'The Flash' Recap: 'Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Every great superhero story out there, features a ‘darkest hour’ for the hero or heroes in question. It’s that terrifying period of time where we the audience, aren’t quite sure if they will be able to escape their trying situation or find a way to save the day and that ugly moment for the CW’s superheroes arrived last night on The Flash, because ‘Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3’ dropped us right back into the waking nightmare surrounding Barry Allen and his friends.
 
Because the last time we saw the Flash and his compatriots, they were trapped on Earth-X behind enemy lines, with what appeared to be no hope for escape. But thankfully, a fellow prisoner had made plans with Earth-X’s version of Leo Snart and after a harrowing escape, our beloved heroes were thrust right into the heart of the resistance on this troubled world, complete with a General Winn Schott making all the calls and unfortunately for the group, their desire to return home to their own world was stymied by the General since he saw an opportunity to end the Reich once and for all with the Führer trapped on Earth-1, prompting Alex to do her best to appeal to Winn’s good side and let them return home to save countless lives.
 
While Alex did her best to change his mind, the situation was indeed grim back on Earth-1, considering the fact that Kara was strapped to a gurney and powerless thanks to a healthy dose of Red Sunlight and just when it seemed that there was no escape for Supergirl and her heart would find its way to Overgirl, Felicity and Iris came through. Because this dynamic duo of ladies were able to move about S.T.A.R. Labs undetected and shut off the power, giving Kara a fighting chance to regain her powers. But alas, Evil Olly’s lackeys were able to capture everyone and rather than see her friends perish horribly, Kara in essence sacrificed her own life by agreeing to the transplant in exchange for their safety.
 
Yet while that sequence of events were harrowing in their own right, none of it compared to how this episode ended. Because an assist from Ray and Captain Cold changed the General’s mind, and the group now had one hour to secure the Breach facility and head home and while they fought valiantly and with plenty of heart, disaster struck in the middle of their assault. Because in order to get the breach open, Firestorm split up and as Doctor Stein made a move to flip the switch, he took a bullet in the back and that’s where Part 3 leaves us, with Jefferson calling out to the man he’s come to know as his surrogate father, and with the good Doctor slowly bleeding out…
 
So, yeah. That’s how this one ends, with a collective gasp at the sheer surprise of seeing Stein take a bullet and really, when all is said and done, this one really took us through the wringer. Aside from some lovely moments of levity from Snart, this episode was about as dark and dreary as they come. There was quite frankly, zero hope at the end of this one and serious credit is due to this episode for being so bold and so bleak and I won’t lie, as the finale kicked off, I was definitely filled to the brim with nervousness and dread because it’s clear that this story is no longer messing around and an tough ending awaits us whether we like it or not. Until next time.  

---