WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Flash Season 7, Episode 16, “P.O.W.,” which aired Tuesday on The CW.
Team Flash gets all kinds of support from familiar faces and new friends — and not a moment too soon. Following the previous episode’s reveal, Central City remains in the grip of different factions of the supervillain speedster Godspeed battling amongst themselves. And even with backup, the stakes have never been higher as lives are lost while others hang precariously in the balance.
Following the appearance of warring Godspeed factions, Central City has descended into violence while Barry Allen continues to receive visions of his time-displaced daughter, Nora, informing him that history has been catastrophically changed. Desperate to help evacuate parts of the city caught in the crossfire, Barry barely escapes a skirmish against the Godspeeds with his life, returning to S.T.A.R. Labs where he learns that the electrical feedback caused by the speedster conflict has effectively cut off Central City’s electronic communications with the outside world. This does not deter their old friend John Diggle from joining them from the outside, bearing a weapon to help stop the conflict before it escalates uncontrollably.
Diggle reveals that he has A.R.G.U.S.-developed tech capable of trapping moving objects in time through plasmatic waves. While showcasing the new tech, Diggle has a sharp headache, noticed by the rest of Team Flash before they proceed with their plan to capture a Godspeed and learn why they’re fighting. Replicating the Godspeed’s modem-speak, Barry and Diggle lure a Godspeed into one of the A.R.G.U.S. traps and take him back to S.T.A.R. Labs. The Godspeed duplicate reveals that the speedsters are searching for their original progenitor August Heart, who is seeking to gain an upgrade that will end their existence. After Barry rejects the duplicate’s request to join them in killing August, the duplicate attacks Barry and destroys the speed trap before escaping.
After Barry snaps at Chester, he privately confesses to Diggle that his concerns over his plans for a family, fueled by Nora’s reappearance, has put him on edge. Allegra overhears this conversation and decides to help her cousin Ultraviolet stop Black Hole from carrying out further illegal experiments. Meanwhile, determined to get to the heart of the matter, Barry runs forward through time to the year 2049 but is intercepted by a cadre of Godspeeds and flung into an extra-dimensional realm where the Forces reside. Deon reveals he is using the Still Force to prevent Iris from being removed from the timeline while the Godspeeds prey on the Speed Force.
Allegra arrives on the scene too late to help her cousin against Black Hole, with the mortally wounded Ultraviolet dying in her arms, resentful that Allegra did not accompany her when she needed her the most. On the other side of the city, Diggle, Cecile and Killer Frost save August from a Godspeed and take him back to S.T.A.R. Labs, finding that he is suffering from acute memory loss. Diggle departs from Central City before the next wave of Godspeeds to deal with his Green Lantern destiny, likely linked to his debilitating headaches.
Joe and Kramer are revealed to have survived the car bomb planted in their vehicle as they tracked down Kramer’s surrogate brother and betrayer, Adam, outside of the city limits. Turning the tables on Adam, the rogue metahuman reveals he betrayed Kramer and the military for the experiments he endured due to his special abilities. Despite goading Kramer to kill him, Joe successfully talks her down, insisting on bringing him in by the book instead.
After Cecile and Barry commiserate together in S.T.A.R. Labs in the face of the anticipated Godspeed attack, Barry finally has his full reunion with Nora who assures him that her restored existence signals that everything will be okay with Iris. And this impromptu family reunion of two becomes a party of three as Nora introduces her father to her brother — and Barry’s future son — Bart Allen, with Barry overwhelmed as the young speedster makes his debut.
The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
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