The Flash – “The Runaway Dinosaur”
I had some mighty issues with season two of The Flash as I believed it had forgone its winsome and bright tone for something more dour, self-serious and ultimately boring. There were a number of standout episodes however that reminded us viewers just why we fell in love with the series and one of them is the excellent, Kevin Smith directed “The Runaway Dinosaur” that finally (so we thought) allowed Barry to process his grief over his mother’s passing and his perceived inability to save her. It’s constructed beautifully with a wonderful three act structure that builds not to a big action climax, but an emotional one as Barry, stuck inside the speed force, speaks to fragments of his mother and the embodiment of that force. That he escapes with the help of Iris-the one voice that could really ever pull him back home-is an added bonus by the time it comes. Grant Gustin delivers one of many fine performances as Barry Allen and the interconnected scenes with Iris and Cisco back at Star Labs is a nice reminder of how talented the ensemble is that even the oddest pairings can deliver some hilarious dynamics. It’s an episode that once again embraces the light and color that The Flash should utilize with its Scarlet Speedster leading the charge. –Allyson Johnson
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