'The Flash' Season 4, Episode 2 'Mixed Signals' Recap: Relationship Troubles And More Tech Villains [SPOILERS]

After spending six months in the Speed Force, Barry Allen has a lot of catching up to do. “The Flash” Season 4 episode 2 titled “Mixed Signals” has Barry balancing couples’ therapy and fighting a new bad guy. Meanwhile, Cisco is having a lady troubles as well. Gypsy breaches in for a hot date with Cisco but gets annoyed when his work keeps them apart. Team Flash is back and trying their best to balance everything. But it’s not always easy trying to save a city and scheduling date nights. On a lighter note, the Speed Suit gets flashy new features, though the added modifications are not really that beneficial in the end.

‘The Flash’ Barry Tried to Pick Up Right Where They Left Off

Everyone has been waiting for Barry and Iris to finally tie the knot but their nuptials have been put on hold for the past six months. But Barry tries to make up for lost time in the sweetest way possible. A boxers-clad Barry cooked Iris breakfast and made a coffee run mid pancake flip, all before crashing on the couch and speed-binge everything he missed on TV. Even superheroes need some downtime. Everything seems to be going smoothly for Barry and Iris, meaning it’s back to wedding plan—that Barry already handled. Somewhat disappointed, Iris shrugs it off, despite barry planning everything without even consulting her.

Later in S.T.A.R Labs, Cisco unveils a new digitally-enhanced speed suit for Barry. The fun of discovering new features was cut short when more relationship drama ensues for Team Flash. Iris finds out Barry canceled their “training session” without consulting her again. The two share an awkward exchange of words and then Barry runs off to test out a new suit on the field. Caitlin, who was a witness to the whole ordeal offers Iris some advice. Caitlin suggests Iris and Barry might benefit from couples therapy. Iris turns the idea down insisting her relationship with Barry is doing just fine—that is until Barry ignored Iris’ advice while out in the field and accidentally redirects an out-of-control car towards great danger.
Iris then realizes she and Barry might need a second opinion on their relationship. Just like her beau, she schedules an appointment without consulting Barry. The two definitely need to work out their relationship before the credits roll in.

Cisco Blows Off Gypsy While Barry Is In Couples Therapy

Barry and Iris first couples therapy session is awkward, to say the least. It’s a little hard to open up about the underlying issues when it involves superpowers. When they had to describe the ramifications of Barry being stuck in the Speed Force, they had to call it a business trip. So they seem like a normal couple facing communication issues, though their communication issues might get in the way of saving lives. Of course, they try their best not to mention it in front of their therapist.
When a villain named Killgore adds more to his kill list, the couple had to put off their counseling for the time being. Meanwhile, Cisco is a little too distracted. Gypsy comes into town through an inter-dimensional portal hoping to get some alone time with Cisco. But due to the new tech villain, he had to blow her off twice in one day. He then tries to redirect his energy into figuring out Killgore’s code but Caitlin sees that his situation with Gypsy was distracting him. He then confronts Gypsy if she was actually fine with canceling their dates. Cisco explained the day got away from him and promises to make it up to her.
As soon as they were out of the therapist’s office, Barry and Iris finally talk about their issues. Iris explains how it was hard for her during those six months Barry was in the Speed Force; how she had to deal with everything alone and trying to put up a strong front. Barry then explains if she asked him to stay he would’ve. The two were able to work things out before Barry got into some trouble with Killgore.

Introducing Tech Villain Kilgore

We are first introduced to Kilgore’s abilities in the opening scene of the episode. A man was leaving a condominium and as soon as he steps into the elevator, it goes haywire. We can see it how the tech villain can easily manipulate any digitally enhanced technology with his own virus. He not only destroyed a perfectly good elevator but he also kills a man. His body was left mangled and smushed enough to ruin Sriracha for Cisco.

After seeing what the new villain can do, Cisco introduces the new and improved Speed Suit. Caitlin and Cisco realized it was more than a hacker’s code. It was an organic virus, therefore revealing Kilgore as a metahuman. After searching through Cisco’s pile of tech magazines, he and Caitlin were able to find the original “Kilgore” team.
Kilgore’s motivations are fueled by his mission for revenge on those who stole his namesake virus. He turned himself to a living human computer virus. It’s bad news for Flash because as he went face to face with Kilgore, his suit became a liability. With Cisco’s added digital enhancements Killgore was able to manipulate the suit with his set of unique codes. The suit later turned into Barry’s personal enemy.  Barry was able to escape Killgore but his suit has already short-circuited. It even accidentally activated the new Babel Protocol AKA the self-destruct sequence!

Barry Saves The Day But More Is Coming his Way

With Kilgore able to manipulate his suit and activating the self-destruct sequence, it looks like our hero might not make it. But Barry was able to make contact with Team Flash via payphone. Caitlin and Cisco worried he might trigger the self-destruction sequence. Iris suggests to short out his suit by hurling a lightning bolt at himself. Finally listening to his fiance, he was successful. He was able to sneak up on Kilgore and gave him a cure for his bio-digital virus.

When Barry dropped Killgore off at Iron Heights’ meta wing, he and Joe asked him how he got his powers but offered no answers. Instead, he told them he was not the only one of his kind. Judging from the final scene of this weeks episode, The Thinker and The Mechanic has 12 more metahumans out to get Team Flash.
“The Flash” continues next Tuesday with “Luck Be A Lady” at 8/9c on The CW.