appearance triggers Davies, wait'll he gets a load of the Cybermen. They're from a future where humans gradually replaced their limbs and organs with mechanical versions, until they were more machine than man. </span>How long until Davies retcons all of them into less provocative Ryan Gosling clones?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLdZrNyPfr1zXpql34c2kvu5y_feCidtbS58QOUlpMNg8tLVTYxFVTTnkzlbws2p_CBKdslF8DO1O1tp8ybnyWzck0JJ3f2POYi8qZNqLiGl0u3nTKl9Hcw3oA5neJQon98d6NgqvPfwsgqTXYgV7suUpCnxMXQtbBQ8H2HC4FHZqi7gq_ilGpM9VFF-_/s320/qDvWQe.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="320" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLdZrNyPfr1zXpql34c2kvu5y_feCidtbS58QOUlpMNg8tLVTYxFVTTnkzlbws2p_CBKdslF8DO1O1tp8ybnyWzck0JJ3f2POYi8qZNqLiGl0u3nTKl9Hcw3oA5neJQon98d6NgqvPfwsgqTXYgV7suUpCnxMXQtbBQ8H2HC4FHZqi7gq_ilGpM9VFF-_/w400-h272/qDvWQe.gif" width="430" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I tell you, the day's coming when EVERY franchise devolves into the <b><i>Porch Pals</i></b>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So I'm out! When I heard the news that Davies was returning to run the show, I was cautiously optimistic that he might be able to save it. It's clear now that that isn't going to happen, and it's just gonna be more of the same crap we've gotten for the past five or six years. He's actually saving me a lot of time here, as I won't be bothering to check out the show again now.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDa66oOgj-RO6Hy_FkoNjDFTgpVVlN9NHqjfwK8rrrorsAHFaK5lqhc5aO6dQjAAeBS7vI2jRRSM6UMnz4fmrTixHuILgQnAQSmIjWC3M3u8ie4G4VipiIN_sJFv2WcRGHOdmMmNG4eQGrSYA101gQ8uPx2ESA940TSeit8i5W9GayNe1eCNdigpq7-0-/s1400/5728251803_81d7f3db20_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="750" height="804" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDa66oOgj-RO6Hy_FkoNjDFTgpVVlN9NHqjfwK8rrrorsAHFaK5lqhc5aO6dQjAAeBS7vI2jRRSM6UMnz4fmrTixHuILgQnAQSmIjWC3M3u8ie4G4VipiIN_sJFv2WcRGHOdmMmNG4eQGrSYA101gQ8uPx2ESA940TSeit8i5W9GayNe1eCNdigpq7-0-/w342-h640/5728251803_81d7f3db20_o.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'll end here with a drawing I did of Davros, as a big "Screw You" to Russell T. Davies and his cockamamie ideas. </span></div></div></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-30820759158863027862023-11-20T20:24:00.002-06:002023-11-20T20:24:13.877-06:00"Ah, Just One More Thing..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LAcUfitgFNORnbX2maFZcZ5DmqfXRBhxmwqiHkKo_VAPe0LrO-clWGgsTvgzZyPRLVMf66PMxl19ysNbXmhevOVZyyZ1X6a42fRQz0te6uYB8Hs5D2_vvUggdb0fj1AOe2PAGqxv0U4Ia9u7kFmRiNugFBZbGLvGKVodF7L6QMfWBsTsJhDxFY82P0Jh/s1024/H2791-L290171033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LAcUfitgFNORnbX2maFZcZ5DmqfXRBhxmwqiHkKo_VAPe0LrO-clWGgsTvgzZyPRLVMf66PMxl19ysNbXmhevOVZyyZ1X6a42fRQz0te6uYB8Hs5D2_vvUggdb0fj1AOe2PAGqxv0U4Ia9u7kFmRiNugFBZbGLvGKVodF7L6QMfWBsTsJhDxFY82P0Jh/w400-h265/H2791-L290171033.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> This week I found out that back in 1974, there was apparently a <i><b>Columbo</b></i> board game, based on the popular TV show of the same name.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Presumably this was a <i><b>Clue</b></i>-like game, which involved one player assuming the titular detective's identity and solving a crime by relentlessly annoying the other participants until they confessed their guilt. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kids the world over couldn't get enough of Detective Columbo and his offbeat investigative style in his weekly series, so I'm sure this game was a huge bestseller! Fun!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C0umNNk83Jl4fjwzn3Olhb04RPtfy1A89Ito44rgrfN5rcKEACcpOCem4yuHUdL2hEoHGwZ-NrHLbsy8ifUGWmJzPYm-cAR8wt1BsYAVr_Nfa0N9ndR3kbLR4EiRgQ9321yCPRt3Uehb7ZDcYiT1cdTjco1TMwNW_tVRMEh7R2rc0-HhVErwxAO9ge34/s312/c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="312" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C0umNNk83Jl4fjwzn3Olhb04RPtfy1A89Ito44rgrfN5rcKEACcpOCem4yuHUdL2hEoHGwZ-NrHLbsy8ifUGWmJzPYm-cAR8wt1BsYAVr_Nfa0N9ndR3kbLR4EiRgQ9321yCPRt3Uehb7ZDcYiT1cdTjco1TMwNW_tVRMEh7R2rc0-HhVErwxAO9ge34/w400-h305/c.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By far my favorite thing about this game is the fact that the makers of it clearly couldn't afford the rights to use actor Peter Falk's likeness, so they just drew him from the back, knocked off early and spent the afternoon in the local bar!</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-72453935309368951212023-11-20T20:09:00.003-06:002023-11-20T20:09:57.408-06:00 The Shrink-O-Tron Strikes Again: Campbell's Homestyle Soups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-_XztMRO94HL65XymqzNOXSwhvgMnfmlpyzItkCwCQruUvYkLZqx0hRrulrQcX-aggPN3m9w4-kTQHqb45TXXmbWIJsY_g2uZlBFaHmnuetGElHTjXTQE00y4oEumpzksdpFWZNkvA53OiCyIZPuw1i7zZdul_66b7x4tbdi102TpbhJaaJ43ng7J3L2/s2048/400422016_6990085351052900_4188065543602741490_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-_XztMRO94HL65XymqzNOXSwhvgMnfmlpyzItkCwCQruUvYkLZqx0hRrulrQcX-aggPN3m9w4-kTQHqb45TXXmbWIJsY_g2uZlBFaHmnuetGElHTjXTQE00y4oEumpzksdpFWZNkvA53OiCyIZPuw1i7zZdul_66b7x4tbdi102TpbhJaaJ43ng7J3L2/w400-h301/400422016_6990085351052900_4188065543602741490_n.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welp, it's back! As if our country's rampant inflation wasn't already bad enough, it seems the dreaded Shrink-O-Tron has struck the soup aisle.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've been buying various types of Campbell's Homestyle soups for years and years now, and never had cause to complain about them. Until now.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On a recent trip to the grocery, I noticed the entire Homestyle line apparently got a makeover, as the labels had all been updated with a new design.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I also noticed the cans seemed physically different as well, but couldn't quite put my finger on what changed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I got home I compared the new cans to the old ones, and saw they've magically gone from 18.6 ounces down to a meager 16.1! Holy crap! It may not seem like it on paper, but that's a huge difference.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course as always happens when the Shrink-O-Tron strikes, the price didn't undergo a similar reduction.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When is this crap going to end? When will companies stop with this sneaky underhanded tactic and just raise the prices of their goddamned items? Why can't they just level with us and say, "Look guys, we're very sorry but due to increased production costs we're going to have to raise the price of the cereal by a few cents. We'll try not to do it again for a year or so." If they did that then consumers nationwide would understand and say, "Well that sounds just fine."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;">But no. Instead they keep the price the same but give us <i>less</i> product. And they surreptitiously put it in a smaller container, hoping we're all too busy worrying about<b><i> The Marvels' </i></b>shockingly low box office numbers to notice.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica;">Screw you, Campbell's!</span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-42800563446958266022023-10-19T10:13:00.000-05:002023-10-19T10:13:58.249-05:00Multiverse Of Blandness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bZBYSpGjesnYaFNq145Wh5OIJQnOvWlN0sW6C5K7c98uCgXXX0BAl1bUGCGkQUu5IEUvmB0Cr_OcvCIDtIW69UNqNGEtMtss-z2BAwhTxjYymyt8r1JawS_MT_TWVVzsmC743gsdfsTHpC_S4pswqP7JVbnHfBvygoNnqCaz7my_HqI_zABk3xDTSQCe/s2560/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2011.01.23%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="2560" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bZBYSpGjesnYaFNq145Wh5OIJQnOvWlN0sW6C5K7c98uCgXXX0BAl1bUGCGkQUu5IEUvmB0Cr_OcvCIDtIW69UNqNGEtMtss-z2BAwhTxjYymyt8r1JawS_MT_TWVVzsmC743gsdfsTHpC_S4pswqP7JVbnHfBvygoNnqCaz7my_HqI_zABk3xDTSQCe/w400-h206/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2011.01.23%20AM.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last month a new series called <b><i>The Irrational</i></b> debuted on NBC, which is apparently still a thing. According to the publicity blurb, the show centers on Alec Mercer, a world-renowned professor of behavioral psychology, who uses his expertise to solve high-stakes cases involving governments, corporations and law enforcement. As all professors do, dontcha know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9tBk5fQWMjkamGTWQ4Vg05jIUJN9E2wr7g-Qa1oMhtaRf0ekl-2iiIA7QFlhUbKuTp0bJTM_-KiD6ay069dnu6k_r6Uos8C8p6GZtByBYxg_XkSTVq-rW_vcVJMCHYFjvckoQ-Sf2mjqJ-YK6SAmnptZpu4MA59hXnwAOD40O202Mb4dw9zD_00I93f7/s2560/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2010.51.19%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1303" data-original-width="2560" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9tBk5fQWMjkamGTWQ4Vg05jIUJN9E2wr7g-Qa1oMhtaRf0ekl-2iiIA7QFlhUbKuTp0bJTM_-KiD6ay069dnu6k_r6Uos8C8p6GZtByBYxg_XkSTVq-rW_vcVJMCHYFjvckoQ-Sf2mjqJ-YK6SAmnptZpu4MA59hXnwAOD40O202Mb4dw9zD_00I93f7/w400-h204/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2010.51.19%20AM.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The show stars Jesse L. Martin— aka Joe West of <b><i>The Flash</i></b> fame— as Alec Mercer. </span></div><div><br /></div>I haven't watched the show and have no plans to, but I did see a promo for it. The thing that immediately jumped out at me is that Martin is basically playing Joe West here. Same look, same speech patterns, same mannerisms, everything. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He even looks like Joe West in this show, as he's wearing the <i>exact</i> same outfit— complete with top coat and ever-present wool cap!</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It looks for all the world like Martin literally just walked off the set of <b><i>The Flash</i></b> and onto the soundstage of <b><i>The Irrational</i></b>— without even changing his wardrobe!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Plus they're filming this new show in Vancouver, where <b><i>The Flash</i></b> was shot— making the two shows even <i>more</i> similar!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT6dSFwuTXy4E_btrEJbf5r4LOfa-JA09Siugxqos2WxPR4NFFtYSdlHwkp7g_HKER4ms_rD7r-QS29SVMqP96KlH9Y2AXk48fl4veEb3-0GNKjSxF1nQ1ac_rENXnFrPLDnC0NSAtVEGEo881vZEL5nl-iYeDQaAFOUWdMbkGU9rwR7gf4E54cO4mwEQ/s2560/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2010.53.33%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="2560" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT6dSFwuTXy4E_btrEJbf5r4LOfa-JA09Siugxqos2WxPR4NFFtYSdlHwkp7g_HKER4ms_rD7r-QS29SVMqP96KlH9Y2AXk48fl4veEb3-0GNKjSxF1nQ1ac_rENXnFrPLDnC0NSAtVEGEo881vZEL5nl-iYeDQaAFOUWdMbkGU9rwR7gf4E54cO4mwEQ/w400-h206/Screenshot%202023-10-06%20at%2010.53.33%20AM.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the interest of full disclosure, this new character <i>does</i> have one slight difference— unlike Joe West, Alec Mercer has a scar on the right side of his face. Other than that, they're the same guy.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clearly this show's a secret spinoff of <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, and Alec Mercer is the Joe West of another Earth or timeline in the <b>Arrowverse</b>. Damn you, Barry Allen! What have you done this time??!?</span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-68173785540169440292023-10-19T09:27:00.000-05:002023-10-19T09:27:02.306-05:00This Is Heavy, Doc!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbI5UJM-_aa9FxtftTv3uGI87dO7QCNG2Q3RB_l_owV7Gt0QOdcgmrEtevaJzj3a0ojlzfy3zAne0eTufiogCoU9dmW8Sbdt8DN6pG3mFkqaytO68Q5zbM6LM4AcLc8h2Q7n6q941K6hsLXaSFqB7kqYVF2GbMDmiE903OD2wV96_sBdYr7ptdRZEMssF/s959/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="959" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbI5UJM-_aa9FxtftTv3uGI87dO7QCNG2Q3RB_l_owV7Gt0QOdcgmrEtevaJzj3a0ojlzfy3zAne0eTufiogCoU9dmW8Sbdt8DN6pG3mFkqaytO68Q5zbM6LM4AcLc8h2Q7n6q941K6hsLXaSFqB7kqYVF2GbMDmiE903OD2wV96_sBdYr7ptdRZEMssF/w400-h241/thumbnail.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A company with the incredibly imaginative name of Factory Entertainment is currently selling a high-end <b><i>Back To The Future</i></b> Flux Capacitor prop. It's a 1/1 replica, and features authentic lights and sounds from the film.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pretty cool! But that price! Jaysis! For $1,200 it'd better actually work, and let me meet my parents when they were teens!<br /> </span><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-5852928620148897592023-10-17T19:49:00.003-05:002023-10-17T19:51:27.417-05:00RIP Tony Stark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3WKVq5EjBrqViPBwP9e0XywPNQ1JKRaFsLL4pMEw9C9uSiFOB-ig6ycegGgfUFAVfw6YlGZ0hGvhweO5K2xIcD9MC1RGNcxho2U6RXjB2v5yJSiFP4Y1-KceRkF-aeaZK4Qp9hvfVuvRNUvvZTGv7yvDCguv5KgyoBm3kRQzYH25xhPyuGEY2Wp3lOIt/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3WKVq5EjBrqViPBwP9e0XywPNQ1JKRaFsLL4pMEw9C9uSiFOB-ig6ycegGgfUFAVfw6YlGZ0hGvhweO5K2xIcD9MC1RGNcxho2U6RXjB2v5yJSiFP4Y1-KceRkF-aeaZK4Qp9hvfVuvRNUvvZTGv7yvDCguv5KgyoBm3kRQzYH25xhPyuGEY2Wp3lOIt/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thanks to the five year time jump seen in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2019/05/it-came-from-cineplex-avengers-endgame.html" target="_blank">Avengers: Endgame</a></i></b>, Marvel fans with WAYYYY more time than me have determined that today's the day Tony Stark snapped his fingers, saved the universe from Thanos and subsequently died.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVCInbjArVJ8ZJRSDIXtxlNR-fAi_XFqdcpuQ8qAz31HKYkHX6AuCYK2sPZKsB-tF17gMNWhDkaSTXBBfZaUV_VecTC3291biCvbt2OgiAnV-IvC1CRawFVclxW-AljvF4FEwmUohCzdcZFv648nEhUr79lybAAUwYrL41KhiZUMFS2xC6fp90c-9C4wt/s1920/x1080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVCInbjArVJ8ZJRSDIXtxlNR-fAi_XFqdcpuQ8qAz31HKYkHX6AuCYK2sPZKsB-tF17gMNWhDkaSTXBBfZaUV_VecTC3291biCvbt2OgiAnV-IvC1CRawFVclxW-AljvF4FEwmUohCzdcZFv648nEhUr79lybAAUwYrL41KhiZUMFS2xC6fp90c-9C4wt/w400-h225/x1080.jpg" width="430" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">RIP Tony Stark, May 29, 1970 - October 17, 2023.</span><br /><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-39550434545993567582023-08-20T20:40:00.002-05:002023-10-17T19:48:56.948-05:00The Flash Season 9, Episode 12: A New World, Part Three<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaj0z3TZq_7YFMwCVHCSofPn_Xuegnhr-v0-ktjiJR3CRjdnpMoV0EHKby3wPAbba0glbkyCkcZn26VUCgm8aeH40mWBmf3J2g4orxseMxkuhFS_Ih2vmJo-rPrcatnqCa5Jrv95UG261myfGe-RiKpn8tt3-s8u-HeMu0nQ3mccqm2XEc5qc2_B3tLvB/s1366/flash%200912%2000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaj0z3TZq_7YFMwCVHCSofPn_Xuegnhr-v0-ktjiJR3CRjdnpMoV0EHKby3wPAbba0glbkyCkcZn26VUCgm8aeH40mWBmf3J2g4orxseMxkuhFS_Ih2vmJo-rPrcatnqCa5Jrv95UG261myfGe-RiKpn8tt3-s8u-HeMu0nQ3mccqm2XEc5qc2_B3tLvB/w400-h198/flash%200912%2000.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Virtue? Virtue?! <b>VIRTUE?!?!?!?!</b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This week on <b><i>The Flash</i></b>, we're in the endgame now, as we've come to the penultimate episode of the series. Only one more to go!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sadly, <b><i>A New World </i></b>has turned out to be a bust. Like all of showrunner Eric Wallace's story arcs, it started out strongly enough (giving the audience false hope). But then right on cue, it began sputtering and faltering as it lurches to the finish line. It's abundantly clear at this point that he only had enough material for one or two episodes, but stretched it into four. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This entire season has been a complete and total exercise in frustration. We should have gotten one last epic multipart storyline, that tied up all the dangling plot threads and gave the characters a satisfying sendoff. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead we got a series of episodes featuring everyone but the Flash, as he was inexplicably AWOL from his own series.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That trend continues in this final arc, as Cecile, Chester & Allegra have taken center stage, and Barry's barely shown up at all. This was a HUGE misstep in my opinion, as Eric Wallace has severely overestimated the audience's interest in these side characters.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've also been extremely disappointed by this last storyline's Big Bad, Cobalt Blue. When it was first announced he was appearing in Season 9, I assumed we'd get a brand new, cool-looking evil speedster to challenge Barry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead we got the Negative Speed Force possessing Barry's various friends and acquaintances</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— a lame plot device that's already been used to death on the show. Good for the budget, I suppose, but what a letdown.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Then we found out they were bringing back Eddie Thawne, and HE'D become Cobalt Blue. Definitely unexpected, but whatever. But then instead of a proper origin story, we've gotten THREE episodes in a row of Eddie wandering around looking confused. Which leaves just one for him to actually become Cobalt Blue.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This episode is also one of the most laughable in the history of the show, as a good chunk of it takes place in 2049, when Team Flash is apparently still a thing— but nobody's aged a day. Seriously! Despite the fact that they're all twenty six years older, they look exactly the same as they do in 2023. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't know if the show's budget just couldn't afford a bunch of prosthetic makeup, or the writers don't understand how long 2049 is from now. Whatever the reason, it's utterly ridiculous and truly a sight to behold. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh, and also this week, everyone's favorite character Cecile finally gets a superhero codename. And boy, is it a doozy. Well worth the three decades it took her to think of it. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah well. Let's get this over with.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS!</span></b><br /><b><br />The Plot:</b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />This episode takes place in two different time periods, making it tough to understand just what's happening when. So I'll be labeling the year as much as possible to try and avoid confusion.<br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Picking up right where he we left off last week, Eddie Thawne's just unlocked his memories, and is standing in his own empty grave. He says he needs to find out what happened and how he's still alive. Chief Korber, witness to all this, begs Eddie to let her take him to a hospital to make sure he's even human. Eddie lashes out, refusing her help. <br /><br />Just then a portal opens in the sky, sucks Chief Korber up into it and vanishes. Eddie stares up in astonishment, wondering what the heck's going on (along with the audience). <br /><br /><b>2023</b><br />At STAR Labs, Team Flash stands around trying to figure out why Barry disappeared again last week, and how to find him. Suddenly the Speed Force appears, as usual in the form of Barry's late mother Nora. She says the Negative Speed Force is behind Barry's disappearance, and is cloaking his energy signature from her. She then immediately contradicts herself by saying she senses Barry heading for 2049. <br /><br />Speed Force Nora tells Team Flash they have to save Barry, because if he dies her power will be extinguished and their entire timeline will be erased forever. Sure, why not. <br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Team Flash— now being led by Barry's daughter Nora— returns to STAR Labs after a successful mission. Oddly enough, despite the fact that they're all twenty six years older, Chester, Allegra and Cecile all look EXACTLY the same as they did in 2023. And I do mean exactly. The 2049 version of Barry is conveniently absent, as he's "on the Watchtower in outer space."<br /><br />Eddie enters the Flash Museum, which is located in the upper floors of STAR Labs. He sees an exhibit on the Reverse-Flash, and realizes that sacrificing his life to erase Eobard Thawne from the timeline didn't work— meaning he's a big sap who killed himself for nothing.<br /><br />Just then a young blonde woman enters, who looks suspiciously like Nora. She says she's Eddie's daughter, and when he says he doesn't have one, she ominously says he <i>could</i>— if he'll come with her. A vortex opens up behind her as she beckons to Eddie.<br /><br />Suddenly the <i>real</i> Nora zooms in and whisks Eddie away. <br /><br />Cut to Eddie cooling his heels in the Med Lab, as Team Flash scans him. Chester says Eddie's filled with Hawing radiation, and they theorize that his emotional state is causing the vortexes to open. Nora talks with Eddie, who's despondent about throwing away his life in 2015. She tells him he's been given a second chance, and should take advantage of it.<br /><br /><b>2023</b><br />Team Flash tries to figure out how to rescue 2023 Barry in 2049. Since they've no way to time travel, Chester suggests Cecile could project her consciousness into her future self to find & help Barry. That might as well be a thing that could happen.<br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Nora goes into the Time Vault to send a message to Barry, who's still on the Watchtower. Suddenly the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal appears on the floor of the highly secure Vault. Nora picks it up like an idiot and is immediately possessed by the Negative Speed Force. Brilliant!<br /><br />Possessed Nora chats with Eddie, urging him to remain calm so his emotions don't cause any more vortexes and kill anyone. He realizes he inadvertently murdered Captain Korber, and says there's gotta be a way to fix things. Possessed Nora suggests they look for clues at Mercury Labs, where his fake persona Malcolm Gilmore used to work.<br /><br /><b>2023 / 2049 / 2023</b><br />Chester hooks Cecile up to a technobabble device, and she projects her mind into the future. She wakes in her own body in 2049, and is stunned by the fact that she's nearly 80 but looks exactly as she did in 2023. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">She sees Chester & Allegra and for some reason doesn't tell them that she's occupying her future body. Why not? Don't know. She asks if they've seen Barry (meaning the 2023 version). They of course assume she's talking about the 2049 one and reply that he's still in space.<br /><br />Cecile makes an offhand comment about checking on her family, and Chester says Joe'd probably like that, since she only sees him twice a year now. This horrifies Cecile, to the point where her mind link collapses and she wakes up back in 2023. She tells Team Flash she can't go through with the plan and runs from the Cortex.<br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Eddie and Possessed Nora arrive at Mercury Labs, where he looks for... some sort of clues, I guess? Possessed Nora begins taunting Eddie, pointing out how he threw his life away and he's the only Thawne forgotten by history. She says he could get his life back and become as powerful as the Flash by embracing the Negative Speed Force. She says then he could have his revenge on Barry, the man who stole his life.<br /><br />Eddie actually considers it for a few seconds, then runs from the building to get some air (?). Just then 2023 Barry appears inside Mercury Labs (?), and is surprised to see high daughter Nora. He hugs her, unaware she's been possessed. She zaps him with the crystal and knocks him across the room.<br /><br />The Negative Speed Force tells Barry there's nothing he can do, because any attempt to destroy it will kill Nora. Eddie walks back in, and in the confusion Barry grabs him and zooms him from the building. <br /><br />They end up at the West home, which is owned by Eddie in 2049. Barry is shocked to see Eddie of course, and asks what's going on. Eddie tells him he's spent the past few years thinking he was Dr. Malcolm Gilmore, and asks how that's possible. Barry says the Negative Speed Force must have created a false reality for Eddie (???), so it could make him its new avatar.<br /><br />Eddie's attitude begins changing, as he says so far the Negative Speed Force has only tried to help him, and whines that Barry has the life HE should have had. He hears the Negative Speed Force talking to him, and says with it he could be the hero and have the life he deserves.<br /><br /><b>2023</b><br />Chester asks Cecile what upset her so much. She says her future self pretty much abandoned her family so she could play superhero, which makes her a failure. Chester gives her a <b>Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b>, saying she's making her family situation work now, so there's no reason she can't do it in the future. Well, no reason except the fact that she's seen it happen with her own eyes. He says her greatest gift is her heart, which is a real <i>virtue</i>. Oy. Remember that word, folks.<br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Barry tells Eddie that the Negative Speed Force is pure evil, and he needs to resist it. Eddie worries that rejecting it will cause him to die again, but Barry assures him they'll figure out something. <br /><br />Just then Possessed Nora stands in the middle of Central City and demands Barry bring Eddie to her. How Barry can hear her, and why she doesn't just grab Eddie herself isn't explained. Barry tells Eddie to stay put and leaves.