Review: Beating the Villain is Never as Easy as It Seems on THE FLASH

Eobard Thawne is running out of time, BARRY is running out of words, and Nora is running out of patience.

This week, Nora attempts to orchestrate one last confrontation for THE FLASH and Cicada to offer him the cure. Team Flash has almost everything they need to defeat Cicada-they just need his permission and an opportune time. Nora spends so much time trying to get everything in order on what might be her last day in this time, she doesn't even realize that this will be the last time she sees her parents, for now. But Iris knows this and is hurt when Nora refuses to do anything on the list that Iris has of things for her and Nora to do together. And just when Iris and Nora were starting to get along.

Based on a headline in 2049, where Nora has once again been visiting Thawne, she recognizes a burn mark on the pavement when Acid Master shows up. And when Acid Master shows up, so does Cicada. But Cicada wants to kill him, which means it's time for THE FLASH to show up with the cure.

Team Flash prepares for Cicada's reappearance, BARRY struggles to find the right words to talk down the bad guy. BARRY has always had a thing for words in the past but this time, they seem to be eluding him. When he does encounter Cicada and Killer Frost immobilizes his dagger, Barry's inspirational pep talk hinges on the idea of his legacy. But Cicada doesn't care about his legacy and flies off. Frustrated, Nora goes through all of Barry's old com recordings to help him find the words he needs to save Cicada. But it's not Nora's help he needs. BARRY needs a good old-fashioned Joe West pep talk, and it was a good one at that. Joe suggests that BARRY be himself, a father, a friend, rather than The Flash, the next time they meet.

Speaking of Joe, he's back at the CCPD and tries to attack the Cicada problem from a different angle. He discovers that Dr. Ambres has been stealing drugs from the Emergency Room and giving them to Dwyer. With the help of Cecile and Cecile's mind-reading powers, they are able to get her to confess and get her to reveal a game-changing piece of information-Grace is a meta. The wound in her head from the satellite shard has started to open up and glow. This proves to be useful information when BARRY confronts Cicada for the second time. BARRY says that the cure will help save him and Grace and Dwyer agrees to take the cure by saying he's a father and there's nothing he wouldn't do to make the world better for his daughter. Points for getting permission first.

However, it's still too early in the episode for everything to be resolved. So while Caitlin and Dr. Ambres are giving Dwyer the cure and stitching him up, the power at S.T.A.R. Labs goes out and a second Cicada breaks in. Thankfully, Killer Frost finishes patching up Dwyer and he seems to be okay. Iris, Cisco, Barry, Caitlin, and Joe SUIT UP to stop him and there's a brilliant shot of the five of them ready for action. Team Flash and the new Cicada battle it out at S.T.A.R. Labs and everyone, except Dr. Ambres and all of S.T.A.R. Labs' computers and other equipment, survives.

Back at Dwyer's apartment, we get another surprise twist this season-adult Grace is the second Cicada who just destroyed S.T.A.R. Labs and killed Dr. Ambres. I guess Nora and Sherloque will be sticking around a little while longer.

Photo Credit: Sergei Bachlakov/The CW