History Recap / TheFlash2014S8E2ArmageddonPartTwo

* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Despero's backstory in this series is that he was a former rebel trying to overthrow a tyrant on his home planet. In the comics and cartoons, '''he''' is the tyrant who took over instead. [[spoiler:Averted as of the fifth part - he was lying about being a rebel; in fact, ''he'' was the tyrant who was deposed in the first place.]]
* AdaptationalHeroism: In the comics and previous adaptations, Despero is a pure villain, an evil despot who has tried to conquer Earth every few years. In this show, Despero is more of a WellIntentionedExtremist and only seeks to save Earth from Flash's RoaringRampageOfRevenge. [[spoiler:Averted in the fifth part, which reveals he only wanted to save Earth so he could rule it.]]

* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Despero's backstory in this series is that he was a former rebel trying to overthrow a tyrant on his home planet. In the comics and cartoons, '''he''' is the tyrant who took over instead.
* AdaptationalHeroism: In the comics and previous adaptations, Despero is a pure villain, an evil despot who has tried to conquer Earth every few years. In this show, Despero is more of a WellIntentionedExtremist and only seeks to save Earth from Flash's RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

** While she suspends Barry, Kristen comments "If Joe were here right now, he'd say I should learn from last year and keep an open mind." The last act of the episode reveals what happened.

** Kristen comments "If Joe were here right now, he'd say I should learn from last year and keep an open mind." The last act of the episode reveals what happened.

-->'''Allegra:''' That's… not funny, Barry.

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: Justified; Alex mentions Kara and J'onn being currently off-world. J'onn would have made short work of Despero otherwise. Though no justification is given why Dreamer, Brainy, or Superman weren't called.
** Likewise unknownst to Barry Sara is currently unable to return to that time, and Kate obviously is no longer Batwoman (it's unknown if Barry has ever met Ryan yet) so they aren't available to help when he goes to the Hall of Justice. The only one to avert this is Black Lightning, when Barry arrives, Jefferson is waiting at his chair ready to help out.

* TraumaCongaLine: Barry suffers a major one throughout the episode. First, Barry is suspended from [=CCPD=] due to a federal investigation suspecting him of being a mole for Joesph Carver. Then Team Flash loses STAR Labs and all its resources. Finally, he learns that Joe has been dead for half a year and doesn't remember it. Compounding this is him having blackouts during which he attacks both his friends and Central City, the latter of which causes the city to believe he's turned against them.

* TraumaCongaLine: Barry suffers a major one throughout the episode. First, Barry is suspended from [=CCPD=] due to a federal investigation suspecting him of being a mole for Joesph Carver, then Team Flash loses STAR Labs and all its resources, followed closely by his encounter with Xotar causing Central City to believe he's gone rogue and ruined his reputation, and then the final straw comes when he learns that Joe has been dead for half a year.

* TrashTheSet: STAR Labs is shut down and prepared to be demolished.

* SpottingTheThread: Allegra noticies Chester being conflicted about something, which is because Frost asked him to make a weapon against Despero.

* ShoutOut: In the past, Chester built a RayGun inspired by [[Franchise/LooneyTunes Marvin the Martian's]] weapon.

* SpottingTheThread: Allegra notifies Chester being conflicted about something, which is because Frost asked him to make a weapon against Despero.
* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: Justified; Alex mentions Kara and J'onn being currently off-world. J'onn would have made short work of Despero otherwise.

* AdvertisedExtra: Despite being promoted as a major character in the crossover, Alex only appears in a few video calls.

* BigDamnHeroes: Chester and Allegra show up just in time to stop Despero from blasting Barry.

** When bringing up the possibility that Barry's enhanced speed may be what turns him crazy [[Recap/TheFlash2014S7E2TheSpeedOfThought Chester brings up how Barry's Speed thinking thanks to the ASF made him cold and unfeeling to his friends.]]

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Kristen comments "If Joe were here right now, he'd say I should learn from last year and keep an open mind." The last act of the episode reveals what happened.

* NoOntologicalInertia: All of Xotar's victims snap out of their madness after the latter is in meta cuffs.
* RedHerring: Xotar is initially thought to have been responsible for Barry's madness. Unfortunately, it continues even after she is in meta cuffs.
* TheReveal: Joe is revealed to have died months prior.
* SanitySlippage: Despero tells Barry that the reason he is going to turn on the city is that he will suffer a series of tragedy's so shocking that it will slowly cause him to snap and eventually go on a rampage. He warns that the first sign of his slippage will occur on the next day which is exactly what happens.
* ShoutOut: The ray gun that burned down his friend's house was built by Chester after watching [[Franchise/LooneyTunes Marvin the Martian]].

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: Justified; Alex mentions Kara and J'onn being off-world currently. J'onn would have made short work of Despero otherwise.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Team Flash theorize that one of the reasons Barry might go insane is that his new enhanced speed, thanks to the Forces, has caused him to become too powerful to fast, even referencing how the [=ASF=] turned Barry cold and dangerous when he used it (not that this would make sense, as he's shown no sign of going insane up to this point).

** Chester reveals that he is a pacifist, as he set a friend's home on fire by accident as a child, trying to build a ray gun. This is why he has a big problem with Frost requesting a potentially deadly weapon against Despero from him.

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: Alex mentions Kara and J'onn being off-world currently.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Team Flash theorize that one of the reasons Barry might go insane is that his new enhanced speed, thanks to the Forces, has caused him to become too powerful to fast, even referencing how the [=ASF=] turned Barry cold and dangerous when he used it.

** Despero tells barry a story of how he used to lead a rebellion against the tyrant of his planet Kalanor. Out of compassion, he let the tyrant live, only for it to bite him in the ass, since he later returned to power and banished him. He then went to Earth, coming to see it as his adopted homeworld over the years and has vowed to never make that same mistake again, which is why he is so determined to kill Barry.

* WhatTheHellHero: Rare example from the villain, as Despero is furious that Barry's friends would still attempt to stop him from saving the world from Barry.

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Gideon says this to Barry when he prepares to remove the evidence of the Flash from STAR Labs.

** Chester reveals that he is a pacifist, as he set a friends home on fire by accident as a child, trying to build a ray gun. This is why he has a big problem with Frost requesting a potentially deadly weapon against Despero from him.

* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham: {{Justified}}, Alex mentions Kara and J'onn being off-world currently.

* WhamLine: Several

* ContinuityNod: When Frost asks Chester to design a weapon against Despero, she mentions Bloodwork.

** The team telling Barry that Joe is dead for half a year now.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Barry, courtesy of Xotar.

* SmartBomb: The Flash defeats Xotar by unleashing a powerful electrical surge.

* DarkestHour: Barry is framed for being TheMole for Black Hole, with Kramer asking him to TurnInYourBadge, STAR Labs is shut down, Barry's friends nearly turn against him, the whole city becomes convinced that the Flash has gone rogue, and Joe West is revealed to have been KilledOffscreen. Such a HumiliationConga drives Barry straight through the DespairEventHorizon.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Barry, courtesy of Xotar.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The audience is probably just as shocked as the audience was when it's revealed Joe is dead.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Barry gets this, courtesy of Xotar.

* TheReveal: Joe is revealed to have died months prior.