'The Flash' Season 6 Episode 10: Grieving Barry learns the importance of Oliver's sacrifice during Crisis
The world was saved, but at a heavy price. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) or Arrow, died to save the multiverse leaving a gaping void in the Arrowverse. He briefly returned as Spectre and 'rebirthed' the universe again after a fabulous face-off with the Anti-Monitor. And with that, Arrow went out in a white flame of sacrifice. His close friend Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) is still struggling to come to terms with his death, and a large part of the latest episode from 'The Flash', was focussed on Barry grieving for Oliver.
John Diggle turns up in this episode, just to remind mourning Barry and fans that Oliver is dead. He gives Oliver's mask to Barry, who is determined to find a clue buried in it. He discovers Mirakuru on it, and is sure that a new and threatening mission is associated with it. He drags Diggle all the way to Lian-Yu, only to realize that there is no Mirakuru there. Diggle makes Barry realize the importance of Oliver's sacrifice during Crisis, and how crucial it is to learn from his mistakes. Life isn't about being a superhero all the time and saving the world. It's also about slowing down and taking time to enjoy the happy moments.
"That man sprinted from crusade to crusade, but Barry, life’s more than just the mission," Diggle says. "Unfortunately, Oliver learned that too late and wouldn’t want you going down the same path."
Though Iris (Candice Patton) and Barry barely spent any time in this episode, their arcs were quite similar. Both of them have been so busy preparing for the imminent Crisis, living like there is no tomorrow. For the first half of the sixth season, Barry had been bidding emotional goodbyes to his team, certain that his prophesied death would come true. The same holds true for his wife Iris. You would think that all their problems would be over after Crisis, but clearly not so. There's an emotional journey to be undertaken. Iris hasn't been able to disengage from Crisis mode either and goes all guns blazing at the new villains in time who can eradicate her existence in a heartbeat.
They survived Crisis, and they're in a new world now. Though the episode was packed with gritty action, there were lessons to be learnt. There's more to superheroes that just saving the world and battling the villains. It's their emotional fluxes and fears that makes them so relatable. In the Arrowverse, Barry is probably the most emotional of all, and he finally comes to terms with Oliver's death.
'The Flash' airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm on The CW.