'The Flash' Season 6 proves the show can run without Barry Allen as it puts supporting characters in spotlight in episodes 5 and 6
It was a grim start when 'The Flash' Season 6 premiered this fall. LaMonica Garrett's The Monitor came in with dreadful news about the looming 'Crisis'. He informed them that the timeline of the impending battle was drastically moved up giving Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) weeks to live as he prophesized his death in the multiverse-breaking event. That was the only way the rest could be saved. And Team Flash is yet to swallow the bitter pill.
Unlike 'Arrow' that concludes after 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', 'The Flash' will go on. The question is will it survive without Barry? The superhero had a heroic death in the comics and wasn't ressurrected until modern times and the TV show strongly hints that Barry will be a casualty of war. Acceptance, however, seemed to be creeping in slowly as shown in episodes, five and six— 'Kiss Kiss Breach Breach' and 'License to Elongate'. Both episodes focussed on key supporting characters, Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Ralph Dibny (Hartley Sawyer).
'Kiss Kiss Breach Breach' put Cisco on the forefront as he investigates the death of Gypsy (Jessica Camacho) after she was killed by Cisco's doppleganger Echo (Played by Valdes again). The episode solely proves Team Flash is safe in Cisco's more-than-capable hands. He isn't Vibe, but he doesn't have to be.
'License to Elongate' had a similar theme. It was an episode meant to delve into Dibny's psyche, it does so perfectly and it's all very Dibny-ish. It also gives a glimpse of the Dibny's life as a PI, when he's not out there assisting the Scarlet Speedster in saving Central City. And amid all this is an important message that the Elongated Man teaches The Flash — "Barry is as important as the Flash".
Simply put, the two episodes bear reference to Queen's 'The Show Must Go On'. And have successfully proved the show can run with or without Barry. Gustin teased an ominous end for the Scarlet Speedster during the San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year. "The Monitor shows up in our first episode," Gustin revealed. "I think our connection is our impending demise... They can keep making the show without me," he said.
Granted that the show may see Barry somehow beat the odds, but just in case he doesn't, expect the supporting characters to shoulder the show until the creators find a way to bring the Flash back.
'The Flash' Season 6 airs Tuesdays 8 pm on The CW.