Post by matt on May 26, 2022 22:11:16 GMT -5
This was directed by the now former Legends of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz. 
Before My review here's a behind the scenes interview by Caity:
www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-flash-caity-lotz-takes-us-behind-the-scenes-of-the-curious-case-of-bartholomew-allen/
The Flash Season 8 Episode 16
The Flash’s “The Curious Case of Bartholomew Allen” is another of what showrunner Eric Wallace likes to refer to as an “interlude” episode, an hour that isn’t as clearly connected to the larger ongoing arcs of the season (also known as “graphic novels”). As a result, while there are a few small references to season 8’s’ larger stories—Iris is still missing and the episode ends with Barry destroying the mad scientist lab that Caitlin built in her living room after Frost’s death—it generally feels as though it’s a story that could essentially take place at any point in the season.
In fact, there’s a lot about this installment, which revolves around the Flash getting hit with a shockwave that causes him to age rapidly and his powers to deteriorate further each time he uses them, which has a distinctly season one flavor to it. Largely because it strikes an almost perfect balance of humor and heart, mixing physical comedy with genuinely moving emotion. But that may well also be due to the influence of the special guest star behind the scenes.
Though it’s been about a month since Legends of Tomorrow was officially canceled, former leading lady Caity Lotz still made one last crossover this year. But instead of starring onscreen, she took charge behind the camera. “The Curious Case of Bartholomew Allen” isn’t Lotz’s first time in the director’s chair; the actress helmed three episodes of Legends—season 5’s “Mortal Khanbat,” season 6’s “The Satanist’s Apprentice,” and season 7’s “wvrdr_error_100 not found,” the series’ 100th episode. But it does mark her directorial debut on a show that was not her own
“It was definitely different,” Lotz tells Den of Geek when asked about directing a show she wasn’t also starring on. “It was interesting because I knew a lot of the actors, but I didn’t really know the crew or anybody. So it was [challenging] trying to get to know everybody and have everyone get to know you in such a short period of time. But it was also kind of a nice change to not have, like, ten people in a scene!”
According to Lotz, the episode is more of a “standalone” than a lot of installments in The Flash universe, which she says offers a “little more freedom” for her as a director.
“You have a lot more limitations when you have an episode that [is part of a larger arc] — and that was something I talked to Eric about in terms of, you know, following beats, because if [he] wrote it in the script, it’s really important. There’s a lot of interconnected stuff and the more interconnected it is, the more you have to make sure that you’re playing your part and being the puzzle piece that you need to be.”
The Flash Season 8 Episode 16
The Flash’s “The Curious Case of Bartholomew Allen” is another of what showrunner Eric Wallace likes to refer to as an “interlude” episode, an hour that isn’t as clearly connected to the larger ongoing arcs of the season (also known as “graphic novels”). As a result, while there are a few small references to season 8’s’ larger stories—Iris is still missing and the episode ends with Barry destroying the mad scientist lab that Caitlin built in her living room after Frost’s death—it generally feels as though it’s a story that could essentially take place at any point in the season.
In fact, there’s a lot about this installment, which revolves around the Flash getting hit with a shockwave that causes him to age rapidly and his powers to deteriorate further each time he uses them, which has a distinctly season one flavor to it. Largely because it strikes an almost perfect balance of humor and heart, mixing physical comedy with genuinely moving emotion. But that may well also be due to the influence of the special guest star behind the scenes.
Though it’s been about a month since Legends of Tomorrow was officially canceled, former leading lady Caity Lotz still made one last crossover this year. But instead of starring onscreen, she took charge behind the camera. “The Curious Case of Bartholomew Allen” isn’t Lotz’s first time in the director’s chair; the actress helmed three episodes of Legends—season 5’s “Mortal Khanbat,” season 6’s “The Satanist’s Apprentice,” and season 7’s “wvrdr_error_100 not found,” the series’ 100th episode. But it does mark her directorial debut on a show that was not her own
“It was definitely different,” Lotz tells Den of Geek when asked about directing a show she wasn’t also starring on. “It was interesting because I knew a lot of the actors, but I didn’t really know the crew or anybody. So it was [challenging] trying to get to know everybody and have everyone get to know you in such a short period of time. But it was also kind of a nice change to not have, like, ten people in a scene!”
According to Lotz, the episode is more of a “standalone” than a lot of installments in The Flash universe, which she says offers a “little more freedom” for her as a director.
“You have a lot more limitations when you have an episode that [is part of a larger arc] — and that was something I talked to Eric about in terms of, you know, following beats, because if [he] wrote it in the script, it’s really important. There’s a lot of interconnected stuff and the more interconnected it is, the more you have to make sure that you’re playing your part and being the puzzle piece that you need to be.”
My review:
With Iris West remaining missing within the Still Force, it was all hands on deck as Team Flash continues to both keep the city safe and rescue her.
