Ep 13. Grodd Friended Me

After several consecutive episodes focused on Iris’ life inside Mirror Iris’ world, The Flash’s Grodd Friended Me episode finally took a break from it to focus on the return of Gorilla Grodd. And it was a delightful reintroduction to the gorilla villain, as the episode played up Grodd’s more poignant and empathetic side, something we haven’t seen in a while. While the threat of Grodd’s devastating mind control powers loomed large, it was ultimately the bond between him and Barry that brought an emotional core to the episode.

Grodd Friended Me opened up with a dramatic chase sequence that perfectly showcased just how formidable Grodd can be when he’s on a rampage. The villain managed to take control of a couple of civilians and then used them to steal a valuable metahuman power booster, an activity that brought him right to the attention of Team Flash. Grodd is always an intriguing presence on the show, partially because of the deep links he has to both Barry and Caitlin, and also because the show has done a great job of building up his character and motivations over the years.

When Grodd finally approached Team Flash, they initially assumed he was approaching them for help. Instead, Grodd revealed a sinister plan for how he would use the power booster against his former ape comrades in Gorilla City, who he believed had wronged him. Barry knows better than most that Grodd has a penchant for mind control powers, and the prospect of him getting a power boost was not something anyone was excited about. However, Team Flash struggled to come up with a plan to stop Grodd’s violent designs, leading to a somewhat slower-paced middle section of the episode.

But this is where the episode really got interesting. The Flash has always been at its strongest when it delves into the emotional lives of its characters, and Grodd Friended Me did that in spades with its focus on Barry and Grodd’s relationship. The show did an amazing job in expressing the sadness and regret both Barry and Grodd felt about what had come between them. Barry has always had a soft spot for Grodd, and the temptation to help him despite knowing the risks was a great internal conflict for the hero.

The standout moment of the episode came when Barry and Grodd finally faced off inside Grodd’s mind, a sort of psychic landscape that allowed them to converse freely. The episode did a great job of building up to this moment, with both characters silently reflecting on all the times they had faced off in the past and how they’d always been on such opposite sides. It was both powerful and tragic, as Grodd revealed the depths of his pain at being used and discarded by the world, and how he had been forced to resort to extreme measures to be heard. Barry, meanwhile, faced up to his own feelings of sadness for Grodd and how he wished there was a way they could help each other out.

But there’s no rest for the weary, and Grodd Friended Me ‘s second half quickly pivots to a thrilling set piece within the now-decrepit CCPD, where Grodd had set up his mind control device. What follows is a high-octane battle that really brings home just how much of a threat Grodd can be when he wants to. With the stakes sky-high, Team Flash finally comes up with a dangerous last-ditch plan, but one that puts both Barry and Grodd directly in harm’s way.

Grodd Friended Me was one of The Flash’s strongest episodes in a while, thanks to its perfect blend of thrilling action and poignant character moments. The audience was reminded of the complexities of Grodd’s character and the deep, long-standing relationship he shares with Barry. The show also managed to leave us on an emotional cliffhanger, as one of the characters’ fate remains uncertain heading into the next episode.