History Recap / TheFlash2014S3E9ThePresent

** The Earth-3 Trickster is first seen talking to himself about how he tricked his latest victims into thinking he wouldn't kill them, but did so anyway. This is a nod to the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeofComicbooks Golden]] and [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] comics, where characters would often talk to themselves out loud about what they just did and how they did it (which served as {{Exposition}} for the reader).

* HeelFaceTurn: Julian starts befriending Barry this episode.

** The Earth-3 Trickster is first seen talking to himself about how he tricked his latest victims into thinking he wouldn't kill them, but did so anyway. This is a nod to the [[TheGoldenAgeofComicbooks Golden]] and [[TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] comics, where characters would often talk to themselves out loud about what they just did and how they did it (which served as {{Exposition}} for the reader).

* DreamingOfAWhiteChristmas: Mostly averted, it rains instead, but Caitlin uses her ice powers to make it snow around the West' house.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Earth-3 Trickster gets the same theme as the Earth-1 version.

*** Also a more tender and sweet variation of the theme plays when Barry shows Iris the apartment he bought for the two of them.

** A FreezeFrameBonus reveals that Julian's full name is Julian Albert Desmond, referencing Albert Desmond, one incarnation of Doctor Alchemy from the comics.

* TheHerald: According to Jay, Savitar always sends someone to the worlds he visits to herald his arrival. In this case, Dr. Alchemy.

-->'''Savitar:''' [[TonightSomeoneDies One of you will fall]], [[FaceHeelTurn one will betray you]], and [[FateWorseThanDeath one of you will suffer a fate far worse than death]].
** Later Barry has a special gift for Iris.

* FriendOrIdolDecision: The Savitar box uses Cisco's memories of Dante to trick him into opening the box, freeing him with the "promise" of getting Dante back. With Savitar about to kill Barry and Wally, Caitlin has to talk Cisco into closing the box... which he does.

* CallBack: Jay tells Barry that speedsters shouldn't travel to their own future because they might inadvertently find themselves in a StableTimeLoop if they actively try to prevent something they don't like; this is exactly what happened to Eobard Thawne except in reverse. He went back in time, saw he was destined to become the Reverse-Flash and...well, you know the rest.

* ActorAllusion: Earth-3 Trickster resembles ComicBook/TheJoker. Both are played by Creator/MarkHamill.

* CallBack: Jay tells Barry that speedsters shouldn't travel to their own future because they might inadvertently find themselves in a StableTimeLoop if they actively try to prevent something they don't like; this is exactly what happened to Eobard Thawne except in reverse. He went back in time saw he was destined to become the Reverse-Flash and well you know the rest.

** Although the fact that Future!Barry could trap him provides evidence that eventually he will be able to challenge Savitar. [[TimeTravelTenseTrouble Or did, since it happened in Savitar's past and Barry's future, unless Savitar is referring to being tossed into the Speed Force which is in Barry's present and my head hurts now.]]

* {{Futureshadowing}}: After Barry gets hit from knockback from tossing the Savitar box into the Speed Force, Barry wound up time traveling five months into the future to see himself fail to save Iris from getting killed by Savitar.

* InSpiteOfANail: Yes he called himself Kid Flash in the previous episode, but Wally makes it clear that, just like his ''Flashpoint'' self, he does not like the moniker at all.

** Barry's visit to the future takes him to Infantino Street, in reference to Carmine Infantino, a highly prolific comic writer during the Silver Age who played a big role in establishing the era.

* NotHyperbole: When Cisco says the Savitar box is "nothing", he clarifies that he isn't saying it is inconsequential. He means it shows up on no tests, as if it doesn't even exist.

** Judging from what we see in the future, the one who "falls" may be Iris.

** Also a more somber and slower paced variation of Barry and Iris' Love Theme plays in the background as Barry witnesses the death of Future Iris at the hands of Savitar.