History Recap / TheFlash2014S2E23TheRaceOfHisLife

* TakeThat: Cisco says that his visions of Earth-2's destruction are like "watching ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' in 4-D, but like, ten times more realistic. And with much better acting."

* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Making a Time Remnant involves travelling through time and convincing an earlier version of yourself to come back with you and help you out, at the cost of their own existence. To an AxCrazy {{Sociopath}} like Zoom, [[ExpendableClone that's not much of a problem]], but Barry's explanation of it after using it to defeat Zoom makes it clear he's fully aware of the implications of this ability and doesn't take it lightly. He and the others even [[ClonesArePeopleToo state they consider the clone a hero for his]] HeroicSacrifice. In addition to the moral issues, it also runs the risk of attracting the [[ClockRoaches Time Wraiths]], which is ultimately what does Zoom in.

* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: Making a Time Remnant involves creating an exact copy of yourself that's as much you as you are. To an AxCrazy {{Sociopath}} like Zoom, [[ExpendableClone that's not much of a problem]], but Barry's explanation of it after using it to defeat Zoom makes it clear he's fully aware of the implications of this ability and doesn't take it lightly. He and the others even [[ClonesArePeopleToo state they consider the clone a hero for his]] HeroicSacrifice. In addition to the moral issues, it also runs the risk of attracting the [[ClockRoaches Time Wraiths]], which is ultimately what does Zoom in.

* BittersweetEnding: While Zoom is finally defeated, and Iris finally returns his feelings, Barry is so utterly broken by his dad's death that he decides to go back in time to save his mom just to give himself some hope.
* BookEnds:

* AmbiguousSituation: Although he's hesitant to actually do it, Barry really seems like he could of after Zoom at any moment.

* AmbiguousSituation: Although he's hesitant to actually do it, Barry really seems like he could kill Zoom at any moment.

* WhamEpisode: Zoom is dead[[note]]and may or may not be [[GrimReaper the Black Flash]][[/note]], the Man in the Iron Mask is revealed to be the real Jay Garrick (and also a doppelgänger of Henry Allen) and, most importantly, Barry travels back in time...and prevents his mother's murder. Counts as a WhamEpisode for the entire Franchise/{{Arrowverse}} since this will follow the ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} storyline, though to a different (by Arrowverse standards) conclusion than one would be [[ComicBook/New52 familiar with]].

* CelebrityParadox: Cisco gives a TakeThat to the ''Franchise/TransformersFilmSeries''. Creator/TonyTodd, who voices Zoom, also voices [[Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen its second installment's]] BigBad. [[note]]Creator/StephenAmell (Oliver Queen) will also work with the same ProductionPosse in ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesOutOfTheShadows''[[/note]]

* CurbStompBattle: Barry delivers one to the Reverse Flash in the very last scene, saving his mother. Justified as Barry caught the drop on him, and after he had just been in a battle with the future Flash.

* TimeyWimeyBall: In nearly exactly the same way as Hunter pretended to be Jay Garrick, Barry splits himself to a "time remnant"... which appears to be running so fast that he is literally in two places at the same time, rather than seeming to be. This would be odd enough on its own... but then the remnant ''disintegrates'' into nothing by running too fast, and Barry remains there, seemingly unharmed. Zoom also creates and kills another time remnant earlier in the episode. Though it's implied [[ClockRoaches this is why the Time Wraiths show up and come for him.]]

* WhamEpisode: Zoom is dead[[note]]and may or may not be [[GrimReaper the Black Flash]][[/note]], the Man in the Iron Mask is revealed to be the real Jay Garrick (and also a doppelgänger of Henry Allen) and, most importantly, Barry travels back in time... and prevents his mother's murder. Counts as a WhamEpisode for the entire Franchise/{{Arrowverse}} since this will follow the ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} storyline, though to a different (by Arrowverse standards) conclusion than one would be [[ComicBook/New52 familiar with]].

--->'''Zoom:''' I got so tired of being the villain. So I decided to be the hero too. I even borrowed his name... [[CanonCharacterAllAlong Jay Garrick]].

* YouWouldntShootMe: Zoom taunts Barry: "You couldn't kill me before. You won't kill me now." He's right... Barry let him be dragged away by a pair of Time Wraiths.

Barry, to avenge his father, is determined to take Zoom down once and for all. But can he when challenged by Hunter to the race of his life to determine once and for all, who deserves the title: "The Fastest Man Alive"?

* BoredWithInsanity: Zoom explains that he decided to take Jay Garrick's identity and play the hero role because he was getting bored being the villain. Played With, as he's ''still'' absolutely nuts regardless and only did so for kicks rather than any benevolent reason.

* FateWorseThanDeath: Whatever the Time Wraiths plan on doing to Zoom (which looks a ''lot'' like they're ''turning him into one of them''), his scream of horror shows that he probably would have preferred if Barry had killed him instead.

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Barry finishes Zoom off with one of these.

* YouKilledMyFather: Barry towards Hunter for murdering Henry in front of him.

** The real Jay's costume is much brighter in color than [[MovieSuperheroesWearBlack Hunter's "Jay" costume]], sporting the bright red boots (with golden buttons standing in for the golden Mercury wings), bright blue pants, and bright red shirt [[TruerToTheText from the comics]]. It also has some elements of Barry's suit and sports some blue on the shirt, likely as a nod to the New 52's younger version of Jay from Earth-2.

* IconicItem: "Jay"'s winged helmet is once again in the spotlight near the end of the episode. However, The real Jay reveals that the helmet is one of the few things that Hunter ''didn't'' steal from him (the helmet belonged to Hunter's war vet father). After Harry mentions that, on his world, this helmet was the symbol of hope (intentionally done by Hunter in order to rip that hope away as Zoom), Jay decides to wear the helmet as both a way to get back at Zoom and to maintain its image. Of course, the helmet is the iconic image of Jay Garrick from the comics.
* IdentityImpersonator: Turns out, Hunter Zolomon was never Jay Garrick. He just stole the name from the ''real'' Jay, the Flash of Earth-3.

** While Zolomon is being brought through a portal by the Time Wraiths, his deteriorating appearance causes him to ironically resemble the Black Flash (the "Grim Reaper" of the Speed Force) in the process.

* CurbStompBattle: Barry delivers one to the Reverse Flash in the very last scene, saving his mother. Justified as Barry is now on even footing with Zoom, who was much faster than Reverse Flash was.

* ChekhovsGunman: The Time Remnants who chased Barry when he traveled back to Season 1's time became essential in defeating Zoom.

* TogetherInDeath: Henry is laid to rest next to Nora. [[TearJerker Take the fucking onions away, dammit!]]

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