Ep 7. O Come, All Ye Faithful

When the fifth season of The Flash premiered, loyal fans of the superhero series were excited to see what kind of thrilling storylines the show's creators had in store for their beloved characters. In episode seven, titled O Come, All Ye Faithful, viewers were once again taken on a suspenseful journey alongside the scarlet speedster himself.

The episode begins with the idyllic image of Central City at Christmastime, with Barry Allen – aka The Flash – enjoying the festivities with his wife Iris and the rest of their team at S.T.A.R. Labs. However, the holiday cheer is soon interrupted by Cicada, the menacing metahuman who has been terrorizing the city all season. This time, Cicada has taken a hospital full of innocent people hostage, and he's demanding that The Flash – whom he despises above all other metahumans – come to face him alone.

As always, Barry can't resist a challenge, even if it means putting his own life in danger. He races off to confront Cicada, only to find that the villain has a few more tricks up his sleeve than the speedster was expecting. Meanwhile, the rest of the team is left scrambling to figure out how to save the hostages and stop Cicada once and for all.

The episode's title nods to the classic holiday carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and it's fitting because faith – both in oneself and in others – is a major theme throughout the story. As Barry faces off against Cicada – and as the other characters try to come up with a plan to save the hostages – they all must confront their own doubts and fears, and find the inner strength to believe in themselves and their ability to do what's right.

At the same time, there's a subplot involving Ralph and Cisco, who are reluctantly tasked with decorating the S.T.A.R. Labs Christmas tree. While this may seem like a whimsical addition to the episode, it actually ties into the larger themes of faith and hope. As Ralph and Cisco bicker and banter about their differing preferences for tree ornaments, they slowly come to realize that they both share a sense of loss and loneliness during the holiday season. By opening up to one another and finding common ground, they're able to rediscover the joy in their own lives.

As always, The Flash keeps its audience on the edge of their seats with heart-pumping action scenes and surprising plot twists. But what really sets this show apart from other superhero dramas is the depth of its characters and the emotional resonance of its storylines. In O Come, All Ye Faithful, viewers are reminded of the importance of family, friendship, and taking risks – not just during the holidays, but all year round.