The Flash - Trajectory - Review: A female speedster

The Flash - Episode 216

Written by Lauren Certo & Lilah Vanderburgh
Directed by Glen Winter


I think like most fans have I wondered if we would see other speedsters as we have been introduced to the two other versions of The Flash, Jay Garrick and Wally West (though he hasn’t come into his powers yet). So it was no surprise that in this episode a female speedster seems to be in Central city as a few are mentioned throughout the comic universe. The head to head with our hero in this episode title Trajectory never really seemed to be on course. Making the female speedster into another villain that wasn’t really explored to the best of its ability.

We open with our heroes desperately trying to improve Barry’s speed to defeat Zoom. Barry’s(Grant Gustin) frantic leap across the ravine would have ended badly if not for Cisco’s droids with a net catch.

Barry is once again down on himself and seems to be pushing everyone in the lab. Downtime is needed and the gang head to a night club taking Wells daughter Jesse with them. Amazingly despite her being underage she is in the club. However, she did have to convince her father to let her out his sight only after giving her a Meta-human detector watch. It buzzes near Barry but I feel it was buzzing near Wally West as well. In an attempt to stop it she discovers a disturbing message left there by her father.

In the club and some dodgy dancing from Cisco(Carlos Valdes) we see a nice moment between Barry and Iris(Candice Patton), I wish these two would just get it together but fear this love affair will drag on till series end.
To everyone one’s surprise, someone flashes through the club and as Barry gives chase he is unable to catch them.

Seems there is another speedster in town and this one is using their power to steal.
Barry is desperate to catch them as he does not want the Flash to be blamed. Something Iris’s boss at the newspaper wants to do.

Jesse confronts her father over the message and it seems he would do anything for her, even kill.

The speedster strikes again and Barry once again gets beaten.

The others are trying to find out who this new speedster could be; Caitlin(Dana Panabaker) and Wells(Tom Cavanagh) come clean about the formula Velocity 9 they were working on with Jay. Explaining to Barry it was killing Jay so that’s why they don’t want Barry to take it to stop Zoom.
Caitlin was helped with some of the components from a friend at Mercury Labs, she and Joe go to visit her a Dr Eliza Harmon , However, she seems pleased to see Caitlin and doesn’t seem to know anything so they leave empty handed. Later we see Eliza talking to herself, displaying signs of a split personality.

Her reflection is that of the female speedster. Who calls herself Trajectory. Yes, Cisco is right the crazy ones do always name themselves.

Iris tries to stall her boss from printing the article condemning the Flash but I think he sees the coffee talk as something more leading to an awkward moment.( I see possible new romance here )


Barry, feeling frustrated takes the last vial of Velocity 9 but Wells stops him and he breaks the vial.

The lady speedster attacks Star Labs after the velocity 9 capturing Barry in the prison tube. He is helpless as she takes Joe, Cisco, Caitlin, Jesse and Wells hostage. The female speedster points the gun at Jesse, whose role seems to be that of a victim! Of course, Wells will do anything to save his daughter and despite the last vial being destroyed, he says they will make some more. Once given her drug Trajectory injects Jesse to make sure it’s the real thing and leaves. Unfortunately, Jesse goes into convulsions from the effects. Wells needs to give her an emergency transplant of his blood to save her.

Luckily Caitlin put a microscopic tracer in the vials and soon realize that the lady speedster’s actions are going to collapse a bridge. Barry gets everyone off the bridge in time and manages to jump with enough force over to capture her. However despite Barry’s pleading, she injects herself again. As she races off with the whole “you can’t catch me line”, her lightning turns blue and she disintegrates.

Back at Star Labs, Wells daughter Jesse leaves him a goodbye message and we see her leaving on a bus for Opal city. He joins the others saying she just stepped out .Umm is Wells not going to let her go?

In the lab they all start putting the pieces together, Jay was breaking down on a cellular level so and Zoom has blue lightning. Zoom is breaking down as well in fact the reason he needs Barry’s speed is he is dying. Cisco confesses he has been vibing Zoom near Jay’s helmet so Barry smashed the glass handing it to Cisco. Cisco sees Zoom is Jay.

Barry runs to the ravine and screams in frustration.

This episode did not seem to grab me; I guess I was hoping for a bit more from the lady speedster. Obviously, it gave them the information needed in regards to Zoom but the whole episode seemed as flat as Barry’s mood. The best scenes seemed to play out between Wells and his daughter Jesse, who was questioning his morality.

Next week we have a double dose of the Flash with his jump into the Supergirl universe ( from Promos looks to me like Barry is more himself) which I am looking forward to.

Be sure to look out for our roundtable review.

What are your thoughts regarding the episode?

Are you going to be watching the crossover?

Next weeks Promo has Barry back in time again can her really use the past to defeat Zoom?

About the Author - Zandarl

Zandarl a Writer and avid TV and film buff ,once described as a wilful hedonist, has travelled all over and lived in the states for a short time. Now based in the UK she attends cons when able and meets stars from her favourite shows .Her first start in fandom was Xena and since then has admired tv shows that portray strong women. Her current favorites being Rizzoli and Isles and Once Upon a Time as well as anything comic book related. A regular movie goer she watches most genres but never ask her to watch a horror movie.

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