Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) enjoys the holidays with Iris (Candice Patton) and Joe (Jesse L. Martin) as usual, before he comes face to face with his nemesis. Eddie (Rick Cosnett) interrupts Iris and Barry during a touching moment.

The show opens with Barry running alongside someone or something as quick as him. Then, we flash back a day, when Joe, Iris and Barry are enjoying the Holidays and decorating the Christmas tree. Joe is called in to answer some questions, which leaves Iris and Barry alone to open their gifts. Barry gives Iris a replica of her mother’s wedding band, as she lost the original years ago. And Barry? A high-powered microscope. Eddie Thawne shows up and interrupts their happy moment.

Afterwards, Barry is at STAR Labs, where everyone is getting into the Holiday spirits, except for Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). Eddie and Iris share a cup of coffee. Eddie questions Barry’s motives for giving her a wedding band. And his gift? A key to his residence. Next, Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) encounter a suspicious individual in the parking garage. The person is a meta-human that is capable of emitting fire from his body.

Next, a yellow Flash wrecks havoc at the Mercury lab. Joe tells Barry about his previous encounter with the Reverse-Flash and that all of the paperwork on his mother’s murder is gone. Back at the lab, the group discusses the incident at Mercury lab. Harrison brings up the eccentric Dr. Tina McGee (Amanda Pays). Caitlin visits Iris and questions her about her “Burning Man” blog. Iris questions her about Barry and believes he is keeping something from her.

Barry and Wells speak with McGee about using her prototype to lure the Yellow Man. McGee refuses and is ticked off that they believe Mercury cannot protect their own assets. Cisco (Carlos Valdes) details his trap to Caitlin, who brings up Ronnie and suggests he is still alive. She requests Cisco’s help to find Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell). Afterwards, we flash back to a young Barry, who gets tucked into bed by his mother, Nora Allen (Michelle Harrison), and his father, Henry Allen (John Wesley Shipp). After his parent’s leave his room, the Yellow Man enters and we see the scene of the crime and Nora’s death.

Iris tells Barry about her plans to move in with Eddie. She questions Barry about his feelings for her and he blows them off with denial. Once Iris leaves, Barry sees Reverse-Flash on the adjacent rooftop. He confronts and questions him about murdering his mother. Reverse-Flash tells him he’ll have to catch him to get answers. CGI chase ensues. The pair run to a football field, where the Yellow Man manhandles Barry, before insisting Barry knows who he is. Reverse-Flash insists it is Barry’s destiny to lose to him. Back at the lab, Barry updates the team and doubts his abilities.

Joe and Barry pay a visit to Dr. McGee, who doesn’t want to give up her protocol to Wells. Barry smooth talks her and convinces her to give over her equipment. Eddie shows up and tells Joe about his plan to apprehend the Flash. Meanwhile, Caitlin and Cisco track down Ronnie, but he doesn’t remember who he is or her. Instead, he starts a fire and runs away.

Back at the lab, Barry, Joe and Harrison begins preparing to lure in Reverse-Flash. However, Joe and Harrison insists Barry leave, while they perform the deed. Next, Barry visits his father in prison and tells him about his encounter with the murderer. Henry tries to comfort his sobbing son.

Barry returns home and hugs Iris, before telling her he loves her. After laying his heart out on the table, he leaves and Iris remains silent. Meanwhile, Cisco, Harrison, Joe and Eddie attempt to capture the Yellow Man. Joe questions Reverse-Flash, who is now captured, about the murder. Instead, he speaks to Wells. The Yellow Flash breaks free and entraps Wells, before laying a beat down on him. The Flash shows up in time to save Eddie and Joe. Reverse-Flash is simply too strong, but Ronnie comes to his rescue, before telling Caitlin to stay away.

Afterwards, Joe gives Eddie the details about the meta humans. He convinces Eddie to keep everything secret, in order to protect others. He questions the Flash’s identity. Joe simply tells him The Flash is the guy that saved both of their lives. Cisco and Caitlin speak with Harrison, who questions them about Ronnie. He insists they’ll bring Ronnie home. Back at home, Barry tells Joe that his mother traveled around the world twice. Barry admits he is stuck in Central City by his fear. Joe admits to being hesitant to raising Barry at first, but things changed quickly. Joe insists Barry changed his life, before saying he needs Barry.

Back at the house, everyone is gathered around, besides Wells. Barry tells Iris and Eddie he is happy for them. Cisco tells Joe he saw something weird, which was the electricity coming off of them. He says that two speedsters had to have been at Barry’s house, when his mother was killed. Joe puts the finishing touches on the tree, before we see Harrison inside the lab. Harrison has a yellow Flash outfit. He does something with the suit, before saying, “Merry Christmas” in Yellow Flash’s voice.

Review


The mid-season finale of The Flash definitely hit it out of the park! Without a doubt, it was the best episode of the entire series and brought the emotions. Also, we got some startling revelations. The Yellow Man or Reverse-Flash finally showed himself, but who was he? Is Dr. Harrison Wells the evil Flash? Most viewers have been suspicious of him from the very beginning. The ending leads one to believe he could very well be, but would he beat himself senseless, and how?

At the same time, Barry finally revealed his true feelings to Iris, but it was for naught, which was fairly depressing. Also, the scenes with Barry and his father, then with Barry and Joe were very emotional. They were the finishing touches on an already amazing episode. This episode deserves a 9.5 out of 10.