The Flash (TV Series) Plastique (2014) User Reviews

Nice spin on the metahuman villainy

[Fluke_Skywalker · 7/10 · 1 April 2016]

For now, the will they or won't they romantic drama surrounding Barry and Iris works well, but it's a gimmick that does wear out fast if not handled just right. Another gimmick that wears out pretty fast is freak of the week villainy, however "Plastique" puts a nice, personal spin on it by having our metahuman be a good person. A victim. Her power is a little bit of a stretch, but it's used effectively; particularly in the climax.

Guest star Clancy Brown (a good Ohio boy) makes things better simply by being Clancy Brown, and though I do like the chemistry between Barry and Iris, my favorite moments in the show continue to be the ones between Barry and Joe. The two actors have a nice father and son vibe together and Jesse L. Martin is wonderful in the role.

Do I Sound Like Felicity?

[ThomasDrufke · 9/10 · 11 November 2014]

In that one simple line Caitlyn says "Do I sound like Felicity?" I felt that Flash has finally found it's feet. That line shows that this show is willing to poke fun at itself for a few laughs. The first few episodes have been cheesy and at times perhaps taking itself too seriously. But this episode balance both emotion and laughs perfectly. As much as the characters are similar to Arrow, I love how much more lighthearted it is.

There wasn't a main villain this week but it happened to benefit the episode. It's actually about time we see a meta-human that isn't hell-bent on destroying Central City and instead a good person. Plastique had some great scenes with the STAR labs crew and if it weren't for her finding out Barry's secret, I would have said it would be great to see her join the team. You had to know once she found out about Barry she was going to die at the end. By the way the amount of times he has taken off his mask in public is concerning. Aren't there at least some cameras in the area the enforcement can look at? Also, Iris should definitely be able to tell it's Barry. It's the same issue I had with Laurel not finding out for two full seasons about Oliver.

Also I enjoyed the way the episode started and finished with Barry's monologue of how interesting it is that some friends leave us and some stay. Also hinting at Eddie Thawne becoming Reverse Flash. But the best scene in the entire episode and possibly season was with Detective West and Barry in his apartment. Not only did it contain a few chuckles with Barry's voice changer, but it gave us a heartfelt scene that the show had previously been lacking. Major props for the acting during that scene. So in all it was one of the best episodes of the season that balanced character drama and humor perfectly.

+Perfect balance of humor and emotional drama

+Detective West & Barry scene

+Do I sound like Felicity?

+That Grodd cameo at the end!

+A Metahuman that is good

-Stop taking off your mask!

9.3/10

A Fun Ride with Some Bumps

[SpoodermanDerp · 7/10 · 12 November 2014]

"Plastique" is a well delivered episode once again from the Flash, but flaws are becoming to arise and seem to be more noticeable than before.

First off, I do not completely agree with Iris and Barry being shipped throughout the episode and this show. What was the point of the previous episode and the obvious perfect match that was implied between Felicity and Barry if you continue this complete mismatch of characters. I do not enjoy Iris on screen, she seems to lack any character development at all rather than just be a girl Barry chases. Her relationship with Eddie is lacking in quality as well, and Eddie is a complete underdeveloped character as well and completely useless to the narrative. Barry's interest with Iris is forced and it is heading for a dead end. With that said, the episode was thoroughly enjoyable like the previous episodes. We are yet again introduced to a new meta human and villains and after that the episode becomes all predictable. I do admit the episode had it's moments and was indeed a feel good episode, but the structure of the episodes are getting quite repetitive. The visuals and action were the high points of the episode and scenes of Barry with Caitlin and Cisco. The villains were satisfying, although not fully explored yet. Dr. Wells still is packing us with mystery with every episode and sometimes it feels annoying especially when sometimes the reveal is useless, However in this one we get to see something interesting that will sure play a part in the future. If the episode aims for a fun and enjoyable ride that you can watch with your spare time, then it seems to me that the episode did a very excellent job at that then.

-Iris and Barry undergoing a forced and unsatisfying pairing, -Iris and Eddie's relationship also lacking quality, -Iris totally unlikeable, +An fun and enjoyable episode like previous Flash episodes, +Visuals and Action, +Barry, Cisco and Caitlin

Verdict: 7.5/10

Very Enjoyable, but FIX the Annoying Plot Holes and Inconsistencies

[serbian_007 · 9/10 · 11 November 2014]

-The girl Barry is in love with (Iris) just happens to be one of the first people to see 'the Streak' in person? Ehhhhh, unlikely. Seems too forced and too soon. And she sneaks up on him, on the Flash? Really? Seriously?

-Barry musters enough courage to talk to Iris on the rooftop in his fancy costume, tells her to stop blogging about the steak, but fails to tell her the reason why? WTF. Dude, is it so hard to tell her to stop because her life may be in danger? Maybe then she'll listen. Don't dance around the issue and just say it. Instead, he just leaves without giving her a reason to stop? Um, OK....what a waste of a meeting.