<br /><br />Barry zooms to meet Possessed Nora. She demands he hand over Eddie to her. Barry tells her to fight back against the Negative Speed Force, but she laughs in his face.<br /><br /><b>2023</b><br />Cecile marches into the Lab and says she's ready to send her brain back to the future again.<br /><br /><b>2049</b><br />Barry tells Possessed Nora she's not getting her hands on Eddie. She howls in anger and the two then have an epic speedster battle as they race through the city. Barry stops on a rooftop and begs his daughter to fight the Negative Speed Force's influence. She forms an energy lasso, which grabs him and hurls his body to the ground far below. Somehow this doesn't kill him.<br /><br />Eddie leaves his house and surprises 2049 Iris at the Loft (where she and Barry apparently still live in the future). Needless to say, she's shocked to see her dead fiance after nearly three decades. He tells her he has a decision to make, and needed to see her first.<br /><br />Downtown, Possessed Nora lassos an SUV and hurls it at the injured Barry, intending to kill him. Amazingly, the SUV halts in mid air and is telekinetically tossed aside. Puzzled, Possessed Nora turns to see Cecile standing before her. Well, actually it's 2049 Cecile being controlled by the mind of 2023 Cecile, decked out in a brand new superhero costume. <br /><br />Cecile blasts Nora with psychic energy, forcing the Negative Speed Force out of her. The blue crystal falls from Nora's hand, lands on the street and disappears. Barry thanks Cecile for saving him, and she tells him to call her... <i>Virtue</i>. Jesus wept.<br /><br />Back at the Loft, Eddie tells Iris he loves her, and says they can have a second chance together. Iris informs him that's not gonna happen, as she already has a family she loves. His demeanor changes as he tells her she'll regret that decision, and he storms out.<br /><br />Out on the street, Nora— now no longer possessed— apologizes to Barry for trying to kill him. Suddenly the skies turn dark, as red lightning begins flashing. <br /><br />Back at STAR, Barry & Cecile (still in the 2049 version of her body) explain to Team Flash that the Negative Speed Force is attacking them across time & space. Even worse, Barry & Nora can no longer feel the Speed Force (so how do they still have power?). Chester delivers more bad news, saying the red energy in the sky isn't lightning, it's the timeline fracturing (???). <br /><br />Cecile leaves her future body to warn the team back in 2023. Just then Iris enters, and says she has to talk with Barry. Suddenly he's enveloped in blue energy again and disappears.<br /><br />Elsewhere, Eddie sits brooding at Mercury Labs. He throws a hissy fit, demanding to know why he was brought back if he can't have the family he deserves. He hears the Negative Speed Force call his name, as the blue crystal appears on his desk. It tells him he can have everything he ever wanted, if he will accept its power. <br /><br />Eddie asks it what he needs to do. The crystal shows him images of Zoom, Godspeed, Savitar and Reverse-Flash, and urges him to form a team to destroy Barry Allen forever. Eddie reaches out his hand and opens a vortex...<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Thoughts:</b><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">• </span>As with the first two parts of this arc, this one starts with a shot of blue roses<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">—</span> just like I predicted.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">• </span>We also get a frantically-edited recap of the final minutes of last week's episode, as Eddie regains his memories and pulls the bullet that killed him from his chest. Chief Korber watches in horror and says, "This city is a lightning rod for insanity. You could be a clone or a cyborg. We need to get you to a hospital and get you checked out."<br /><br />It really says something about what life in Central City must be like, if Korber legitimately suspects the man in front of her is some kind of robot.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5r3EWQ1xEN5VekuOSynbISeFumsyMPndlZmjk1BfOs-4N1uYlANMOvGr0mumEYWX8K_ErPNX1_aHW1ROQQSn5kRU-3xSBD9lVG2oJJkOxe9-GBJtKA9RUjsmHyUc-98GAhyEtplS67GWmSeDBHbZCpDxisxnevPPS1qrqPW7xzjBzyU2BZgvsTVWX5M/s600/flash%200912%20vortex.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR5r3EWQ1xEN5VekuOSynbISeFumsyMPndlZmjk1BfOs-4N1uYlANMOvGr0mumEYWX8K_ErPNX1_aHW1ROQQSn5kRU-3xSBD9lVG2oJJkOxe9-GBJtKA9RUjsmHyUc-98GAhyEtplS67GWmSeDBHbZCpDxisxnevPPS1qrqPW7xzjBzyU2BZgvsTVWX5M/w400-h194/flash%200912%20vortex.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">• Eddie's agitated state causes a portal to open in the sky, which sucks Korber up into it. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I assumed she probably ended up inside the Negative Speed Force or something and would eventually return, none the worse for wear. Nope! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Later on in the episode we find out that the vortex apparently killed her! Jesus Christ! RIP Chief Korber, I guess.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_r5-BoCmwR6Zp3TIQdKYbjnoCWxN-qDUe4LepaTHu2P4of-BkppEoKlq0VsrFljJn8yfL0wOByBOKYAZqbfZBiBY68PlAxmUWiYOBMitS_j9VgGe2W9hIkx5mctXostSJwbR-qbz-aWJnHwDthoeLSkpFH-WHLW3r0ry7IVZPViRJwzmQAuR0O_iXy7q/s1366/flash%200912%2001.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1366" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_r5-BoCmwR6Zp3TIQdKYbjnoCWxN-qDUe4LepaTHu2P4of-BkppEoKlq0VsrFljJn8yfL0wOByBOKYAZqbfZBiBY68PlAxmUWiYOBMitS_j9VgGe2W9hIkx5mctXostSJwbR-qbz-aWJnHwDthoeLSkpFH-WHLW3r0ry7IVZPViRJwzmQAuR0O_iXy7q/w400-h194/flash%200912%2001.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• It's ironic that this episode is subtitled "<i><b>Changes</b></i>," when as we'll see in a few minutes, the cast doesn't change the least bit in the future at all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• In 2023 at STAR Labs, Chester exclaims to what's left of Team Flash, "How nuts is this? The Negative Speed Force is attacking us across space and time?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hey, that's just what I pointed out last week! I said it possessed Joe in 2000 and Chillblaine in 2023, meaning it could operate in any era. I guess there's nothing stopping a force of nature from doing whatever it wants— it's just funny to me that the writers felt the need to lampshade the situation.</span><br /></div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEidLQnupZAWm3NkwgFMLncvcRYxAbFcFNKKx7mduDlS9vMDUf4fa2Sm9ql1PXdSouYfI0BpzdUDZCgdxUYKl8u_vitrzDxrPTSY1AxjH9TWUk3DgQyk9f8mW0X0OnCvXf3dciEGgmxgWeVyZwODDGOi63r8HnxbuCPcghemXp9NTWrNmULoX2Hvu8IpU/s1366/flash%200912%2002.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEidLQnupZAWm3NkwgFMLncvcRYxAbFcFNKKx7mduDlS9vMDUf4fa2Sm9ql1PXdSouYfI0BpzdUDZCgdxUYKl8u_vitrzDxrPTSY1AxjH9TWUk3DgQyk9f8mW0X0OnCvXf3dciEGgmxgWeVyZwODDGOi63r8HnxbuCPcghemXp9NTWrNmULoX2Hvu8IpU/w400-h196/flash%200912%2002.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Dammit, Opening Credits! Once again you've spoiled the appearance of a guest star!</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Speed Force Nora appears again and tells Team Flash that the Negative Speed Force is causing Barry to bounce around in time. She claims it's masking him from her, making it impossible to detect just where and when he is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then literally two seconds later she tells them she senses him heading for 2049 (the only future year anyone can travel to on this show).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So which is it, writers? Can she sense him or can't she?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ah, but it gets better! Speed Force Nora then ominously tells the team:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Speed Force Nora:</b> "If Barry dies and the Speed Force is extinguished, then this timeline and everything in it will be erased forever."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wait, <i>what?</i> Why would the destruction of the Speed Force have even the slightest effect on the rest of the world? Didn't the Speed Force die a couple seasons ago? I'm pretty sure the only consequence of <i>that</i> incident was Barry losing his powers. I don't remember anyone saying anything about the timeline being erased!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do the creators even <i>watch</i> the show anymore?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_kbSa3vldf09oRciL055BgGlsXKC9doDy3NIEMf_IewjWJV6vh7PnJ5B58ijPSHB0Av7wUJw5xAjl4LEzmQ1LtQyP3xfxb12CT97ABT4ajY8vj-ThEvyoloiEyfKwjIPQOzOfVaq07rxtVBtQ-BDh0r0OSduMgqn42xEBFnKa32wNR44ZAFGpwpDiFjA/s1366/flash%200912%2003.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_kbSa3vldf09oRciL055BgGlsXKC9doDy3NIEMf_IewjWJV6vh7PnJ5B58ijPSHB0Av7wUJw5xAjl4LEzmQ1LtQyP3xfxb12CT97ABT4ajY8vj-ThEvyoloiEyfKwjIPQOzOfVaq07rxtVBtQ-BDh0r0OSduMgqn42xEBFnKa32wNR44ZAFGpwpDiFjA/w400-h198/flash%200912%2003.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Cut to STAR Labs, aka the Flash Museum, in 2049. As with all the other times we've seen this same shot, the parking lot appears to be filled with cars from the 2020s. Maybe the Museum placed all those old vehicles there as part of an historical exhibit.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Inside STAR Labs, Team Flash 2049 returns from a mission. Lots to unpack in this short little scene. And I do mean LOTS!:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First of all, it appears Nora's now the leader of Team Flash. That's perfectly fine, as Barry would be sixty years old in 2049, and probably ready to retire.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Secondly, how likely is it that Team Flash has nearly the EXACT same roster in 2049? Yes, Khione's missing and Nora's joined the gang at this point, but Chester, Allegra and Cecile are all still hanging out there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For corn's sake, it's been twenty six years, guys! Time to move on to bigger and better things already! Or maybe it's possible they DID try to find other jobs and failed, so now they're all just ratting around STAR, with nowhere better to go. How sad!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By far though the most baffling part of this episode, and possibly the series as a whole, is the issue of the characters' appearances in the future. As I said, this scene takes place in the year 2049. Despite that, the members of Team Flash all look <i>astonishingly</i> young. Unchanged even!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZIZJz2G_G1nwIGeRihLu3zb20oKoWkhboGwB5jR8T22_Fd1K1xgUTcrGbXqxVtvsi9P55kWgSNGbEW3xdg7Q44fY_oTOQu0fOx4zIvRNZasZ458SYMKhPY4QIctOz7g_cs4P4xvleR8zQm9tBv-OJE2zMo05jTw_MtHTotNg2AGN1378s5b0wIhjvbp4/s1366/flash%200912%2005.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZIZJz2G_G1nwIGeRihLu3zb20oKoWkhboGwB5jR8T22_Fd1K1xgUTcrGbXqxVtvsi9P55kWgSNGbEW3xdg7Q44fY_oTOQu0fOx4zIvRNZasZ458SYMKhPY4QIctOz7g_cs4P4xvleR8zQm9tBv-OJE2zMo05jTw_MtHTotNg2AGN1378s5b0wIhjvbp4/w400-h198/flash%200912%2005.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take Chester and Allegra for example. According to the <b><i>Official Arrowverse Wiki</i></b>, Chester was born in 1991, which would make him 58 in 2049. Allegra was born in 1999, making her 50.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now I ask you, does <i>this</i> look like a middle-aged couple? Nary a wrinkle or a single gray hair in sight!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah, but it gets worse!</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgUzjk9RMFP1K7LvdiTgb_AraTrwJJV7kERlTpAfZAj7iCFQ_E5wFGQql9_lImKsNggkvC_6NOtbKTsSiZLJBAO1nMgAFf-JrzNr6BiCMAYi21dedb5sGuBQX3lXOVjb294LO36KFakGYmNfx1BJYJqkOMts7QIJZNGov3yrK9gkLQb9wbHFWkWTo_oMs/s1366/flash%200912%2004.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgUzjk9RMFP1K7LvdiTgb_AraTrwJJV7kERlTpAfZAj7iCFQ_E5wFGQql9_lImKsNggkvC_6NOtbKTsSiZLJBAO1nMgAFf-JrzNr6BiCMAYi21dedb5sGuBQX3lXOVjb294LO36KFakGYmNfx1BJYJqkOMts7QIJZNGov3yrK9gkLQb9wbHFWkWTo_oMs/w400-h198/flash%200912%2004.png" width="430" /></a></div></div>The <b><i>Wiki</i></b> doesn't list Cecile's date of birth, but actress Danielle Nicolet is currently 50. If we assume Cecile is the same age, then in 2049 she'd be a whopping 76! Let me repeat that by shouting it through cupped hands— Cecile is SEVENTY SIX YEARS OLD in this scene! Jesus Christ! <br /><br />The producers literally did not make even the slightest effort to age up the characters in this episode, despite the fact that much of it takes place nearly <i>three decades</i> from now.<br /><br />I can think of several possibilities here:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. Scientists in the <b>Arrowverse</b> found a way to dramatically slow the human aging process. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2. The show's budget simply couldn't afford prosthetic makeup for everyone. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">3. The producers just didn't give a shit at this point, and wanted to hurry up and get the show over with. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4. The writers don't understand just how far 2049 is from now.<br /><br />Whatever the reason, it's downright laughable to see Cecile gadding about in a skintight catsuit and expect the audience to believe she's in her seventies. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I bet even the actors were embarrassed by this. If they weren't then they should have been.<br /><br />• Team Flash 2049 discusses their mission:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Chester: </b>"Whoo! All right, party people! That's a wrap. The Chronarch is no longer the monarch. Come on home."<br /><b>Nora:</b> "Was that schway or what?"<br /><b>Allegra:</b> "Not bad for your first mission as team leader."<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "I know your dad's all the way in outer space, but I can feel how proud he is of you from the Watchtower."<br /><b>Nora:</b> "I mean, that was fun. But I'm ready for Dad to come home."<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Hey, babe. The way you went supernova on him at the end? It's like you were trying to blast that man into the 64th century."<br /><b>Allegra:</b> "Well, actually, that's exactly what I was trying to do."<br /><br />Several things here:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">First off, apparently Chester will still be saying his "party people" catchphrase twenty six years from now. Oy.<br /><br />Secondly, in the Season 7 episode <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-flash-season-7-episode-4-central.html" target="_blank">Central City Strong</a></i></b>, the evil techo-magician Abra Kadabra mentioned a 64th Century being called the </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Chronarch, who </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was so cruel that even </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">he</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> feared him. He claimed the Chronarch would </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">eventually become an enemy of the Flash.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Third, why doesn't 2049 Barry appear in this episode? He's mentioned numerous times, but is conveniently in outer space and unavailable. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My guess is the producers didn't want to complicate the story by having two Barrys and having to film costly "twinning" effects.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD0Uxu_7kmYaij4a6JRNPgckjTOLKkRI1tBnJFTE96qkLheP5gZ4mx1-vsi7QEHopFFjDAPERtIfxDlQLAy3bp0tJH1lL7g-SMwy_CaPCrYgRYMDKMs0pexMctXJrQ3w0Ycz1RLXkyEAPvk-aZwT1hYPhrPjow492izqO2wB3d-1gvBl86C0RM3Qh0KdQ/s1500/watch.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD0Uxu_7kmYaij4a6JRNPgckjTOLKkRI1tBnJFTE96qkLheP5gZ4mx1-vsi7QEHopFFjDAPERtIfxDlQLAy3bp0tJH1lL7g-SMwy_CaPCrYgRYMDKMs0pexMctXJrQ3w0Ycz1RLXkyEAPvk-aZwT1hYPhrPjow492izqO2wB3d-1gvBl86C0RM3Qh0KdQ/w400-h200/watch.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fourth, Cecile mentions Barry's in the Watchtower. In the comics, the Justice League's HQ was in an orbiting satellite called— you guessed it— the Watchtower. Looks like the <b>Arrowverse</b> gets a future version of it at some point!<br /><br />Lastly, Chester mentions that Allegra defeated the Chronarch by going supernova on his ass. That actually sounds pretty cool! Helpful tip to the producers here— don't make your "unseen" adventures sound better than the ones we actually get to watch. Just sayin.'</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /> • 2049 Cecile asks Chester: <br /><br /><b>Cecile:</b> "How's the nano-welding coming along on my new super suit?"<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Oh, it should be ready this afternoon."<br /><br />So... Cecile's been superheroing for twenty six years and she's just <i>now</i> getting a costume? Or has she had one for decades and is getting a new one? It could be interpreted either way.<br /><br />• Where's Bart during these 2049 scenes? We see him in a brief flashback, but other than that he's completely AWOL. Is he not part of Team Flash in the future? Or is he chillin' with his dad out in space?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course the real world reason is that actor Jordan Fisher wasn't available, as he was appearing in a play during filming (these <b><i>Flash</i></b> actors sure do a lot of theater). Pity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ9QJ9NB9waR0Qo8_9pC1pwbx7BuMbMxoVox2ERZll9GwJWgnHHRGs4KsM5yFrGIQprOiiaCVANRg9armOOfurX6wzjxQyVfhnm0WLziriZ_Y2bcad46rRr5Jvjrv5QCQfiCCxy6p0Yp3-W0k-23XSpteZeEy0pJYuA24TdQFCFCy6_xNRuN2No4V56gu/s1366/flash%200912%2031.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ9QJ9NB9waR0Qo8_9pC1pwbx7BuMbMxoVox2ERZll9GwJWgnHHRGs4KsM5yFrGIQprOiiaCVANRg9armOOfurX6wzjxQyVfhnm0WLziriZ_Y2bcad46rRr5Jvjrv5QCQfiCCxy6p0Yp3-W0k-23XSpteZeEy0pJYuA24TdQFCFCy6_xNRuN2No4V56gu/w400-h199/flash%200912%2031.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Eddie wanders into the Flash Museum in 2049, presumably looking for Barry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clearly the "museum" is just the STAR Labs Cortex set, hastily redressed with a few displays. I guess the 2049 version of Team Flash set up a new HQ somewhere in one of the building's many lower levels?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also note Atom's armor on display there at the right.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT52QnW0ef69wMXr3X1zlnKDFRrjhIZ72Gil5kHfqK8SjwHsdFCvsjIilukHzwsxpc1iRiH3D3tJOJDfy8TtiT9Eiwri-G9Gi1cDNQce2U56z4fDBTVd6z1mreSHp7PoCpH_JYXicSKAJl-I9eGy2oOWAWRG8M8eO3rmtvDMDU_W_gSTVKD36GYafLKhbe/s1366/flash%200912%2032.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT52QnW0ef69wMXr3X1zlnKDFRrjhIZ72Gil5kHfqK8SjwHsdFCvsjIilukHzwsxpc1iRiH3D3tJOJDfy8TtiT9Eiwri-G9Gi1cDNQce2U56z4fDBTVd6z1mreSHp7PoCpH_JYXicSKAJl-I9eGy2oOWAWRG8M8eO3rmtvDMDU_W_gSTVKD36GYafLKhbe/w400-h198/flash%200912%2032.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also see Barry's Season 1 suit at left, with what looks like Jessie Quick's costume next to it. Not sure how they got ahold of that, since she was from Earth-2, then moved to Earth-3, then back to Earth-2 again, where she was killed by an antimatter wave in the Crisis. Maybe she had a spare costume and left it lying around STAR Labs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, check out the director's name there in the credits. Jesus, buy a vowel, Stephan!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGhBZWmIygNxsgr2wmdujTrxZUnZ3hGZT3tg_d_5rIrdBQJ_13SpmU9Oy1YRE5nwGSHvKMLXgLf9_2PhtGCOf1pFo3x5C2RIOWkRMDnFl_r8lkBg47TBsBIlmqXrwJ8ZhXtE1_nu32TMWs5bGBmIJTTzO9t0feA3qhLQNpMxR3GBOuiFQtkrMQKvhTfK8/s1366/flash%200912%2006.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGhBZWmIygNxsgr2wmdujTrxZUnZ3hGZT3tg_d_5rIrdBQJ_13SpmU9Oy1YRE5nwGSHvKMLXgLf9_2PhtGCOf1pFo3x5C2RIOWkRMDnFl_r8lkBg47TBsBIlmqXrwJ8ZhXtE1_nu32TMWs5bGBmIJTTzO9t0feA3qhLQNpMxR3GBOuiFQtkrMQKvhTfK8/w400-h196/flash%200912%2006.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• At the museum, Eddie sees a video display on the Reverse Flash, which states how the evil speedster returned time and time again to menace Central City. This causes Eddie to freak the hell out, and rightly so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This scene perfectly highlights a major problem the show's had for eight years now. If you'll recall, at the end of Season 1 Eddie found out that Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse Flash, was his distant descendent. When the Flash failed to defeat Thawne, Eddie took matters into his own hands and killed himself to prevent Thawne from ever being born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Of course Eddie's ultimate sacrifice didn't work, as Thawne returned over and over every season, despite the fact it made no logical sense. Which makes it easy to see why Eddie's so upset here. Basically he killed himself for nothing, as his actions literally had ZERO effect on Thawne at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-3U-SCWGXP_-2vWrdIoCsiIc3hSQpU2JuxheOx9XOmsSP7Q446nU4mWpXNEaZCgzUGgu60iv_TkjiPKGl8WXLiy4gf3wBdTTEUlpJQXd-bHHycoBms78ZBsrhlcH365vmRjb2_O4MHW0ulyErG1voQFY6cMKfcNd0T-vxSYuO520kwVBZveN6y8di6T4/s1366/flash%200912%2007.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-3U-SCWGXP_-2vWrdIoCsiIc3hSQpU2JuxheOx9XOmsSP7Q446nU4mWpXNEaZCgzUGgu60iv_TkjiPKGl8WXLiy4gf3wBdTTEUlpJQXd-bHHycoBms78ZBsrhlcH365vmRjb2_O4MHW0ulyErG1voQFY6cMKfcNd0T-vxSYuO520kwVBZveN6y8di6T4/w400-h196/flash%200912%2007.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Eddie's then seduced by the <strike>Dark Side Of The Force</strike>, er, the Negative Speed Force, which takes the form of his "daughter." Well, the daughter he supposedly always wished he and Iris would have some day, that is. Amazingly, his faux progeny looks remarkably like Nora in a cheap wig.<br /><br />This is another of the stupidest things the show's ever done, as we're expected to believe that the offspring of Eddie & Iris would look EXACTLY like the offspring of Barry & Iris— just with Eddie's blonde hair.<br /><br /><i>Jesus wept.</i><br /><br />The reason this is so utterly, utterly idiotic is because it was done solely for the audience's benefit. While technically Eddie did meet Nora briefly in the past, he has no idea that she's Barry & Iris' daughter. So a fantasy version that looks just like her would mean absolutely nothing to him. The Negative Speed Force could have taken the form of ANY young woman and it would have had the same effect on Eddie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9tzNEwXQwmXpl5LYuhTstI_PCpaiFTn3WVzAkhWb4CrR26laCkwLYQTG3guLjqPiV75Gf7LdQGIDnTVNIAEgvEQLGzw5knlFzOzSawtVP-YSJUFbrqHmoLSzhWwZwzwe2udxk7gYJX4GVbm9jL02tC6dIh660blo9KqjuQ8XyN62xrrJqDfBSbVjZ8CK/s1366/flash%200912%2008.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9tzNEwXQwmXpl5LYuhTstI_PCpaiFTn3WVzAkhWb4CrR26laCkwLYQTG3guLjqPiV75Gf7LdQGIDnTVNIAEgvEQLGzw5knlFzOzSawtVP-YSJUFbrqHmoLSzhWwZwzwe2udxk7gYJX4GVbm9jL02tC6dIh660blo9KqjuQ8XyN62xrrJqDfBSbVjZ8CK/w400-h195/flash%200912%2008.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Fake Nora tries to lure the disoriented Eddie into some sort of portal, but Real Nora appears and zooms him out of harm's way. She then gasps in astonishment when she realizes who he is.<br /><br />I was wondering just how in the name of Zeus' Mighty Taint that Nora could possibly recognize Eddie. From her perspective he's a guy her mom dated over THIRTY YEARS AGO! I don't know about anyone else, but I know absolutely nothing about my mom's dating history before she married my dad. Nor would I ever WANT to know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG9VAP8TW32CaPmg-y6DgkVLQYkiIl-mOH0FxiehRkDYPhy0qT7Pth-AkN1E2FfaskYKmmyz9ahVo5UN7GWAovmHxU33iFgL6GRlbHQU5fy8Tx9yKL1GXGwkkTRuNyL1GqWQ9Ig_zyoTIK9mUrjgyo1ysEJk_tcDNmcdajPoXLDpfgnKzrqfUrSv66VWm/s1366/flash%200912%2009.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG9VAP8TW32CaPmg-y6DgkVLQYkiIl-mOH0FxiehRkDYPhy0qT7Pth-AkN1E2FfaskYKmmyz9ahVo5UN7GWAovmHxU33iFgL6GRlbHQU5fy8Tx9yKL1GXGwkkTRuNyL1GqWQ9Ig_zyoTIK9mUrjgyo1ysEJk_tcDNmcdajPoXLDpfgnKzrqfUrSv66VWm/w400-h198/flash%200912%2009.png" width="430" /></a></div>But then the episode reminds us that Nora (and Bart!) actually met Eddie back in 2013, during Season 8's <b><i><a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-flash-season-8-episode-6-impulsive.html" target="_blank">Impulsive Excessive Disorder</a></i></b>— where the two went back in time to stop their Grandpa Joe from being killed. So I'll give them that one.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• Team Flash discusses Eddie's sudden resurrection and reappearance:<br /><br /><b>Allegra:</b> "This is insane. Eddie Thawne died 34 years ago. How is he alive, and why hasn't he aged a day?" <br /><i>(This is true, as he died in 2015)</i><br /><b>Cecile:</b> "And why is he here?"<br /><b>Chester:</b> "I have no idea, but all his fingerprints and DNA match. Except he's giving off high levels of Hawking radiation—the kind you only find inside singularities."<br /><i>(This is also true. Hawking radiation is thought to emit from a black hole's event horizon.)<br /></i><b>Allegra:</b> "So you think Eddie's causing these portals to open?"<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "Maybe it's subconscious. Maybe it's his emotions triggering them."<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Oh, I was a black hole once. It happens."<br /><i>(This is true as well, as back in Season 6 Chester had a black hole inside him, but got better.)</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXJE_LLrndGy3XuJ92i7_FoDY5nWduDx4Q4dsgEPLJE1vYR30MWZXUYMIwW9Pm2tO46-Yq4NFrOqX_5PXYwLkdOC-0nV97e7HwTGahR7CotrI7-gVX58rMYvV7BjSWhr8fOEhp-jw7onhJ1z9aRTm7ZzumaIljuQeT4f-QELHTsJKmI_eyk_Kk1khjMnt/s1366/flash%200912%2033.