Barry and Team Flash get closer to figuring out the Fire Meta but no closer to finding him. Meanwhile Iris, needing a distraction, follows a story to Coast City.
Tropes:
- Arbitrary Skepticism: Allegra doesn't believe in ghosts, despite everything she has witnessed since joining Team Flash and throughout the Arrowverse in general, where it has firmly been established that ghosts do exist. However, she's 100% correct that an actual ghost of Quincy would not be malevolent in any way.
- Bait-and-Switch: When it's mentioned that there's a new meta in Coast City, viewers would be forgiven for thinking that it might be someone related to Green Lantern, as that was his home in the comics. Instead, it's Tinya, who in the comics is Phantom Girl, a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
- The Bus Came Back: Sue returns in this episode.
- Captain Oblivious: It's highly unlikely that anyone in the world would be unaware of what a metahuman is, considering that two American cities (Central City and Freeland) are known for their high concentration of metas. Not only does Tinya have no idea what a "metahuman" is, she also seems to not know who the Flash is either. One would think that the existence of someone capable of moving at superspeed would be front-page news everywhere, especially since he's been operating for years.
- Dead Person Impersonation: The dark fire entity can apparently do this, as it takes the form of Quincy P. Runk to try and tempt Chester into being its latest victim.
- Emotion Eater: The team ultimately realizes that this is what is driving this mysterious new villain, as its victims have been those who have fallen into despair.
- "Eureka!" Moment: While talking about running away from her problems, Iris realizes that Tinya must also be running from something.
- Evil Living Flames: Team Flash eventually comes to the horrific conclusion that they aren't dealing with a metahuman that can control fire, but the mysterious black fire is itself a sapient, malevolent entity.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: Sue acts as the bad cop to Iris's good cop when they find Tinya, threatening to destabilize the latter's powers with a device if she doesn't listen. It was all a bluff though.
- Imagine Spot: Chester has one with his dad, imagining how proud he would've been, seeing what his son became.
- Intangibility: Tinya displays this capability with her latent metahuman genes awakening, and her activities in Coast City drive Iris and Sue to take a trip there and attempt to reach out to her.
- It's All My Fault: The black fire is feeding on Chester blaming himself for his father's death.
- My Sensors Indicate You Want to Tap That: Near the end of the episode, Cecile and Allegra come to talk to Chester to make sure he's okay. Cecile then uses her empathy to sense Chester and Allegra's hidden feelings for one another and makes up an excuse to leave them alone.
- Not Afraid of You Anymore: Chester faces his fears and is able to drive out the black fire, with the help of his friends.
- Out of Focus: Caitlin doesn't appear this episode, being busy with her new relationship with Marcus.
- Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: One of the symptoms Iris experiences, alongside with losing other memories.
- Sensory Overload: The black fire absolutely terrifies Cecile when she tries to read it.
- Shout-Out: Chester says "Holy Fahrenheit 451!"
- The Stinger: Deon arrives, telling Iris that he has bad news for her in regards to her condition.
- Technicolor Fire: The enigmatic villain is comprised of black flames that uses cold fusion to burn. Unlike regular fire, Barry's rotating whirlwind arms and Frost's ice abilities have no effect on it.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: The A Plot is about the black flames, the B Plot about Iris and Sue reaching out to Tinya.
- "Well Done, Daughter!" Gal: Despite being the victim of Parental Abandonment, Tinya is determined to find her birth mom to show her that she has powers and is worth something.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Sue gives Iris a pep talk to not be afraid to face her problems.
- You Are in Command Now: While Iris leaves with Sue, she leaves the Citizen in Allegra's care.
