The Flash met the villainous Abra Kadabra this week in a less than magical episode.

ThisThe Flashreview contains spoilers.

The problem is that this episode shouldnt have been a problem.

This is a character who could potentially be a season-long big bad if done properly.

Id sign up for more of this.

So whats the problem?

Although its not like the character is broken or off the table forever or anything.

But hoo-boy, its starting to look a little threadbare, aint it?

At this point, I have almost zero doubt that Iris will survive.

Im not sure Im exactly endorsing this outcome.

Id rather everyone make it out of this season alive, myself.

Couldnt there have been a more interesting secondary conflict than bringing Gypsy in to screw everyone up?

I knew early on things were going to go very wrong for Caitlin Snow tonight.

Danielle Panabaker was great, though, particularly in the directing my own surgery scene.

So then why does the big Killer Frost reveal at the end feel so unsatisfying?

Maybe I could have excused this if it was placed organically in a better overall episode, but here?

It felt like it was there solely to fill those final five minutes.

It felt less like a cliffhanger than it did a cheap, manipulative effort.

As you could see, I didnt love Abra Kadabra.

And it wasnt completely without merit.

Flash Facts!

Like most great Flash villains, Abra Kadabra was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino.

Hes been kicking around since The Flash #128 in 1962.

He once turned Barry Allen into a frakkin marionette.

No, for real…

No puppet, no puppet.

(ahem) Anyway.

But in recent years, Abra Kadabra has had his most fame/fortune as a Wally West villain.

It would have been cool to see them play with that a little here.

We havean entire article about Abra Kadabra right hereif you want to learn more.

Holy moley, when was the last time we saw Stagg Industries?

But more importantly, we went to a Kord building tonight!

I dug the blue couches in the lobby, too.

I ramble about all things Flash (and more) over on Twitter.

Rating:

2.5 out of 5