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXJE_LLrndGy3XuJ92i7_FoDY5nWduDx4Q4dsgEPLJE1vYR30MWZXUYMIwW9Pm2tO46-Yq4NFrOqX_5PXYwLkdOC-0nV97e7HwTGahR7CotrI7-gVX58rMYvV7BjSWhr8fOEhp-jw7onhJ1z9aRTm7ZzumaIljuQeT4f-QELHTsJKmI_eyk_Kk1khjMnt/w400-h199/flash%200912%2033.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• In 2023, Team Flash discusses how to time travel to 2049 and rescue Barry. They write down various ideas & methods on STAR Labs' ubiquitous and impractical clear whiteboards. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This scene's a veritable goldmine of references and callbacks, so you know what that means— I'll be examining it in obsessive and excruciating detail. Note that the text in the image above was originally seen from behind, so I flopped it for easier reading:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Theoretically Great Idea</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Override Gideon. Open her (illegible)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One Prob???</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No Clue How To Do That</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><i>I'm puzzled by what they were planning to do with Gideon here. She's a sentient AI. What could that possibly have to do with time travel?</i></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Contact Brainy For Ideas??</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">UPDATE: No Response, Still Off-World With Supergirl</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Funny how heavy hitters like Supergirl and Superman are always "off-world" whenever Team Flash could use their help.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">– Breacher's Blade. Able To Cut Through SpaceTime</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Breacher (played by Danny Trejo) was an interdimensional bounty hunter who popped up on the show from time to time, and was the father of Gypsy, Cisco's sometime gal pal.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— TOO RISKY!! Sim Model Concludes Interfacing With Cobalt Radiation Could Cause Bleeding Spacetime Rift!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><i>This appears to be just a bunch of technobabble to take up space.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Called Luke Fox = He Said Look Into Research Done By A Dr. Nichols</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Luke Fox is a former Wayne Enterprises employee and son of Lucius Fox. He served as Batwoman's tech support person over on her show.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Dr. Nichols = DEAD END! Seems To Have Disappeared From Existence.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Nichols was an employee of Kord Industries, and was referenced a couple times over on <b>Arrow</b>. I don't think he ever appeared onscreen though.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9Y4xYw2pn0UTFtJfj58blfrTR2ZFK8Tp1sEbaYwj1IMeLPkpr-fM_EnNUv3R8QGgsoXPtvDd80JpDjl4D2YMyJJPnOU3l6o6xOEsiUV25qDUxtM7zMSgLKs2x1uDHrlZCV72CI893O0d85vJeE9Yan1tGfSRfo9QQ1_NSCIVLtCUNrHMzN3Yx2_tnLXu/s1366/flash%200912%2034.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9Y4xYw2pn0UTFtJfj58blfrTR2ZFK8Tp1sEbaYwj1IMeLPkpr-fM_EnNUv3R8QGgsoXPtvDd80JpDjl4D2YMyJJPnOU3l6o6xOEsiUV25qDUxtM7zMSgLKs2x1uDHrlZCV72CI893O0d85vJeE9Yan1tGfSRfo9QQ1_NSCIVLtCUNrHMzN3Yx2_tnLXu/w400-h196/flash%200912%2034.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then see a different clear whiteboard, with even more suggestions:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">— Call <i>Waverider </i>— Ask For Specs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No Response</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>They're referencing the <b>Legends Of Tomorrow's</b> timeship of course. The reason they don't respond is because the Legends were thrown into time prison or something in their series finale. At least I think that's what happened— I dropped out of the show early in its final season.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">— Mssg'd Christina McGee About Her Quantum Bubble Matrix</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She Responded: Can't Withstand Cobalt Radiation Signature</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>That would be Dr. Tina McGee (never heard anyone call her "Christina" before), head of Mercury Labs. She's helped out Team Flash several times in the past. There was also an alternate universe version of her on the 1990 <b>Flash</b> series.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">— Contact Deon/Still Force?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fighting With The Other Forces</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Back in Season 7, Deon Owens became the Still Force and was able to control time. He could easily help out here, but last week </i><i>Speed Force Nora appeared and said the other three forces (including Deon) were battling the Negative Speed Force in the cosmic plane, so I guess this tracks.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">— Try Timeless Wells +</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Professor Stein Again</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPDATE: Still No Response</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have To Move On</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Back in Season 7, we learned that after the original Harrison Wells was murdered by Eobard Thawne, he was resurrected by technobabble particles left behind when his various doppelgangers sacrificed themselves. For reasons, this also gave him the ability to travel through time. Now calling himself Timeless Wells, he retired to a beach house in Starling City with his wife.</i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Timeless Wells could have definitely helped Team Flash here, but is probably tired of them bugging him whenever they're in a jam and started screening his calls.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Martin Stein was one of the Legends, and as such an expert in time travel. Unfortunately he died in the big <b>Crisis On Earth-X</b> crossover. Which probably explains why he's not answering Team Flash's calls. Not sure why they aren't aware of his death.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>There's then a third clear whiteboard (not pictured here), that's largely blocked by Cecile's head, so I couldn't see much of it:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">—Retrofitted Time Magnet</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Would Take Weeks</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-flash-season-9-episode-8-partners.html">Earlier this season</a> Barry (in one of his rare appearances) and Iris were menaced by Lady Chronos, who used a Time Magnet to travel back to 2023 and steal hi-tech weaponry from STAR Labs. Apparently Team Flash confiscated her Time Magnet? Not sure why it would need retrofitted though, or why that would take weeks.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— Time Sphere</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">CS: Thawne Convinced Would Cause Cascade (illegible)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>In Season 1, Thawne forced Cisco to build the Time Sphere, so he could go back to the future. It's been used numerous times on the show since, and as far as I know is still sitting in the STARchives. No idea why they couldn't use it here.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'll give the writers credit for lampshading all these various methods to travel to the future and rescue Barry, as it prevents the audience from saying, "Why don't they just..." or "Couldn't they use..." Pretty clever!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That said, pretty much ANY the solutions on the clear white board would have been vastly better than the one we got! Once more with feeling: Don't make your abandoned and unseen ideas sound more interesting than the one used.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Team Flash asks Chillblaine what it was like to be possessed by the Negative Speed Force last week:<br /><br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Just that it's powerful as hell, and it hates Barry. When I was trapped inside, all I could think about was... was how much I love that guy. He's given me so many second chances, tenth chances. I didn't deserve any of them. I guess my, uh, love wasn't enough to fight the crystal's hate."<br /><b>Cecile: </b>"Mark, I just... I wish I would have known. You know, I could have used my powers to help boost your empathy and maybe fight it off."<br /><br />Yes, Cecile, if only there was some way you could have, I dunno... <i>sensed</i> that Chillblaine's mind was being controlled by an evil entity. Too bad you don't have some sort of superpower you could have used.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3EEugHZd3GoRFPlQanESuuFClR0MCTZplnT2aqA4CSqgDneHakzNQp02Kw0cxcI85BO2OV4PopVdXRDamRCe81nxCym_9psiZxsSWf0v7TU1cYZNcxslXI3iYjV6Oy4WBptTjxNzjTWNyFt8u2sWfi2xyZOJcPFk78FvyBrUoE1lRr78qttdDXhB08Z-/s1366/flash%200912%2010.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3EEugHZd3GoRFPlQanESuuFClR0MCTZplnT2aqA4CSqgDneHakzNQp02Kw0cxcI85BO2OV4PopVdXRDamRCe81nxCym_9psiZxsSWf0v7TU1cYZNcxslXI3iYjV6Oy4WBptTjxNzjTWNyFt8u2sWfi2xyZOJcPFk78FvyBrUoE1lRr78qttdDXhB08Z-/w400-h199/flash%200912%2010.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• In 2049, Nora goes to the Time Vault to send a message to Barry— who's conveniently still chilling on the Watchtower.</span><br /><br /><span>Oddly enough, she's seeing <i>herself</i> onscreen the entire time she's recording her video. Shouldn't she be seeing Barry? Or if he's not available (as Gideon helpfully informs us), shouldn't she see a Watchtower test pattern or something on the screen?</span><br /><br /><span>We've all spent enough time in Zoom meetings the past three years to know this isn't how video calls work!</span><br /><br /><span>At the end of Nora's call, Gideon pipes up and says, "Message should reach the Watchtower as soon as it emerges from the dark side of the moon in 12 hours, 52 minutes."</span><br /><br /><span>Well there's an interesting notion! An orbiting superhero HQ that suffers a complete communication blackout for half the day! Let's hope there's never an emergency on Earth while the Watchtower's behind the moon, or we'll all be screwed!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrhUHk_ur1jshoimn3anTYOkYwrg3Nb9fyO3aHIeXP-0lYgpiSb_8C6ezst8gnJzXmOYJpqwcA8Qmj0yXnXJSAH20_VcoICyz39TiZ1WclsfwvUkE_RrXVi-RsmebDxw8zKTOWU3uYBtmUzpGSNz1NuUzn4K4Ba9ZMObg0Ve6qEodcu31J-cyCD8sXx_b/s1366/flash%200912%2011.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrhUHk_ur1jshoimn3anTYOkYwrg3Nb9fyO3aHIeXP-0lYgpiSb_8C6ezst8gnJzXmOYJpqwcA8Qmj0yXnXJSAH20_VcoICyz39TiZ1WclsfwvUkE_RrXVi-RsmebDxw8zKTOWU3uYBtmUzpGSNz1NuUzn4K4Ba9ZMObg0Ve6qEodcu31J-cyCD8sXx_b/w400-h199/flash%200912%2011.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• The <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal then somehow appears inside the Time Vault. Nora does what anyone in that situation would do, and picks it up without a second thought and examines it— and is immediately possessed by the Negative Speed Force.</span><br /><br /><span>How'd the crystal get inside the supposedly ultra secure Time Vault? Don't know! Why the hell would she casually pick it up, when she just sent her dad a message telling him the Negative Speed Force is back? Don't know that either.</span><br /><br /><span>It's possible she might not know about the crystal in 2049. This episode bounces back and forth between eras so much it's honestly tough to figure out who knows what and when.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjF38oa-82Q8Qydr13JPPItv_tniS32mVAe0w6t5tkaTY9wuGjT7fcQ7AhJK4v-rrlP632eG2NyLcrjkPd8C_2eKLr4A5v7K6nqUkDBwDlnQDgtE5pEHwkI-WZOW6VfLDWV4SVmx-oDtGajBQlLzir11VcdZC06nODB9gka_CV0F-RtDz2iOjNs3dlsPF/s1366/flash%200912%2012.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjF38oa-82Q8Qydr13JPPItv_tniS32mVAe0w6t5tkaTY9wuGjT7fcQ7AhJK4v-rrlP632eG2NyLcrjkPd8C_2eKLr4A5v7K6nqUkDBwDlnQDgtE5pEHwkI-WZOW6VfLDWV4SVmx-oDtGajBQlLzir11VcdZC06nODB9gka_CV0F-RtDz2iOjNs3dlsPF/w400-h196/flash%200912%2012.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Team Flash determines that 2023 Barry is stuck in 2049. In order to rescue him, Cecile volunteers to astrally project her consciousness into her future self. Sure, why not.</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS02h0K7D_58te-Qq_NeprI5UEpI-K9u8ZdTJrO0bbRMXXtMarWr1E85Csg6MJwLMvQ0R4SRL9pz53oxxDpVmuWHmaucwsbOCJ1Mg1DpIROzBHUhinPwbQDUvw62biUJDoOjAOIjmCj5jAXj44G_Og8V3SL4zGV9ak3dTnlCkjmiR22fc2pnFZb_5iSuO/s1366/flash%200912%2013.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCS02h0K7D_58te-Qq_NeprI5UEpI-K9u8ZdTJrO0bbRMXXtMarWr1E85Csg6MJwLMvQ0R4SRL9pz53oxxDpVmuWHmaucwsbOCJ1Mg1DpIROzBHUhinPwbQDUvw62biUJDoOjAOIjmCj5jAXj44G_Og8V3SL4zGV9ak3dTnlCkjmiR22fc2pnFZb_5iSuO/w400-h196/flash%200912%2013.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>She then lies down on a table in the Med Lab, and the next thing she knows she's in her older 2049 body. Note that her older self is sitting in some sort of hi-tech chair with all kinds of contraptions bolted to it. Wait, <i>what?</i></span><br /><br /><span>I'm confused here. Did... did her future self know this was gonna happen, so she prepared for it by sitting in this chair? Or was this all a big coincidence?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>By the way, Cecile's lucky she's still alive in 2049. Otherwise her mind would have found itself in a decomposed body, in a coffin six feet under!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbV63c_oMw79sTnDEtB6Dm3acwj56BBpewciEK1XdqmziDEvpHS43B6pwmbEYv682oc8tAJfZ-wYkdWeaswejsSNw1UiStkxNCn1IAxLMItObtQLVtSwO_3Cp5llZ8vidqvcWCehMi2we1hlgVTDF1XsArszZ0kChef6JHzoe9pBejS-4bb6RJas053rV/s1366/flash%200912%2014.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbV63c_oMw79sTnDEtB6Dm3acwj56BBpewciEK1XdqmziDEvpHS43B6pwmbEYv682oc8tAJfZ-wYkdWeaswejsSNw1UiStkxNCn1IAxLMItObtQLVtSwO_3Cp5llZ8vidqvcWCehMi2we1hlgVTDF1XsArszZ0kChef6JHzoe9pBejS-4bb6RJas053rV/w400-h196/flash%200912%2014.png" width="430" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• 2023 Cecile, in her 2049 body, catches a glimpse of herself in a mirror, and says, "Damnnnnnn, lookin' good, future me!" <br /><br />Once again, note that 2049 Cecile looks EXACTLY as she does in the present day, despite the fact that she's seventy six years old. I cannot emphasize this enough— she's supposed to be SEVENTY SIX in this scene.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGW8tjrr8WGk9ay0i7TZd6H45WQI4WSY55xwAZM4OPvOzwLt-5M3IcaVUejHjlpYnzUIRzr8_nRj1yRjjZtN-vXaKtU1Ffro__E0qWzKT44WTKoUTsob-UqpwIRQTrUBt2aMa4fod6UwLIVkTvbGoYK1PtBzXA96H853BQ0gkfcs2fLL2O2UFWbvMPBA7/s600/flash%200203%20shattered.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGW8tjrr8WGk9ay0i7TZd6H45WQI4WSY55xwAZM4OPvOzwLt-5M3IcaVUejHjlpYnzUIRzr8_nRj1yRjjZtN-vXaKtU1Ffro__E0qWzKT44WTKoUTsob-UqpwIRQTrUBt2aMa4fod6UwLIVkTvbGoYK1PtBzXA96H853BQ0gkfcs2fLL2O2UFWbvMPBA7/w400-h225/flash%200203%20shattered.gif" width="430" /></a></div>I know I keep harping on it, but expecting us to believe this elderly woman hasn't changed in three decades is one of the most ridiculous things the show's ever done— and that's counting the time Captain Cold used his cold gun to freeze laser beams and then shatter them.<br /><br />• Cecile sees Chester & Allegra puttering around in the Lab, but for some reason doesn't tell them she's currently possessing her future self. I guess she doesn't want to potentially screw up the timeline or something. Anyway, she asks if they've seen Barry, and, thinking she means the 2049 version, they tell her he's in space:<br /><br /><b>Cecile:</b> "Outer space, OK. I'm gonna go ahead, I'ma hop on comms, anyway."<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Why?"<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "No reason. Just, you know, call Joe, Jenna, see what's for dinner."<br /><b>Chester: </b>"Oh, I'm sure Joe would love that, especially because you haven't been up to the country house in a while, right?"<br /><b>Cecile: </b>"Right. Hey, guys. You know what's funny? Weirdly, I can't remember the last time I was there."<br /><b>Allegra:</b> "Well, I don't blame you, considering you're only there what, twice a year?"<br /><b>Chester:</b> "Yeah, about that. I mean, between the Chronarch Wars and helping the Savothian freedom fighters, it's been a crazy year. But I'm sure the fam understands that we need a heavy hitter like you."<br /><b>Cecile: </b>(distraught) "Yeah. I'm sure the fam understands."<br /><br />Jesus wept. So earlier in the season Cecile made the incredibly boneheaded and selfish decision to let her common law husband and their daughter move away, so she could stay in Central City full time and play superhero. <br /><br />There were numerous better ways to handle this situation, but the writers went with the one that made Cecile look like a narcissistic asshole and a terrible mother.<br /><br />And now we see that time apparently hasn't changed the situation one bit. In fact it's only gotten worse, as 2023 Cecile finds out her 2049 counterpart is so busy being a superhero that she only visits Joe and Jenna twice a year.<br /><br />Wow. This officially makes Cecile the worst character on the show, ahead of even Eobard Thawne! Her daughter basically grew up without a mother, as she was raised entirely by Joe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa61KesOfIed3_TcPyunDfPyyugFA-EidPT7a609ngjHd_qKSniWnW3GsnZ5_bi8qxa5W1YoWesKzUu9rpB4gfW6M2rPMJmd0kmfBSjaECFQMthnUuqu0AXaK9Ug1ScT7Q-mD1Hefs7k8ScXSjmluujSyV33Pj4g3yMUCTS6SUt-qsiIZjR_RClvdGEfV/s1019/Savothians.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="987" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa61KesOfIed3_TcPyunDfPyyugFA-EidPT7a609ngjHd_qKSniWnW3GsnZ5_bi8qxa5W1YoWesKzUu9rpB4gfW6M2rPMJmd0kmfBSjaECFQMthnUuqu0AXaK9Ug1ScT7Q-mD1Hefs7k8ScXSjmluujSyV33Pj4g3yMUCTS6SUt-qsiIZjR_RClvdGEfV/w388-h400/Savothians.webp" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the way, Chester's line about Savothian freedom fighters is actually a reference to the comics. In 2007's <i><b>The Flash</b></i> Vol. 2 #231, the Savothians were dog/camel-like aliens who were brilliant scientists, but sucked at battle. Jay Garrick helped them take back their homeworld from invaders— becoming a legend in their society.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• At Mercury Labs, Possessed Nora tries to manipulate Eddie, reminding him that he threw his life away for nothing. She tempts him by saying he could get his life back through the Negative Speed Force:<br /><br /><b>Nora:</b> "The Flash gets his power from the Speed Force, but there's another side to the equation, another power that spent far too long in the shadows, forced into an unnatural balance. It needs someone to stand up to the Flash. And that should be you."<br /><b>Eddie: </b>"I don't understand. Are you talking about hurting your dad?"<br /><b>Nora:</b> "Eddie, are you still this pathetic? Are you a waste of a man, like Eobard said? A loser, a nobody, forgotten by history? Are you still the idiot who died trying to save a man who stole his life?"<br /><b>Eddie:</b> "No! I'm not."<br /><b>Nora: </b>"Then show me. You know how things were supposed to be. You can have that life if you take it. Eddie. Choose!"<br /><b>Eddie:</b> "No, this can't be real. I need some air."<br /><i>(He runs from the building.)</i><br /><br />Yeah, going out for an evening stroll is NOT the proper response when confronted with an evil force that wants to possess you mind and body. I honestly laughed out loud at that line.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHiGqX4C8bKJq4xa_4kPPu05pk1Fj9HlN7-nF9VxkQTm8KmT84BW4yqVmhA03M2VXs_8Slnh9yCpMnRSJXcbACRxO8vFWSL250MWUNzYtVs3wGdj6HIVvjqP7YFdsAlSQ6V__ialXLuqvnHcMszNmVLLFigBX4heFKivSpqgE-qVLy85u7a6Esgulyukf/s1366/flash%200912%2015.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHiGqX4C8bKJq4xa_4kPPu05pk1Fj9HlN7-nF9VxkQTm8KmT84BW4yqVmhA03M2VXs_8Slnh9yCpMnRSJXcbACRxO8vFWSL250MWUNzYtVs3wGdj6HIVvjqP7YFdsAlSQ6V__ialXLuqvnHcMszNmVLLFigBX4heFKivSpqgE-qVLy85u7a6Esgulyukf/w400-h198/flash%200912%2015.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Barry then FINALLY appears in 2049. Possessed Nora takes one look at him and says, "Dad? What are you doing here?"<br /><br />Note that she doesn't say, "Dad, why do you look so young?" That's probably because once again, no one in 2049 has apparently aged in the past quarter century. I have no doubt that the Barry who's hanging out in the Watchtower looks EXACTLY like the 2023 version!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Barry saves Eddie by zooming him away from Possessed Nora and taking him to Joe's old house. Which is now occupied by Eddie. A few things here:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once at the house, Barry seems genuinely surprised to find that Eddie's living there in 2049. Wait, <i>what?</i> If he didn't know Eddie owned the place, then why would he take him there? Was he hoping to see 2049 Joe there and ask him for help? That can't be, as Joe & Jenna moved out back in 2023— something that Barry certainly knew.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So again I gotta ask— why the hell would Barry randomly take Eddie there? Why not take him to the Loft? Or better yet, to STAR Labs, where he could put Eddie in the Secret Super Jail or Time Vault to protect him from Possessed Nora?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clearly they repurposed the West home here because the show's budget is so puny they couldn't afford to build a new set. But narratively it doesn't make any sense whatsoever.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Speaking of Possessed Nora— she's currently a temporary avatar for the Negative SPEED Force, AND she's a powerful SPEEDSTER in her own right. But for some reason she doesn't chase after Barry, and watches helplessly as he whisks Eddie away from her. I guess the Negative Speed Force forgot that it and Nora both have superspeed?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• For a couple weeks now I've been going on about how Eddie becoming Malcolm Gilmore doesn't make a lick of sense. He died in 2015 but was resurrected in 2049 as Malcolm— </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a fully realized personality who </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">was somehow a prominent research scientist, despite the fact that Eddie was a cop and wouldn't know anything about theoretical physics.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I </span><i>think</i><span> maybe the writers <i>finally</i> attempted to explain that in this episode.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>When Barry takes Eddie to Joe's old house, he notices various photos and awards and asks, "Do you live here? </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eddie replies that he does, and wonders how he could be living another person's entire life. Barry says:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Barry:</b> "I've seen reactions like this too, caused by negative tachyons. I think this place, Malcolm's belongings, his life... it's all made of negative tachyons. Like a false reality built for you to live in."<br /><b>Eddie:</b> "Well, who could have done that?"<br /><b>Barry:</b> "There's only one force powerful enough—the one inside that crystal. The Negative Speed Force. I think it brought you back to life."<br /><b>Eddie:</b> "Why would it bring me back?"<br /><b>Barry: </b>"Eddie, I think the Negative Speed Force resurrected you, so you could be its avatar."<br /><br />So the answer to how Eddie could have Malcolm's memories and education is... the Negative Speed Force did it! A supremely lame and unsatisfying explanation, but at least it's something I guess.<br /><br />Does that mean they're not actually in Joe's old house, but in a negative tachyon construct?<br /><br />And what about Mercury Labs? Has Eddie been working in a negative tachyon version of it for years, and not the real thing? How far down does this go? Are we seeing the real STAR Labs of 2049, or a fake version? If it's all a negative construct made for Eddie, that would certainly explain why no one there's aged in the past three decades.<br /><br />I need to go lie down in a dark room. I'm getting one of my sick headaches.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJyUuhzcw-2OyVdRX-WoIzVEA1Z76RGrnuxMVNoRyw3_hYiMaNIT-nGcmQhpM_EHZGfrCOCOoJ86vLgljkwATBq8VDUwK76Voo7XFKBLRraPyeKmFBh3xIJAOHBnOfgSuxJSJ6Kra1M1cWv6Zp5awCpEGS2hZo9DxkCl07iWuOinXV9q4BTHg08m8C8p2/s1366/flash%200912%2016.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJyUuhzcw-2OyVdRX-WoIzVEA1Z76RGrnuxMVNoRyw3_hYiMaNIT-nGcmQhpM_EHZGfrCOCOoJ86vLgljkwATBq8VDUwK76Voo7XFKBLRraPyeKmFBh3xIJAOHBnOfgSuxJSJ6Kra1M1cWv6Zp5awCpEGS2hZo9DxkCl07iWuOinXV9q4BTHg08m8C8p2/w400-h198/flash%200912%2016.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• It's hard to be 100% sure, but it looks like they STILL haven't fixed the broken pylon by 2049! I'd say by this point it's never gonna happen.</span><br /><br /><span>• Back in 2023, Cecile sits in the Lounge, moping over the fact that she's abandoned her family in the future. Chester enters and gives her a <b>Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b>, telling her that she's still a good person and mother and that whatever decision she makes in the future will be the right one. Several things here:</span><br /><br /><span>First of all, Cecile freaks out when she discovers her future self only visits her family twice a year. I find it VERY hard to believe Joe would put up with that arrangement for almost three decades. He'd have given her an ultimatum or left her selfish ass long, <i>lonnnnnnnng</i> ago.