The Flash Season 2 Midseason Finale: "Running To Stand Still"

Running To Stand Still. 
It's Christmas time in Central City and Weather Wizard has returned to break Captain Cold and the Trickster out of Iron Heights in the midseason finale. Mark Hamill returns to reprise his role as the Trickster and Santa Clause in tonight's episode. Wally West is also making his first appearance when he meets Iris and Joe. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Iris walked in on Patty and Barry smooching it up in his lab, but the awkwardness subsided when Iris told him how happy she was for him. Barry said that he never thought he would be happy after the message Wells sent him, but things have changed, and in the middle of him saying this, Iris breaks down because she's overwhelmed by holding the secret of Wally's existence from her dad. Barry's not going to let her deal with this alone and the two of them are going to tell Joe together about his son. So, they do. Iris and Barry sit down with Joe to tell him that he has a son that he hasn't met. An intense and emotional scene between them. It's a lot for him to take in.

It's snowing in Central City and that's because Weather Wizard's in town. The snow knocked out cameras and security systems so he could successfully Captain Cold and the Trickster and they're ready to ruin Christmas. Mark Mardon (Weather Wizard) broke them out for the one thing every villain is after: killing The Flash.

After Iris and Barry arrive back at the house after talking to Joe, they come home to a visitor: Captain Cold, who's enjoying a hot chocolate in a sofa chair. Casual. Barry's not happy about it. He wanted to warn Barry about Mardon and the Trickster, but he didn't want to join Barry in stopping them and being a hero. Like Barry said, Stark's doing a lousy job being a villain lately (because he isn't that bad, let's be real).

Patty went off on her own to find the Trickster and The Flash was certainly surprised to see her there when he arrived to the abandoned toy warehouse the Trickster was hiding in and they fall into a trap. There's no where for them to run, so he uses his arm to fly the two of them out. Patty reveals to The Flash why she wants revenge so badly. She feels responsible for her father's death because she didn't show up to the shoe shop he owned that day and that same day he was killed in the robbery. Lots of pain hidden behind her strong face. (Reminder for anyone who forgot: Mardon killed Patty's father, which is why she wants revenge on any villain.)

Cisco and Jay created a wand that will allow Barry to defeat Weather Wizard and when he starts flying to attack a group of people, he goes after them. The Trickster has given 100 random children a box with a bomb in them while he's been dressed as Santa Clause. Weather Wizard gives him two options: Barry stands there and lets him end him, or he runs and the bombs all around the city go off. Wells and Cisco track a bomb and go after it. If they can get a single bomb through a breach, the rest will be dragged with it. Science and magnetism, saving children everywhere. Barry's able to use his speed again and defeat the Trickster and Weather Wizard.

Patty shows up to arrest them, but she hits the Flash with a 'paralyzer' gun that restricts him from moving his leg from the ground. All because of what she wants to do next. She pulls her gun on Weather Wizard for her father, but Barry talks her out of it. If she shoots him, she loses everything. She goes to prison and loses everyone around her, so she doesn't pull the trigger.

Joe always planned on giving his dad's watch that was passed to him to his son, and so he gives it to Barry, because Barry is his son. And when everyone has arrived at the house, there's a knock at the door. Joe and Iris finally meet Wally West.

Zoom was attempting to make a deal with Wells in exchange for giving Wells his daughter back. Every one's questioning what's wrong, but no one's getting details or even aware the encounters are happening. And at the end, we finally get all of the information we need. Zoom keeps sending villain after villain to Central City so that Barry gets faster and faster so that Zoom can steal his maximum power and even worse... Wells agrees to help him so that he can save his daughter. As for Zoom's identity, that's something we're still waiting to see.

Not my favorite, but a good Christmas themed episode that really introduces what we are going to be seeing in the second half of the season. Humor and emotion, perfectly combined. No big revelations, but lots of interesting things that I look forward to seeing. What did you think of the midseason finale? Feel free to leave your thoughts down below. Technically only a short month of hiatus, but I'm sure it'll feel longer. Be sure to check back for posts throughout the hiatus!

The Flash returns January 19, 2016 on the CW.

Other things worth mentioning:
⚡Barry speaks to Wells as if he's the Wells that left him the message and while he's not listening, he tells him that he forgives what Wells did, no matter how much he hates him.
⚡Jay and Caitlin are still flirting a bunch and Cisco's even waiting for them to kiss already. Joe and Iris are having a Christmas party on Christmas Eve, so Caitlin invites Jay to come with them. Like Cisco said, these two need to just kiss already. And they FINALLY do!