‘The Flash’ Season 9 Episode 3: Recap & Ending Explained

The Flash season 9 kickstarted two weeks ago, and the first episode made us hopeful that the last season will close out the journey of Barry Allen and Flash in Arrowverse in the best way possible. However, after the season premiere’s fun and more low-key atmosphere, we witnessed showrunners returning to old, bad habits. Episode 2, titled “Hear No Evil,” revolves around Caitlin Snow and Mark trying to resurrect Killer Frost, whose storyline was already uninspiring in the previous season. The reveal at the end of the episode and the continuation of the Red Death storyline brings us the hope that Flash’s farewell will continue in the right direction, and Episode 3 gets us back on track.

Episode 3, titled “Rogues of War,” presents us with exciting reveals, great dynamics between the characters, and Team Flash realizing that the new speedster is one of the biggest foes they’ll have to face. If you are interested in our outlook on the new Flash episode, stay with us until the end.

Old foes of the Flash work for ‘The Benefactor’

The episode starts with Barry and Iris bonding in Paris when they get an alert that there was a break-in in Corbin Taft Industries, where Captain Boomerang, Murmur, and The Fiddler have been stealing tech to build a cosmic treadmill. As we know, the Cosmic Treadmill can be used to open quantum wormholes in space and time, and if used maliciously, one can destroy the timeline.

Barry, with Team Flash, realizes that the Rouges will try to steal one last component, a quantum vibration engine located in the DoD (Department of Defence). However, Barry cannot retrieve the device alone and recruits his group of Rouges to help him on the mission.

With the help of Hartley Rathaway, who was attacked in the previous episode by The Fiddler, Barry goes on recruiting mission for Team Flash Rouges. The team includes Hartley (Pied Piper), Jaco Birch (The Hotness), Keith (Goldface), and Mark Blaine (Chillblaine), who go on to help Barry in his mission. However, Barry has reservations about them despite recruiting them, and the team is in shambles even before the mission starts.

The moment of reluctance and fear of failure closely connects to Iris and her fear of losing her freedom as a journalist when she inevitably becomes a mother. Barry assures Iris she can work and express herself even as a mother, and the situation makes Barry understand that he needs to trust his team of Rogues to execute the mission.

In the meantime, Allegra doesn’t trust their “new” team member Khione, an alternate personality of Caitlin Snow, when Caitlin and Mark decide to resurrect Frost in the previous episode. They bond over the fact that Allegra develops feelings for Chester but is reluctant to pursue the relationship. This side storyline fulfills the blanks between the scenes of the main story, and frankly, I didn’t care much for it. Hopefully, Khione’s and Allegra’s characters will carry some weight in the fight against Red Death and their rouges in future episodes.

Team Flash Rouges infiltrate the facility, but one of the members is compromised

Team Flash Rouges with Barry at the helm, infiltrate the facility without any problems. After a rocky start to their relationship and some team members not trusting each other, Barry joins the team and apologizes to each member for not trusting them.

They also realize that Barry Allen is The Flash, which is a funny little moment.

The group successfully infiltrate the Department of Defence. Each Rouge uses its powers to turn off the generator, and Barry uses his powers to retrieve the quantum vibration engine.

However, the generators start rebooting in the facility. When Jaco, Keith, and Hartley confirm that nothing is happening on their side, Mark reveals himself as an agent for “The Benefactor,” who sends him to join Team Flash Rouges and help retrieve the vibration engine for the cosmic treadmill. Murmur, Captain Boomerang, and The Fiddler join Chillblaine in a fight against Barry and his rouges and proceed to take away the machine for their boss.

Chillblaine reveals he went against Barry and joined “The Benefactor” because they promised him they would bring Frost back. Chillblaine defeats powerless Barry and tries to escape, but not without Team Flash Rouges catching up to them.

The Flash and his rouges and Red Death’s minions have a standoff; however, the evil speedster themselves enter the fight and easily defeat Barry, whose speed force is negated by their Negative speed force. While on the floor, Barry spots a crest on The Benefactor’s chest, which resembles his emblem and one of a bat. The Red Death taunts Flash, threatens him, and leaves the premises with their team.

“I am vengeance.”

After the fight, Team Flash and rouges have a debrief in Flash headquarters. Barry reveals to the team that the unknown speedster is using negative force that dampens his speed, and Iris questions why the speedster needs a time machine. Keith then proceeds to quote Edgar Allan Poe:

“And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.”

With this quote, Keith references the famous story by notable writer Edgar Allan Poe, where the main character Prince Prospero attempts to hide from the vicious plague known as Red Death. The royal hides in his abbey and hosts a masquerade ball for his rich associates. However, despite avoiding the disease, Red Death catches up to the Prince and dies like the other people at the ball.

The reference to the literature of Edgar Allan Poe is symbolic by itself, and the way it was used in this episode is effective and sets up the foundation for Red Death’s character.

Everyone realizes that Red Death is dangerous and cannot be defeated solely by Team Flash, and Barry seeks support from his group of rouges, minus traitorous Chillblaine.

They agree, and after they leave, Barry reveals to Iris the emblem of the Red Death. Allens go to Chester, who contacts Luke Fox, also known as Batwing, who reveals to Team Flash that Red Death’s rouges use Wayne Enterprise technology for their weapons.

Furthermore, Chester confirms the disappearance of Ryan Wilder, Batwoman, who vanished a few weeks ago, and her team cannot find her. Team Flash connects the dots and expresses a need to stop the speedster.

The episode’s big reveal is next, and it didn’t disappoint. The scene shows Chillblaine and rouges discussing the deal he made with Red Death. Mark tries to escape the premises with the vibration engine, but Red Death stops him. They told him his part of the deal would be completed when they accomplished theirs.

When Mark questions Red Death’s identity and trust, they reveal themselves, and boom – it is Ryan Wilder herself, Batwoman. The line “I am vengeance” references the original quote from the comic book version of the character, where the alternate version of Batman is the Red Death.

This episode was much better and more entertaining than the previous one because it focused on the main storyline and the exciting new villain of Flash, Red Death. In the comics, Red Death was ominous, vicious, and scary, and the fact that the series’ villain is already more effective than most of the villains Flash had over the years makes us excited for the next episode, titled “The Mask of the Red Death, Part 1,” airing on March 1, 2023.