</span><br /><br /><span>Second, when Cecile hears about the two visits a year thing, she feels like she failed Jenna as a mother. I guess it didn't occur to her that her daughter is THIRTY ONE YEARS OLD in 2049. She's a grown-ass adult, and well past the age where she needs mothering.</span><br /><br /><span>Lastly, why's Cecile acting like this future she saw is set in stone? If we've learned nothing else from<i><b> The Flash</b></i>, it's that the timeline is extremely subject to change. So she didn't like the future she saw. Change it then! What the hell's the big deal? Start going home more often or quit your superheroing. Problem solved!</span><br /><br /><span>• Chester then tells Cecile: "Your greatest strength isn't some meta ability. Cecile, it's your heart, and your dedication to the people that you love. That's a real <i><b>virtue</b></i>."</span><br /><br /><span>Remember that last word, as it's about to become a very cringeworthy and important plotpoint in just a bit.</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8bbn0cvKkMHNZC_dEhsNyb0_a6AknIJXcI_lR3O1hTwoQ-hopcvsFWGelRpvovNomuCQ6AnbWzP4P0p-qRsIuWUOreljamuBAq7C_54GdztNpVV-yT9-MmavGq1GAJyyWeFbU9bAs1-YPZ_T4PAn6ElTFImnBFBykFIiyOQPby0xePToFhM-IoHE5MEO/s1366/flash%200912%2017.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8bbn0cvKkMHNZC_dEhsNyb0_a6AknIJXcI_lR3O1hTwoQ-hopcvsFWGelRpvovNomuCQ6AnbWzP4P0p-qRsIuWUOreljamuBAq7C_54GdztNpVV-yT9-MmavGq1GAJyyWeFbU9bAs1-YPZ_T4PAn6ElTFImnBFBykFIiyOQPby0xePToFhM-IoHE5MEO/w400-h199/flash%200912%2017.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Check out this establishing shot of Joe/Eddie's house.</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVh8SJyIRUbmc6fHTMtCMIKIZxCyq6cu2-mgBvevj3Cbc67xsTOrFYUGYQIrHQJ_gY7joPyXI5ZG47Tn8f94h404ktv_iIQ6JTmh20Hr7UWDr97jjByIogPbiieI1Q4RsuEXzghInT4-ST3IcWe950a1CD4Alm8hgmzc6G3dCELL4bTJdsKOZ_pHcc8on/s1366/flash%200912%2018.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVh8SJyIRUbmc6fHTMtCMIKIZxCyq6cu2-mgBvevj3Cbc67xsTOrFYUGYQIrHQJ_gY7joPyXI5ZG47Tn8f94h404ktv_iIQ6JTmh20Hr7UWDr97jjByIogPbiieI1Q4RsuEXzghInT4-ST3IcWe950a1CD4Alm8hgmzc6G3dCELL4bTJdsKOZ_pHcc8on/w400-h199/flash%200912%2018.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We can tell this scene's set in the future, because Eddie has a holographic house number projected above his front stoop. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's MUCH more practical than just nailing metal letters to the house like we do now. Future Tech!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf4RnkCrWGl_WdQulvQsgMNSyGXg5hByJFhtppjSZItWJGrI6lBxl_B33ePQoVs5Gq33vMQ3rLLZMKIaqK2burgq5jahZYy2Tp5P-yEHZy1y3j6AKmslNtn4YFMs44oDgkCieuOPZwB04IGfoDnw821ijoor5h49MVEQbFopaAgEp06GHoBzekrFpOAuL/s1366/flash%200912%2019.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggf4RnkCrWGl_WdQulvQsgMNSyGXg5hByJFhtppjSZItWJGrI6lBxl_B33ePQoVs5Gq33vMQ3rLLZMKIaqK2burgq5jahZYy2Tp5P-yEHZy1y3j6AKmslNtn4YFMs44oDgkCieuOPZwB04IGfoDnw821ijoor5h49MVEQbFopaAgEp06GHoBzekrFpOAuL/w400-h198/flash%200912%2019.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• I've been tearing this episode quite the new asshole so far, and with good reason. There is one good thing in it though— the scenes with Barry & Eddie. Grant Gustin effortlessly knocks it out of the park as always, but Rick Cosnett turned in a surprisingly strong performance as well. He plays Eddie</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> as confused, vulnerable, jealous and borderline psychotic— often all at the same time!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span>I especially liked the scene in which Barry tried to explain to Eddie that the Negative Speed Force is evil and just wants to use him as an avatar.</span><br /><br /><span><b>Barry:</b> "It must need you to choose to take on its power."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Eddie:</b> "No. That can't be right. The crystal showed me a better life, one with a daughter I was supposed to have."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Barry:</b> "Eddie, the Negative Speed Force is unlike anything you've ever seen before. It gets inside your head. It feeds off hate and rage, all right? Everything about it is evil."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Eddie: </b>"It brought me back from the dead, OK? Is that evil? And what if I choose not to be the avatar, huh? Do I go back to being dead?"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Barry:</b> "No, no, we'll find a way to save you. You could choose to start a new life."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Negative Speed Force's Voice: "</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He lies."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Eddie:</b> "Oh, really? Because all your team tried to do today was cuff me. But that crystal, it actually wants to help me get my life back. A life I was a fool to give up."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Negative Speed Force's Voice: "There's still time."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Barry: </b>"Come on. You don't believe that."<br /><b>Eddie:</b> "DON'T TELL ME WHAT I BELIEVE! Did you know I can hear it right now? Sometimes I can't tell if it's the crystal's voice or my own voice. And I'm starting to wonder, what's the difference? It's funny. Returning from the dead really has a way of making you realize the mistakes you made in your old life. My mistake was being a nobody."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Barry:</b> "Eddie, you weren't a nobody, all right? Listen to me..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Eddie:</b> "No! You listen. The second I died, everyone forgot about me. And you, Barry, the man I sacrificed my life for, you thanked me by stealing my fiancée."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Barry:</b> "Eddie..."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>Eddie: </b>"But now I have a chance to change that. If I choose the crystal, maybe I could be the hero. I could get the girl and the family I deserve."</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's interesting to watch Eddie slowly unravel here, as he becomes increasingly disturbed and unhinged. Well done!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That said, actors are often hamstrung by the material they're given, and that's definitely the case here. The writers come perilously close to making Eddie sound like a typical whiny-ass incel in this scene. Especially when he started ranting about how he <i>deserved</i> to have Iris and was <i>owed</i> a happy family.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Blaming the world for one's failures is pretty much Incel 101, and undermines the writers' attempts to make Eddie a sympathetic character. Fortunately they don't dwell on his attitude for <i>too</i> long, and move on before the audience begins turning on him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcaJnME2VM9xq8QTX0L1I1Xu2JWzdAUNG4buNcIalHvJluT9Gh82ZfDH1SNWHsXAfgwCQf-nHanZUVv2nfp2pI6faer4noylyzZRc6UgqEnvf7ekzYTMN-AYeURGLVv3TH8RdNOS2cheNhoHNw6I0P_3E_YvlFJxVGn4Xlr-ZzzmDcLZkdrL7VBR8JBm/s1366/flash%200912%2020.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcaJnME2VM9xq8QTX0L1I1Xu2JWzdAUNG4buNcIalHvJluT9Gh82ZfDH1SNWHsXAfgwCQf-nHanZUVv2nfp2pI6faer4noylyzZRc6UgqEnvf7ekzYTMN-AYeURGLVv3TH8RdNOS2cheNhoHNw6I0P_3E_YvlFJxVGn4Xlr-ZzzmDcLZkdrL7VBR8JBm/w400-h198/flash%200912%2020.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Possessed Nora then stands in the middle of a plaza and calls out Barry (who somehow hears her).</span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQA3aPszjLGYnPRV0DakSZcu-s7wKecgDRUF557Z-HnddW1_IKKuJurA2x0iJULu3NMmOSwgaAyGWHwfI7oZedGpspkkzAUlTcSicVPVki7YF8NenKtgPOdJg7CIJTxR4w5tgf1I-wmKl298az3M7IFDSO2aj7XujHI0q5tmOPUswjiuaqbNvbe-utti8/s800/flash%200912%2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQA3aPszjLGYnPRV0DakSZcu-s7wKecgDRUF557Z-HnddW1_IKKuJurA2x0iJULu3NMmOSwgaAyGWHwfI7oZedGpspkkzAUlTcSicVPVki7YF8NenKtgPOdJg7CIJTxR4w5tgf1I-wmKl298az3M7IFDSO2aj7XujHI0q5tmOPUswjiuaqbNvbe-utti8/w400-h266/flash%200912%2021.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah, another scene filmed at good ol' Oceanic Plaza in downtown Vancouver. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The spot's like an old friend by now, as pretty much EVERY <b>Arrowverse</b> show shot numerous scenes there over the years. <b><i>The Flash</i></b> in particular loves the place, as it's popped up countless times each season.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteuCZDTOdDdvnBRqpaYevoK_uiV91MeT5syaRcejez83t6yshUwDMrny6OqZdZtWTVB5zMJbECNZXPCCUAWtCfAyYTThjfLjrrN-0FGJf2FTzp1-3-hCA8QbBv4IG7OcAi0qRMqVGAR1ODzq7_jebEHNyFNDroftDzlugd_hPFMKZC0deGr0yZuRCW6A/s600/flash%200912%20speedster%20fight.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteuCZDTOdDdvnBRqpaYevoK_uiV91MeT5syaRcejez83t6yshUwDMrny6OqZdZtWTVB5zMJbECNZXPCCUAWtCfAyYTThjfLjrrN-0FGJf2FTzp1-3-hCA8QbBv4IG7OcAi0qRMqVGAR1ODzq7_jebEHNyFNDroftDzlugd_hPFMKZC0deGr0yZuRCW6A/w400-h196/flash%200912%20speedster%20fight.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We then get a pretty impressive battle scene between Barry & Possessed Nora. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I could have done without Barry conjuring up a protective Captain America shield out of Speed Force energy, but other than that it's awesome. Well done, guys!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z5lse0Owrf7RirVW4R5L2x3Qp1MFX6hUwvg6v21xa7Aznps07B3IIYYo2_6r3zOMVqu9SLEH__IXSzvT4BGZKlc73pwuge1GAXwkAi7h4PxTbQLafF0Tz9ZszxcpLF4eXMYMAcHafsomXv-SCmtOyNz1CKkkrm2Y-X2_gcSzbnb-6T9E7Kfg1BInGV8f/s1366/flash%200912%2021.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1366" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z5lse0Owrf7RirVW4R5L2x3Qp1MFX6hUwvg6v21xa7Aznps07B3IIYYo2_6r3zOMVqu9SLEH__IXSzvT4BGZKlc73pwuge1GAXwkAi7h4PxTbQLafF0Tz9ZszxcpLF4eXMYMAcHafsomXv-SCmtOyNz1CKkkrm2Y-X2_gcSzbnb-6T9E7Kfg1BInGV8f/w400-h194/flash%200912%2021.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Superhero Landing! Or I guess in this case it's Supervillain Landing. It's hard to see, but that's Possessed Nora at the right in the classic landing pose.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLXjLe_vvVQdpDgr6-TftDrDGy18yBiBOgyi3ABBLBHx-JgPx6gdZ_-cWYHlvQbRWmkRkM3SlQr_aEVsoTG1ixNVRCbJn-FI5I1UASt6-Z4WFOLIEp0Gok9ekxCAaP5gBM3pmfI3pxmSschAfXOOzzkZuCBEkKqyHXkKodq8FYjaYwRZJV1TaQd9yFiJx/s589/flash%200912%20lasso.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="589" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLXjLe_vvVQdpDgr6-TftDrDGy18yBiBOgyi3ABBLBHx-JgPx6gdZ_-cWYHlvQbRWmkRkM3SlQr_aEVsoTG1ixNVRCbJn-FI5I1UASt6-Z4WFOLIEp0Gok9ekxCAaP5gBM3pmfI3pxmSschAfXOOzzkZuCBEkKqyHXkKodq8FYjaYwRZJV1TaQd9yFiJx/w400-h191/flash%200912%20lasso.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Possessed Nora then conjures up a Negative Speed Force whip (!), wraps it around Barry and flings him to the ground far, far below.<br /><br /><i>Sigh</i>... I really regret the day the show decided the Speed Force could be used this way. Speedsters are already ridiculously overpowered, and having this ability makes it even worse. They've pretty much become Green Lanterns at this point, able to create any weapon or construct they can imagine.<br /><br />Also, Barry's dead now, right? He just fell about twenty stories and crashed through the roof of a bus stop, so... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not the way I though the show would end, but whatever. RIP Barry Allen. What's that? He's NOT dead after such an incident? Sure, why not.<br /><br />By the way, why is Possessed Nora's lightning blue here? Isn't Negative Speed Force lightning traditionally red? Now that I think about it, why's the Negative Speed Force crystal blue as well? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's all just so we can get Cobalt <b>Blue</b> on the show, isn't it?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5wSxyoYdqjVvkNsHxSjQbRRiZjHYlWPUhTblllcLCUHhHYhC-BWNjOYLOIpYdx4-BehiN5UaR_NVBO3YUK1Mp2v7t0ZO6LRJUbjgBcT0fbt-Q39NUhxUtzkDkd0kseYzoBKXWtg7dUTTcJKrFWew1Cui83EfuSNWORLbHTCQPrb_TX0UsYM3Zv8J_Cyh/s1366/flash%200912%2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5wSxyoYdqjVvkNsHxSjQbRRiZjHYlWPUhTblllcLCUHhHYhC-BWNjOYLOIpYdx4-BehiN5UaR_NVBO3YUK1Mp2v7t0ZO6LRJUbjgBcT0fbt-Q39NUhxUtzkDkd0kseYzoBKXWtg7dUTTcJKrFWew1Cui83EfuSNWORLbHTCQPrb_TX0UsYM3Zv8J_Cyh/w400-h195/flash%200912%2022.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Eddie then goes to visit Iris, who's stunned to see him alive and mostly well (and who could blame her?). Several things here:<br /><br />First of all, Barry and Iris are apparently still living in the Loft in 2049— a full twenty six years from now. It's not impossible I guess, but most people don't stay in the same apartment for that long. Maybe the housing crisis is really bad in Central City.<br /><br />Second, Iris doesn't hear Eddie come in because she's wearing futuristic AirPods in her ears. Do... do people really do that when they're home alone? On a train or at work, sure, but sitting on your own sofa when no one else is around?<br /><br />Obviously this was a writing cheat, so Eddie could startle Iris when he walked up behind her.<br /><br />Lastly, like everyone other member of Team Flash we see in 2049, Iris looks remarkably unchanged— despite the fact that she's sixty years old. To be fair, she's wearing an obvious wig with a few strands of gray in it. Other than that though she looks exactly as she did nearly three decades ago.<br /><br />I need to just drop this and try to accept it, but it's so bloody stupid I can't.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU6SoRs6tmw3UMi6D_1sPGtDJigu5xmSOYaHRN9Gtvu4ON9fW-1tVHU160sVC9pVyUOzq0apD3SEUtXI9nM7_mR8OV4U0SXOoN8S_8uilUUa_kQ8sIAAlwlEwDtsWG8kxSX3RbAPJXEUBTg4OrS1Hyc1WYu1E7PRsQOM5-cj961Z-Vbf4Iz61LsibCaCo/s1366/flash%200912%2023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzU6SoRs6tmw3UMi6D_1sPGtDJigu5xmSOYaHRN9Gtvu4ON9fW-1tVHU160sVC9pVyUOzq0apD3SEUtXI9nM7_mR8OV4U0SXOoN8S_8uilUUa_kQ8sIAAlwlEwDtsWG8kxSX3RbAPJXEUBTg4OrS1Hyc1WYu1E7PRsQOM5-cj961Z-Vbf4Iz61LsibCaCo/w400-h196/flash%200912%2023.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Nora taunts Barry as he lies in the street trying not to die.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcCS5_QvvMeSj7x0sqp2ROt7BumIW3J8YBxczSw_1Q8lLkFYNRwrzSDXoknujuSd6X07CmKvRkTcwf-3KwlFl6sSiXa5uIG-nh44BsNfsnAkhJnSA2u3NdHIPklaSAASbBtZATNh79RmHXYIIt1G5aHvwSzBKCFfzCnCQ4fA0wk-LZ4z8wFkcKSfPoVj-/s1153/flash%200912%2025.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1153" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcCS5_QvvMeSj7x0sqp2ROt7BumIW3J8YBxczSw_1Q8lLkFYNRwrzSDXoknujuSd6X07CmKvRkTcwf-3KwlFl6sSiXa5uIG-nh44BsNfsnAkhJnSA2u3NdHIPklaSAASbBtZATNh79RmHXYIIt1G5aHvwSzBKCFfzCnCQ4fA0wk-LZ4z8wFkcKSfPoVj-/w400-h200/flash%200912%2025.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once again, they filmed on the street in front of Oceanic Plaza.You can tell because of the two story building at the right of the screen (with the two big air vents facing camera).</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3IU_kiibbugGyqxYPFv6oigCoi95AiRRdvmRtlUXGCxBAx-iTvc3LjemBg12iN8ZPTqTFxZBj2Dz5o8NK5hmv8uFEYLBl_ZA2EmpOFF6BRhJ5qKNQfCj6oz-H5PMZ991A7Zdei7wqTwgyWqYd0ciVTYzU99JU4alSiJWp7D6ktBO1w4JJB8q0VzyFv1p/s1366/flash%200912%2024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3IU_kiibbugGyqxYPFv6oigCoi95AiRRdvmRtlUXGCxBAx-iTvc3LjemBg12iN8ZPTqTFxZBj2Dz5o8NK5hmv8uFEYLBl_ZA2EmpOFF6BRhJ5qKNQfCj6oz-H5PMZ991A7Zdei7wqTwgyWqYd0ciVTYzU99JU4alSiJWp7D6ktBO1w4JJB8q0VzyFv1p/w400-h198/flash%200912%2024.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here's a closeup of Possessed Nora standing in front of the plaza. Note the blurry sign in the background— I can't tell for certain, but I'm pretty sure it reads "Oceanic Plaza."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe4G-SObf5F8YJzCLcMB2acBHynQ8lylrCjiBgD2dXBdiX4MIia9WfUiAi7p2xaK48rU6wuu-BKDNd9zwNbBxQxqO_MRhB_7kCOQel6-uE5kz5e1uWbIB9QlijFG2rPAjKE8TGtNUTZKsL2u_iwayHk2ud4wHMkxoOX4JeNJu8lrj6Ptr6_ZFNw1STBzh/s1081/flash%200912%2026.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1081" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe4G-SObf5F8YJzCLcMB2acBHynQ8lylrCjiBgD2dXBdiX4MIia9WfUiAi7p2xaK48rU6wuu-BKDNd9zwNbBxQxqO_MRhB_7kCOQel6-uE5kz5e1uWbIB9QlijFG2rPAjKE8TGtNUTZKsL2u_iwayHk2ud4wHMkxoOX4JeNJu8lrj6Ptr6_ZFNw1STBzh/w400-h214/flash%200912%2026.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can get a better look at it on Google Maps.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxT2Jv6Ax9fgSHZIrKjh1RNNX8cQlav3UWxZbc4sJYMN6VeqFVAQRjiRZoeobO5TQhWkCqErHl3cRFnRrOLUdaFdkeSEJxUKleuqmmh_Lk8UM-b7PmzM2GRq3jKY6AcKH487kNMxiaBLA7VCFX5fblh6dIsWIiHuWGlwtgF0CprnthTCa15DHnlGB-rsa9/s600/flash%200912%20lasso%202.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxT2Jv6Ax9fgSHZIrKjh1RNNX8cQlav3UWxZbc4sJYMN6VeqFVAQRjiRZoeobO5TQhWkCqErHl3cRFnRrOLUdaFdkeSEJxUKleuqmmh_Lk8UM-b7PmzM2GRq3jKY6AcKH487kNMxiaBLA7VCFX5fblh6dIsWIiHuWGlwtgF0CprnthTCa15DHnlGB-rsa9/w400-h199/flash%200912%20lasso%202.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Possessed Nora uses her stupid Negative Speed Force whip to grab a car and hurl it at Barry. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite the fact I'm not a fan of the Speed Force weapon shenanigans, I gotta admit this actually looks pretty darned good! I'm assuming they skimped on FX in the first two chapters so they could pull out the stops in the last two?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuGV9tzlSSMECMsguBqUzFRPl5mjePR--dQ_tF6-FCzlMYppUDYwF-wW39llllZzi6C6AOqjnmnTgsc_2M4h_d8eS-10V0Ihv72WaiHkjsRCrHultspi0pFBtTJjJaj9aN88YQR8jZez5P020npsljMoTSBibL4t884oVRbx0hGqxJOxnhTlb6yifxIAA/s1366/flash%200912%2028.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuGV9tzlSSMECMsguBqUzFRPl5mjePR--dQ_tF6-FCzlMYppUDYwF-wW39llllZzi6C6AOqjnmnTgsc_2M4h_d8eS-10V0Ihv72WaiHkjsRCrHultspi0pFBtTJjJaj9aN88YQR8jZez5P020npsljMoTSBibL4t884oVRbx0hGqxJOxnhTlb6yifxIAA/w400-h196/flash%200912%2028.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Fortunately for Barry. he's saved from being crushed by the timely arrival of Cecile, who's now in full Jean Grey mode. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note the fancy new costume she's sporting here...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAQqwjM8y3SUgRqRvJWx0o_ijDw-mlJeHYAMa5tApHqfTE5jtg1XI7EskA6UM_mh35YKe54L6efwhQ00kb3TicSJeKXuL4t6KmYT2STSRK8zh-FU8gqNlm4WSeKAbK1TXCF7drn2CPNT_UK5nNO-4b5FQ4UrojFeHOxAmt4do6fjT0SvtuVHIwTTNQnbc/s949/Untitled.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="949" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAQqwjM8y3SUgRqRvJWx0o_ijDw-mlJeHYAMa5tApHqfTE5jtg1XI7EskA6UM_mh35YKe54L6efwhQ00kb3TicSJeKXuL4t6KmYT2STSRK8zh-FU8gqNlm4WSeKAbK1TXCF7drn2CPNT_UK5nNO-4b5FQ4UrojFeHOxAmt4do6fjT0SvtuVHIwTTNQnbc/w400-h266/Untitled.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Which looks much like a dollar store version of the one worn by Dreamer over on <i><b>Supergirl</b></i>.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently this was the new costume Chester was nano-welding for Cecile.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcbF4WfV3gkqYMNfvSKWIlmhhQNt1RPHpeoLXoA9hlNqnbcSk9h2TZV2MMiGEfOokBXhNgEdPs2WgolfHQ-3-Yej5-R1QjFPT3U9iyLFnthMCFnMk5_s4v_CROPWFS2v38i-SwflGXcdFWdI_0KF-YBiBdS8kB3zTlZTqG4fOZMvoyYHzxn5rLk5ERX1a/s600/flash%200912%20short%20speed.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcbF4WfV3gkqYMNfvSKWIlmhhQNt1RPHpeoLXoA9hlNqnbcSk9h2TZV2MMiGEfOokBXhNgEdPs2WgolfHQ-3-Yej5-R1QjFPT3U9iyLFnthMCFnMk5_s4v_CROPWFS2v38i-SwflGXcdFWdI_0KF-YBiBdS8kB3zTlZTqG4fOZMvoyYHzxn5rLk5ERX1a/w400-h200/flash%200912%20short%20speed.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Possessed Nora then gets up close and personal as she confronts Cecile.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I love how she insists on using her superspeed to travel the ten feet between the two of them in this scene. She couldn't have taken two seconds to just walk over to her?</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ja4L-n0G-z-zKfrGpN0Neu3HO4KmhkS8nros991im4LZPKX6X7qHL85GruvKqC1bB7tF2_AwagTHq6jvmJNxv6UPfffMSyJxbX6MRtOtEI7AAA2fYq6rO42BqzEG7tu9_Ez1LmoP1DYdJhnL4V2r2zDfCIxDONirAc18h4PWWGL6OzqaJt4ELWXAma0C/s600/flash%200912%20doc%20strange.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ja4L-n0G-z-zKfrGpN0Neu3HO4KmhkS8nros991im4LZPKX6X7qHL85GruvKqC1bB7tF2_AwagTHq6jvmJNxv6UPfffMSyJxbX6MRtOtEI7AAA2fYq6rO42BqzEG7tu9_Ez1LmoP1DYdJhnL4V2r2zDfCIxDONirAc18h4PWWGL6OzqaJt4ELWXAma0C/w400-h198/flash%200912%20doc%20strange.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Everyone and their dog has already pointed this out, but whatever. The Negative Speed Force taunts Cecile, saying any attack she makes on it will kill Nora. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cecile says she knows, and then uses her psychic powers to knock the Force right out of Nora's body.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0II0EclWPAJs3mjIjRA_JQ7VLn1lStYDUZNYFKBq9NLxrfWWHA7QQ_byk0IN04XXjyzLWRFktdSlBgv5Lnk0reUDk9LQJ7ZQVRR4qJG5SCa-us9ICuek8h7W_b7roTDtdsYOiuPXphtHxGANy204tXA72uyoEj2pRdjVhHPqqbVnIdTg8sphUIANWAR1_/s498/dr-strange-doctor-strange.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="498" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0II0EclWPAJs3mjIjRA_JQ7VLn1lStYDUZNYFKBq9NLxrfWWHA7QQ_byk0IN04XXjyzLWRFktdSlBgv5Lnk0reUDk9LQJ7ZQVRR4qJG5SCa-us9ICuek8h7W_b7roTDtdsYOiuPXphtHxGANy204tXA72uyoEj2pRdjVhHPqqbVnIdTg8sphUIANWAR1_/w400-h160/dr-strange-doctor-strange.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's a pretty cool effect. Unfortunately it's also a blatant swipe of the Ancient One blasting Doctor Strange's soul out of him in his first movie.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtoh78zM7NVF7ebt7BHX7dqJxrGxhXXJ8S6yM1uvkSWJRXRLU2220_HhxqJhFjZipn27gw58I0jUl9VlzJEheZvtbVau8W6jx9pMVq4nHT8tsZeCPPeJsxhWcpr8TfZQaL61rNlKSUqPQwaIb6gJWaAGqHWM1_Xip1Yb48qCMUU6IjGe1wdxSf0jNUPpB/s520/doc_gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="520" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxtoh78zM7NVF7ebt7BHX7dqJxrGxhXXJ8S6yM1uvkSWJRXRLU2220_HhxqJhFjZipn27gw58I0jUl9VlzJEheZvtbVau8W6jx9pMVq4nHT8tsZeCPPeJsxhWcpr8TfZQaL61rNlKSUqPQwaIb6gJWaAGqHWM1_Xip1Yb48qCMUU6IjGe1wdxSf0jNUPpB/w400-h165/doc_gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Heck, Doc Strange later did the exact same thing to Peter Parker in <i><b>Spider-Man: No Way Home!</b></i></span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div>C'mon, guys! If you're gonna shamelessly plagiarize Marvel, then steal something obscure— not something iconic like this!</div></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br />• We then come to the absolute STUPIDEST part of the episode— even more so than the characters' non-aging problem. Cecile walks over to the dazed Barry and poses in front of him. He groggily looks up and says, "Cecile?" She replies, "Actually, call me <i>Virtue</i>."<br /><br />Jesus Jetskiing Christ On A Soda Cracker! Of all the words in the English language she could have chosen as a name, she picks <i>that?</i> What the hell? What does "virtue" have to do with psychic powers?<br /><br />Plus it hardly fits her. The dictionary defines virtue as "behavior demonstrating high moral standards." Yeah, Cecile's so moral that she abandoned her boyfriend and child just so she could selfishly play superhero.<br /><br />And lastly, remember that the Cecile we're seeing here is in 2049. Are you telling me that it took her TWENTY SIX YEARS to finally settle on a goddamned superhero codename? And then when she did, she picked VIRTUE?<br /><br />Is this episode over yet?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSAHKcjpA7b8hV5dIAflYHmMXlxPj0UGsDw95w7-ikf7AX2Nb1f-3aWNXSzlhmAZQXt8qzfvz5ltt5SkkvjaYR7zEOTaIDsNpttcidZFTGEGUPZAmovPXuLm8yfb7vm4uoGlwxDpFH_2OAJglt42rc56xtSbMQK0kOlxOtF4Z_0HPpvqQaHcFJ5YH5Nvm/s2160/Movement_Vol_1_5_Textless.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2160" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSAHKcjpA7b8hV5dIAflYHmMXlxPj0UGsDw95w7-ikf7AX2Nb1f-3aWNXSzlhmAZQXt8qzfvz5ltt5SkkvjaYR7zEOTaIDsNpttcidZFTGEGUPZAmovPXuLm8yfb7vm4uoGlwxDpFH_2OAJglt42rc56xtSbMQK0kOlxOtF4Z_0HPpvqQaHcFJ5YH5Nvm/w400-h324/Movement_Vol_1_5_Textless.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Apparently there's a little-known character called Virtue in the comics. In 2013's <b><i>The Movement</i></b> #1, Holly Ann Fields was a metahuman with various psychic and telekinetic powers, who formed a new team to fight crime alongside the Justice League. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Sounds a lot like our girl Cecile. The live action costume even looks fairly similar to the comic one. Why they chose to turn her into an obscure non-<i><b>Flash</b></i> character though, I have no idea. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>And just a helpful note to comic creators— don't call your new book or your team "The Movement." Just sayin.'</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div>• Back at the Loft, Eddie tries to get Iris to marry him— despite the fact that she's already wed to Barry. I guess he forgot that way back in Season 1, Thawne showed him proof that Iris would end up marrying Barry. I suppose I can overlook that, seeing as the guy died and was resurrected with someone else's identity.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Anyway, q</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">uite rightly, Iris tells him to get lost. He won't take no for an answer though, saying they can finally be together like they were meant to be.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br />OK, this is probably mean, but... why would Eddie want Iris <i>now?