There's
one last "fix" in the finale of THE FLASH. Season 8 saw both Killer Frost and
Caitlin killed. And season 9 gave actress Danielle Panabaker a whole new persona Khione who, while
charming, never totally made sense relative to everything that had come before.
A lot of her new identity turns out to be a deus ex machina (quite literally) to deal with the corner into which the show paints itself. But then in the end, having done that, we unexpectedly get Caitlin back.
And I have to say, as mystifying as Khione was, that twist still lands. Which I think goes to show just how special and important a character Caitlin was for the show.
In a lot of great finales, you try to leave the story with something new to play with, a gift for the future. It seems counter-intuitive; the show is over. But actually that's part of what makes many finales so satistfying. It tells us this world goes on, and not only that, it's got very cool things ahead.
THE FLASH gave us three new speedsters, which was it's biggest act of gift giving.
But I think bringing back Caitlin works a bit like this as well. Because sometimes the greatest gift a show can give is a fresh insight, either into our lives or that of the characters. And bringing Caitlin back does just that. She's always been central, but in such a quiet way I think some of the power of her character was easy to miss. By keeping her away for a whole year, the show gives us the chance to realize just how much we've missed her. And that awareness is itself an unexpected gift.
NEXT: THE MARVELOUS MARVELOUS MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
