Warning: This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of The Flash! Proceed with caution, speedsters. For reals, if you haven’t yet watched this week’s episode, “The Wrath of Savitar,” we highly suggest you do so before proceeding. Okay? We good? Let’s go.

Oh Barry. Haven’t we talked about this before? Central City’s Scarlet Speedster may be fast, but, man, is he ever forgetful. After all, it was Barry himself who made the S.T.A.R. Labs team promise not to keep secrets from each other earlier this season. Now, in “The Wrath of Savitar,” the damn fool keeps the biggest secret of all from Iris: why he’s so eager to get married. “I knew you’d say yes,” the arrogant prick tells her, by way of explaining how getting a ring on her finger would help prevent her from getting murdered by the speed god… even though Barry’s been flying blind all along in his attempts to thwart Savitar. Deep down inside, he has no idea what particular action or set of actions can halt her demise.

It’s not easy watching someone you once cared about make the same mistake over and over and over again. I get that The Flash is, to a certain extent, a coming-of-age drama and a morality tale aimed at young people, and that its hero is far more fallible (and more than a little thicker) than the fellow us fans know from the comic books. But the show has introduced other characters like Wally and Jesse in the last couple of years. Characters who can easily take on the mantle of team doofus, while Barry faces the challenge of being a mentor/big brother/leader.

Truth be told, the one thing Barry does have going for him in this week’s episode is the fact that almost everyone keeps secrets and makes boneheaded decisions. Some are understandable, like Caitlin keeping a chunk of the Philosopher’s Stone in an attempt to keep Killer Frost at bay. While others, like Wally not telling anyone about his visions of Savitar, don’t make all that much sense, even for a nascent speedster.

Wally’s speed has improved under Barry’s tutelage. But like his tutor, his genius IQ seems to have decreased rapidly in the time he’s spent hanging out with the team at S.T.A.R.. Hey, maybe Cisco and Caitlin’s real metahuman powers are the ability to siphon the smarts from other folks!

As for Caitlin, her secret agenda dovetails nicely with the show’s need to free Savitar in order to torment our cocky lead character. (He has to get out somehow!) So it’s a little easier to let slide. Especially when it leads to the most romantic moment thus far this season–her first kiss with Julian. Tom Felton has quickly become the show’s secret weapon, and his complete 180 from refusing to be the team’s “walkie-talkie” to snogging Ms. Snow when she puts her hand on his is a joy to watch.

“I just wanted to do that in case you changed your mind later,” he tells her, by way of an apology.

“Quite alright,” she whispers, mimicking his stiff upper lip.

What makes these two work is their relationship is the least forced on the show.  Both Barry and Iris and Wally and Jesse are so wrapped up in destiny, so conveniently preordained by the Speed Force, that their couplings lack the kind of spontaneity that generates sparks. Granted, Iris walking out on a defeated Barry might spice things up a little. As for Jesse and Wally, well, at least his sudden imprisonment is furthering her relationship with H.R., who, if my suspicions that Harry pulled a double fake-out regarding his health issue last week prove true, may soon find himself taking on the role of surrogate father full-time.

In the meantime, we’ve still got to see if Barry can make up for his boneheadedness. The tonal shift between the darkness in “The Wrath of Savitar” and the impending musical crossover with Supergirl is gonna be a big one. So the biggest question about next week’s episode is whether or not it can account for that. See you in seven, speedsters!