</i> He's in this thirties, and she's sixty. At this point there's no way in hell she could possibly give him the family he wants (specifically the blonde haired version of Nora he's obsessed with). </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I get that he's unhinged here and not thinking clearly, but... there's no way this could ever work.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br />• At STAR Labs, Barry meets with Team Flash and fills them in on what's going on:<br /><br /><b>Barry:</b> "Look, the crystal that possessed Nora, it attacked me in the past. And then it went after the team in 2023."<br /><b>Allegra: </b>"Wait, why don't we remember these attacks?"<br /><b>Barry:</b> "Because they're happening simultaneously across the timeline. First in the past. Then in your present. And now here, in 2049."<br /><br />Yeah, that doesn't make a lick of sense and it's not how time works, but let's just go with it and move on or we'll be here all day.<br /><br />• After Cecile chases off the Negative Speed Force, the skies above Central City turn red (AGAIN). Barry thinks it's Eddie's out of control emotions causing the disturbance. Chester disagrees:<br /><br /><b>Chester: </b>"OK, all this red energy that's appearing in the sky, it's not lightning. It's the timeline starting to fracture. And it'll spread in every direction... until there's nothing left of the timeline at all."<br /><br />Just like Speed Force Nora said at the beginning of the episode! I still don't get why the destruction of the Speed Force will destroy time itself, but again, whatever.<br /><br />• Chester utters another of his Black History Month epithets, saying, "Sweet NK Jemisin."<br /><br />As usual, I had no idea who that was and had to look 'em up. Apparently Jemisin is a modern fantasy writer. What that has to do with red skies tearing apart the <b>Arrowverse</b>, I have no idea. <br /><br />• Iris enters, sees 2023 Barry and tells him they need to talk about Eddie.<br /><br />First though, Barry looks at the now sixty year old Iris and says, "You're as beautiful as the day we got married." That's for sure! In fact, one might even say she looks <i>exactly</i> as she did in 2023, as if no one bothered to age her up at all!<br /><br />Iris then says to Barry, "I haven't seen you like this in so long." Well if Future Barry is anything like the rest of the team in 2049, he probably looks just like he always has.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7lg6E1Lzav37hCEpYwCkknqvaHJDp3x0vqMdtMt9aoVuSVbC5DnXr-nxaKk3R46UphlJAureFylWBYJFWR8uK5NmiOf3rxspueQWVD8AGFIT0hKOB0IxTFlc5a5w7OqxqsEToDOSeGKDjp0vZioaVOKazC0nUIDUBPWjwrtL_sb-1DQbgWY-p84HT5p7/s600/flash%200912%20crystal.gif.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7lg6E1Lzav37hCEpYwCkknqvaHJDp3x0vqMdtMt9aoVuSVbC5DnXr-nxaKk3R46UphlJAureFylWBYJFWR8uK5NmiOf3rxspueQWVD8AGFIT0hKOB0IxTFlc5a5w7OqxqsEToDOSeGKDjp0vZioaVOKazC0nUIDUBPWjwrtL_sb-1DQbgWY-p84HT5p7/w400-h199/flash%200912%20crystal.gif.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• At Mercury Labs, the now certifiably insane Eddie screams to the heavens, demanding to know what the Negative Speed Force wants of him. Just then the <strike>Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom</strike>, er, I mean the Negative Speed Force crystal appears, and shows him a vision of Zoom, Godspeed, Savitar and Reverse-Flash. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Apparently the Negative Speed Force wants him to form a team consisting of all the show's evil speedsters, in order to defeat Barry (I guess?) One would think the unraveling of the timeline would take care of him and pretty much everyone else, but what do I know.<br /><br />Anyway, the majority of the crystal's candidates don't make any sense, as they had no connection whatsoever to the Negative Speed Force. Zoom got his power from taking the Velocity 9 drug. Same with Godspeed— he used Velocity 9 along with tachyon infusions to become a speedster, and later tried to steal Barry's powers for himself. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Savitar WAS Barry (or rather a time remnant of him), and had absolutely nothing to do with the Negative Speed Force. In fact I don't think the writers had even come up with the negative forces hooey back when Savitar first appeared.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Of the four of them, the Reverse-Flash is the only one who derived his powers from the Negative Speed Force. Which makes the inclusion of the others in the crystal completely nonsensical.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Again I gotta ask, have the writers ever actually watched the show before?<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• So let me see if I have this setup straight, just for my own edification. Eddie's pissed off because he killed himself to erase Eobard Thawne from existence. It didn't work, so now Eddie's forming a team of evil speedsters to destroy Barry and get the life he feels he deserves. Among those evil speedsters is... Eobard Thawne. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>So he's willingly working with the enemy he tried and failed to kill. Got it.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWrKy-QVBmKQ4yQE_WOt85JrjotS9HDJPgQIvhu2xf6qE3GOLq1ra-BwOLCJHg1G8dNPuar_IXt5ImmyiggCCXunqOH17iWO0X3xp2Xe1byhmwk4bWnlyM7dzQ1fSS2ujUPiMq2BHaALwY_bW65m7zp9F72jz2xLe88F9W321WAOHcYtIGWYGo_VBxSbU/s1366/flash%200912%2029.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1366" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWrKy-QVBmKQ4yQE_WOt85JrjotS9HDJPgQIvhu2xf6qE3GOLq1ra-BwOLCJHg1G8dNPuar_IXt5ImmyiggCCXunqOH17iWO0X3xp2Xe1byhmwk4bWnlyM7dzQ1fSS2ujUPiMq2BHaALwY_bW65m7zp9F72jz2xLe88F9W321WAOHcYtIGWYGo_VBxSbU/w400-h194/flash%200912%2029.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EsmMy5BRaatnpOW2pE7v43ny2c4EeAgMTzeL-BJtsRwNX55VKYTDpibjeqZ8Lm_S89EVJs-CrU-Y9SuAXnhABbhJ6JTIAY6k1u4Fuxhkx7PNgurbBmVvMq5Pdcd-uUYzxDCCeL1g5OQ7nSQo0v0V_Tk5ireP2S8rEGi-hN3lDerWuRgCu5EWy8bhcdUc/s1366/flash%200912%2030.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EsmMy5BRaatnpOW2pE7v43ny2c4EeAgMTzeL-BJtsRwNX55VKYTDpibjeqZ8Lm_S89EVJs-CrU-Y9SuAXnhABbhJ6JTIAY6k1u4Fuxhkx7PNgurbBmVvMq5Pdcd-uUYzxDCCeL1g5OQ7nSQo0v0V_Tk5ireP2S8rEGi-hN3lDerWuRgCu5EWy8bhcdUc/w400-h196/flash%200912%2030.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We then get the usual "Speed Force Lightning Bumper" to close out the episode. Although if you look closely, you'll see the logo's being taken over by blue Negative Speed Force energy. OK, that's actually kind of cool!</span></div></div></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-63309050546536439822023-08-16T09:09:00.002-05:002023-08-18T10:24:07.273-05:00The Eleventh One's Free!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfWb-5_2G_xOKZ8sqSvzgm73COEsUa244fLxTtyoSbd9uq0aFJoGPGl56d1BJVXjzRAItRZn_AMUMyxxqa9Tye_40PUmfXglt8K_NwXkJcasiPO3WiyjEcdnf0WKvVkq6R_9gRH7dlWmEwqacQKzhi30x7O3wqexplrFToEJ3l9DX-kyrbKKEBV5qd4th/s2349/punch%20card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2349" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfWb-5_2G_xOKZ8sqSvzgm73COEsUa244fLxTtyoSbd9uq0aFJoGPGl56d1BJVXjzRAItRZn_AMUMyxxqa9Tye_40PUmfXglt8K_NwXkJcasiPO3WiyjEcdnf0WKvVkq6R_9gRH7dlWmEwqacQKzhi30x7O3wqexplrFToEJ3l9DX-kyrbKKEBV5qd4th/w400-h263/punch%20card.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've been trying to steer clear of mentioning our former embarrassment-in-chief here on my blog, but I couldn't help myself this time.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm actually torn on this matter. On the one hand, it's nice to finally see the orange asshole being held accountable for a few of his many, many crimes. On the other, it's a disgraceful situation for our country, and his shame diminishes us all in the eyes of the world.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I've said many times now, to anyone out there who told me I overreacted when trump was elected, I offer you a hearty "Fuck You."</span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-82350221812334831062023-08-08T13:58:00.000-05:002023-08-08T13:58:10.098-05:00Mystery Spot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDijk9QqBbqbeQwjGQWnJye8uqLJGyapVxA1PP-upn7lqDPAoFZxIfgqo3UsQ1u3ONyEF-_1pCxtfLivEnYu58raF4b-zR57yfTPDCcLgRdAHHLc4U6ongvoYTF3JI1AJG7QoVnF-Z08rO_aQmBynUSkzTECK7rVoQU_ldj052qMd5uuKq3f7oTtly5Fz/s586/g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="586" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDijk9QqBbqbeQwjGQWnJye8uqLJGyapVxA1PP-upn7lqDPAoFZxIfgqo3UsQ1u3ONyEF-_1pCxtfLivEnYu58raF4b-zR57yfTPDCcLgRdAHHLc4U6ongvoYTF3JI1AJG7QoVnF-Z08rO_aQmBynUSkzTECK7rVoQU_ldj052qMd5uuKq3f7oTtly5Fz/w400-h215/g.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As proof that the universe is even stranger than we could ever possibly imagine, last week the new James Webb Space Telescope was scanning the heavens and discovered a previously unseen galaxy— that's shaped exactly like a question mark!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgPmqwaKoqPWc3r2bXOFj7BOnYdw8LEusQB4cZvZ68DGUPtg6gfUMoUT2Ve6QrQsS1i98Qj_tg-xOtFYBcvLNkWKg_oMqX6BkkTjxKMKaeaFjV3w74nWrCR6FYRrhta4Qgoyy_Yt9I6_mGMgs7kuJNMRjD0x69wFpErsAOimmJFX8nMSv5jJ59P2yKcFH/s600/g2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgPmqwaKoqPWc3r2bXOFj7BOnYdw8LEusQB4cZvZ68DGUPtg6gfUMoUT2Ve6QrQsS1i98Qj_tg-xOtFYBcvLNkWKg_oMqX6BkkTjxKMKaeaFjV3w74nWrCR6FYRrhta4Qgoyy_Yt9I6_mGMgs7kuJNMRjD0x69wFpErsAOimmJFX8nMSv5jJ59P2yKcFH/w400-h276/g2.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was skeptical of image when I first saw it, but it's apparently legit. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I guess the powerful telescope peered into an unfinished area of the sky— one we weren't supposed to see yet!</span><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-4188094888611572672023-08-08T13:53:00.004-05:002023-08-09T07:58:11.671-05:00RIP Star Trek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welp, it's official. <b><i>Star Trek</i></b> is dead.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2023/08/so-its-come-to-this-star-trek-musical.html" target="_blank">Last week</a> I posted that the latest <b><i>Trek</i></b> series, <b><i>Strange New Worlds</i></b>, was pumping out a musical episode, of all things. One in which the crew is hit with a space anomaly that forces them to communicate through song and dance. No, really!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP3AmSMCToAY1cPuZRMHaN7Z9UyeIE5vQ67M2naLcdZlEZkeYUMCwKL1yfTjrt4pqzB9qAsKtIcYIiNkVrVZ4HTI8Irag-Pe9LeMT3C87VjPAGQIEYcY2s3kBGM7MTu_KurLS4f2b79UUHzuWVbyBq5w-yCe3CWzTttQipHn96t5rbcqNJO9hXNp0-ZVR/s600/klingons.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="600" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP3AmSMCToAY1cPuZRMHaN7Z9UyeIE5vQ67M2naLcdZlEZkeYUMCwKL1yfTjrt4pqzB9qAsKtIcYIiNkVrVZ4HTI8Irag-Pe9LeMT3C87VjPAGQIEYcY2s3kBGM7MTu_KurLS4f2b79UUHzuWVbyBq5w-yCe3CWzTttQipHn96t5rbcqNJO9hXNp0-ZVR/w400-h169/klingons.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div>Astonishingly, the episode featured a scene with what can only be described as a Klingon boy band, complete with synchronized dance moves and auto-tuned lyrics. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>Jesus wept.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, I know <b><i>Star Trek</i></b> did its share of "lighthearted" episodes in the past (such as <i><b>The Trouble With Tribbles</b></i> and <i><b>I, Mudd</b></i>). This musical episode crosses a line though.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah well. It was fun while it lasted. There're hundreds of hours of previous <i><b>Trek</b></i> I can still watch.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">RIP <b><i>Star Trek</i></b>: 1966 - 2023.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div>So now I can toss <b><i>Star Trek</i></b> onto the ever-growing scrap heap of properties I used to love that have been ruined, along with <i><b>Star Wars</b></i>, <i><b>Indiana Jones</b></i>, <i><b>Jurassic Park</b></i>, <b><i>The Walking Dead</i></b>, <b style="font-style: italic;">Doctor </b><b><i>Who</i></b>, <b><i>The Terminator</i></b> and the <i><b>MCU</b></i>.</div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>As usual, Mike & Rich said it best:</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5wfNwZiVy8J8Fb_weB1Ud77w4kX5UhEMxdDpoas_iHVpEDiQi5tpevDlpQjs5q3o2MtgICVEEpEfvx4z2q8oQxn8t8NImpRAT_F8jtICA_b7AL6VuqrPPUYJfAgnk0M5ncpw7Y7OuwJjTHsvVl9m-tSvRRas3cSDl2Oa3x4hbTMLSWHPR6iD2M7ClafM/s777/mike%20&%20rich.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="672" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5wfNwZiVy8J8Fb_weB1Ud77w4kX5UhEMxdDpoas_iHVpEDiQi5tpevDlpQjs5q3o2MtgICVEEpEfvx4z2q8oQxn8t8NImpRAT_F8jtICA_b7AL6VuqrPPUYJfAgnk0M5ncpw7Y7OuwJjTHsvVl9m-tSvRRas3cSDl2Oa3x4hbTMLSWHPR6iD2M7ClafM/w554-h640/mike%20&%20rich.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-22825535470285376762023-08-08T13:37:00.002-05:002023-08-08T13:37:34.846-05:00Pinched!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAweZV72O1pXxWQJZbC9DmwiiHtW46hZANFzkxsV6S7TknzZCe288eYpPs5_xWvlUhlGiNb_sh394IAWYUDSk-UMJzosgxmuL-yxyHJWTGy_ZXj_oLTrwlEai9Ut4mMFKQRB_jfIjM86URhNGTeKu64lCyrLoAkY3LaC0AL-08YyTEnMAD9OqGMVRaSbet/s318/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAweZV72O1pXxWQJZbC9DmwiiHtW46hZANFzkxsV6S7TknzZCe288eYpPs5_xWvlUhlGiNb_sh394IAWYUDSk-UMJzosgxmuL-yxyHJWTGy_ZXj_oLTrwlEai9Ut4mMFKQRB_jfIjM86URhNGTeKu64lCyrLoAkY3LaC0AL-08YyTEnMAD9OqGMVRaSbet/w400-h200/images.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Went to Hobby Lobby yesterday, and saw a lady employee there wearing a pair of pince-nez glasses. You know, the kind with no stems that just clamp onto your nose, as seen above. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I actually did a double take when I saw them, because hers were a little smaller than the ones in the pic, and were also white. I thought it was a bandaid on her nose at first.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is officially the first time I've ever seen a pair of these things in person (or outside a cartoon). </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No idea why she decided to affect this particular style. Maybe <br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just the thing for when you only want 1% of your world to be in focus!</span><br /><p></p></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-52884842059883747752023-08-08T13:37:00.001-05:002023-08-08T13:37:28.565-05:00Separated At Birth? (White Locks Edition)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVrCn_YF3_fGWitTR_l6dTSxIJ0eydDdmDMGjKAqO3PB2OIcZXdl8Wppf_AoeyzlAJ7aq6sU5FYttFY_nAYQ0mJ2Lh3rZfJe6lzR2N2QG9tQWQIheF3drKAHq6pWDnudHgPA1i_sOvcQvh-2-09ZHBmB2fRhGcdtMyJaq-j2mzlBuhSQQKuRp620UARre/s1142/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1142" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVrCn_YF3_fGWitTR_l6dTSxIJ0eydDdmDMGjKAqO3PB2OIcZXdl8Wppf_AoeyzlAJ7aq6sU5FYttFY_nAYQ0mJ2Lh3rZfJe6lzR2N2QG9tQWQIheF3drKAHq6pWDnudHgPA1i_sOvcQvh-2-09ZHBmB2fRhGcdtMyJaq-j2mzlBuhSQQKuRp620UARre/w400-h206/1.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Who wore it best? Carol or Geralt?</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTK8KyqnoHv7ufjWqAZuekSplCjQ-EGCil3LJKTMBGLnSvfZ4pTS2OgIN3LlkPgwQmcs4_PVazq08GKCIwMwlH1Kv2Pw47ZvGlObMJrJQz0PmSd84xe-AxYxoLJmNpWwrKf8WN8N6GZ4OcyoiCTR1B5oX8qZTbkR6r53LWCFLDGsxrvZlMnjeovAbdUM3/s1361/11.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1361" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTK8KyqnoHv7ufjWqAZuekSplCjQ-EGCil3LJKTMBGLnSvfZ4pTS2OgIN3LlkPgwQmcs4_PVazq08GKCIwMwlH1Kv2Pw47ZvGlObMJrJQz0PmSd84xe-AxYxoLJmNpWwrKf8WN8N6GZ4OcyoiCTR1B5oX8qZTbkR6r53LWCFLDGsxrvZlMnjeovAbdUM3/w400-h171/11.gif" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seems like it's becoming a trend in sci-fi/fantasy properties.<br /> </span><p></p></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-1032032011989495252023-08-01T10:04:00.002-05:002023-08-01T10:04:30.931-05:00So It's Come To This: A Star Trek Musical Episode<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcBMdqsY6k-89LBk_U5EYHCsOKXzP28MOqYJWw1vBJG1kqg2e_akJ7PpBEH1M9YpaL_0wlr-4FY20-b0ZZJ8gSIyuVwwhtIutI2OeSfr3GZXTbqx9isDoD7P2rC8ji_s4f9a1dMpZEuSxBshyXWcJYQb6MNy7a0T8YqDMYBb2YKecsnDBOjm0We9vUiWc/s2401/Untitled-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="2401" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcBMdqsY6k-89LBk_U5EYHCsOKXzP28MOqYJWw1vBJG1kqg2e_akJ7PpBEH1M9YpaL_0wlr-4FY20-b0ZZJ8gSIyuVwwhtIutI2OeSfr3GZXTbqx9isDoD7P2rC8ji_s4f9a1dMpZEuSxBshyXWcJYQb6MNy7a0T8YqDMYBb2YKecsnDBOjm0We9vUiWc/w400-h225/Untitled-1.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So it's come to this— <b><i>Star Trek's</i></b> doing a musical episode.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kgWGjl1Uk8IUulFK-owx5Ns9SzMHUtTuSFPmV4qsIq1wwwImSCMgfta6DwZ1VSC8Z0_kvsyguH3VzBM5oTKBPONrPykRCHkjkDX-lEErAFrD73Qae9nqiQdv0b3jxr0Ss9z8ILgCAlKMCFQdZD7FPY_eq6weuYTaMVwkMFXk9eR8q459UUcJhZI0Nu0V/s720/Screenshot%202023-07-28%20at%2012.12.26%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="720" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kgWGjl1Uk8IUulFK-owx5Ns9SzMHUtTuSFPmV4qsIq1wwwImSCMgfta6DwZ1VSC8Z0_kvsyguH3VzBM5oTKBPONrPykRCHkjkDX-lEErAFrD73Qae9nqiQdv0b3jxr0Ss9z8ILgCAlKMCFQdZD7FPY_eq6weuYTaMVwkMFXk9eR8q459UUcJhZI0Nu0V/w400-h164/Screenshot%202023-07-28%20at%2012.12.26%20PM.png" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the upcoming August 3rd episode of <b><i>Strange New Worlds</i></b>, the <i>Enterprise</i> crew encounters a space anomaly that alters their brains, forcing them to communicate exclusively through song and dance.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><i>Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />It's a fact of life whenever a TV show goes on for long enough, it'll eventually pump out a musical episode. It happened with <i><b>Xena: Warrior Princess</b></i>, <i><b>Ally McBeal</b></i>, <i><b>Moonlighting</b></i>, <b><i>Buffy The Vampire Slayer</i></b> (!), <i><b>Scrubs</b></i>, <b><i>Psych</i></b> (!!), <i><b>7th Heaven</b></i>, <i style="font-weight: bold;">Grey's Anatomy </i>(?), <b><i>OZ</i></b> (!!!), <b><i>That 70s Show</i></b>, <b><i>Fringe</i></b> (??), <i><b>Supernatural</b></i>, <i><b>Supergirl</b></i> and <i><b>The Flash</b></i> (among many others). It's inevitable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8t0A_Nti5p8yTCsgrFFf3UOBE8MpekT6Cl15ign1uUJZKPD5gQD3cAWZQogGprpDjoDDwBHNkDkG3XC2nGvzehzMXAQtMpxQlay7ic_mpeMEys5uI39jzgOP0c5Qk9Dfq6ovCobM9D9_0vXFnAuJnRtA8VfCHDpUJhAKtB8an9Uqwq8yMzgJ9c_tTHWA/s720/Screenshot%202023-07-28%20at%2012.11.53%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="720" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8t0A_Nti5p8yTCsgrFFf3UOBE8MpekT6Cl15ign1uUJZKPD5gQD3cAWZQogGprpDjoDDwBHNkDkG3XC2nGvzehzMXAQtMpxQlay7ic_mpeMEys5uI39jzgOP0c5Qk9Dfq6ovCobM9D9_0vXFnAuJnRtA8VfCHDpUJhAKtB8an9Uqwq8yMzgJ9c_tTHWA/w400-h164/Screenshot%202023-07-28%20at%2012.11.53%20PM.png" width="430" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Look, I get it— lots of TV stars got their start in musical theater, and are quite talented in that arena. But just because the casts of these shows CAN sing and dance doesn't mean they SHOULD. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A musical episode just feels too jarring and out of place in the <b><i>Star Trek </i></b>Universe, in my opinion. Can you imagine Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley singing and gadding about on the bridge?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4hHwiz0TPHlOc7tp5lIOA5B5Jxk7c37zJn8WbnUmsDf7A6CdJ792aMDEiOsBWW0CSqeXEmSNQZL_Su6xAtl17B4b3M9WKafHx1S9KUL54C9H6oDb5VzLviUuz_h4cXuQzzYJUQIygKAbdGILNwStE6iJziBCz0qVpyGMeZbod4BsI8mnVXqJeE4vwqm7/s911/s-l1600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="693" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4hHwiz0TPHlOc7tp5lIOA5B5Jxk7c37zJn8WbnUmsDf7A6CdJ792aMDEiOsBWW0CSqeXEmSNQZL_Su6xAtl17B4b3M9WKafHx1S9KUL54C9H6oDb5VzLviUuz_h4cXuQzzYJUQIygKAbdGILNwStE6iJziBCz0qVpyGMeZbod4BsI8mnVXqJeE4vwqm7/w486-h640/s-l1600.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Actually I guess I can!*</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OK, that cover just reinforces my point here. If <i><b>Star Trek's</b></i> cribbing from <b><i>MAD Magazine</i></b> now, how are we supposed to take the show seriously after this?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V4w9B60WaFvMHyaifz9h1oQKMOszBO0Gj3d77b6Qyf6Es9p8WuNU2lmzsdiLq498KaPAPW-VuaQdokkQ4_HhQQSAtnvI4HuonIjocmrCH45-vvqPIS7FtlPT73Awj_kvFXNe3ZqugPeLa45MMlwLjsz5Jv7vLq596kRsuinBjOK-ELWm2HZuRAwYBPPl/s1127/thumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="860" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V4w9B60WaFvMHyaifz9h1oQKMOszBO0Gj3d77b6Qyf6Es9p8WuNU2lmzsdiLq498KaPAPW-VuaQdokkQ4_HhQQSAtnvI4HuonIjocmrCH45-vvqPIS7FtlPT73Awj_kvFXNe3ZqugPeLa45MMlwLjsz5Jv7vLq596kRsuinBjOK-ELWm2HZuRAwYBPPl/w488-h640/thumbnail.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah, but the musical thing is only the tip of the iceberg! A couple weeks ago <i><b>Strange New Worlds</b></i> did a crossover episode with another Trek show show— <i><b>Lower Decks</b></i>. Which, as you're no doubt aware, is an animated series!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />In the episode, an accident throws Ensigns Mariner and Boimler back in time to Captain Pike's <i>Enterprise</i>— where the animated pair appear in live action for the first time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yeah, it was a fun outing, packed full of references and in-jokes for long-time Trekkies, yadda yadda. Thing is though, these kinds of gimmick episodes usually appear toward the END of a series. You know, after the writers have exhausted the premise and are desperately trying to come up with new ideas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>Strange New World</i></b> isn't even through its second season yet! And they're already pulling out the Musical Episode? Oy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've watched a couple episodes of <i><b>Strange New Worlds</b></i> before deciding it just wasn't for me. I can't wait to not watch this outing as well.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">*Thanks to my pal <a href="https://www.tedparsnips.com/">Ted Parsnips</a> for reminding me that MAD cover was a thing!</span></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-3228582088451983842023-07-23T20:01:00.004-05:002023-07-27T20:52:53.589-05:00The Flash Season 9, Episode 10: A New World, Part Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA7KQdz7Tmrvg0u4JR_bLZRUs-2yE1XUYs8l7GtjoUb6tGg788K-HOlhYbz-TMYVGq30GnC_LbmnXkVvUNPvP-lCHJ5P6aqFFbmSu6zPeJ9_joWMioCA2NBX1aITHZENDAzQu9XvELWmzfgblwTkH7nTdT88SSLGKqPeKmRbgr8ciI68WXICKlmsl3KD8/s1366/flash%200911%2000.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoA7KQdz7Tmrvg0u4JR_bLZRUs-2yE1XUYs8l7GtjoUb6tGg788K-HOlhYbz-TMYVGq30GnC_LbmnXkVvUNPvP-lCHJ5P6aqFFbmSu6zPeJ9_joWMioCA2NBX1aITHZENDAzQu9XvELWmzfgblwTkH7nTdT88SSLGKqPeKmRbgr8ciI68WXICKlmsl3KD8/w400-h199/flash%200911%2000.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This week on <b><i>The Flash</i></b> we get Part Two of the big <i><b>A New World</b></i> storyline— the final one of the series. Only two more episodes to go before it's all over!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I said last week, this has been an <i>extremely</i> poor final season so far, as it's suffered from truly terrible writing and puzzling creative choices. Particularly baffling was the decision to sideline Barry for most of the season, focusing instead on the various supporting characters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last week's episode was surprisingly not awful though— mainly due to the fact that it heavily featured the title character for a change! This gave me hope that this final story arc might actually usher out the series on a high note.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Haw haw! Sometimes I say silly things.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="font-style: italic;">A New World Part Two</b> is a return to current form, as once again Barry's absent for most of the episode, showing up for a whole two or three minutes late in the third act. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instead it focuses primarily on Eddie Thawne— a character who was killed off EIGHT YEARS AGO and hasn't been seen outside of a couple flashbacks. Why dredge up and lean so heavily on someone whose story ended nearly a decade ago? Don't know!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Methinks showrunner Eric Wallace seriously overestimated the audience's interest in and affection for Eddie, and decided to make him the spotlight of this final arc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trouble is, Eddie's story only contains about ten minutes of actual story, meaning the rest of the episode is pure filler. Which is what you always want in the final season of a show.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elsewhere, this episode also features the return of Chillblaine— something I guarantee no one was clamoring for. Oh, and Iris FINALLY goes into labor so she can give birth to Nora— something that should have happened at least a season ago, if not earlier.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ah well, it's too late to change anything now, so let's get this over with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS!</span></b><br /><br /><b>The Plot:</b><br />In 2049, Dr. Malcolm Gilmore wanders into CCPD looking for help. He draws stares from the incredulous officers, as he looks exactly like Eddie Thawne did at the time of his death in 2015. Just then he's greeted by CAPTAIN (not Officer) Daisy Korber, who tells Eddie they need to talk.<br /><br />Cut to 2023 (or maybe it's 2024), as Team Flash discusses Barry's disappearance in the previous episode. Iris is convinced that whatever happened to him wasn't an accident. Chester says he's picking up traces of cobalt radiation, which may be a clue. Just then an heroic musical fanfare heralds the return of Chillblaine, who says it looks like the team could use his help.