The Flash “Invasion!”

The Flash - Invasion!-0

The Flash actually kicks off the crossover proper. Which is good, because Supergirl really didn’t. I mean, you could’ve literally skipped Supergirl, and the rest of the crossover would still make sense. Hell, they even include the only crossover scene from Supergirl on this episode of The Flash.

Regardless, they continue using Wally’s new powers as a subplot throughout the episode. He really wants to begin training and get out there, but both Joe and Iris keep vetoing him. This is despite the fact that he’s progressed far faster than Barry in the same short time period.  He gets so sick of being snowed out on it that he asks H.R. for help and training. He’s initially not willing to do it, but after Wally gets hurt helping Barry and Oliver out later, he agrees to help Wally on the sly. But aside from that, very little normal Flash plot occurs.

Things take a turn for the crossover-y when an alien ship crashes in a park in Central City. Barry tries to touch the thing and gets repelled several feet through the air for his trouble. Hundreds of aliens then come pouring forth from the ship, with Barry unable to really react to them.

The Flash - Invasion!-1
Ack ack-ack ack ack. (The CW)

ARGUS is on the scene the next day, and The Flash asks Lyla just what’s up with the whole thing. She later lets on that this isn’t the first time this species came to Earth, and that they’re called the Dominators. There’s absolutely no way they come in peace, and last time getting rid of them was costly from a military point of view. Lyla absolutely doesn’t want Barry to get involved, but there’s no way he was going to sit it out.

So he immediately gets the primary members of Team Arrow involved. To his credit, Diggle doesn’t hurl when The Flash helps them out of a hairy situation this time. That said, he no longer has a mask that covers the bottom of his face, so he would’ve had less to rinse out. Thea decides to get in on the alien fighting action, and Lyla’s upset that Barry didn’t wast time doing the thing she didn’t want him doing. he and Cisco head off to get Kara while Felicity signals the Legends. And once everyone’s together, Barry escorts them to an empty hangar owned by STAR Labs.

READ:  Sons of Anarchy review: "Playing with Monsters"
The Flash - Invasion!-2
Meanwhile, in the Hall of Justice. (The CW)

After everyone gets acquainted, Jax and Dr. Stein decide to play future Barry’s message for Barry and Oliver. It basically says that he knows he changed something in the past, and that it means that they shouldn’t trust the current timeline Barry. They then stupidly leave the mp3 player they had the message on out in the makeshift operations station. So of course Cisco finds the thing and throws a wrench in the plan by outing the message to everyone. Since they find out that the President has been kidnapped by the Dominators, they decide to leave Barry behind. Oliver refuses to just let him sit it out alone, so the rest of them head out on their rescue mission.

The Flash - Invasion!-3
Their use of Kara as a training stand-in was great, because nothing they did so much as tickled her. Well, maybe a little. (The CW)

The team, sans Oliver and Barry, track them down to an abandoned salt mine. They get right into the middle of the room before realizing that they’ve walked into a trap. The Dominators use a device to control the group, and send them back against the remainder at STAR Labs. Barry and Oliver aren’t able to hold all of them off, especially since Kara’s among the mind-controlled group. They get a bit of help from Wally, but that’s not enough. Barry eventually figures out a way to use Kara to take out the device controlling everyone. Just in time, too, since Wally was KO’d and Oliver had basically run out of arrows.

Just as they’re heading back in to figure out Plan B, roughly half the team gets abducted. By the time Barry even figures out what’s happening, it’s too late to save them. The Flash’s contribution to the event ends here, to be continued on Arrow.

Final Thoughts:

  • They really do give some of the best lines to Dominic Purcell.
  • I called it over two weeks ago, but I knew the woman Dr. Stein had been dreaming about was his daughter.
  • See? I managed to avoid a reference to Bad Dudes for an entire review!

3.5/5
“Impressive”

About Author

B. Simmons

Based out of Glendale California, Bryan is a GAMbIT's resident gaming contributor. Specializing in PC and portable gaming, you can find Bryan on his 3DS playing Monster Hunter or at one of the various conventions throughout the state.

Learn More →