REVIEW: ‘The Flash’ Season 7, Episode 8 – “The People V. Killer Frost”

After a three-week hiatus, The Flash has come back with the 8th episode of its 7th season, “The People V. Killer Frost.” In the previous episode, Frost (Danielle Panabaker) takes matters into her own hands in trying to clear her name after Kristen Kramer (Carmen Moore) accuses her of a crime she did not commit. Meanwhile, Barry (Grant Gustin) and Iris (Candice Patton) deal with having the Speed Force (Michelle Harrison) as their house guest. In this episode, Frost’s trial has begun but Caitlin goes to great lengths in order to save her from being found guilty. Meanwhile, Barry and the Speed Force continue their investigation into the new forces, which leads them to a shocking discovery.

With “The People V. Killer Frost” focusing on Caitlin and Frost, it’s no surprise that fans of these two characters were eagerly waiting for this episode. It has been a while since The Flash has given Panabaker such a prominent multi-episode arc. The Caitlin and Frost arc was perfectly set up perfectly during Fear Me when Psych showed Frost her worst fear. It’s clear that Caitlin is willing to go through to protect Frost, no matter the cost. The bond that the two of them have developed since season 4 built up their sisterly bond without it ever feeling forced. Caitlin has always been a morally grounded character, which made her newfound decision to risk everything for her sister a major surprise. She’s risked her life in the past for her friends, but willing to break the law for someone so close to her is something she hasn’t done before. It’s interesting that Frost is set on paying for her crimes but Caitlin is now the one acting more like Frost used to. With the outcome of the trial, it will be interesting to see how the show expands on their relationship moving forward and how it will affect the overall show.

Comic book readers may have recognized that Kramer was introduced during the first few volumes of the most recent run of The Flash comics. In the comics, she works alongside Barry Allen as a CSI but the two don’t seem to get along well. With her being introduced in the show, there was hope that she would get a much more important storyline. However, her storyline was rather disappointing. Even though she was the catalyst with having Frost pay for her crimes, it feels as though anything else could have been the reason for sending Frost to prison. The reason for targeting Frost ends up being rooted in hatred for metahumans, which isn’t a new theme within the world of the show. Various villains in the show have used this as their motive and have made a bigger impact on all members of Team Flash. It begs the question as to whether it would have been a much better idea to introduce Kramer as a fellow CSI lab member and still have gone after Frost.

The side story in “The People V. Killer Frost” once again focuses on Barry and the Speed Force. This time, they continue their investigation of the other Forces. The show made the choice to move on from the reservations that Barry had about the Speed Force taking the form of his deceased mother, which was disappointing. The issue was the center of the previous episode, but it could have continued throughout this episode. It could have made a bigger impact on the discovery that they made during their investigation and their interactions with Alexa Rivera (Sara Garcia), a possible suspect. However, their storyline in their episode progressed well, especially with the struggle Barry goes through with wanting to go about this investigation without harming anyone. His identity as a hero is questioned by the Speed Force in regards to not being able to do anything to make sure the other Forces are destroyed. This constant dilemma is just ready to combust, especially after the major cliffhanger at the end of the episode.

Ultimately, “The People V. Killer Frost” delivers an enjoyable episode with enough drama and heart-wrenching moments that will affect fans of Frost and Caitlin. Their bond quickly became an integral part of the show that played a role in redeeming Frost and making Caitlin a more confident character. Fans will undoubtedly be eager to see what direction their bond is taken as the show progresses. However, Kramer’s role in this arc was disappointing, which will, unfortunately, make her a forgettable character in the grand scheme of the show. The investigation that Barry and the Speed Force are conducting built enough tension between the two at a steady pace. This tension will surely strain their relationship in future episodes. With the major cliffhanger and only two episodes left in the current arc of the show, fans should expect things to get much more serious with Team Flash dealing with the different Forces.

The Flash season 7 airs new episodes every Tuesday on the CW Network.