The CWBarry so desperately needs his powers back on The Flash that Team Flash is actually considering what sounds like a complete disaster: Another particle accelerator explosion? Really?
But as we learned in "Back to Normal," that really is the next plan of attack as Zoom prepares to take over Earth-1.
"The next episode is about the [ethics] of doing that," showrunner Andrew Kreisberg says of Harry Wells' brilliant idea to restore the speed force in Barry Allen (especially after fighting a metahuman without any special abilities was so darn difficult). "Harry thinks that between his particle accelerator explosion and what the Thawne version of Wells did, he can contain it and just get Barry's powers back."
Of course, not everything on this show goes according to plan, so it's a risky suggestion at best. "Everyone, including Barry, has to decide if this is the right way to go," Kreisberg says, "considering the craziness that ensued last time. They're faced with a damned if you do, damned if you don't [situation] because Zoom's about to unleash a reign of terror on the city."
And yes, the reaction on everyone's part is exactly what you probably said as soon as Harry uttered the words "particle accelerator explosion" (say that three times fast): "Are you out of your mind? This is insanity and we're trusting everything on Harry's say so that it's all going to be fine," Kreisberg says. "I think that's part of what makes the next episode so exciting."
We'll also see the return of one of season one's most important figures, Barry's formerly imprisoned father. "John Wesley Shipp returns as Barry's dad in the next episode. There's a great scene that's between Barry's three fathers, essentially," Kreisberg teases. "It's between Tom Cavanagh and John Wesley Shipp and Jesse Martin where all three of them are sort of debating what their son should do. Not all of them have the take on it that you'd expect and I think that makes for an interesting scene."
The other big revelation from "Back to Normal"? The loss of Killer Frost (and those awesome scenes featuring both of Danielle Panabaker's characters, Caitlin Snow and Killer Frost, collaborating while trapped inside Zoom's lair.
"We loved what Danielle did with [Killer Frost] so when we were designing this episode and we had Zoom kidnap Caitlin, it just seemed like a fun thing to do to have the two of them together," Kreisberg says.
Unfortunately, though, it was Killer Frost's time to go. But one aspect of the two characters' scenes together could show up next season: the mutual dislike of their mothers. "We haven't met Caitlin's mother yet, so we got a little talk between the two women which is something that'll probably play out in season three," he says.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
Another particle explosion: Bad idea or terrible idea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!