The Flash season 7 has finally remembered that Barry Allen actually has a job. Before he was struck by lightning and became the Scarlet Speedster, Barry was (and still is) a CSI and scientist. The first few seasons of the show showcased him often enough at his job, as he balanced his regular, everyday job with that of his superhero responsibilities and personal life. However, the scenes of Barry at his job — be it at his office at the Central City police department or at a crime scene — dwindled over the years. Luckily, The Flash season 7 indicated it’s getting back in the habit of showing Barry as a CSI with one particular scene. 

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The scene itself was surprising considering Barry hasn’t been seen doing his actual job since at least early season 6. That was primarily to test blood retrieved from Ramsey Russo’s crime scenes after he became Bloodwork. Most of The Flash season 5 was spent inside S.T.A.R. Labs, a setting that admittedly became exhausting to watch since it’s so overused. The series finally revisiting Barry as a CSI is important because it’s a reminder that he is also an average citizen who has a regular old job like everyone else. He isn’t simply the city’s hero, nor is he speeding around in his Flash costume all the time.

The Flash season 7’s fourth episode, titled “Central City Strong,” officially kicked off a new story following the return of Iris West-Allen from the Mirrorverse and Mirror Monarch’s defeat. Investigating a new case, Barry arrives at a crime scene to find that a shed has been compressed into an obelisk by Abra Kadabra and a man killed by the use of the 64th-century wizard’s playing cards. It’s not pretty. However, Barry is there to figure things out with his CSI briefcase in tow. Even Cisco Ramon, who’s been a CCPD consultant for a while now, and Chester P. Runk (newbie consultant intern) were there to help.

Showing him at his job allows the show to balance Barry as a superhero and a human being with a personal life he must attend to. What’s more, Barry as a CSI is just as crucial a job as being The Flash. At his job, Barry is typically seen working on things alone, which is important because the series often forgets he’s a scientist and a smart man in his own right. In fact, The Flash should have more scenes of Barry doing CSI work in season 7. It adds an element to whatever metahuman situation or case he’s investigating as The Flash and it keeps the superhero series grounded as well. 

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Similar to how Iris’ job as a journalist is important to Central City and connects her to its citizens, so, too, is Barry’s job a crucial aspect to his ties to the city outside of being The Flash. It’s unclear if the remainder ofseason 7 will continue to remember that Barry has an actual day job. Honestly, it would be entirely unrealistic to continue ignoring it. Are fans supposed to believe that he’s always at S.T.A.R. Labs? Whatever the case, seeing him out in the field once more makes it all the more obvious that The Flash should get back to showing Barry as a CSI far more often than it has in the recent past.

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Mae Abdulbaki
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Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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