-How fast is the flash early on? Does he improve in speed as time goes on? That seems to be the way the show is trying to explain it. OK, then perhaps this isn't an inconsistency, but I've been noticing a little too MANY things sneaking up on the Flash that shouldn't be able to sneak up on him. Like, for instance, the general shooting the girl right in front of the Flash. Isn't Barry so much faster than a bullet? If so, wouldn't he hear the freaking gun shot right behind him in super slow motion and prevent the death from happening?

-Iris is such a dumb-ass and so clueless and "friend zoned" Barry so HARD from childhood till now that she never even once considered that Barry may like her more than a friend? Wow, makes me not like her character at all. For crying out loud even her own father sees it. How the hell can someone be so stupid?

-The chemistry between Iris and Barry seems forced and somewhat nonexistent, which becomes clearer as the show goes on. So she's hot, big whoop! She ain't all that special to me, and the writers haven't given me any incentive to actually like her character in the first place so I'm kind of hoping Barry leaves her permanently. ("We shouldn't see each other for a while" - good move, Barry. You finally stood up for yourself and left the friend zone). She deserves that for being so dumb.

I really like this show, but some of these questions drive me crazy. He freaking turns his back on the general and keeps talking to the earpiece even after the general just SHOT and KILLED his friend with a gun? Really, Barry? WTF, what if the general shoots you while your back is turned you idiot? God, I hate plot holes like this. Fix these plot holes and the show will prevent premature baldness from those of us who will pull our hair out from frustration. Thanks. "The Flash" -Preventing premature baldness since 2014, since episode 6. Let's hope.

CSI: Central City

[pablo2896 · 8/10 · 20 January 2015]

The Flash: Plastique Review

In this The Flash episode, the show took a more investigative tone, as the army got involved in the latest mission undertaken by STAR Labs to stop a new meta-human.

As we all expected, these first episodes in the series have been tricky as they have to be used to flesh out the character of Barry Allen so it is understandable if the plot of these episodes or even the villains are a bit weak for the first half of the season. The same way it went with the Arrow series which hit it's high note in it's second half and season finale. So it was surprising to see that Plastique handled it's plot fairly well by adding a more mysterious and interesting case for the Flash Team to investigate.

The army's involvement was a nice touch that gave this episode a bit of more tension and even a new shady character to join the roster. The negative was that this episode's meta-human "Plastique" had an uninteresting personality just like the previous ones (although quite good-looking) and the actress that played her gave a hurtful performance, and not in a good way. It was cool to see a different and more original set of powers though, different to the gassy ones of the other episodes. Speaking of powers this episode perfectly added plenty of new abilities for Barry to master like running on water and running up walls. These led to two awesome moments (especially the climax, holy crap!) that proved that set-pieces are The Flash's strong suit. It was also pretty awesome to see him distort his voice just like Oliver Queen does but instead of some voice changing software, using his super-abilities. It was kind of freaky how much Joe enjoyed that ability but he is still a cool dude.

One issue I have to address is the unrealistic way Iris met with The Flash. It was cool to see her meet him but why the hell didn't Barry keep shaking his head like he always does? Do they expect us to believe that the convenient lights placed in convenient places that give us, the audience, a hard time seeing Barry Allen's face due to the lens flare affect Iris the same way? Barry was lucky that Iris needed glasses at the time or was half asleep or something but next time he will have to do the shaky-face thing in order to retain believability. I had the same issue with "The Arrow" but I guess he doesn't have much of a choice aside from speaking face-to-back with people, which wouldn't be very dramatic.

But aside from that Platique was awesome. A new villain was introduced that may shine some light into some of Dr. Wells'shady activities and, as every The Flash episode does, it gave us some funny Flash Team moments that showed us how cool their friendship is and some freaking explosions and a man running on water away from an even bigger explosion!!

The Flash: Plastique is getting an 8 out of 10.

Ranking/Reviewing every Flash episode: Plastique

[lbramson · 10/10 · 10 June 2023]

I present to you one of my favorites: Plastique! Barry's suit explodes from a meta named Plastique who turns out to actually be a good person tracked by the military. So, Team Flash puts Plastique into protection after General Eiling of the US Army sets off a bomb. A lot of people consider this a weak episode of Season 1 which hurts me because it's an underrated classic! It frickin' rules! A story about Team Flash protecting a metahuman has been done since but never as well as the first time! To add more greatness, the new suit is miles better than the original suit. And all around, a well rounded blast of awesome moment after awesome moment! I had to round my 9.7 score to a 10/10!

It was a really good episode

[saeedshafee-71460 · 10/10 · 17 May 2023]

Title: Explosive Excitement: A Review of "The Flash: Plastique

"The Flash: Plastique" is an electrifying episode that showcases the strengths of the series, combining action-packed sequences with character-driven narratives. As the fifth installment of the first season, this episode introduces the enigmatic metahuman named Bette Sans Souci, also known as Plastique, and presents a compelling storyline that keeps viewers engaged from start to finish.