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />For some reason Khione's ecstatic to see him, despite all the horrible things he did to her this season. Cecile admits she called in Chillblaine to help find Barry, as she's been in contact with him ever since he walked out on the team.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Iris goes to her office at <i><b>Central City Citizen Media</b></i> to "do some research" on Barry's disappearance. I guess she doesn't know that thanks to the internet, she could do that literally anywhere. Anyway, she finds an old "Flash Vanishes In Crisis" article she started, which gives her icky bad feelings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Allegra enters and tries to reassure her. Iris says her original future daughter Nora grew up without a father after Barry disappeared after her birth. She's afraid the same thing will happen to this new version of Nora she's about to give birth to.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Allegra goes to get Iris some tea, but is attacked and knocked into a coma by... someone. Suddenly there's a halon leak, and <b><i>Citizen</i></b> employees Taylor and Aariz pass out and collapse.<br /><br />Just then Khione teleports in with Chillblaine for some reason, and see that Taylor and Aariz are dying from lack of oxygen. Khione then infuses them with plant cells, which oxygenates their bodies and cures them. It also has the unintended side effect of turning their skin green, which freaks out the two of them. They flee in terror from Khione.<br /><br />Chillblaine and Khione take the unconscious Allegra back to STAR, and discover traces of cobalt radiation in her body. Chillblaine says someone or something is targeting Team Flash.<br /><br />Back in 2049, Malcolm shows Korber his driver's license to prove that he's not Eddie. He says he was working in his office at Mercury Labs, when he was hit by a bolt of lightning. When he woke up there was a file lying next to him, with the name "Eddie Thawne" printed on it. He says he came to CCPD looking for answers.<br /><br />Korber tells him about Eddie, and says CCPD never quite got over his death. Just then Malcolm begins hearing voices, and he runs from the building. <br /><br />Back at STAR, Chillblaine & Khione chat in the Medbay. She's upset that he disappeared for months without speaking to her. He says it's because something's happening to her, and she's not the person he knew. He brings up the way she fixed Taylor and Aariz, saying her cure was worse than the disease. He says she's become an inhuman abomination. It's only at that point that we finally realize he's been possessed by the Negative Speed Force, and not just being his usual dickish self. Khione runs from the Lab in tears. <br /><br />Elsewhere, Iris is hiding out in the Time Vault with Cecile, to protect her from the Negative Speed Force. Iris mopes about Barry's continued absence, and Cecile gives her a <b>Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b>, assuring her that everything will be fine (Narrator: Nothing on this show will ever be fine again). <br /><br />Meanwhile, Negative Chillblaine visits Chester in his Lab. Chester's worried about Allegra, so Negative Chillblaine tells him to go be with her, while he finishes calibrating the satellites to search for cobalt radiation. As soon as Chester leaves, Negative Chillblaine shuts down the satellite scan. <br /><br />Negative Chillblaine then calls the Time Vault and says he brought food for everyone. Cecile pops out to get dinner for her and Iris, and Chillblaine fires a blast and knocks her out. Iris hears the disturbance and walks out into the hall, where Negative Chillblaine threatens to kill her and her unborn child.<br /><br />Just then he's hit by a blast of energy, as the Speed Force (in the form of Barry's mother Nora of course) shows up in the nick of time. Gasp!<br /><br />Speed Force Nora then grimaces and doubles over in pain. Iris asks if she's OK, and she says the negative forces are currently all attacking her on the cosmic plane (which we conveniently don't get to see). She also tells them the Negative Speed Force is using Chillblaine as its temporary avatar. Iris asks if Nora can find Barry, but she says the negative forces are preventing her from sensing him. She says Khione might be able to help locate him.<br /><br />In 2049, Malcolm wanders the streets in a daze. He sees flashes of memories of Eddie's time with Iris, so he goes to the <b><i>Citizen</i></b> (which is still there in the future) and breaks into her office, desperate to find a clue to his identity. Taylor finds him rummaging through Iris' things and calls security. Malcolm rushes out. <br /><br />Back in the Time Vault, Iris looks at images of her and Barry's wedding. She then asks Gideon to record a message to Barry, and gives him a <b>Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b>, saying that wherever he is, she knows he's fighting to return to her as he always does. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cut to a flashback to <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-flash-season-9-episode-10-new-world.html" target="_blank">A New World, Part One</a></i></b>, as Barry's battling Negative Speed Force-Possessed Joe, and we realize that episode took place at the same time as this one. Iris' words seem to transcend time and space, and give Barry the boost he needs to defeat Negative Joe.<br /><br />Speed Force Nora uses the last of her strength to teleport Khione back to STAR. Khione's still moping over Negative Chillblaine's words, and whines that she's not even human. She says she's connected to literally every living thing on Earth, and can feel everything happening everywhere all at once. Speed Force Nora give Khione a </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">, saying that's her true power and that she's the only one who can save them all. Khione eventually accepts this.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Chester fixes the satellite scanner and detects cobalt radiation in Caitlin's old apartment— meaning Negative Chillblaine is there for some reason. Khione teleports to confront him. <br /><br />Khione gives the Negative Speed Force one more chance to vacate Chillblaine before she acts. It laughs at her, saying any attack on her part will inadvertently kill Chillblaine. Khione says she knows, and snaps her fingers, turning Chillblaine to ash. The blue Negative Speed Force crystal falls out of his body as he disintegrates, and lands on the floor. She then reconstitutes Chillblaine, good as new. The crystal disappears again before Khione can grab it.<br /><br />Back in the Time Vault, Iris begins going into labor. She heads toward the Med Bay, just as Barry finally reappears in a flash of blue light. Just in time for the birth of the daughter he's already met.<br /><br />Barry takes Iris to the hospital, where he explains what happened to him in the previous episode. Chillblaine thanks Khione for killing and resurrecting him. She tells him she's now a god, and says it's time for her to leave. She says she'll stay long enough to deal with the Negative Speed Force though. <br /><br />Just then Barry disappears in another flash of blue light. Again? Jaysis, he just got here.<br /><br />Back in 2049, Malcom's somehow located Eddie Thawne's grave, and dug a perfect hole with razor-sharp sides to exhume his body. Just then Captain Korber shows up and orders him to stop, as he's committing a crime. He laughs and says he needs answers, and has to know who's buried in Eddie's grave. He flings open the coffin and sees it's empty.<br /><br />Suddenly all of Eddie's memories come flooding back to Malcolm. He remembers killing himself to erase Eobard Thawne from existence, and being sucked into a wormhole. As he looks down he sees blood on his chest from his self-inflicted gunshot wound. Korber watches in horror as he reaches into his chest and pulls out the bullet, proving he's really Eddie Thawne. He throws his head back and laughs maniacally.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Thoughts:</b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kJfXZEzd7SNrmFXHxdtsCHYZSVr_kRPqlglUupiQ-KqXmd0fNnfy4i1vVNWBQ8p4CgfoiXBZvE_CX5UrEabqC61Qo8_suUSPUsf3ueRxbudOVykIVcchx-X5Id7r6QXpznaG4Cxgs4-1yjVvdhlfK9lBiq5pU2xbnScP9FNUAzxNhLSNo4vJ2WmFCkU/s1366/flash%200911%2001.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1366" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3kJfXZEzd7SNrmFXHxdtsCHYZSVr_kRPqlglUupiQ-KqXmd0fNnfy4i1vVNWBQ8p4CgfoiXBZvE_CX5UrEabqC61Qo8_suUSPUsf3ueRxbudOVykIVcchx-X5Id7r6QXpznaG4Cxgs4-1yjVvdhlfK9lBiq5pU2xbnScP9FNUAzxNhLSNo4vJ2WmFCkU/w400-h194/flash%200911%2001.png" width="430" /></a></div></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Just like last week, this episode begins with a shot of blue silk roses (since real ones of that color don't actually exist in nature). I have a feeling the next two eps will begin the same way.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5PfXCZeM4x_OsbT-S10cW1sQauYmU9ipV9y8fnFyT4y572BDC2DB7qO355sgQBujt7JNY0E8C-dvH9B-lLQUm9gFIXkOWo-M3u0JeMdA0unjJgVdrg2tMAIUM2rcGthWT5wGhf3wwhGlB1q7PLpv14jerVEUcn3eQ4FIblvgKw84qB4pjrwp8h4JLa4Z/s1366/flash%200911%2002.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5PfXCZeM4x_OsbT-S10cW1sQauYmU9ipV9y8fnFyT4y572BDC2DB7qO355sgQBujt7JNY0E8C-dvH9B-lLQUm9gFIXkOWo-M3u0JeMdA0unjJgVdrg2tMAIUM2rcGthWT5wGhf3wwhGlB1q7PLpv14jerVEUcn3eQ4FIblvgKw84qB4pjrwp8h4JLa4Z/w400-h198/flash%200911%2002.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Malcolm Gilmore, the Mystery Man from last week, enters CCPD looking for help. His presence prompts the various officers there to gawk at him, as he looks exactly like Eddie Thawne— who died back in 2015. Several things here:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What's the deal with these scenes of Malcolm? Are they taking place in the present day? The future? A multiversal Earth?</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuifdi8Gg3m7UDrPw5M6fntErBfZUSFO44af8QBZG4vuvJGUn-sGj9gFgxgu0-gWrmhh9dqfIE2S-zh9f0WttcIC2jifncIgnFMklTjWyG28Ts8LGayHwkKDNKWfc8jco3gj53bJrVRsaiE_PV6jvuwd7auBxPTwSd6coVS7yuKjuw5k6HkzAAEM7_1G-/s1366/flash%200911%2003.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuifdi8Gg3m7UDrPw5M6fntErBfZUSFO44af8QBZG4vuvJGUn-sGj9gFgxgu0-gWrmhh9dqfIE2S-zh9f0WttcIC2jifncIgnFMklTjWyG28Ts8LGayHwkKDNKWfc8jco3gj53bJrVRsaiE_PV6jvuwd7auBxPTwSd6coVS7yuKjuw5k6HkzAAEM7_1G-/w400-h198/flash%200911%2003.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We get a couple of clues that Malcolm's in the future— most likely 2049, which seems to be the only year anyone on this show can ever travel to. The first is when we see a brief shot of this desk sergeant's computer screen, which appears to be a clear acrylic sheet displaying a glowing image.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsY7qvNoSExH71f8vb_skRSUwkv8-0-BCg0HzgZcJ0JsA8Y5ZdXQ0pMvBwRg0nAgdkNl8_-Yeaz0SasxRqpOvLfukLpFOwqa_TtcQLt2TAISNr2AsrLlzHuWiu2TM5BGZnxZmUAnOlNzrVoR2W0VBKV3ANPOhFlEMcjd8-Tpu-7wnobTg3KRfSLKHqrzH/s1199/a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1199" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsY7qvNoSExH71f8vb_skRSUwkv8-0-BCg0HzgZcJ0JsA8Y5ZdXQ0pMvBwRg0nAgdkNl8_-Yeaz0SasxRqpOvLfukLpFOwqa_TtcQLt2TAISNr2AsrLlzHuWiu2TM5BGZnxZmUAnOlNzrVoR2W0VBKV3ANPOhFlEMcjd8-Tpu-7wnobTg3KRfSLKHqrzH/w400-h225/a.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the way, I'm not crazy about that CCPD logo there. That stylized eagle symbol looks a little too... <i>nationalistic</i>, if you know what I mean.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TB5M3JZ9cAUgtOLioVxsUfsomVIXnx7V4CbSVnXeOGXOPCGniKqO10ZnxNNp9rq0gDVUEcvxoCoGugpmFI8Kl2YeKl7NEWNXvZrJWQfiTQALJ3WRu7cor63nHS79pkf3OvZyQUivaKHgx-Wyj7iEs3QmNfQCZoAytllPLiICMa7fP1rEy0-OxfLrCP3x/s1366/flash%200911%2004.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TB5M3JZ9cAUgtOLioVxsUfsomVIXnx7V4CbSVnXeOGXOPCGniKqO10ZnxNNp9rq0gDVUEcvxoCoGugpmFI8Kl2YeKl7NEWNXvZrJWQfiTQALJ3WRu7cor63nHS79pkf3OvZyQUivaKHgx-Wyj7iEs3QmNfQCZoAytllPLiICMa7fP1rEy0-OxfLrCP3x/w400-h196/flash%200911%2004.png" width="430" /></a></div></div>The second clue comes when we see CAPTAIN Daisy Korber enter the room. She's been a regular beat cop all through the series, so it's a good bet we're seeing her in the future here, after a big promotion.<br /><br />If this scene really is taking place in 2049 though, then Korber has one hell of a beauty regimen. She looks EXACTLY as she did in 2023, despite the fact we're seeing her twenty six years in the future! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don't know how old Korber was in 2023, but actress Stephanie Izsak is currently thirty six. If Korber's a similar age, that means she'd be SIXTY TWO in 2049. Does this look like a woman nearing retirement age?<br /><br />Get used to this non-aging trope, as it's a running theme throughout these final episodes.<br /><br />Also, how are all these officers recognizing Malcolm as Eddie? From their perspective, Eddie Thawne died a whopping THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO. Have all these cops really been working at CCPD that long? If not, how the hell would they know Eddie? I've worked at my current job for eleven years and I have absolutely no idea who was here before I started. I'm also not sure I'd recognize a coworker after almost four decades.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZKXMG59L2aeaQCHSNeYnjUpou0LHVe8mX2uu-g8ZgigfPOI6YgoaxgxYrd5pHrOGWJ7q0ILwEHxZ7zz9vvaXPnhELrBXnzkqqK0HO1l_rdrhmTTydlIUFAE8PoAmzNbsDeJLfRPePy230iJZY2EuL-zS7E_K04KHzUYeSEcfUFlQMmC03nm8nz9EHgL7/s1366/flash%200911%2005.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZKXMG59L2aeaQCHSNeYnjUpou0LHVe8mX2uu-g8ZgigfPOI6YgoaxgxYrd5pHrOGWJ7q0ILwEHxZ7zz9vvaXPnhELrBXnzkqqK0HO1l_rdrhmTTydlIUFAE8PoAmzNbsDeJLfRPePy230iJZY2EuL-zS7E_K04KHzUYeSEcfUFlQMmC03nm8nz9EHgL7/w400-h196/flash%200911%2005.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We then get confirmation that Malcolm is living in the future, as the rest of the episode takes place in "The Present." Which, due to last week's time jump, could be 2023 or 2024.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>At STAR Labs, Team Flash tries to figure out why and how Barry disappeared. Note the typical hard to read clear "white board" there, listing everything they know about what happened. I reversed the image to make it easier to read, and it says:</span><br /><br /><span>WHAT HAPPENED TO BARRY?</span><br /><span>• Time Of Disappearance: 12:35 pm</span><br /><span>• Location: Loft #5 587 2nd Ave., Central City, 901301</span><br /><span>• Cause Of Disappearance?</span><br /><span>• Blue Energy Source?</span><br /><br /><span>Looks like they know a whole lot of nothing! By the way, based on that board, Central City appears to have an extra digit in its Zip Code. Every one I've ever seen has only had five digits. Maybe they use six over in the <b>Arrowverse</b>, I dunno.</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="text-align: start;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31L4w0kx4NUc5jIaG-B54f4Rrqkm0muRzxWmjSmCvi4MoiicBNivSCimlXQm_xsLqx4ND4GPgTlLPHjejbTozeItIRiSZrZOTe6RygHqCEjJOpaGaQ-JnMozv-Yov0kGD3s1itnkcFhhaQBHzn9j-RcKl_ZexThnC_2HrNn2pyes42vbcEAy7FYg1SY9l/s1366/flash%200911%2006.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31L4w0kx4NUc5jIaG-B54f4Rrqkm0muRzxWmjSmCvi4MoiicBNivSCimlXQm_xsLqx4ND4GPgTlLPHjejbTozeItIRiSZrZOTe6RygHqCEjJOpaGaQ-JnMozv-Yov0kGD3s1itnkcFhhaQBHzn9j-RcKl_ZexThnC_2HrNn2pyes42vbcEAy7FYg1SY9l/w400-h199/flash%200911%2006.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Iris comes to the conclusion that Barry was taken by someone or something, which she says is "terrifying." Right on cue, Chillblaine enters the Cortex and says, "Sounds like y'all could use some help!"</span><br /><br /><span>Why the hell does the music swell as this doofus walks in and strikes an heroic pose? He's betrayed the team several times now, and quit a few weeks back because he had icky bad feelings about the things he'd done. So why is the show treating his appearance here like some kind of triumphant return?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrwI8i9WV2ISK7v_tGHZxu8cEKRBC5TLgW8b-IFeszuYkN9Sk-6Ls1AuCd9bGbYGKRoYlgmnG_HZyy3aJ6-Kb8j-ZkPnu6ryeHFY35vj2ZMpETCVU4_cU8Q8DjWHbqhq8cQgKbEJQZxDdpcyJiCaBHjyidzfUrGxyVlqDLXZNuX5lK8x0if2aJhNBpgt-/s1366/flash%200911%2007.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrwI8i9WV2ISK7v_tGHZxu8cEKRBC5TLgW8b-IFeszuYkN9Sk-6Ls1AuCd9bGbYGKRoYlgmnG_HZyy3aJ6-Kb8j-ZkPnu6ryeHFY35vj2ZMpETCVU4_cU8Q8DjWHbqhq8cQgKbEJQZxDdpcyJiCaBHjyidzfUrGxyVlqDLXZNuX5lK8x0if2aJhNBpgt-/w400-h196/flash%200911%2007.png" width="430" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even more puzzling, why in the name of sanity does Khione throw herself at him when he struts in? If you'll recall, earlier this season he <i>literally</i> attempted to erase her from existence, as well as trying to <b><i>Vertigo</i></b> her into becoming Frost. Why would she ever want to be in the same room with a creep like that, much less embrace him like a long lost lover?<br /><br />• Chillblaine then explains his absence:<br /><br /><b>Khione:</b> "Where have you been?"<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Tundi, the Arctic, Corto Maltese, volunteering at a few different research facilities."<br /><b>Allegra: </b>"What are you doing back here?"<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "I called for him."<br /><b>Khione: </b>"You knew how to get in touch with Mark?"<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "A few months after I left, I reached back out to Cecile. Guess I just needed a friend to talk to."<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "Khione, honey, I'm so sorry that I couldn't tell you. But Mark wanted some space, and he asked me to stay quiet."<br /><br />So wait... Chillblaine contacted Cecile, of all people? Have the two of them ever even spoken to one another on the show before? I sure don't remember them ever being chummy, but I'd have to go back and rewatch the past couple seasons to make sure, and THAT ain't happening!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Chillblaine mentions it's been seven months since he left the team and went on his little walkabout. That incident occurred in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-flash-season-9-episode-7-wildest.html" target="_blank">Wildest Dreams</a></i></b>, which originally aired on March 29, 2023. Add seven months to that, and this episode is apparently taking place sometime in October. So I guess we really are still in 2023 and not 2024— the year fans hoped the series would end.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• Chester says he detected traces of cobalt radiation after Barry disappeared. Team Flash then springs into action to find him:<br /><br /><b>Chester:</b> "I can try resetting our satellites to scan for the cobalt isotope."<br /><b>Cecile:</b> "And I can call Cisco at ARGUS, see if maybe they've heard anything."<br /><b>Iris:</b> "I'm gonna go to the office and search the database for anything about cobalt radiation."<br /><br />A couple things here:<br /><br />First of all, don't mention Cisco unless he's gonna make an actual physical appearance on the show.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Speaking of which, why isn't Cisco in this final handful of episodes? Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity for one last cameo?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">According to Entertainment Weekly, actor Carlos Valdes (aka Cisco) wanted to return, but just couldn't find the time, as he's currently appearing in the musical comedy <b><i>Up There</i></b> on Hulu.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Said Valdes: </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"I did consider it. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honestly, there was no way to make it happen with regards to my schedule and just all the different creative ventures and life circumstances that I was trying to juggle at that time. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I couldn't really make it work, which was really heartbreaking to me because I thought, if I decided to step away from the show, at the very least I have to be there for the finale to round this thing out and to really honor the full circle-ness of it." </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well that stinks! Cisco was one of my favorite characters on the show, and one of the "core four" when it started way back in 2014. It would have been awesome to see him again, even if only for a few seconds. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I get that Valdes was busy on another show, but surely there was some way to make it work. Cecile could have called up Cisco and he could have made a quick appearance on a monitor. Wouldn't have been as good as a full blown cameo, but it'd have been something. Surely he could have taken half an hour out of his schedule to shoot something like that? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Secondly, why is Iris physically going to her office to google cobalt radiation? I guess she forgot the internet and wifi exist. Plus why would a newspaper have better info on something scientific like a specific form of radiation than STAR Labs would?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftVkzgVpc2ozXPdwqg6ZUhzP_nnnvQu7LZ88H6ZFY8qgSVW0FhBkZTD3T89imiV4j6ft65HQPczG8f_Pl7rKQxnRI4F9isUugf0Z7ZecJTdL2d0D8QVYbouornINLQsl2HpBQ7VQzxZZo2aG1UmjNg1xXtPXeI2cAhrGkJHUbU5GnT0_2s2njYQS8wV8S/s1366/flash%200911%2008.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftVkzgVpc2ozXPdwqg6ZUhzP_nnnvQu7LZ88H6ZFY8qgSVW0FhBkZTD3T89imiV4j6ft65HQPczG8f_Pl7rKQxnRI4F9isUugf0Z7ZecJTdL2d0D8QVYbouornINLQsl2HpBQ7VQzxZZo2aG1UmjNg1xXtPXeI2cAhrGkJHUbU5GnT0_2s2njYQS8wV8S/w400-h198/flash%200911%2008.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• At the <b><i>Citizen</i></b>, Iris inadvertently runs across an old draft of this story, and realizes it may actually be coming to pass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course it isn't though, because the series stupidly resolved this storyline and nipped it in the bud back in <b><i>Crisis On Infinite Earths</i></b>— and in the lamest way possible, I might add. Plus current showrunner Eric Wallace didn't want anything to do with it, even though it's literally been teased since the freakin' <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-flash-season-1-episode-1-pilot.html" target="_blank">Pilot</a></i></b> episode.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5IInHkUMeMtGYqejKJDrIh2lWB4rKIGWlhfUoWLwPku2-TZw2XeD0q2SKzw8hHNAdeuMSaOFKknuwBHcNkeNAPbiq9t2We1W7CzQXwDfLz9jk52F5OQY-L6NNlo4R4QNhLo5nPGY4ebbGMZy-NK6Ki1YLWHArBO9Tzxa-AqqCOLUUU3OChscM8Uc0sXO/s1366/flash%200911%2009.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5IInHkUMeMtGYqejKJDrIh2lWB4rKIGWlhfUoWLwPku2-TZw2XeD0q2SKzw8hHNAdeuMSaOFKknuwBHcNkeNAPbiq9t2We1W7CzQXwDfLz9jk52F5OQY-L6NNlo4R4QNhLo5nPGY4ebbGMZy-NK6Ki1YLWHArBO9Tzxa-AqqCOLUUU3OChscM8Uc0sXO/w400-h196/flash%200911%2009.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Jesus Christ, how late do the employees of the <i><b>Citizen</b></i> work? It's clearly well into the night at this point, and poor Taylor and Aariz are still there plugging away. Does Iris make 'em work sixteen hour shifts? It's called "work/life balance," sweetie! Look into it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYxhkKaKs8NplOrFI2N64vHzp6Q5rROu04tJsZTCRgyAoQtbde1WsBfrtbAoQXb0jiPLkXWZAEE_rwnWB5Z9EN-_IVr8QwP4GhL_c68DHvu-RUoQYMdlqERmOQ-cAE_8fhBCfpUy68gFg3JijTYpLD_i5W7ZgVaFbxRRKT3Fwil6LK82fgclXbSLpTAvq/s1366/flash%200911%2028.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYxhkKaKs8NplOrFI2N64vHzp6Q5rROu04tJsZTCRgyAoQtbde1WsBfrtbAoQXb0jiPLkXWZAEE_rwnWB5Z9EN-_IVr8QwP4GhL_c68DHvu-RUoQYMdlqERmOQ-cAE_8fhBCfpUy68gFg3JijTYpLD_i5W7ZgVaFbxRRKT3Fwil6LK82fgclXbSLpTAvq/w400-h198/flash%200911%2028.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• At the <b><i>Citizen</i></b>, Allegra goes to get Iris some tea and is violently attacked by... someone. She flies backward and smashes into a gas pipe, setting off a halon leak. Taylor manages to shut off the leak, but not before she and Aariz are overcome by the gas. Lots to unpack here:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So who attacked Allegra in the hall? It had to be someone she knows, as she looked up and said, "Oh hey! What are you doing here?" right before she was blasted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Obviously the Mystery Attacker is supposed to be the Negative Speed Force, since it's the Big Bad so far in this arc. But in its current state it needs to possess someone in order to function. Plus Allegra was hit by what appears to be a blast of blue energy, which is the Negative Speed Force's signature in recent episodes. So who's its avatar here?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Logic dictates it was Chillblaine, since he's possessed by the Negative Speed Force for the bulk of the episode. But how can that be? Thirty seconds from now Khione teleports into the <b><i>Citizen</i></b>— and brings Chillblaine along for the ride. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Did he blast Allegra, then hightail it across town to STAR Labs in the space of a few seconds so Khione could teleport him right back? That seems unlikely, so again I gotta ask— who attacked Allegra? Apparently it's none of our business, as it's never addressed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaJvzG7j6AOQi8JrX9i3NmDZX74c08PRCU0rbrxloghqfDuXAMZccB_uqJtQWUS7E7gWF7fL5oCB-3w_ej7KE_gIFDWEUd8Y8a_rQxmfxxxHBFSAE061pbGwttH7miwkpFJ_eZgVdPcrpZGspeWJxmpRS_rss-V-3D4EamJ8F5hWcvtl9wD9qADFgBODN/s1366/flash%200911%2026.