WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Flash Season 7, Episode 11, “Family Matters, Part 2,” which aired Tuesday on The CW.
As The Flash progresses into its seventh season, it’s clear that the flagship Arrowverse series finds itself at a crossroads. Now the oldest program in the franchise still on the air, the show has begun to reveal signs of its advancing age as several of its longtime cast members have begun to depart. And as The Flash begins to look for new, interesting directions to take its remaining characters and new faces joining the series, Season 7 has an undercurrent feeling that the show has forgotten to take risks with lasting consequences for its characters and overarching story.
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In its defense, The Flash Season 7 began at a clear disadvantage because of unforeseen circumstances outside of the usual production. An abrupt shutdown on the last stretch of Season 6 episodes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) meant the series had to wrap up its dangling plotlines with Mirror Monarch and address the departure of cast member Hartley Sawyer, fired between seasons after offensive tweets previously made by the actor resurfaced. Following this, the season immediately went into exploring new Forces created when Barry Allen and Iris Allen-West revived the Speed Force. This development created an interesting twist when Nora, the living Speed Force, became obsessed with hunting and killing the new Forces to ensure her second lease on life, effectively pitting Barry against the source of his powers.
However, just as quickly as this storyline was introduced, things quickly went off the rails, narratively. New character Alex Rivera bonded with the Strength Force to become the super-powered figure Fuerza. But when Nora’s heel turn became evident, she stole a portion of Barry’s energy to kill Alexa before resuming her hunt across Central City. Just as quickly as Team Flash mourned Alexa’s murder, it was completely resolved and undone in the following episode, with Barry and Iris channeling their connection to the Forces to resurrect her. And seeing the error of her ways, Nora joined with the Forces to relegate themselves in the remnants of the old Speed Force, quietly taking these new Forces off the table.
This muted, status quo-affirming tendency has also extended to the B-plots for the season, most notably with Killer Frost/Caitlin Snow’s character arc so far. Now existing in two separate bodies, the schism between Caitlin’s personalities coincided with the arrival of special investigator Kristen Kramer, a law enforcement officer with permission by the governor to carry out a strict anti-metahuman policy. While Frost had long since reformed from her villainous ways, Kramer took her into custody, leading Frost to make a plea deal in exchange for a lifetime prison sentence without the possibility of parole. However, this grave sentence was overturned a handful of episodes later, with Frost’s sentence is commuted after helping track down fugitives from Iron Heights.
While the return of the Forces and Kramer’s continued vendetta against Frost and metahuman activity in Central City likely will inform the remainder of Season 7, these conflicts and consequences appear to have been undone nearly as quickly as they arrived. Upon a new crisis arising, Barry remains repeatedly unaware of what his next course of action should be, and yet, the Scarlet Speedster’s track record this season has largely been inconsequential as he continues to save the day and restore the status quo. For a show that began with epic twists and turns and genuine emotional stakes, The Flash appears to have lost its way.
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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