One of the episode's greatest strengths lies in its ability to balance intense superhero action with emotional depth. From the opening scene where we witness Plastique's explosive abilities to her subsequent encounters with Team Flash, the stakes are raised, and tension permeates throughout. The visual effects and stunt choreography are top-notch, delivering visually impressive sequences that fully immerse the audience in the world of superhuman abilities.

The character development in "Plastique" is noteworthy. Barry Allen, portrayed brilliantly by Grant Gustin, continues to evolve as the Scarlet Speedster. His moral compass and unwavering determination to help others shine through, making him an inspiring and relatable protagonist. The dynamic between Barry and Plastique, portrayed by the talented Kelly Frye, is both captivating and poignant. The exploration of Bette's personal struggles and the emotional weight of her powers adds an additional layer of complexity to the story.

The supporting cast, including Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), and Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), further enhance the episode's appeal. Their interactions with Barry and Plastique contribute to the overall narrative, as well as provide moments of humor and camaraderie that fans have come to love.

The writing in "Plastique" maintains the show's trademark blend of lightheartedness and drama, offering a well-paced storyline that keeps viewers engaged. The dialogue is sharp, and the narrative twists and turns create a sense of unpredictability that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

However, while "Plastique" is undoubtedly a thrilling episode, it falls slightly short in exploring some of the side characters in depth. Some moments feel rushed, leaving certain plotlines feeling underdeveloped. Nonetheless, the episode's strong points far outweigh its minor shortcomings.

What Happened?

[Jdmaxgaming · 7/10 · 4 December 2014]

"Plastique" is I hate to say it, the worst episode of The Flash so far. The love triangle between Barry and Iris is now just getting a bit strange to me. I like the whole idea of The Flash changing his voice and meeting her pretending to be somebody else, but isn't that just a bit too cliché? I mean, Batman does it, Arrow does it and so Does Spider-Man, so why Flash had to copy them, I have no idea. The episode also feels flat, and boring. While don't get me wrong, this episode was enjoyable, it lacked in many areas. The villain "Plastique" is the worst villain we've ever had. She's not one bit believable, I mean c'mon a girl that touches you and automatically makes you a human bomb!? That's one stupid idea. The episode drags a lot too, making me lose focus at times. The love triangle was cute, but now it's getting annoying. Overall, not the best episode. Hope they can redeem themselves next week! Best of luck to the Flash team! - Jdmax

Flash's costume disappears and reappear

[fkniche-96093 · 7/10 · 15 November 2020]

Cisco was upset with Barry over his costume, in the next scene Barry is in his costume, how?

This Is What I Like

[khamenkm47 · 7/10 · 2 May 2023]

General Eiling is another diabolic man like wells, and a great character, about the villain, (I mean, it was not really a villain because she did not want to hurt people at all) I feel really bad for her because she was so nice, she did not want any of this to happen. It would have been cool if she actually killed Eiling but I like the way he's talking and his intelect so I hope he will appear again in this show. This episode was as good as the others, well written and well acted. I know I'm not good at writing reviews but I really try. Anyways, this episode was a good one, it deserves an 8. .

Now you're insulting us, CW

[javvieh · 3/10 · 22 November 2014]

I've been interested in this series as I like the genre and I'm a big fan of "Arrow". But we have some serious writing problems to deal with if this show wants to stay alive for long.

It was nagging me a little bit in episodes 1-4 but the insistence upon keeping everything hidden from Iris is intellectually insulting even by Hollywood standards. Detective West's insistence on this under the guise of 'safety' is stupid, unbelievable and not even remotely realistic. Barry letting this man pressure him into keeping this secret is stupid, unbelievable and not even remotely realistic. After Iris meets 'the Streak', hears his plea (which he does a lousy job of delivering), taking flak from Barry about her blog and then hearing him say it's not about his parents and she STILL doesn't immediately put 2 and two together?... stupid, unbelievable and not even remotely realistic. And then to top it all off, Dve. West wants Barry to announce his true feelings while simultaneously insisting that she be kept in the dark about everything. For 'Safety'.

Stupid, unbelievable, and intellectually insulting.... even by Hollywood standards.

This was almost intolerable when the same ploy was used with Thea in "Arrow", but she was at least young enough that we could understand the motive for not telling her everything right out of the gate. Iris, however, is a grown woman with a detective father and detective boyfriend and she's been Barry's best friend for all of their lives. DOES NOT COMPUTE. Unless she plans to become a super villain in the next two episodes this show is about to lose me. We don't have enough back story to make "villain of the week" engaging for an entire season, unlike "Arrow" which had three stories happening at once: the island, today, and Moira vs. Merlyn. (I keep referencing Arrow for the obvious reason that these are sister shows).

So: no compelling back story + intellectually insulting love triangle/secrecy = thin ice for what could've been a great show. Let's hope this gets fixed soon.