“The Race of His Life” is episode twenty-three of season two of The Flash and the season finale.
In the previous episode, “Invincible”, all the Earth-Two metas, with the exception of Zoom who had managed to open a breach, had been taken out of action. Wells was incapacitated as well, because he and Jesse were wearing headphones designed to protect them and, as Jesse’s weren’t working, her father gave her his. Afterwards everyone else was celebrating back at Joe’s when Cisco finally saw more of his dead bird vibe – it revealed Earth-Two splitting in half. Then Zoom showed up and sped off with Henry and Barry followed – Wally is definitely going to know now that Barry is the Flash – catching up with Zoom at Barry’s childhood home. In the room where Barry’s mother was murdered by the Reverse-Flash. Zoom has insisted that Barry was like him, and was going to make him that way by killing Henry in front of him. Then stuck his arm through Henry’s chest.
The episode opens with Henry collapsing to the ground and Barry going over to him as Zoom watched. Which would have been an ideal time for Zoom to kill Barry, if that’s what he wanted. Zoom tells Barry that he told him that family was a weakness, asking if he feels anger now and saying that they are now the same. So Barry rushed at Zoom and the latter tells Barry to use his anger. Just like he did. The two rush through Central City and Zoom creates another time remnant, which Barry catches up with. The remnant – Barry doesn’t know what it is yet – tells Barry to embrace his anger, to end him. Then the real Zoom appears and says let me do it for you, and kills his remnant. Zoom tells Barry he is so close and Barry realises it was another remnant. The real Zoom tells Barry there could be two of him as well – he just has to be willing to kill himself. That Barry is almost ready.
It’s the day of Henry’s funeral and everyone is there, including Wells who has presumably recovered but is wearing sunglasses on a rainy day to conceal his identity. Not the world’s greatest disguise. Barry starts to give a speech, but says he can’t do it right now, so Joe takes over. Joe describes all the loses and bad things that Henry suffered in his like but he proved that love can get you through the darkest days and love will keep Henry alive in all of their hearts. As Barry places a flower on his father’s coffin, he says that he is going to find Zoom, and he promises to take from Zoom what he took from Henry. Barry is not in a good place right now.
Back at Joe’s, Wally brings some food for Barry but Barry thanks him and replies he isn’t hungry. Wally says he had no idea Barry was the Flash, of all the things he did for Wally, for the whole city. He is so sorry and promises that if there’s anything Barry needs he will help. Barry goes over to the others and tells them that Zoom is still out there and needs stopping. They need a plan though; Cisco says if Zoom can open breaches when he wishes, what else can he do that they don’t know about.
Barry repeats Zoom’s comment about Barry being almost ready. When asked ready for what, Barry says he doesn’t know. Cisco comments that’s classic psychopath; why can’t they just say what they want you to do? Cisco also wants to know why he is vibing Earth-Two being ripped to shreds. Joe asks if he’s serious and Cisco says it’s like being in a 4D Transformers movie. Only ten times more realistic and with much better acting. Joe says that if Cisco is vibing the future, they need to stop it from happening.
Barry goes outside and Iris follows. Barry doesn’t know how he can come to terms with his father’s death and he misses him so much already. Then Zoom speeds past the house and Barry goes after him. Zoom asks if it’s a bad time, and says he gave Barry some time to mourn. Barry replies that it end now and Zoom responds no, not when there is still so much more to take. Barry tells Zoom to stay away from his friends and Zoom replies that this is up to Barry.
Zoom continues and tells Barry that, when they first met in “Flash of Two Worlds” and as Jay Garrick he told Barry that Zoom needed to be the best, he was telling the truth. Barry just didn’t know he was talking about himself. Zoom wants a race between the two of them, to see who is the fastest. Barry responds that he isn’t going to race Zoom and Zoom tells him that Barry’s father is not the only person Barry loves that he can take. All Zoom wants to know is who is the fastest man alive. In either world. Could that be what splits Earth-Two?
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs Caitlin asks how they can trust Zoom. Cisco says that it makes sense, in a weird sort of way. Joe says that can’t be the only thing that Zoom wants and Wells says that it isn’t. He continues, saying that the magnetar developed by Mercury Labs, which Zoom has stolen – presumably this is why Black Siren targeted the building – could act as a pulsar. Cisco puts on a worried face at this statement. Wells says that it can be easily weaponised and iris comments that’s not dangerous at all.
Cisco assumes that this is what happens to Earth-Two, that Zoom could destroy a planet. Wells continues, as it’s even worse. With a suitable power source Zoom could destroy far more. Barry says that he is the power source, that Zoom will siphon off his speed. Wells replies that Zoom will siphon off both their speeds and Caitlin mentions that Zoom had said in “Back to Normal” that he used to measure success by how many victims he had but now he was going to measure it by how many Earths he could conquer. Wells says that Zoom could take out every planet in the multiverse when asked how many that is, Wells says it’s infinite. Cisco makes a comment about one pulse to destroy them all (possibly a reference to the One Ring). Barry says he has to race Zoom, and he has to win, and leaves the room.
Joe follows and tells Barry he should just say no; Barry says that it’s not that easy. Joe wants to find another way but Barry doesn’t want to sit around whilst Zoom kills someone else. Joe tells Barry that Zoom need him, needs his speed, so they have an advantage. But it isn’t just about racing Zoom, says Joe, Barry wants to kill him. Barry replies that of course he wants to kill Zoom; he wants to do a lot more than that, he wants Zoom to suffer, and is willing to do whatever it takes. Joe says that he can’t talk Barry out of it then and Barry says he’s sorry, not this time. So Joe replies that he’s sorry too and Wells tranqs Barry.
Barry comes to in the pipeline with Cisco, Wells, Caitlin, Iris, Joe, Jesse and Wells all standing outside. Barry wants to know why they put him in there and he’s told that he’s too angry right now. He can’t race Zoom like that, without a plan, as he will lose. Barry insists that keeping him in the pipeline will get them all killed as he’s the only one who can stop Zoom. Wells replies that if Barry races Zoom on Zoom’s terms, he will lose. Barry insists that it’s not their decision but they all made it. Together.
Afterwards, Joe says that was harder than he anticipated and Wells tells him that was the easy part. Taking down Zoom with their plan is going to be much harder. First they need to locate Zoom, which Cisco and Jesse manage. Wells tells Caitlin she doesn’t have to do this, but she says she will. They go over the plan; Caitlin distracts Zoom, Wells and Joe take him down with a boot, Cisco opens a breach and they put Zoom though. Then Wells will destroy the magnetar. Joe reminds them that they made the decision together, and if anything goes wrong, they will stick with the plan.
Of course, something does go wrong – it was all working out far too early in the episode. Barry needs to get over his anger otherwise he will give Zoom the upper hand. Zoom reveals some of his past, including stumbling across the man in the iron mask, and once again comments on the man’s identity being unbelievable. And when his identity is finally revealed, it is a surprise.
There is no definite cliff-hanger ending to this episode but Barry does something that will have consequences. Possibly very big, potentially bad consequences.