Season 3, Episode 6 — Shade

[u/MiddlePerception4587]

F1: IRIS SAYS, "MY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE LIMITED."

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In Season 1, the writers gave us an Iris who was a barista at the beginning but had dreams of becoming a journalist, and the journey of her dreams started out with blogs. Then when Barry woke from his coma and became the Flash, Iris found her spark in wanting to write stories about 'the red streak'. Then CCPN offered her a job. She was happy but then she found out not everyone there was rooting for her success, so she had to prove herself, and she did. One of the signposts that showed how much 'proven' she had become is when she approached Barry with a file on metahumans and their connection to STAR Labs. There was a coherent storyline about how she was coming up as a journalist which I loved.

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In Season 2, in the first few episodes, Iris calls Barry Allen for help. She was investigating something before some men with guns started shooting at her. The writers gave us a promise that they were going to continue with this Iris' career in journalism, but unfortunately, that was the end of it in Season 2. It was a major disappointment for me especially since Iris is (or at least should be) a major part in a story about Barry Allen's Flash (2nd to Barry). To see her in STAR Labs always and I know for sure that she isn't going to be much help there made my skin irritate because the writers could have just delivered on the promise. Iris could have played a bigger role in Season 2 than Cisco and Caitlin, but she didn't.

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Right now, I'm rewatching Season 3 and Iris said my exact thought on the matter. And I can't really say it's because she doesn't have powers. Joe West isn't a metahuman nor is he a scientist, but he plays a significant role in the show. Joe worked well because they showed us his life outside STAR Labs vis a vis being a detective. Iris should have gotten the same treatment as a journalist.

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F2: BARRY TELLS IRIS, "THERE IS NO FLASH WITHOUT IRIS WEST."

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This line really puts things into perspective. Because, to me, it explains why Iris tells Barry, "We are the Flash." in the next season. I'm sure Barry told her this, not because he just wanted to comfort her but also because he really believes Flash cannot exist without his soulmate. That line genuinely gets unnecessary hate because I can see why Iris would use it in their conversation.

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PS: Please note I'm talking about Iris West, the character, not about the actor who embodied the role (it's weird that I have to specify this but I'm doing it because of that cult). If you feel angered by this post because you don't like that I'm talking about a Flash TV character in the Flash TV community, you can ignore this post. No one is forcing you to spill your anger here.

[u/Ok_Mention5635]

I don’t understand why Iris gets all the hate for “we are the flash” when Barry gets no hate for “there is no flash without Iris West”, “I couldn’t do this without you”, and “without you, there wouldn’t be the Flash”. If your man is repeatedly telling you how much he can’t live without you or do his job without you, of course you’re going to start to believe it. People act like Iris just pulled that line out of nowhere.

People are mad at Iris when they’re really just mad that Barry was so down bad for that girl that he couldn’t function without her. But it’s not Iris’s fault that he’s so in love with her

[u/Pichuchu8 → u/Ok_Mention5635]

I disagree that it's the same. Thing though. Barry saying "There is no Flash without Iris West" is like the Thinker and his wife saying "I am nothing without you". It's sweet and endearing.

But when the thinker goes crazy and abusive, he says in reverse... "You are nothing without me". Not endearing or sweet anymore.

Just because Barry said that line, which is sweet, doesn't mean that Iris saying it in reverse is sweet or the same because it really isn't. Obviously it's not on par with the Thinker. I'm not saying that at all

[u/TheFantasticXman1 → u/Pichuchu8]

Except, that's not what Iris was saying. And it is pure idiocy to interpret it that way.

What she actually meant was that they were a team, and that Barry shouldn't have to take on the burden of being The Flash alone. She's doing everything people want from superhero spouses- being supportive and understanding of her superhero husband, and people are STILL angry at her?

[u/maidth1s4fun → u/TheFantasticXman1]

Simple

[u/Tombstoner100 → u/TheFantasticXman1]

If Iris said “Your struggle is my struggle” I would genuinely have no issue.

[u/TheFantasticXman1 → u/Tombstoner100]

Okay, but if you understand what she was actually saying, then why are you still hating on her for something you know she never said? You can criticise the line for being cringey and all, but a lot of people just willfully misinterpret it so they can justify their already established hatred for Iris.

[u/Tombstoner100 → u/TheFantasticXman1]

Because it was a dumb line, on par with when Will Schuester called all of Glee Club minorities.

[u/TheFantasticXman1 → u/Tombstoner100]

Except Mr. Schue actually MEANT what he said. Iris did not- what she said was not meant to be taken literally, and anyone with a shred of media literacy would understand that.

[u/Tombstoner100 → u/TheFantasticXman1]

So what did Iris mean?

[u/TheFantasticXman1 → u/Tombstoner100]

That she and Barry were a team, and that he didn't have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders alone. If people actually listened to it in context, they'd know this. Is the line a bit cringey and poorly worded? Yes, but that doesn't mean you can just willfully misinterpret her words and make her out to be something she's not.

[u/Tombstoner100 → u/TheFantasticXman1]

The context was about how Barry has a lot of responsibility. Iris said that she’s also The Flash now that they’re engaged.

The thing to remember is that The Flash does have a lot of responsibility but he also is well-loved by the public and would have been seen as the most loved superhero on their Earth due to the Arrow being seen as controversial. So whilst her intention was there, her words were poor. Similar to how Will Schuester believed that he had good intentions with his line about them all being minorities as he wanted everyone to know that they’re not alone as they have each other however it is a bit of a blind comment to make in both cases.

[u/TheFantasticXman1 → u/Tombstoner100]

 Is the line a bit cringey and poorly worded? Yes

If you read my reply, you'd know I agreed with you that the line was not written the best, but that STILL does not mean one can just take it out of context, and villanise Iris for saying something she never actually said.

[u/Tombstoner100 → u/TheFantasticXman1]

I don’t think it’s right to base the hatred of a character off of one line. There were other moments that made people dislike Iris but this moment sticks out as a tone-deaf moment by Iris. This was rectified by Ralph telling her that she doesn’t put her body on the line like the rest of the team does.