Ep 21. The Runaway Dinosaur

Barry Allen takes on the mantle of the Flash to protect Central City from various threats, as well as to safeguard his loved ones from harm. In season 2 episode 21, titled "The Runaway Dinosaur," Barry finds himself in an alternate universe where he is not a superhero but a regular person. The episode begins with Barry's lifeless body being discovered in the wake of his defeat at the hands of Zoom. Everyone in the city, including his friends and family, mourns for him, but they soon realize that Barry's spirit has been transported to another realm.

After a while, Barry awakens in a strange location that he soon realizes is an alternate universe. In this version of Central City, Barry's mother, Nora Allen, is still alive and his father, Henry Allen, is not in prison but is a successful businessman. Barry is more than happy to see his mother alive but is soon forced to confront the fact that he needs to find his way back to his own universe and defeat Zoom.

The team back in Central City, including Caitlin, Cisco, and Wells, starts to work on bringing Barry back to reality. At the same time, they deal with a giant gorilla named Grodd, who is wreaking havoc on the city. Grodd is particularly dangerous as he has a powerful telepathic ability that allows him to control people's minds. The team devises a plan to stop Grodd and rescue Barry, but it's going to take every bit of their intelligence and resources to make it happen.

Meanwhile, Barry learns valuable lessons about life and death while he's stuck in the alternate universe. He understands that his journey has always been about protecting the people he loves and that he needs to be selfless in order to save them. The episode also offers glimpses of Barry's past, as we see him interact with his mother and father in a completely different dynamic. As he reminisces about his past, he realizes that he's always had a desire to be a superhero, and that desire has culminated in his current role as The Flash.

In "The Runaway Dinosaur," we see Barry's character develop and grow as he comes to terms with the fact that he can't always control everything. He learns to be accepting and compassionate, even toward people who have wronged him in the past. We also see how Barry's experiences in the alternate universe tied into the overall plotline of the season, and how they're essential to his eventual showdown with Zoom.

In the end, people's thoughts and emotions play a significant role in Barry's return to reality. In a poignant scene, Barry communicates with Iris through his mind and manages to break through to her. This leads to his rescue, although not in the way that the team initially planned. Barry's return is heartfelt and emotional, and it shows how much the team values and cares for him.

"The Runaway Dinosaur" is a standout episode in The Flash's second season. It explores themes of identity, loss, and redemption, and it further develops the characters' relationships as well as their individual arcs. It also manages to balance elements of drama and action, making for an engaging and exciting episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.