The Scarlet Speedster returns for a third season of the hit CW superhero show, The Flash. After all the hype, the premiere episode “Flashpoint,” delivers a thrill ride that leaves the audience with a sense of mystery. Following season 2, Barry Allen, the Flash, returns to the night of his mother’s murder and prevents Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash, from killing her. The season picks up in an alternate future and instantly throws the audience into the action instead of building up the new world. It starts out in the middle of a fight between the Kid Flash and the Rival, another speedster. The two have the same rivalry as Barry and the Reverse Flash. All the while, Barry stalks Iris West, his childhood crush, and keeps the Reverse Flash locked away.

Barry finally seems to have a normal life. He is no longer the hero who carries the weight of the city on his shoulders, but Barry’s actions have consequences. Joe West is a deadbeat cop and sadly doesn’t have a close relationship with his family. Cisco Ramon, Barry’s best friend, is a billionaire who doesn’t want anything to do with Barry. Eventually Barry begins to lose his memories of his loved ones in the original timeline.

Grant Gustin reprises his role as Barry Allen and like always amazingly portrays the awkward nerd who is a forensics scientist by day and the Flash by night. The coolest change in the alternate future was seeing Wally West as Kid Flash played by Keiynan Lonsdale who brilliantly pulls off an arrogant Wally West who hates being told what to do. As for the villains, the Rival is a great opposite to Kid Flash because the Rival taunts Wally like the Reverse Flash did Barry. Also the Reverse Flash continues to trouble Barry. Matt Letscher is phenomenal with his portrayal of the Reverse Flash as he dives deep in his role and really shows how evil the Reverse Flash is.

Though the episode was great, it does have its flaws. The episode shows Barry forming a relationship with his childhood crush, Iris, who doesn’t know him like she should. If Barry and Iris were best friends before the night Barry’s mother died, she should know him better than just a classmate from elementary school. It is also surprising to see that Barry didn’t recognize Wally as Kid Flash because Wally’s mask fails to cover up half of his face. It’s not until Barry pulls Wally’s mask that he realizes Wally is Kid Flash. Also, at the end of the episode, Barry brings Iris to the Reverse Flash to help Barry go back to the night Barry’s mom died and kill her to set the timeline back on track. It sounds like a good ending to the episode but Iris wasn’t needed for that scene. If Barry and the Reverse Flash are archenemy’s, bringing Iris along puts her in danger. The Reverse Flash could have killed Iris and Barry couldn’t do anything. Lastly, Flashpoint didn’t last as long as it should’ve. The story should’ve lasted over a series episodes instead of just throwing it all into one episode. Also it would’ve been nice to see how Arrow, Super Girl, or Legends of Tomorrow changed.

Despite the flaws, the episode brings to life one of the greatest Flash stories written. The CW did change the story to their liking and they do an incredible job at it. The original story was too massive to put on screen; the writers condense the story to fit into a TV drama. Overall the episode delivers a great story along with leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. Flashpoint starts out another promising season of the Flash that is filled with crossovers, metahuman battles, and another race between the Flash and this season’s villain who is yet to be revealed.