The Flash Season 8 Episode 3 recap: Armageddon, Part 3

This article contains SPOILERS for The Flash season 8 episode 3

Black Lightning and Barry Allen try to prevent Armageddon, while the rest of his team splits into factions in this week’s episode of The Flash Season 8

Check out our recap of last week’s episode here!

This episode starts right away at the Hall of Justice with Barry Allen continuing to freak out about how he has been going rogue and calls for the “Injustice Protocol.” This means Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) would have to bring down Barry, and this means taking away the speedster’s powers. Jefferson is scared but will live up to his promise — but only if Barry is sure about making this irreparable decision.

Back at Chester’s garage, the new de facto HQ of Team Flash, the members are worried that their leader might be turning bad. Cecile is the voice of reason when she says, “Someone that we love is going through a mental health crisis, so I don’t care what he may or may not do 10 years from now. We need to take care of him today.” This idea instantly becomes the motivator for Team Flash, which is reinforced when Iris comes in and explains Barry is being framed, which also might mean Joe is still alive. Cecile lashes out since it goes against the closure she has about her late partner’s passing. This friction divides Team Flash, with Cecile, Caitlin, and Chester being on one team and Iris and Allegra being on the other.

The Flash Season 8 Episode 3: Team Flash splits up

Within the Hall of Justice, Barry is struggling to find a way to remove his powers while also reminiscing with Jefferson about their respective lost loved ones. Barry finally figures out the device that will separate him from the Speed Force. Jefferson uses his powers and the new device to try and remove The Flash’s powers.

Cecile’s faction is going about it by amplifying Cecile’s empath ability in the style of “Cerebro” from Charles Xavier’s creation. They need more power, and Cecile knows exactly where to go — to talk to Rosa Dillon, also known as Top. The two negotiate a deal, with Top getting some reduced sentencing, and the two have an agreement. Iris, however, goes to the train station Joe fell at that led to his death. After seeing some weird particles on the tracks, Iris and Allegra watch the station’s security footage, and it shows a conclusive accident that caused Joe to die, which is different than the copied files CCPD shared with Iris. While this time Allegra tries to deny it, Iris can’t help but accept it once again.

Back at their office, Iris hears Allegra out while she presents evidence that there were too many coincidences around Joe’s accident. Iris sees the same particles on the folder of evidence that she saw on the tracks and looks to be heading back there. Cecile, Caitlin, and Chester welcome Top into the garage, so the villainess and Cecile link up their amplified minds to project Barry’s location on a TV that still has antennae. Top is able to push and motivate Cecile to keep going (in a very hard-love kinda way) and is able to get a blurry image of Flash before overloading the amplifier. Despero sees Cecile’s team gain some progress with finding Barry and plans to wait it out and follow them.

The Flash Season 8 Episode 3: Iris gets some answers

When she returns to the train station, Iris finds Deon Owens (Christian Magby), who has the power of the Still Force and is treating Team Flash’s matriarch for her Time Sickness. Iris wants Deon to remove all of those treatments for her ailment, and when he does, all of those particles are seen throughout the station. This leads Deon to deduce that someone tapped into the Negative Still Force and rewrote the timeline so Joe would die and no ethereal being would know. Caitlin talks to Cecile about repressing feelings and love for Joe. Before any more progress is made, Chester gets a notification the particle accelerator was turned on at STAR Labs. Despero did this so he could level up his own powers and defeat The Flash.

Chester and Caitlin scramble because of the development with Despero and get a clear image before Despero appears at the garage. Top tries to double turn against Cecile and Team Flash, but Despero has no need for her. Cecile, however, stands up for herself and, using Cailtin’s advice about embracing her feelings, is able to prevent Despero from hurting her. The evil three-eyed villain now has Barry’s location, so it becomes a race to find him first.

The Flash Season 8 Episode 3: Run Barry! Run!

At the Hall of Justice, Barry finally comes clean to Jefferson about Despero and the impending Armageddon event and how that is why Barry wants his powers removed. Jefferson is disappointed in Barry for quitting and is also mad for leaving out crucial facts. Barry begins to show his lack of temperament control before The Flash and Black Lightning duel at the Hall of Justice. The fighting ends after the two crash through Oliver Queen’s memorial, and Jefferson reminds Barry of why Oliver is gone and why Barry is still around. The two make up, but that is when Despero appears and almost kills Barry before Deon and Iris appear. This distraction allows Barry to run to 2031 so the scarlet speedster can witness what Despero has been talking about.

When Barry gets to the next decade, he sees a venue dedicated to the West party. When he arrives, Barry sees his team along with some friends from National City and Gotham. But the worst part is when he sees this party is for Eobard Thawne and Iris West celebrating their love and their engagement to be married. Barry is recognized, and the whole party looks disgusted and ticked off at Barry.

Are you surprised by Thawne’s involvement? Will Barry get the answers he wants in 2031? Which character are you excited to see? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Watch The Flash Season 8 with new episodes every Tuesday at 8 pm EST and catch up at CWTV.com or on The CW app