The Flash saves the city from some criminals and saves some people, including an older lady who rewards him with a butterscotch candy. Later, Barry is called to CCPD where Singh is waiting for him. A case at Mercury Labs for him. A gamma absorption array was stolen and needs to be recovered so they have to catch the thief. Barry races off, finds the van with the stolen tech but before he can take it to the lab, a scientist and our bad guy, comes out and hits him with ta ray. The sensor on the bad guy's watch reading "energy absorption complete".
Barry has another setback this episode. He isn't feeling great, and at Star Labs, we learn through tests that he's beginning to rapidly age after being exposed to some strange device linked to a new evil genius in town.
Team Flash was left with little time to wait while trying to save Barry from prematurely dying from old age.
It's Cecile who steps in trying to convince Barry to let Team Flash handle this situation, but there's another lab robbery so The Flash goes to investigate. Sure enough, it's the scientist. He's trying to obtain a power "more precious" than any a superhero has.
With Iris West remaining missing within the Still Force, it was all hands on deck as Team Flash continues to both keep the city safe and rescue her.
The Flash saves the city from some criminals and saves some people, including an older lady who rewards him with a butterscotch candy. Later, Barry is called to CCPD where Singh is waiting for him. A case at Mercury Labs for him. A gamma absorption array was stolen and needs to be recovered so they have to catch the thief. Barry races off, finds the van with the stolen tech but before he can take it to the lab, a scientist and our bad guy, comes out and hits him with ta ray. The sensor on the bad guy's watch reading "energy absorption complete".
Barry has another setback this episode. He isn't feeling great, and at Star Labs, we learn through tests that he's beginning to rapidly age after being exposed to some strange device linked to a new evil genius in town.
Team Flash was left with little time to wait while trying to save Barry from prematurely dying from old age.
It's Cecile who steps in trying to convince Barry to let Team Flash handle this situation, but there's another lab robbery so The Flash goes to investigate. Sure enough, it's the scientist. He's trying to obtain a power "more precious" than any a superhero has.
Now, Barry has started aging on the outside now, too. Turns out that the more The Flash runs, the more he ages. They identify the criminal as a man named Dr. Pytor Orloff.
Cecile finds Barry struggling. Who has forgotten who he is. Barry opens up to Cecile about being scared about his situation and how he can feel himself getting older and weaker. His memory slipping more and more to the point he thinks he'll die. Cecile shares a story about her grandmother and how she didn't fear getting old and running out of time because she knew that no one can outrun time, but we can embrace it.
Chester gets into Orloff's laptop and find his plans. He plans to make everyone old so that he can use their youthful energy to make himself younger.
Once he finishes connecting his devices, everyone will age hundreds of years in an instant while Orloff will become immortal. Eventually they find his machine, and manage to help Barry and defeat the bad guy. Barry actually de-aged in the process, shaving some time off so now he's actually 29. A bit younger.
It's D&D night with Singh joining in. Singh asks Allegra what her superhero name is, but she doesn't have one. It's so cool to see Joe shows up to game actually in costume, having fully embraced the game.
Barry gets a call from Carla. We learn from her that Caitlin hasn't been with her mom. He goes to check on her, but when no one answers, he phases in and finds her lab.
Barry confronts her about the lab and soon realizes what she's up to. Caitlin reluctantly explains that she thinks she can bring Frost back and tries to convince him that she could bring back his parents. Barry isn't swayed at all, and trio stop and stop her from continuing, he destroys her lab and her work. Caitlin is furious.
Cecile finds Barry struggling. Who has forgotten who he is. Barry opens up to Cecile about being scared about his situation and how he can feel himself getting older and weaker. His memory slipping more and more to the point he thinks he'll die. Cecile shares a story about her grandmother and how she didn't fear getting old and running out of time because she knew that no one can outrun time, but we can embrace it.
Chester gets into Orloff's laptop and find his plans. He plans to make everyone old so that he can use their youthful energy to make himself younger.
Once he finishes connecting his devices, everyone will age hundreds of years in an instant while Orloff will become immortal. Eventually they find his machine, and manage to help Barry and defeat the bad guy. Barry actually de-aged in the process, shaving some time off so now he's actually 29. A bit younger.
It's D&D night with Singh joining in. Singh asks Allegra what her superhero name is, but she doesn't have one. It's so cool to see Joe shows up to game actually in costume, having fully embraced the game.
Barry gets a call from Carla. We learn from her that Caitlin hasn't been with her mom. He goes to check on her, but when no one answers, he phases in and finds her lab.
Barry confronts her about the lab and soon realizes what she's up to. Caitlin reluctantly explains that she thinks she can bring Frost back and tries to convince him that she could bring back his parents. Barry isn't swayed at all, and trio stop and stop her from continuing, he destroys her lab and her work. Caitlin is furious.
