TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews The Flash Season 7 Episode 9: Timeless

As a writer watching other shows and media, I often try and see things from their point of view in regards to seeing why they did something as they did. But not unlike a fan not digging a plot point, I’m at times puzzled with the message they’re trying to send and how they try to convey it. “Timeless” was exactly that for The Flash tonight.

Because after the death of Alexa/Fuerza, Barry and Iris had to figure out what to do about the “Speed Force” and the other Forces out there. Them going off in separate directions with separate ideas was fine…what followed…not so much.

The crux of this episode was the question of whether to erase the Forces or try to save them. Apparently (don’t think, just accept) when Barry and Iris brought back the Speed Force they unintentionally created the other Forces (again, don’t think, just accept). That plot point would’ve been interesting on its own, and it did pay off in a certain way via the reviving of Alexa at the end. However, the question of whether they were “worth saving” was not answered in a logical way by any stretch of the imagination.

Because of the three Forces not named Speed, only one of them was shown to at least have the potential of saving, and that was Alexa. But even then, that wasn’t handled with grace due to the whole “hulking out and killing Abra Kadabra” bit. Yes, that was obviously the Force and not Alexa, but still. Barry’s idea of erasing them from creation while not affecting the timeline was risky per se (because messing with the timeline rarely works as The Flash comics and TV show have shown) but it was the best solution to the problem they had. And yet, Cisco, Iris, Chester, Joe and even Timeless Wells made him try to see that there was hope for them…even though that just doesn’t track.

Because while it’s true that certain Flash villains in the past were able to change like Captain Cold and Mirror Mistress…The Thinker, Zoom, Reverse Flash and more were most definitely not. Don’t forget, they tried to appeal to Savitar’s good nature and that almost got all of them killed. And no one can deny that they TRIED to make it work with Dion (twice) and Psych (twice). Alexa was the only one to respond, and even then, she was afraid of what…that something was wrong with her and that she was a monster. She was desperate for help because she DIDN’T want to hurt anyone and the Strength Force wasn’t going to allow that to happen as we found out before she died.

And of course, now they have to deal with the Forces and the new rage-filled Nora and that won’t be easy at all.

Also, Cisco and Camille coming to the realization that they need to “leave Central City” was also not the best timed. Why did THIS MOMENT lead them to believe they need to leave? Camille, sure, because she’s getting recognition for her photos but Cisco? Not so much.

There were some good elements in “Timeless”, truly there was, but it’s hard to ignore that they really did just go and try their hardest to make up a reason to save the Forces instead of erasing them, and that was eye-rolling at times.