You don't go into a show like "The Flash" expecting great character depth or advancement. Characters are what they are, from Barry's hard-nosed boss Lt. Garfield to comic relief characters Bellows and Murphy. Even Tina pretty much bends around whatever scientific plot device The Flash needs to solve his latest case. That's why it's refreshing to see the father-son dynamic played with some depth in this episode. Now I didn't like Henry Allen in the pilot, as he pretty much existed to add the requisite family tension that would drive Barry to becoming a proactive hero. Here though, we're given a much more rounded character portrait. M. Emmet Walsh turns in a great performance that takes Henry Allen from being the stubborn, "this was how we did it in the old days" ex-cop to a man who realizes he's past his prime and has to watch as his family and friends are put in danger. So when Barry finally decides he's had enough of his father constantly belittling his work, it's not a stretch to see how Henry honestly wants to make amends. For a father-son relationship that's only in its 2nd appearance and won't get highlighted again for the rest of the series, it's surprising the amount of closure we get here.
Besides the great character relationships, this is one of the better constructed episodes of the series. Chalk it up to too much plot left on the cutting room floor or sloppy writing or some combination of both, but many episodes suffer from missing bits and pieces that make them feel incomplete. There's usually small leaps in logic you have to make or allowances for the fact that this is a "comic book" series. With this episode, there's a much better flow. Character progression from one scene to the next is much clearer, and its a smoother viewing experience.
So what if the episode doesn't have The Trickster or Captain Cold? It nails the drama on the head, and for that it's worth checking out.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
A murderer escapes from prison to find his loot and kill Barry's father, the cop who put him away.
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GUEST STAR
Pete AnticoPool Player #2
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GUEST STAR
Will Gill Jr.Security Guard
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GUEST STAR
Chuck HicksSenior Officer
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Alex Désert
Julio Mendez
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John Wesley Shipp
Barry Allen
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Amanda Pays
Dr Christina McGee
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (3)
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When Henry is watching TV, it's a Julia Child program.
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Henry must be a crack shot; when shooting Danny's jukebox, he hits exactly the same spot with two bullets.
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Barry's change to the Flash in Act IV had a very cool Superman 2 feel to it, but it makes one wonder where the costume came from, since he didn't have his briefcase or the trunk of his car with him. (The producers didn't use the costume ring from the comics because it was "too unrealistic".)
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QUOTES (0)
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NOTES (1)
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The actor playing Reggie, the blind newsstand operator, is Robert Shayne, who played Inspector Henderson in the George Reeves series The Adventures of Superman.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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The title of this episode is an allusion to a Biblical concept from the Old Testament that a man's children will be punished by God for any crimes he commits. The concept is very well known, and this phrase has been used throughout modern film, television, and literature.
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what country are the flash fans from
02/10/094
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The Flash needs to be adapted for the screen
07/31/0810
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Attn: Canadian viewers who get Showcase Action
08/24/072
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the flash
07/03/079
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Submission Guidelines
01/02/071
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The Trial of the Trickster
S 1 : Ep 21
Aired 5/18/91 (45:29)
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S 1 : Ep 19
Aired 5/4/91 (45:24)
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Done With Mirrors
S 1 : Ep 18
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