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaJvzG7j6AOQi8JrX9i3NmDZX74c08PRCU0rbrxloghqfDuXAMZccB_uqJtQWUS7E7gWF7fL5oCB-3w_ej7KE_gIFDWEUd8Y8a_rQxmfxxxHBFSAE061pbGwttH7miwkpFJ_eZgVdPcrpZGspeWJxmpRS_rss-V-3D4EamJ8F5hWcvtl9wD9qADFgBODN/w400-h196/flash%200911%2026.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's talk about that halon leak, shall we? As the gas seeps into the office, Aariz staggers over to a pipe to turn the shutoff lever. </div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSgnCf9tml5YdLbJ_hX2LC8XHUFfZ2ro6CqcqO8mxZw4gbiaLR6kPOeF-oUhCTWzwVNeq0XuWvOjNPojiVEeFNFEPhO5tnsodj5__wi4kMaco33tznsej6Uk4Re-li6lMtMzRFqJD7vqnM02fVVb9TJoVRghjeRbsrMG-6UXDO2dVw2j1XZU5LnDzv2mC/s1366/flash%200911%2027.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSgnCf9tml5YdLbJ_hX2LC8XHUFfZ2ro6CqcqO8mxZw4gbiaLR6kPOeF-oUhCTWzwVNeq0XuWvOjNPojiVEeFNFEPhO5tnsodj5__wi4kMaco33tznsej6Uk4Re-li6lMtMzRFqJD7vqnM02fVVb9TJoVRghjeRbsrMG-6UXDO2dVw2j1XZU5LnDzv2mC/w400-h198/flash%200911%2027.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately he's overcome and passes out before he can do so. Taylor then saves the day by running over and easily shutting off the gas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><i>Seriously?</i> Aariz honestly couldn't turn a simple lever before he passed out? Keep in mind this isn't a complicated piece of machinery, nor does it require a massive amount of strength to operate it. It's literally a small lever that needs to be rotated 90º. Hell, he could have shut it off by falling on it as he passed out!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Khione teleports herself and Chillblaine into the <i><b>Citizen</b></i>, which is apparently another power in her rapidly-growing arsenal. Sure, why not? That's a thing that might as well happen. Yes, we saw her teleport <i>herself</i> last week, but this is the first time she's brought others along as well.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife1w4u7WAd1lfcsEHe87BQuI4xHdfEVvt7aYtNg4BMFb87UAJS7CfGR8BeGk7SMraSL5BvS0gcKwNVRoRrJrZGUuRtReNzTOOMfXVO4yQk2JgpCoAcXRGJ0RCICz7FjiVMB3v_En_OSN4gDIU-nIW4RVkGBnlZeHb8JN6xlq37-eiwsxYxzE8bedssr6i/s1366/flash%200911%2010.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife1w4u7WAd1lfcsEHe87BQuI4xHdfEVvt7aYtNg4BMFb87UAJS7CfGR8BeGk7SMraSL5BvS0gcKwNVRoRrJrZGUuRtReNzTOOMfXVO4yQk2JgpCoAcXRGJ0RCICz7FjiVMB3v_En_OSN4gDIU-nIW4RVkGBnlZeHb8JN6xlq37-eiwsxYxzE8bedssr6i/w400-h198/flash%200911%2010.png" width="430" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Khione examines Taylor & Aariz and determines the halon's deprived their brains of oxygen, threatening to kill them. She heals them by infusing their bodies with plant cells, which oxygenates their brains. </span>It also has the unwanted side effect of turning them both bright green. Comic Book Science!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The two regain consciousness, but instead of being grateful they freak the hell out over their skin color. Khione tells them their new hue is just a temporary side effect, but they curse her name and flee from the building like they're being chased by Satan himself. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seriously? Seems like a HUGE overreaction to me. Especially in a city where metahumans are an everyday fact of life. I've never been turned green though, so what do I know.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaMJS9btiyPKoUI7-gcbIY0cdoTXSyg4mPIb4vWLBdw3XyqU8rbDYKZm2-TKNNF00ibNf9srJpL4re0dgcABhl8MQK6QNjkHE7PVdfLnjTdNJ7dq8qf7cLe58SITRFPIezDLOSWsrpl4GlpyBCXk2HtXN-GQcT0BZmTJMN5WN1X-v2P6g8hVyW7qVj93p/s1366/flash%200911%2011.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaMJS9btiyPKoUI7-gcbIY0cdoTXSyg4mPIb4vWLBdw3XyqU8rbDYKZm2-TKNNF00ibNf9srJpL4re0dgcABhl8MQK6QNjkHE7PVdfLnjTdNJ7dq8qf7cLe58SITRFPIezDLOSWsrpl4GlpyBCXk2HtXN-GQcT0BZmTJMN5WN1X-v2P6g8hVyW7qVj93p/w400-h196/flash%200911%2011.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Iris then finds Allegra lying unconscious in the hall. Cut to STAR Labs, where Gideon determines Allegra was hit by a blast of cobalt isotope radiation.<br /><br />I'm sure the fact that Allegra gets KOed early on couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that actress Kayla Compton directed this episode, and needed a way to limit her screentime.<br /><br />I suppose knocking her out was a better solution than a couple weeks ago when Danielle Panabaker directed, and they explained Khione's absence by saying she was stuck in a long line at the bakery!<br /><br />• Earlier in the episode, Chester said the following:<br /><br /><b>Chester: </b>"I've doubled back to the loft to look for evidence at the scene of the crime. Picked up some weird energy signature from the air, trace amounts of a radioactive isotope of cobalt."<br /><b>Khione: </b>"Did anyone else just get a bad feeling?"<br /><b>Allegra:</b> "I... I don't get it. What could leave behind radiation like that?"<br /><b>Chester:</b> "I'm not sure. <i>But isotopes like this don't just occur spontaneously</i>. Barry's disappearance wasn't an accident."<br /><br />Note that Chester clearly states cobalt radiation is NOT a natural occurrence.<br /><br />Later in the Med Bay, Chillblaine asks Khione if she can draw the cobalt radiation from Allegra's body. She replies:<br /><br /><b>Khione:</b> "I can only expel the <i>unnatural</i> from people, and the cobalt isotope is part of the natural order."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Whoops! So which is it, writers? Is cobalt natural or not? Did anyone actually read through this script before filming it?<br /><br />I think the confusion here lies with cobalt itself, which comes in two distinct forms. Non-radioactive cobalt occurs <i>naturally</i> in various minerals, and for centuries was as a blue coloring in paints, ceramic and glass. Radioactive cobalt is a produced <i>artificially</i> in nuclear accelerators, and is used in medicine and various industries. Methinks the writers didn't read the full wikipedia page on cobalt!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• After Barry's disappearance and Allegra's attack, the rest of Team Flash realizes someone's trying to eliminate them. Chillblaine then steps up and assumes leadership of the team, barking out orders and assigning tasks to everyone. Chillblaine. The guy who betrayed them all several times and walked out on the team. Amazingly, everyone accepts his new role and carries out his instructions!<br /><br />This script was written by an AI, wasn't it?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVeLJI5P4uw7c9JvNemkdViBD0gPrlZBRQMZVMmDqwKDMbYRlJfEbUjrjXfVfU6CIQlLECSQjUbwwdbFTGMkKUmOw-3oNDnfX7qQASeqk1Zcbd7yd2jjnYBgS14940nx5nO7r_R152E4C22L5Qaeq_3Rp3j9H4XKGBU8-IrUl4ChmafHkMkXxRIFe-Yb4/s1366/flash%200911%2012.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVeLJI5P4uw7c9JvNemkdViBD0gPrlZBRQMZVMmDqwKDMbYRlJfEbUjrjXfVfU6CIQlLECSQjUbwwdbFTGMkKUmOw-3oNDnfX7qQASeqk1Zcbd7yd2jjnYBgS14940nx5nO7r_R152E4C22L5Qaeq_3Rp3j9H4XKGBU8-IrUl4ChmafHkMkXxRIFe-Yb4/w400-h198/flash%200911%2012.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• I'm not a hundred percent certain, but I think this shot of 2049 CCPD <i>just</i> <i>might </i>be a CGI render. Either that or it's located in Toontown.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNGoJX-srDretr0fw2R-wjGIrL8g8ykCXeKd1Gd9siq-IIyB3o3IGIbiSK2DrmH5LL2ELMFHaHPgC55aumvGJXZv4KGES11tDPr2PPt1piqsnP5Qz-IOVyEVMl9LNEgeVcLy-eLsXmsU42jGXVIToxTGzTPoJ53fGs8-nEUl12w_YJnVGNgfvc9ja8-7B/s1366/flash%200911%2013.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNGoJX-srDretr0fw2R-wjGIrL8g8ykCXeKd1Gd9siq-IIyB3o3IGIbiSK2DrmH5LL2ELMFHaHPgC55aumvGJXZv4KGES11tDPr2PPt1piqsnP5Qz-IOVyEVMl9LNEgeVcLy-eLsXmsU42jGXVIToxTGzTPoJ53fGs8-nEUl12w_YJnVGNgfvc9ja8-7B/w400-h195/flash%200911%2013.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• We get more confirmation that the Malcolm scenes take place in the future when he shows his driver's license to Captain Korber, and it lists his date of birth as 2017. If this really is 2049, that'd make him thirty two years old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also note that the driver's license was issued by the "Central City District," whatever that is. Um, no. Licenses are issued by states, not individual cities. It was established several seasons ago that Central City's in Missouri, so I'm not sure why his license doesn't say that. Maybe things work differently over in the <b>Arrowverse</b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, I liked the parallel here of Malcolm going to CCPD for help, which echoed Barry doing the same thing last week when he found himself in the year 2000. It was a nice little bit of symmetry.</div><br style="text-align: left;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcHhZhDInu5HMRvqgBkkZWOOtAtpUAEKopr9PWDvu-DIFTyGDc1DTDm2sR0Aq-9GKC4f2LfuFfwoAFVscPM2c35Te9TTRdJZjNwUDs06r5yUkIOkrB5iqUaqJCZAVJ2ajCVwzOiISo6bcdgO_6mQaUV4McXWYyS8z3DJBsn4lz6NOVNIb3tCfnbWw5spN/s1366/flash%200911%2014.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcHhZhDInu5HMRvqgBkkZWOOtAtpUAEKopr9PWDvu-DIFTyGDc1DTDm2sR0Aq-9GKC4f2LfuFfwoAFVscPM2c35Te9TTRdJZjNwUDs06r5yUkIOkrB5iqUaqJCZAVJ2ajCVwzOiISo6bcdgO_6mQaUV4McXWYyS8z3DJBsn4lz6NOVNIb3tCfnbWw5spN/w400-h196/flash%200911%2014.png" width="430" /></a></div></div>• The smoke machine gets another workout in this episode, so the cinematographer can get those all-important god rays coming through the windows. They've been pumping the sets full of smoke like this all season, to the point where the actors are probably developing lung issues.<br /><br />• At STAR, Chillblaine and Khione have a heartfelt conversation:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Chillbaline: </b>"You upset that I've been in touch with Cecile?"<br /><b>Khione:</b> "No, not at all. I'm glad you had someone to talk to."<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "It's just, these last few months, there were so many things I wanted to talk to you about."<br /><b>Khione:</b> "I guess you just didn't wanna talk to me."<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "I... It's not... look, I... I spent the last seven months trying to get my head on straight, you know, so that I could accept my...; my grief, which I think I have. But I also learned that... sometimes, people grow apart."<br /><b>Khione: </b>"Not when you have a bond like we did."<br /><br />Bond? BOND? What the hell's she talking about, bond? The guy literally tried to mold her into his dead girlfriend. and when he realized what he'd done he was so ashamed he fled town. Have the writers of this episode ever actually <i>seen</i> the show before?<br /><br />• Chillblaine then slowly begins turning against Khione.<br /><br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "You are not the same person you were when I left! What you did to those people tonight."<br /><b>Khione: </b>"They were dying. I needed to help them breathe."<br /><b>Chillblaine: </b>"Oh, so you turned them into mutant plant people?"<br /><b>Khione:</b> "I used nature to bring air to their lungs"<br /><b>Chillblaine:</b> "Khione, there was nothing natural about what I saw today. You warped their bodies. You made them into monsters! What... what right do you have to do that?"<br /><b>Khione:</b> "I didn't have a choice. I saved them!"<br />Chillblaine: "Saved them? You tortured them. They could barely speak. Their skin was green. You hurt them!"<br /><b>Khione:</b> "I would never hurt a living being!"<br /><b>Chillblaine: </b>"Really? Did you notice they didn't say thank you? They ran away! Before I left Central City, I told you there was something amazing inside of you. I really thought you were gonna be a hero, but I was wrong. Khione, you... you're an abomination."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCzhuag1d8Cj3tuSk8LlrK-VqCcGxvZaZ2IcShLuFgtWMviBJ94NVKd27G3UYrFjdX9T8jRy2MaVgZmov1FaQMgsBtsII2yMjOlrTOliHDlFiy1e52lc4jPIBIY43vYfeXtHwAQewDZ2PYTexCqUh-Q4VKOZ1FuaASBQlCEzKj2KRSY9OXJc-03LiOXeZ/s1366/flash%200911%2015.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCzhuag1d8Cj3tuSk8LlrK-VqCcGxvZaZ2IcShLuFgtWMviBJ94NVKd27G3UYrFjdX9T8jRy2MaVgZmov1FaQMgsBtsII2yMjOlrTOliHDlFiy1e52lc4jPIBIY43vYfeXtHwAQewDZ2PYTexCqUh-Q4VKOZ1FuaASBQlCEzKj2KRSY9OXJc-03LiOXeZ/w400-h195/flash%200911%2015.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The idea here is that Chillblaine's slow, deliberate turn is supposed to be, er, <i>chilling</i>, as his comments gradually become darker and more sinister, and we eventually realize he's been possessed by the Negative Speed Force.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It says something about the writing on this show that it took me a long time to figure out he was actually being controlled by an evil force here, and not just acting like his normal assholish self!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Speaking of Chillblaine, just when was he possessed by the Negative Speed Force? Before or after he showed up at STAR Labs? There's honestly no way to know, but I'm betting it was before. In fact that's likely why he returned to STAR in the first place— so the </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Negative Speed Force could destroy Team Flash from within.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• OK, last week Joe was taken over by the Negative Speed Force in 2000. This week Chillblaine's possessed by it in 2023/4. And later Malcolm hears it taunting him in 2049.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I guess time means nothing to the Negative Speed Force, and it can operate in multiple eras simultaneously? There's nothing wrong with that, I suppose, but... it just adds an extra layer of confusion to an already muddled story.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Something I just thought of: Whenever the Negative Speed Force possesses anyone, its avatars just stand around and look menacing— only occasionally trying to kill Barry and his friends. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Note that at no time do the people it possesses become speedsters though. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I guess it can't charge up its avatars with speed? Too bad, as that would have made things far more interesting!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• At CCPD, Captain Korber chats with Malcom and tells him why everyone's staring at him. She says he looks just like Eddie Thawne, and that she and the others never quite got over his tragic death. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Really? Eddie died back in 2015. This scene takes place in 2049. Meaning he died a whopping THIRTY FOUR YEARS ago! And they're STILL grieving over him? Jaysis, I can't even remember the <i>names</i> of the people I worked with a short ten years ago! Seems like the various officers oughta be over his death by now.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDpkZmEW3Z6r4sC4AUhsWDaF2CRbzoEVs0Uhk3p9RwCKSdE22Bgw-n-FLZuLWKYOg_iHWM_ALVUA2OfjkNSlRxyhf1VmvnU0Nem-eblDs2a7KPt8ZEJyvwOVTBbGxKg2XdpYee_BCG-4yEt_52wZDcpEVh4qkPoWS4ynDU3sKO9lx5C3TNgV_aEUZvdPH/s1366/flash%200911%2016.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDpkZmEW3Z6r4sC4AUhsWDaF2CRbzoEVs0Uhk3p9RwCKSdE22Bgw-n-FLZuLWKYOg_iHWM_ALVUA2OfjkNSlRxyhf1VmvnU0Nem-eblDs2a7KPt8ZEJyvwOVTBbGxKg2XdpYee_BCG-4yEt_52wZDcpEVh4qkPoWS4ynDU3sKO9lx5C3TNgV_aEUZvdPH/w400-h198/flash%200911%2016.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Malcolm begins hearing voices and runs out of CCPD. He looks up and sees this futuristic skyscraper looming above him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I figured this was another location in Vancouver, but after checking it turns out it's a piece of video clip art of a building somewhere in Russia. It looks like the FX team used AfterEffects to add some rain to it though.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_CfOjzDG--Yi7J2qJRzOg8QQHoXdItgCpCam4fnGL-PxOnBxgJNaGIx9WKRHp09NUwGF98segUZjQF7dD33UJkD9awH_ZKJC-vJxj4ZdFiEfac9N-Xp_Tvc4Lsc5tYwtOZknzZ479LxDvDK1-0r5T84VuP3dMtHsntwvfowAya2kdrFo0bwYMXX57MIH/s1366/flash%200911%2017.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_CfOjzDG--Yi7J2qJRzOg8QQHoXdItgCpCam4fnGL-PxOnBxgJNaGIx9WKRHp09NUwGF98segUZjQF7dD33UJkD9awH_ZKJC-vJxj4ZdFiEfac9N-Xp_Tvc4Lsc5tYwtOZknzZ479LxDvDK1-0r5T84VuP3dMtHsntwvfowAya2kdrFo0bwYMXX57MIH/w400-h198/flash%200911%2017.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Malcolm stumbles through the streets of downtown Central City, drawing stares from the crowd. Note the poster in the background, which reads, "LIPS 2049." If you'll recall, <a href="http://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-flash-season-8-episode-8-fire-next.html" target="_blank">back in Season 8</a>, Jaco Birch, aka The Hotness, worked as a security guard at a LIPS concert in Central City.<br /><br />So <i><b>LIPS</b></i> is still out there plugging away in 2049? If so, they'd be well into their fifties or maybe even sixties by then. I guess it's not entirely out of the question, as the <i><b>Rolling Stones</b></i> are still touring and they're all nearing EIGHTY!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW_kXIInCvY23VrHX75nvR9BaRui2dR2MHQU-YhSzsyrUstGZ3T73KPMkJoVPRdr65SBQNrFZBG0bOdmhTY-GHHJjpsehHa3XbqdPntj-r33bAIoMvLkkhlwv_-lfDOS6TaJAwPYz4bvWO6O7zab_vbgEL5nSgsJcbdfPDn47GSPH6g2ziFKbDtXOFJAU/s1366/flash%200911%2031.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW_kXIInCvY23VrHX75nvR9BaRui2dR2MHQU-YhSzsyrUstGZ3T73KPMkJoVPRdr65SBQNrFZBG0bOdmhTY-GHHJjpsehHa3XbqdPntj-r33bAIoMvLkkhlwv_-lfDOS6TaJAwPYz4bvWO6O7zab_vbgEL5nSgsJcbdfPDn47GSPH6g2ziFKbDtXOFJAU/w400-h195/flash%200911%2031.png" width="430" /></a></div>• Back at STAR, Possessed Chillblaine appears and tries to kill Iris and her unborn child. She's saved in the nick of time by the surprise appearance of the Speed Force— in the form of Barry's mom Nora of course.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wait, shouldn't it have been <i>Barry</i> who saved Iris here? You know, the guy who used to be the star of the show? Basic storytelling rules dictate HE should have been the hero here. So why the hell is the Speed Force taking over his character duties? It doesn't make any sense.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm starting to wonder if there was some sort of production problem that sidelined Grant Gustin this week, forcing them to pivot and bring in Michelle Harrison yet again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinMc5WPNUO-gons8GkdNb087LwA7u4PoS9P5jpmCTToaMGkKQfZGzOdB_v0lBZqNn5Zaq-Lk14UcvHF2IQrwGE3MQp9N9lhMCWedUM3_42G_LP5yoWAhZ2XhTyAgGzEDFae6FAuvL5WEsV6oWhPoqlTHXjLAA62tzyENMD_gHNdape8duep_X-G8l7vOl/s1366/flash%200911%2029.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinMc5WPNUO-gons8GkdNb087LwA7u4PoS9P5jpmCTToaMGkKQfZGzOdB_v0lBZqNn5Zaq-Lk14UcvHF2IQrwGE3MQp9N9lhMCWedUM3_42G_LP5yoWAhZ2XhTyAgGzEDFae6FAuvL5WEsV6oWhPoqlTHXjLAA62tzyENMD_gHNdape8duep_X-G8l7vOl/w400-h195/flash%200911%2029.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Malcolm sees a vision of Iris, so he goes to the <b><i>Citizen</i></b> to find her and starts rummaging through her office for some reason. A few things here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First of all, note the portrait on the wall in Iris' office. That's Ida B. Wells, a famous educator, civil rights leader, NAACP founder and prominent investigative journalist. Iris has had that painting in her office for several years now. Keep in mind that these scenes with Malcolm are taking place in 2049— meaning Iris hasn't changed her office decor since at least 2023!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVRx0H_8MJljsrwuT0SXWVUNGG29VSEAPUlqeWz4e_tSYAKPHWCxQSmfAEHVqRPdHO6D9gc1pY0cntXeV037SW83YMI69h3gQuasdx0IOcEkjOl1fE07BbBf9O0YIiEww06N2cjiggqvhs1gc7vRXV3cIXDmunTwr_yCj2J6NKw_pObp_XUev-kOh-LZN/s1366/flash%200911%2030.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVRx0H_8MJljsrwuT0SXWVUNGG29VSEAPUlqeWz4e_tSYAKPHWCxQSmfAEHVqRPdHO6D9gc1pY0cntXeV037SW83YMI69h3gQuasdx0IOcEkjOl1fE07BbBf9O0YIiEww06N2cjiggqvhs1gc7vRXV3cIXDmunTwr_yCj2J6NKw_pObp_XUev-kOh-LZN/w400-h195/flash%200911%2030.png" width="430" /></span></a></div></div>Secondly, Taylor (who I guess is still working at the <i><b>Citizen</b></i> in 2049) sees Eddie poking around Iris' office and calls for security. Again, remember that these scenes are taking place twenty six years in the future, which means Taylor's well into her fifties here. Wow, she looks pretty darned good for a middle-aged woman! She has two or three streaks of gray in her hair, but other than that she looks <i>exactly</i> as she did in 2023!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>I'm starting to think the producers don't </span>understand that 2049 is almost three decades from now. Either that or the people of the <b>Arrowverse</b> discovered a way to dramatically slow the aging process!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lastly, a security guard appears and asks what Malcolm's doing in Iris' office. Malcolm runs from him and dashes out of the building. The guard follows him for literally six feet and then just... stops. I guess he doesn't get paid enough to chase perps?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOQN2AoPOwjmdKMO5MEmwMUsbob2ub452gJRhOjWBbmC9H1mMLuXr__cfNPzZGFaisDjm8BKxJQuxd55hlp9ex8WyWGDKJTFoPZQc2g-7OcgrtNlDmvqX6FOHKZoNEwgx2Xf_o2wGI8rnIbUXYAAMMh2_Zq_AsLhcSfu6fxaTLHt_uFHrtJMOzQc023NC/s1366/flash%200911%2018.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOQN2AoPOwjmdKMO5MEmwMUsbob2ub452gJRhOjWBbmC9H1mMLuXr__cfNPzZGFaisDjm8BKxJQuxd55hlp9ex8WyWGDKJTFoPZQc2g-7OcgrtNlDmvqX6FOHKZoNEwgx2Xf_o2wGI8rnIbUXYAAMMh2_Zq_AsLhcSfu6fxaTLHt_uFHrtJMOzQc023NC/w400-h198/flash%200911%2018.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;">• In the Time Vault, Iris records a message to Barry, saying Team Flash is under attack by the Negative Speed Force and that she somehow senses he is too.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YfsPGi7Z7coSLIqrELYMeseE7vgGu91mWm-ldV1P3wQDx3FTHPVg_Kb8QS4Df3Dhhawwdrnx4uHuAMWqQJWveyAWN1qVUSjALxzPgAcqCoNIF0Hx22c7vIyLnPO-SdlJ9e5LBLNxg7vRZ0oxuUN7aXoSK-DaPdsDuEIA1r6LxaxTJJoLnrCsVPCj7iVy/s1366/flash%200911%2019.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YfsPGi7Z7coSLIqrELYMeseE7vgGu91mWm-ldV1P3wQDx3FTHPVg_Kb8QS4Df3Dhhawwdrnx4uHuAMWqQJWveyAWN1qVUSjALxzPgAcqCoNIF0Hx22c7vIyLnPO-SdlJ9e5LBLNxg7vRZ0oxuUN7aXoSK-DaPdsDuEIA1r6LxaxTJJoLnrCsVPCj7iVy/w400-h199/flash%200911%2019.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;">We then see Barry battling Negative Speed Force Joe from last week. The implication here is that Iris' love somehow traveled back in time to the year 2000 and gave Barry the strength he needed to win.<br /><br />This is our first and <i>only</i> indication that <i><b>A New World Parts 1 & 2 </b></i>are happening simultaneously.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">• Realizing Team Flash is in trouble without Barry, the Speed Force gives Khione a <b>Patented The CW Pep Talk®</b> to convince her to stop moping and help her friends. To that end, Khione teleports to Caitlin's old apartment, where Negative Chillblaine is waiting for her. A couple things here:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbL2hNErRUPtnHcF-SD4vBGnpGRRPAzHW98dJCDu_YbYxiPhLJyY538nJ8vtzRlRSK3cTSIWnIpXuqx65aGTF1rvkBVGdVwb8dSGXACaGFcnXvB3-bkqItoclrOQzCPE2WLKUYZ4Gxw_Vd1FWUlTEiUuKq7FsiUa7RBItJrfEZRm0Uml102ptKqZij3e5/s1366/flash%200911%2032.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbL2hNErRUPtnHcF-SD4vBGnpGRRPAzHW98dJCDu_YbYxiPhLJyY538nJ8vtzRlRSK3cTSIWnIpXuqx65aGTF1rvkBVGdVwb8dSGXACaGFcnXvB3-bkqItoclrOQzCPE2WLKUYZ4Gxw_Vd1FWUlTEiUuKq7FsiUa7RBItJrfEZRm0Uml102ptKqZij3e5/w400-h196/flash%200911%2032.png" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Khione makes a splashy entrance in the apartment as she blows the door clean off its hinges & sends it sailing across the room. She couldn't have just turned the knob?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Second, back at <i><b>STAR Labs</b></i> Chester's satellite sensors detect Khione's arrival at the apartment, as he says, "The barometric pressure just shifted 1,000 millibars!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />OK, a millibar is a unit used to measure atmospheric pressure. The standard air pressure at sea level is 1,013 millibars. So if Khione just caused the pressure to drop a 1,000 millibars in the apartment, does that mean there's now a vacuum there?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rnvyn_RjLQvDOKmKk3kfoCFYUbeg_Dn-UtW2enRWRGZk49xan6J_VLeN8767aoxZdKV2QBJ-TDwzCt5ZK__G-1dWZ-1zQzJTVgbig5245RpO31JoE1t5pmznvFh9imt_GllbHD71MsinPe5A57TpoM2hTpkxSXT9-QbH_iJUR_YS2GseocbHNrNylHmr/s600/1.gif.gif" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rnvyn_RjLQvDOKmKk3kfoCFYUbeg_Dn-UtW2enRWRGZk49xan6J_VLeN8767aoxZdKV2QBJ-TDwzCt5ZK__G-1dWZ-1zQzJTVgbig5245RpO31JoE1t5pmznvFh9imt_GllbHD71MsinPe5A57TpoM2hTpkxSXT9-QbH_iJUR_YS2GseocbHNrNylHmr/w400-h199/1.gif.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31DW6fdK6n9eGnD_SUt_6m0b5gmSvzihZBjYFh9EXwiaunDabvbnAvOnfSYN7YVy_ZaM9RlwrfyX43sLGc8qDWN2x02Czyrz1Pc6xFf0cLvf-VnC21Wgqz1GLlozEYJvxlMuxOEVv683cTe9Wl9iTBoiZZ2dBG3YRqPrXVLDDaZvyeAK9N_14JSE79Sxp/s600/2.gif.gif" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31DW6fdK6n9eGnD_SUt_6m0b5gmSvzihZBjYFh9EXwiaunDabvbnAvOnfSYN7YVy_ZaM9RlwrfyX43sLGc8qDWN2x02Czyrz1Pc6xFf0cLvf-VnC21Wgqz1GLlozEYJvxlMuxOEVv683cTe9Wl9iTBoiZZ2dBG3YRqPrXVLDDaZvyeAK9N_14JSE79Sxp/w400-h195/2.gif.gif" width="430" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">• Chillblaine— who's still possessed by the Negative Speed Force— begins taunting Khione. It tells her there's nothing she can do to stop it, because any attack by her will kill Chillblaine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Khione solves this conundrum by straight up killing Chillblaine, reducing him to a pile of dust. She even snaps her fingers before disintegrating him— just like Thanos! