Captain Cold Kicks Ass!!

          The Flash is arguably the best superhero/comic book TV show currently on air. It is lighthearted, fun, upbeat, and brings together a great ensemble of characters, including a fun and quirky star character, and a great supporting cast. While it started strong, some of the episodes seemed to blur together, often resulting in the same outcomes: the Flash wins, and the bad guys go to jail. A friend of mine was getting bored of it and hoped that something was going to change. In the fourth episode of the season, he got his change with the introduction of Leonard Snart aka Captain Cold (played excellently by Wentworth Miller). Miller brings a whole new vibrancy to the show as one of the Flash's main villains, and he is (in my opinion) one of the best parts of the show. He brings some unique plot points to the show, and does what the other characters just can't do. (Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched the show)

1) Even with no Powers, he still gets things done

          The Flash is a spinoff of the CW show Arrow. On Arrow, most of the villains are rooted in reality, and have no superpowers whatsoever. In The Flash, it is the complete opposite. The show deals with villains who received powers from the same accident that gave the Flash his powers. Villains with powers ranging from teleportation to controlling sound waves, as well as a villain who can cause uncontrollable rage in anyone he wants. Captain Cold is not one of those super powered people. He is a regular individual, with no powers who stole a cold gun and uses it against the Flash. Even though there are many super powered beings on the show, none of them have been able to stop the Flash, or even get away at the end of the episode. He accomplishes this and more during his time on the show.

2) He has a plan, and he sticks to it

     

          Most of the villains on The Flash are in it for the short haul. Either they are looking for some form of vengeance against an individual who has wronged them somehow, or they are looking to pull off a heist for a big getaway. When we first meet Leonard Snart, he is a cold calculating thief, similar to that of every other thief. He wants to be successful in his heist, and nothing more than that. When the Flash thwarts him, his intentions immediately change. His new goal is to take out the Flash, by any means necessary. He then gets his hand on the cold gun, which shoots out ice at sub zero temperatures, and which could also stop the Flash in his tracks. All of Cold's plans are well thought out, and are calculated for most outcomes whether he is successful, or not. In his second appearance, Captain Cold and his new partner Mick Rory (Heatwave) are apprehended and taken into custody. In the back of the transportation truck that they are in, Heatwave is slightly panicking while Snart is cool, calm and collected. A few seconds later, they are rescued by Snart's younger sister, who ends up joining their team. He has a plan for every outcome, and no matter what happens, he knows what he will do next, and he will do so with a smile on his face.

3) He beats The Flash

          For most of its first season, The Flash followed a simple format. The Flash fought a new super powered villain every week, had a moment of weakness against said villain, then came back at the end to win, and capture the villain. Captain Cold brought fresh air to the show, and changed the format whenever he came on. In short, he is able to beat the Flash, and walk away without being captured. In their first meeting, Cold is moments away from killing him before Cisco and Caitlyn come in with a bluff to freeze Snart first. Cold walks away from the scene free, and having beaten the Flash for the first time.  On his most recent trip to the Flash's neighborhood, he becomes one of the few lucky people to know the Flash's secret identity after forcing the information out of Cisco. What he does with that knowledge in the future, is any one's guess.

4) He's getting the band together

          In the comic books, the Flash has arguably 3 main adversaries. The first two are the Reverse Flash, and Gorilla Grodd (soon to be featured on the show). The last one isn't one person, but a team of villains known as “The Rogues”. The Rogues have included various super-villains throughout the years, but there are a few who are always included on the roster, such as Heatwave, The Trickster, Weather Wizard, and Mirror Master (yet to be portrayed on the show). Captain Cold is generally regarded as the leader of the Rogues, since he is the one who initially brought them together with the goal of taking down the Flash. These villains have been portrayed on the show, some in separate episodes, and some as a team with Heatwave and the Golden Glider (Snart's sister) being brought directly into the fold by Snart himself. Hopefully in the near future, we see these villains all team up together to form the Flash's Rogues Gallery (referenced in episode 16 of the show).

          A key aspect that distinguishes the Rogues from just about every other villain or team of villains in comic books, is that they have a strict set of rules. Some of those rules involve no harming women or children, as well as no killing if it is unnecessary. At the end of the 16Th episode this season, we see Snart agree not to kill any more civilians as a challenge from the Flash, thus starting to lay the foundations for the Flash's rogues gallery that comic book lovers know and love.

         

     
          Wentworth Miller is doing an amazing job portraying Captain Cold. His portrayal is reminiscent of his job playing Michael Scofield in Prison Break. Many plans in his head, and a determination to see his plans succeed. This season, we will see Miller's Captain Cold in one more episode, then he is off to whatever plans they have for the new spin off that is being planned out. Hopefully besides seeing him on the spin off, we will still see him facing off against the Flash for many seasons to come.