The Flash: 10 Action Sequences That Totally Blew Our Minds

3. Past, Present, And Future

Flarrow Fight oliver queen barry allen
The CW

Episode: 1x23 - Fast Enough

Combatants: Reverse Flash vs. past Barry, Reverse Flash vs. Future Flash, Future Flash vs. Present Flash

What Happened: Barry agrees to Eobard Thawne's proposition that he go back in time to interfere with the circumstances that led to his mother's death. He travels back to the night when he was eleven years old. Downstairs, he hides as he watches the battle of red vs. yellow lightning throughout the room, now able to see the figures within throwing punches and pummeling each other. Reverse Flash goes for past Barry, forcing future Flash to rescue his younger self. Before present Barry can emerge from hiding to stop Reverse Flash and save his mother, future Flash looks at him, raises a hand to hold him back, and shakes his head. Understanding his future self's terrible message, Barry hides once more and listens to Reverse Flash deal the killing blow to his mother. 

Why It Was Great: The past fight in the Season 1 finale was a payoff of the very first images of the show. Just as Barry is finally able to see the fighters behind the lightning, so too is the audience. The fight is intense and enclosed and spellbinding...and seeing Barry stop himself from saving his mother was wonderfully heartbreaking. Well played, show. 

Winner: Not Nora

Contributor
Contributor

Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .