'The Flash' season 3 episode 9 recap: Key takeaways from the winter break before the January 2017 finale

The winter finale of “The Flash,” titled “The Present,” did not waste any time answering any questions that viewers were likely to have for the season. While trying to find more information about Savitar, Cisco came across a research paper about the Philosopher’s Stone -- a stone with tremendous power that can create metahumans. While that would already be surprising, it gets more twisted later on as it gets discovered that Julian is actually the paper’s author.

This will lead Barry to confront Julian, who will explain that he blew all his inheritance on an expedition to try to find the stone, but all went to waste as he failed in doing so anyway. However, viewers know that he is lying at this point since it has been revealed earlier that Julian is actually Dr. Alchemy.

This episode opened with a flashback scene that shows him stumbling upon the stone somewhere in India. Julian will also drop some information as their conversation ends -- that Savitar was the first metahuman with such speed.

This information is worrying enough for Barry to seek Jay’s help, which will later on lead to a cameo from “Star Wars” icon Mark Hamill as Earth 3’s Trickster. After offering assistance in helping Jay subdue Thee Trickster, both Flashes hop back onto Barry’s Earth. This is when Jay reveals that he has heard of Savitar way back. It is later on learned that Savitar is the first speedster who eventually proclaimed himself as the god of motion. If he is on Barry’s Earth, that only means he’s there to challenge Barry.

Later, Cisco syncs Barry’s brain with that of Savitar’s which would allow them to communicate with one another. Through Julian, Savitar boasts of holding the power of life and death over all of Flash and company, as he declares that he knows all of their fears, weaknesses and destinies. Later on, Savitar declares that in Barry’s team, one will betray him, one will fall, and one is destined for a fate worse than death.

Before the mid-season break on "The Flash" ends, Jay suggests that they lob the box into the SpeedForce where it can never be found. When that happens, Barry gets moved five months into the future where he watches himself begging Savitar not to kill Iris. However, Savitar does that exactly, as he says “you lose Barry!”

“The Flash” season 3 returns in January 24, 2017 on The CW. The title for episode 10 is “Borrowing Problems From The Future.” In Australia, the show airs on Fox.

The Flash | The Present Scene | The CW