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once the Negative Speed Force's Blue Jolly Rancher Of Doom is out of Chillblaine's system, she reconstitutes him. Amazingly he survives this process.<br /><br />I gotta admit, that was a pretty ingenious solution! And I was impressed with the visuals here as well. Chillblaine's disintegration was <i>way</i> more gruesome and intense than any of the snap deaths we saw in <i><b><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2019/05/it-came-from-cineplex-avengers-endgame.html" target="_blank">Avengers: Endgame</a></b></i>. Well done, guys!<br /><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDq0-Geh3oolTOADuevuXb2OottQBciHBBjgvCZIm37aJqAwE4lK-7f7dpG1WEdpInJjW-DIAnghKpq651ixeYzMwe6TywgwhCIcOBh3sBuHKnfbfsUtKZeqEdU2fuwMGgkDp1xVKPB3GgeUNketIf3LBoDbfnug8q3hX1hBE28kE1NTG7LMQQsBCSndK/s1366/flash%200911%2020.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDq0-Geh3oolTOADuevuXb2OottQBciHBBjgvCZIm37aJqAwE4lK-7f7dpG1WEdpInJjW-DIAnghKpq651ixeYzMwe6TywgwhCIcOBh3sBuHKnfbfsUtKZeqEdU2fuwMGgkDp1xVKPB3GgeUNketIf3LBoDbfnug8q3hX1hBE28kE1NTG7LMQQsBCSndK/w400-h196/flash%200911%2020.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;">• Late in the third act, Iris FINALLY begins going into labor. Cecile— using her oh-so-useful powers, says, "<span style="color: #212529; font-size: 16px;">I'm getting a lot of wild emotions off of you!"</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br />Yeah, it's called labor, you preposterous pudding! You know, the thing you've gone through <i>twice</i> in your own life?<br /><br />Also, Cecile can sense Iris' labor pain, but for some reason was totally blind to Chillblaine being possessed by the Negative Speed Force. Got it!<br /><br />I wonder if Cecile can sense the audience's distress every time she appears onscreen?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">• Barry <i>finally</i> returns to the present from the year 2000, just as Iris is going into labor. When he finds out she's about to have the baby, he exclaims, "Right now?"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I <i>think</i> this may be a callback to Season 4's <i><b><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-flash-season-4-episode-23-we-are.html" target="_blank">We Are The Flash</a></b></i>, in which Iris suggested they have a child and Barry asked, "Right now?"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">• Cecile tells Barry they need to get Iris to the hospital, stat. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Earlier in the season Barry mentioned not wanting to zoom Iris around at superspeed while she was pregnant, lest it accidentally harm the baby. Let's hope he remembered that little rule here and they took an Uber to the maternity ward.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eobqcbItwO2HxWNUlz1cnESvijOvzrX_JYjs1K-4E6SUmL22JLxB9ZYYK_6bloKCJL2z9s46-KZ0f6QQ2w94un37eD25wudGUwQaoVjnRS05N_1AlpsXSRns3t81JnI14aaXn7U37MXxIqpgRhqVgnTKwpzouRxSVvuDP5X44_uUde6VqBYSbEZE6Ihq/s1366/flash%200911%2021.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eobqcbItwO2HxWNUlz1cnESvijOvzrX_JYjs1K-4E6SUmL22JLxB9ZYYK_6bloKCJL2z9s46-KZ0f6QQ2w94un37eD25wudGUwQaoVjnRS05N_1AlpsXSRns3t81JnI14aaXn7U37MXxIqpgRhqVgnTKwpzouRxSVvuDP5X44_uUde6VqBYSbEZE6Ihq/w400-h198/flash%200911%2021.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">• Well THAT'S an unfortunate image!</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• All of Team Flash shows up at the hospital to share the blessed event with Barry & Iris. Well, <i>almost</i> the whole team— Allegra's still back at STAR, recovering from her earlier attack ( I guess they just left her there alone?). And more importantly, Joe's conspicuously absent as well.<br /><br />Why would Joe not be present for the birth of his first grandchild?<br /><br />Welp, as I've mentioned many times now, Jesse L. Martin was contractually obligated to make five appearances in this truncated final season. The producers foolishly wasted FOUR of those in the terrible Red Death story arc at the beginning of the year. And then he appeared in last week's episode— which explains why Joe is nowhere to be found when his daughter goes into freakin' labor this week. <br /><br />Also, unless I'm wrong about the whole five episode contract thing, then he's not gonna show up in the SERIES FINALE either! Are you freakin' kidding me? That's just not right. Who the hell's running this shit show of a show?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• At the hospital, Chillblaine asks Khione how she was able to reduce him to dust and then resurrect him. A fair question! She calmly replies, "I'm a goddess."<br /><br />So somehow, putting Caitlin (who had no superpowers of her own) in a technobabble device in the Season 8 finale somehow transformed her into a literal goddess with a completely separate consciousness. Sure, why not. Comic Book Science!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3_Rbp9okXA4cUOVzrOBCyfESG2X9OCrlFoizzc-xuDntMEEQ6BVnPleotTEgp6iBGU1E5OylQC_eUjrmhmpYeEdrueoGzl8XGNZdP_Jo_ilSto7GrxkhHIAD8abMfDdbTRAXDjjeMiaSFIVsUq8s65urylmjmE89uNY_coEakN_YjvUUnSdtdxSCvbAw/s1366/flash%200911%2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3_Rbp9okXA4cUOVzrOBCyfESG2X9OCrlFoizzc-xuDntMEEQ6BVnPleotTEgp6iBGU1E5OylQC_eUjrmhmpYeEdrueoGzl8XGNZdP_Jo_ilSto7GrxkhHIAD8abMfDdbTRAXDjjeMiaSFIVsUq8s65urylmjmE89uNY_coEakN_YjvUUnSdtdxSCvbAw/w400-h198/flash%200911%2022.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Determined to discover the truth about himself, Malcolm somehow locates Eddie Thawne's grave and begins digging it up to see just who's inside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hilariously, despite the fact that he's using a shovel instead of a spade and a lantern for light, he digs a hole with perfectly straight razor-sharp sides! Why, if I didn't know better I'd think he used a backhoe to dig it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97f_aAdWuqnRYzdwjGi4GYMSKTkntTUslvEaMg7yEi3CXlX6Qkj984EiT9Ynk9460IEitRQByIJCqUjpyZ2ntJtHgbztw6DWc3gHqt3qqF5EVVMHj-zzG4o_6z2dKH8DiK0NN4FX_6xHFTtClvJ6dUQ4fCCD3Bvrg-OnOBbaJdmDAVsDls4rhhKBGxyr8/s1366/flash%200911%2034.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97f_aAdWuqnRYzdwjGi4GYMSKTkntTUslvEaMg7yEi3CXlX6Qkj984EiT9Ynk9460IEitRQByIJCqUjpyZ2ntJtHgbztw6DWc3gHqt3qqF5EVVMHj-zzG4o_6z2dKH8DiK0NN4FX_6xHFTtClvJ6dUQ4fCCD3Bvrg-OnOBbaJdmDAVsDls4rhhKBGxyr8/w400-h196/flash%200911%2034.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And why is he using an old-timey railroad lantern for light? Isn't this the future? Don't they have LED lights in 2049?</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW60rx6M_vGFkLU-J2ZHmZUk32L3vFSLQvp8ov5XLv1FzxFSI5jeI4XAle2OYr_7IQzT79mrGOzfuoI_nIvISnqNCvNKq2PvCQs97DZyFd4athQPlvciqKgmyIP0Cl9--SCAOXpcWvfyOvtWWOmhRp89sdWPJc_d4FrUSQHd9T6Ldn7aYbqopODWm1mrBs/s1366/flash%200911%2033.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW60rx6M_vGFkLU-J2ZHmZUk32L3vFSLQvp8ov5XLv1FzxFSI5jeI4XAle2OYr_7IQzT79mrGOzfuoI_nIvISnqNCvNKq2PvCQs97DZyFd4athQPlvciqKgmyIP0Cl9--SCAOXpcWvfyOvtWWOmhRp89sdWPJc_d4FrUSQHd9T6Ldn7aYbqopODWm1mrBs/w400-h199/flash%200911%2033.png" width="430" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the way, Eddie's tombstone lists his death as May 19, 2015. That's the date that <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-flash-season-1-episode-23-fast.html" target="_blank">Fast Enough</a></i></b> aired, which was the episode in which his character actually died! Nice touch!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_6OiqgIaqtPuwko-EmsYuv2bhFMRItGLaRe3pKkq6qwxlzPW30zaTGN2jf2HxYkNg9GI--SGeh6dVXj4z-njoyD5N5Egdu3aMM4LRgzaxLUMP3Dg03zV8fQgzk2mPhFDn7BFWWtjx5Lwfbm0-AdWqypUHIkVN4J7Qvla3KpR4-XWfdQ71ma_E9TQSkBp/s1366/flash%200911%2023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1366" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_6OiqgIaqtPuwko-EmsYuv2bhFMRItGLaRe3pKkq6qwxlzPW30zaTGN2jf2HxYkNg9GI--SGeh6dVXj4z-njoyD5N5Egdu3aMM4LRgzaxLUMP3Dg03zV8fQgzk2mPhFDn7BFWWtjx5Lwfbm0-AdWqypUHIkVN4J7Qvla3KpR4-XWfdQ71ma_E9TQSkBp/w400-h195/flash%200911%2023.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• We get another indication that these scenes are happening in 2049, as Captain Korber threatens to arrest Malcolm and points a futuristic gun or taser at him. Or maybe it's a barcode reader, it's honestly hard to tell.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>• Malcolm ignores Korber and flings open the coffin lid. Nope! Before burial, coffin lids are fitted with a rubber gasket and locked with a "sealing key," making them air and water tight. They </span><i>can</i><span> be opened if necessary, but it takes considerable doing. Again, maybe things are different in the </span><b>Arrowverse</b><span>.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />• Malcolm looks inside the coffin, and of course it's empty. This unlocks Eddie's memories, and he realizes his true identity as numerous clips from past episodes come flooding back. Among them are:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY2zzk--M8jxcd9D0TCROsHeEmlTeYWqvG8sDK7UP0Mhr3MuuiHtTh9NeZJMdwb_VC7PUSJ_M0jxvXDTZb3yGxQIsY7W34saHOPIootDJ403n1gOyd3t_MAt2ydO7r-nLudEnc9RwHw_mf5JEAR6cDQJsIDqLz4BEnk8Z3oRM1g7c1Y2XCB4PWiwwgqUg/s1366/flash%200911%2035.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrY2zzk--M8jxcd9D0TCROsHeEmlTeYWqvG8sDK7UP0Mhr3MuuiHtTh9NeZJMdwb_VC7PUSJ_M0jxvXDTZb3yGxQIsY7W34saHOPIootDJ403n1gOyd3t_MAt2ydO7r-nLudEnc9RwHw_mf5JEAR6cDQJsIDqLz4BEnk8Z3oRM1g7c1Y2XCB4PWiwwgqUg/w400-h199/flash%200911%2035.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eddie making the big step of gifting Iris with a key to his apartment, as seen in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-flash-season-1-episode-9-man-in.html" target="_blank">The Man In The Yellow Suit</a>.</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg-Q8AnwIGqPBlBUpDrwB6NypIUacIIDG-ogLBuAVLTalt6dM8yAFyJlUtc3CTi6POJW9fXojeOPsqXBX_O91kK1xTYuu8VwtuMBSm3hgYbktzK38xvr5ELKl6n3ICfjjyRJPCltWWQa5Y9gFQ9JdwT1JirrHvQGFx2tkfIOBgWmxVVPKoJ_-NUlpqX1L/s1366/flash%200911%2036.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZg-Q8AnwIGqPBlBUpDrwB6NypIUacIIDG-ogLBuAVLTalt6dM8yAFyJlUtc3CTi6POJW9fXojeOPsqXBX_O91kK1xTYuu8VwtuMBSm3hgYbktzK38xvr5ELKl6n3ICfjjyRJPCltWWQa5Y9gFQ9JdwT1JirrHvQGFx2tkfIOBgWmxVVPKoJ_-NUlpqX1L/w400-h198/flash%200911%2036.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Flash revealing his true identity to Eddie, in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-flash-season-1-episode-17-tricksters.html" target="_blank">Tricksters</a></i></b>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvlZQZ1zNgwvrESf1tvWAG0QW9clLvzxoEOtbpXH_Eu59GhNrFF5BF3a72jB-uaxhxbm023QvA1m-znXQ5ZTToo9rloVJQwrfuXtkI6f6z6lwyxp6xqC6i4NOFzAOb4aNtQrolLIWGvvvRt2HTx4BxgI0NFtckoPBCO0KuZ17YDQzSFnjeDTkh_Re7E08/s1366/flash%200911%2037.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvlZQZ1zNgwvrESf1tvWAG0QW9clLvzxoEOtbpXH_Eu59GhNrFF5BF3a72jB-uaxhxbm023QvA1m-znXQ5ZTToo9rloVJQwrfuXtkI6f6z6lwyxp6xqC6i4NOFzAOb4aNtQrolLIWGvvvRt2HTx4BxgI0NFtckoPBCO0KuZ17YDQzSFnjeDTkh_Re7E08/w400-h198/flash%200911%2037.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eddie proposing to Iris on a bridge in front of STAR Labs, and being interrupted by Eobard Thawne, as seen in <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-flash-season-1-episode-20-trap.html" target="_blank">The Trap</a></i></b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_8RIIHSVlX6gk9bEDbzDZTGn38QnyDfkC8S1i-28KolSInvEHWa-GsVKMN3ruvo5ZqMHJHr6ccHSXWkaCzIh-rIv_0v68tiuuTEMqfvWroWUOPupeAEqZIe33bh3JHw-1J9KoxE9LU24sSRCVVrfIGoSRe55vLXdNCUxNq5dNjabXlJk_Iz1FpZ14s78/s1366/flash%200911%2038.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_8RIIHSVlX6gk9bEDbzDZTGn38QnyDfkC8S1i-28KolSInvEHWa-GsVKMN3ruvo5ZqMHJHr6ccHSXWkaCzIh-rIv_0v68tiuuTEMqfvWroWUOPupeAEqZIe33bh3JHw-1J9KoxE9LU24sSRCVVrfIGoSRe55vLXdNCUxNq5dNjabXlJk_Iz1FpZ14s78/w400-h198/flash%200911%2038.png" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And Eddie shooting himself to prevent his descendent Eobard Thawne from ever being born (as a horrified Joe asks what he's done), from the Season 1 finale <b><i><a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-flash-season-1-episode-23-fast.html" target="_blank">Fast Enough</a></i></b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKWMBvrR6WbaCZOmWXa9WB0J6h7-s-GZ9ks5j30ZR-xTc-2m6VzXocLy-sGQXwqlXolriRdEP-icB7PQDZZdijNNvTHLJtNq6wmhN_avuuHWXHYnRT5MvpfhwLds_R1ibYBtF4jI3ebHnUIBOvxlxX_wvzpbc4Zti2mlwes6KrxWYPCYdA1rNqtOm_kSJ/s1366/flash%200911%2024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1366" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKWMBvrR6WbaCZOmWXa9WB0J6h7-s-GZ9ks5j30ZR-xTc-2m6VzXocLy-sGQXwqlXolriRdEP-icB7PQDZZdijNNvTHLJtNq6wmhN_avuuHWXHYnRT5MvpfhwLds_R1ibYBtF4jI3ebHnUIBOvxlxX_wvzpbc4Zti2mlwes6KrxWYPCYdA1rNqtOm_kSJ/w400-h198/flash%200911%2024.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• Once Eddie's memories return and he realizes his true identity, his chest begins bleeding from the self-inflicted gunshot wound he gave himself back in 2015.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsrYT0ob_Lz0ytsgCXja8fP-Rnh-utU6q-5YN-iSWepYgE8HxV2dA2MTXUplLU1kjGLdkzn2YSmnhmRuZWYrdhcI_v2DxOWL_jaZNxNqV7c-_BAozMzAQFBEabOD7Feu4v_uzd_yoav2Dj0Eq9oh5dFnGBRgJc5Cak0koiWE3UA4cwRaXh0XE4PQjAJpg/s1366/flash%200911%2025.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1366" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsrYT0ob_Lz0ytsgCXja8fP-Rnh-utU6q-5YN-iSWepYgE8HxV2dA2MTXUplLU1kjGLdkzn2YSmnhmRuZWYrdhcI_v2DxOWL_jaZNxNqV7c-_BAozMzAQFBEabOD7Feu4v_uzd_yoav2Dj0Eq9oh5dFnGBRgJc5Cak0koiWE3UA4cwRaXh0XE4PQjAJpg/w400-h199/flash%200911%2025.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He even pulls the bullet from the wound, which I guess has been lodged in his chest all these years. At this point, why not?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">• So let me see if I have Eddie's story right, just for my own edification. At the end of Season 1, Eddie finds out that Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse Flash, is his distant descendent. Eddie then shoots and kills himself, to ensure that Thawne's never born.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Once Eddie's dead, his body's sucked up into a wormhole created by Barry & Team Flash.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So far so good. But then things start getting dicey...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently the wormhole spit out Eddie's body at some point in the future— probably 2040 or so. Incredibly, it also somehow brought him back to life and healed his injuries. But then inexplicably left the bullet that killed him lodged in his chest. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even more amazing, the wormhole wiped his brain and installed a new identity in his head— that of Malcolm Gilmore. This new Malcolm persona was a fully realized individual— one with his own personality and a complete set of memories.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite the fact that Malcolm appeared completely out of nowhere, he acquired Joe West's old house and began living there, and somehow got a job at Mercury Labs as a brilliant research scientist!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh, and Team Flash apparently buried an empty coffin in Eddie's grave in 2015.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'll leave it to you to decide just how likely any of this is. Or to make sense of it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How did the wormhole create a whole new identity for Malcolm, complete with a lifetime of memories? How'd he become a scientist with decades of specific knowledge in his field? Why did Eddie's police file appear next to Malcolm after he was hit by lightning? How did it take years before he ran into someone who recognized him as Eddie Thawne? How did Malcolm buy Joe's old house without him knowing about it? Don't know! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I assume the answer to all this is that the Negative Speed Force did it. But that just brings up even more questions! </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Such is the amazing showrunning talent of Eric Wallace.</span></div></div></div><div><p></p></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-44988586763370797812023-07-22T21:58:00.002-05:002023-07-22T21:58:41.704-05:00A Joke Twelve Years In The Making<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PV1NfFEjMx9UPa0E0HLnz_DrJtUmaPvnkvKUBP2694QNM-FMAi8vFonWhQwcNLbvBXzn-CHRnB0IXtY8eMOk42TAx0Q45yZY38IveXITpIddJuxb3x2_x223fV6-a661Fzl5lsXu_80AfiLh32T-y3tPnOuQHEUn5c5z2Tzd6fLvcyBYmvRuw0JKkAr1/s720/st01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PV1NfFEjMx9UPa0E0HLnz_DrJtUmaPvnkvKUBP2694QNM-FMAi8vFonWhQwcNLbvBXzn-CHRnB0IXtY8eMOk42TAx0Q45yZY38IveXITpIddJuxb3x2_x223fV6-a661Fzl5lsXu_80AfiLh32T-y3tPnOuQHEUn5c5z2Tzd6fLvcyBYmvRuw0JKkAr1/w400-h280/st01.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wayyyyy back in 2011, AMT released a new model kit of the <i>USS Enterprise</i> from <b><i>Star Trek</i></b>. Note that this was the exact same kit they'd released numerous times before, but this time there was a twist. They molded it in glow in the dark plastic, and said the ship was from the <b><i>TOS</i></b> episode <i><b>The Tholian Web</b></i> (in which the ship did indeed glow green for a few seconds).</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought this was one of the most blatant and transparent cash grabs I'd ever seen, <a href="https://bobcanada92.blogspot.com/2011/07/marketing-101.html" target="_blank">mocking it mercilessly on my blog</a>. I even came up with several other ridiculous <b><i>Enterprise</i></b> variations that AMT could pump out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ2_HYLWtSxoOt0rTYwzVViVRCTci8nRkTu9iTw_MxmsGWzO84APFK-3LZuQYavRwE74GHf74HjWoameRwOQAoKlIkF8C-oiryRjX1yHhuBCJ1Uo2PL7GXDhaAjvr3sp6d_cKoAA9ebpZKp5Xq7cm_CYHsml5GGFm1uCKWu124l63buCMt-D24XxHmx1h/s720/st02%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ2_HYLWtSxoOt0rTYwzVViVRCTci8nRkTu9iTw_MxmsGWzO84APFK-3LZuQYavRwE74GHf74HjWoameRwOQAoKlIkF8C-oiryRjX1yHhuBCJ1Uo2PL7GXDhaAjvr3sp6d_cKoAA9ebpZKp5Xq7cm_CYHsml5GGFm1uCKWu124l63buCMt-D24XxHmx1h/w400-h280/st02%20copy.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Among them was this ship from the episode <b><i>Who Mourns For Adonais</i></b>, in which the Greek god Apollo captured the <i>Enterprise</i> by clamping onto it with a forcefield shaped like a giant ghostly green hand. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I said all AMT would have to do is sculpt a hand in green translucent plastic and they could reuse the same ship molds again. Instant cash!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JEpUNNDPbNW6rLRKSimntJucMzPC_BLOLRiaQtHd1C30LkkL4Cc5V5zZJiantSZagkmBpUN5An7x5-g6FQjTSLfOejCdqDF_AvblWlX8DRfh8Uz97LM4A2jy62P8HgE5LFRmwefJQ3mxQcFcMXHEhTg0fB0To4eAA6y6FNgERBBNYE4y4sw_5xfvgb30/s1920/Star-Trek-Hand-of-Apollo-Keepsake-Ornament_2999QXI7019_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JEpUNNDPbNW6rLRKSimntJucMzPC_BLOLRiaQtHd1C30LkkL4Cc5V5zZJiantSZagkmBpUN5An7x5-g6FQjTSLfOejCdqDF_AvblWlX8DRfh8Uz97LM4A2jy62P8HgE5LFRmwefJQ3mxQcFcMXHEhTg0fB0To4eAA6y6FNgERBBNYE4y4sw_5xfvgb30/w400-h400/Star-Trek-Hand-of-Apollo-Keepsake-Ornament_2999QXI7019_02.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welp, it took twelve long years, but my little joke finally became a reality. This week Hallmark premiered their new line of ornaments for 2023. Among them was the <i>Enterprise</i>— with the giant, ghostly green hand of Apollo clamped onto the front of it!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">OK, so it's an Xmas ornament and not a model kit, but... close enough!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now if only I could use my clairvoyant powers for something useful, like divining the PowerBall numbers!<br /></span><p></p></div></div></div>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4046751414407003862.post-40982795358340635082023-07-22T21:45:00.004-05:002023-10-29T16:08:53.228-05:00Snow White And The Seven "Magical Creatures"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last year Disney announced they were pumping out yet another entry in their seemingly endless series of dreadful live action remakes. This time it was <b><i>Snow White</i></b>— the film that pretty much kicked off the entire studio!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like most of their recent remakes, this one appeared to be more concerned with diversity and inclusion than story, as it would feature a Latina actress in the titular role. I know better than to even attempt to tiptoe through <i>that</i> particularly deadly minefield, so let's just ignore that and move on to the bigger topic at hand— the seven dwarfs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently actor Peter Dinklage— who's apparently now the self-appointed leader of the entire dwarf community— wasn't thrilled with this news. On the Mark Maron podcast he stated: <br /><br /><i>"Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there. It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way, but you’re still making that fucking backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together. Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.”</i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh, trust me, Pete, you're definitely loud enough!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What the hell's he talking about here? The <i><b>Snow White</b></i> dwarfs didn't live in a cave. They lived in a lovely little cottage nestled deep in the woods! They marched to work every morning in a <i>mine</i>, which he apparently somehow mistook for a cave. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dinklage is also confused about the nature of the dwarfs in the story. We're talking fantasy dwarfs here. They're a race of diminutive people who are all <i>supposed</i> to be small (think Gimli from <b><i>The Lord Of The Rings</i></b>). They're not humans with defective genes like him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As such, there's nothing the least bit offensive about the dwarfs in <b><i>Snow White</i></b> or other fairy tales.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Apparently Dinklage is one of the most powerful people in all of Hollywood. <i>Immediately</i> after his angry screed, Disney bent the knee to him and announced they were nixing the dwarfs from this new remake, and replacing them with a troupe of "magical creatures."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What the hell did <i>that</i> mean? Would their troupe now consist of seven unicorns? Centaurs? Dragons? A mix of them all?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2ZRoXmDxf25ysuW4zY-mGvj39BXfoVW2BvhCwGfREe76SNlYdZRFTOmcf0es_ErzyEzpDgtOeZN4pA0hFZRt37opcKNrm07JgFklIU-oluaifr9I6JTbiQ8kj_luNlsEaVBkXT4S-XG7bKHr542jomT_3loB-tRF-lx_8GWvG0s_u5PiDRXxn44Lbwm/s676/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-19%20at%207.41.06%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="676" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP2ZRoXmDxf25ysuW4zY-mGvj39BXfoVW2BvhCwGfREe76SNlYdZRFTOmcf0es_ErzyEzpDgtOeZN4pA0hFZRt37opcKNrm07JgFklIU-oluaifr9I6JTbiQ8kj_luNlsEaVBkXT4S-XG7bKHr542jomT_3loB-tRF-lx_8GWvG0s_u5PiDRXxn44Lbwm/w400-h301/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-19%20at%207.41.06%20PM.png" width="430" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welp, this week we finally got our answer. Behold, here's our first look at Snow White with her band of magical creatures!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You have <i>got</i> to be shitting me here...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jaysis, this looks like a bunch of rejects from the world's lamest Ren Faire. Or a particularly inept community theater. Seriously, I've seen comic con cosplayers with more professional looking costumes than this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />In addition to looking cheap and amateurish, none of them look particularly magical either.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And I can't help but notice that there still appears to be a dwarf on this little team. So... I guess <i>seven</i> dwarfs is somehow offensive, but one's perfectly OK? Does seven exceed some secret dwarf quota I don't know about? I honestly don't get it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, I absolutely guarantee that Disney's gonna change ALL the names of these exciting new characters. The original dwarfs names would no doubt be far too triggering for modern audiences. Some, like Dopey and Grumpy, would be considered reductive. Others, like Sleepy and Bashful, would be offensive to people with sleep disorders or social anxiety. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74QdPx5ucR2nfRsRYq8j6RnbFe1b0GArPAmz1oUxoGYw76CtP-bl8Bv21YRvwwixRb12SYMFaw8hX15WHMhyf5nwl7I6i0AhUocs1AuxvnsRtenVo_oKtVuTFm5J5LBlOFlFazyPWaRRjvpfTNhjBgBUEAQNdLYV0BnTAKTczpMdlvr2erDY6b3QRMI0n/s828/16897153907765.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="828" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74QdPx5ucR2nfRsRYq8j6RnbFe1b0GArPAmz1oUxoGYw76CtP-bl8Bv21YRvwwixRb12SYMFaw8hX15WHMhyf5nwl7I6i0AhUocs1AuxvnsRtenVo_oKtVuTFm5J5LBlOFlFazyPWaRRjvpfTNhjBgBUEAQNdLYV0BnTAKTczpMdlvr2erDY6b3QRMI0n/w400-h266/16897153907765.jpg" width="430" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Let's take a look at 'em and figure out what new names Disney's gonna give 'em. From back to front we have Wish.com Jesus, Tokeena, Diversity Hire-O, Robert Baratheron, Discount Alan Tudyk, Dollar Store Lenny Kravitz and Not-Dinklage.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well done, Disney! I can tell right now you've got another billion dollar blockbuster on your hands!<br /></span><p></p>Bob Canadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938039612223083995noreply@blogger.com0