On Oct. 4, “The Flash” sped back onto TV screens, wasting no time plunging straight into the highly anticipated “Flashpoint,” the first episode of season three. The second season ended with a dramatic cliffhanger; Barry Allen, aka The Flash (played by Grant Gustin), after experiencing countless tragedies, used his superpowered speed to travel back in time to the night of his mother’s murder to save her life. This alters the timeline and significantly changes Barry’s life, but as any fan of the Flash knows, messing with the timeline can never end well.

The episode begins in Barry’s perfect fantasy: as one character describes it, his “Reverse Wonderful Life.” Both of his parents are still alive, his archrival Eobard Thawne (Matt Lescher) is finally locked up, and there’s another Flash protecting Central City, meaning he’s finally free to do whatever he wants. Barry retains his speed and all his memories, but otherwise the timeline is completely different. Characters such as the love of his life, Iris West (Candice Patton), her father Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) and her brother Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale) don’t even know Barry in this universe. The episode includes many twists and turns such as a new villain, The Rival (played Todd Lasance), and a new playboy billionaire version of the geeky Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes). At the end, problems arise, and Barry has to make a major decision in order to revert the timeline back to its original state. Things seem to be fine until a shocking revelation is made: the original timeline is not the same as before, and somebody very dear to him is missing.

I have mixed emotions about this premiere. The expectations for this episode were very high, and I don’t think it lived up to them. The episode name “Flashpoint” comes from a groundbreaking DC comics event, so this episode was expected to have major repercussions, but it seemed to confine the majority of the event to one episode. It took away the significance of the event and made it feel rushed. I especially disliked how it seemed to casually dismiss the impact of important events that played a huge role in season one. This episode was also very predictable: for the majority of it, I could easily guess the next event. “The Flash” has had many exciting, well-written episodes–this wasn’t really one of them. I certainly hope that this formulaic plot doesn’t become prevalent throughout the rest of this season. Also, it would be impossible to forget the complete ridiculousness of The Rival and his costume (I know this is a comic book show, but come on).

Despite many flaws, “Flashpoint” also reminded why I like this show. The plot may have been so-so, but “The Flash” suspends reality and creates likable characters, and this episode really gave us a chance to see them from a different perspective. The chemistry between Iris and Barry was also some of the best I’ve ever seen on the show. “Flashpoint” definitely had some funny and quotable moments, and it reflected some of the fun lightness that got me hooked on it in the first place. Seeing how the cliffhanger at the end of the episode set up  the rest of the season, it definitely has potential. I give it a B+ and tentatively look forward to the next one.