I think no matter which you splice it the reveal of the Man in the Iron Mask was always going to be anti-climatic despite the cast saying the reveal was going to blow our minds. When you come to think about it, there really was only one person that could be in the Man in the Iron Mask but more on that later.

We open up the episode exactly where we left off with Zoom killing Henry right in front of Barry. With tears streaming down his face, Barry watches his father die right in front of him. Jay tells Barry that they are now the same. Channeling Emperor Palpatine, Jay wants Barry to use his anger to defeat and kill him. The two race around Central City when another Zoom arrives and kills the Zoom Barry was chasing. Barry realizes that he was chasing after one of Zoom’s time remnants. Jay tells Barry that he has bigger plans for him but doesn’t reveal what.

Shortly after we are at the funeral of Henry, it is pouring rain (this time manufactured by the film makers and not because it was actually raining in Vancouver). Barry cannot bring himself to say a few words about his father so Joe steps in and does the eulogy.

Back at the West’s, there is a small reception comprised of only Team Flash. They talk of Zoom’s plan and wishes they knew what it was so they can stop him. Wally goes to Barry and is in awe that he is the Flash. When Barry steps outside to get some air, Iris follows up out. The two talk and Iris offers some comfort to Iris. Zoom flashes by and Barry goes after him. In the streets of the neighbourhood, Jay tells Barry that everything he has done is to get better and he wants to race him to truly see who is the fastest man alive.

Back in STAR Labs, Barry tells the team about the race. Harry figures out that Jay wants to use stolen Mercury Lab tech to weaponize some pulsar thing that when the two speedsters race will power up this pulsar and destroy all of the Earths in the multiverse.

In the pipeline, Joe tries to talk Barry out of racing Zoom but he won’t back down. So Harry tranqs him and they put him in the pipeline. When Barry wakes up, he isn’t happy and Team Flash made the decision to do this to him because he is too angry to face Zoom. Harry tells Barry that the way he is feeling now, he will definitely lose.

So Team Flash have come up with their own plan to stop Zoom. They are alerted that Zoom is at an old power plant. So the plan is Harry will place the meta human collar on Zoom while Caitlin distracts him. The plan is Caitlin will appeal to Jay’s humanity. Meanwhile, Joe will tranq him and push him through a breach that Cisco will create. While the team prepares, Jesse tells her father that once the Zoom ordeal is over, she is going to go back to Earth-2 and her friends but encourages her dad to stay on Earth-1 since he seems happy being part of Team Flash.

Now onto the plan. Caitlin distracts Jay by saying she made a mistake leaving him and how she is ready to embrace the darkness in her with him. But Jay tells Caitlin that she is too late and it looks like he is about to kill her but Harry puts the collar on. Unfortunately, the tranq gun jams so Joe is forced to inject the darts himself into Zoom. Just as Cisco opens the breach, Zoom drags he and Joe into the breach.

On Earth-2, Joe learns more about the Man in the Iron Mask. Jay explains how the man is a speedster from another Earth and even stole his name for his heroic purposes. As soon as Jay said that and we see the Man in the Iron Mask, I pretty much knew that he was Henry Allen’s doppleganger.

Back on Earth-1, Wally isn’t happy that Team Flash is going leave Joe on Earth-2 and that Barry is imprisoned in the pipeline. Wally frees him and both men are angry at Team Flash. The team relents to Barry agreeing on racing Zoom. Cisco vibes Barry into the speed force so he can communicate with Zoom on Earth-2. Barry agrees to race Zoom in exchange for Joe’s safety. Zoom says he will release Joe after they release. Barry agrees to the terms.

At the abandoned plant, Team Flash have gathered to support Barry.

 

 

Zoom arrives with Joe and the two prepare to race. We see that the two will go around this big upright ring. Once it gains enough power, the pulsar will be powered on and destroy all of the Earths except Earth-1 as it seems to be the central Earth of the multi-verse.

The two speedsters race and Zoom is well ahead and the pulsar is powered up but something strange happens. Barry creates a time remnant of himself. The original Barry frees Joe while the time remnant continues to run the circle. Barry grabs Zoom from it. Zoom says Barry is too late but we see the time remnant sacrifice his life to destroy the pulsar.

Zoom still thinks Barry won’t kill him because he is a hero. Barry says he doesn’t have to kill him as time wraiths appear and take Zoom away thus killing him.

Back at STAR Labs, Barry explains to the team how he knew his plan would work and says his time remnant was ready to make the sacrifice.

We then see Harry and Cisco bicker on how to remove the mask from the Man in the Iron Mask.

And of course, I was right, the man is the real Jay Garrick but looks like Henry Allen. I knew that Henry was the Man in the Iron Mask because he mentioned Garrick being his mom’s maiden name.

Barry is shaken to the core at seeing his dad but not his dad in front of him.

We the bid adieu to Jay, who takes “Jay”‘s helmet back to his Earth to become the Flash again. The two Flashes say farewell. Also, Team Flash says their goodbyes to Harry and Jesse who decide to return to Earth-2. Harry says goodbye to everyone and tells Barry that he has changed him for the better. Jesse and Wally say good bye with some regret as to what could have been. Cisco opens a breach and we see Jay, Harry and Jess go through.

Later, the team is celebrating defeating Zoom. Barry leaves to be alone. Iris goes to him. Barry tells Iris that seeing the real Jay just makes him miss his father more and he just feels so empty. Iris tells Barry that she will be there for him and if they want to make a relationship work, she will always be there for him. Barry tells Iris that he has always wanted to hear that from her but the way he is feeling right now, he can’t make a relationship work. Iris tells Barry that she will wait for him and that she loves him. Barry says he loves her too and the two kiss. I am getting Smallville vibes here because for years Clark found ways he can’t be with Lana when he really could have but just pushed her away. Considering Iris is the end game love interest for Barry, so let’s hope things work out for these crazy kids.

But I just knew a shoe had to drop but I didn’t think it would be Barry going back in time to stop his mom’s murder at the hands of the Reverse-Flash. We will see in season 3 most likely how this will affect the time line. And is Tom Cavanagh no longer a series regular or are we going to meet Earth-1 Harrison Wells? Hopefully, we will get Earth-1 Jesse and still have Wally. And would Barry still be the Flash? Seriously, season 3 can’t get here fast enough.