Fast Lane

"I wasn't fast enough."

—Barry after failing to save Iris

"Fast Lane"
Information
Season 2 » Episode 12
Episode number	35 of 184
Original airdate	February 2, 2016
Written by	Teleplay by: Kai Yu Wu Joe Peracchio Story by: Brooke Eikmeier
Directed by	Rachel Talalay
Guest stars
Marco Grazzini as Joseph Monteleone/Tar Pit
Chronology
Preceded by	"The Reverse-Flash Returns"
Followed by	"Welcome to Earth-2"

"Fast Lane" is the twelfth episode of the second season of The Flash, and the thirty-fifth episode overall. It aired on February 2, 2016.

Synopsis

Barry teams up with Wells to figure out a way to close the breaches, but they are distracted by a meta-human nicknamed Tar Pit who can transform into liquid asphalt. Iris is concerned for Wally’s safety after she finds out about his drag racing hobby. When he refuses to stop she makes a bold move that puts her in danger.

Plot

Right before the particle accelerator explosion, Joey Monteleone was thrown into a tar pit and left for dead. Sealed away, he is freed two years later with the ability to turn his body into molten tar. He sets out to get revenge on those who attempted to kill him. Meanwhile, Dr. Wells creates a device to siphon Barry's speed energy and attaches it to his suit. He and Barry also successfully find a way to close the breaches to Earth-2. When Barry goes after Joey, the device works and permanently steals a portion of Barry's speed, slowing him down. Wells gives the energy to Zoom, who demands the rest. While going after Joey a second time, Iris is injured when Barry is too slow to save her. Watching Barry wrestle with the guilt of Iris' injury, Wells confesses. Wells pleads his case, asking to be returned to Earth-2 and have Barry seal the breaches so Zoom cannot re-enter. After stopping Joey, Barry realizes that Wells was only trying to save his daughter, which the rest of them would have done for their families. The team informs Wells that he will return to Earth-2, but that Barry and Cisco will be going with him to save his daughter.

Trivia

• The pizza box on the Wests' table is from Coast City Pizza. In the comics, Coast City is the home of Hal Jordan, better known as the superhero Green Lantern. Barry previously ran to Coast City for their pizza in "Who is Harrison Wells?".
• In the comics, Tar Pit is a Flash villain with a much more monstrous appearance. Monteleone is a meta-human with the ability to astrally project his consciousness until it gets stuck in a vat of tar. His brother is the crime lord known as Candyman.
• The radio mentions Oliver Queen's mayoral campaign, a reference to the sister series Arrow.
• Cisco also asks Barry and Caitlin "Who's the best hacker in the world people?" to which they both respond "Felicity Smoak".
• Wally's car is Yellow and Red, the colors of his Kid Flash costume from the comics.