Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for The Flash season 9, episode 2, "Hear No Evil."Barry Allen finally admitted in The Flash season 9 episode "Hear No Evil" that he made a major mistake. The Fastest Man Alive is often quick to act and slow to think through the consequences of his actions. This proved to be the case in The Flash season 8 episode "The Curious Case Of Bartholomew Allen," which ended with Barry Allen discovering that his friend, Dr. Caitlin Snow, had constructed a secret lab devoted to resurrecting her sister, Frost. His decision to disassemble her lab proved to have unexpected results, which were explored in The Flash season 9, leading Barry to acknowledge that he made a mistake.
The opening scene of The Flash season 9, episode 2, "Hear No Evil," introduced a new Snow Sister, played by Danielle Panabaker. Frost's boyfriend, Mark "Chillblaine" Blaine, explained to Team Flash that he and Caitlin had continued working on her plan to save Frost in secret after Barry destroyed her lab. Their efforts led to Caitlin dying and her body spontaneously creating a new Snow sister, who was "a total blank slate with zero memories." This revelation prompted Barry to realize he had erred in destroying Caitlin's lab, pushing her away and pressing her to continue the experiments that ultimately killed her.
How The Flash's Season 8 Mistake Sets Up "Hear No Evil" Conflict
Chillblaine unveiled a radical plan to Team Flash, claiming he could use STAR Labs' technology and a stable power source to resurrect both Frost and Caitlin. This prompted a debate between Team Flash's members regarding both the ethics of the experiment and whether they could sacrifice the newborn Snow to save their friends, even if she were willing to die to save her sisters. The discussion was further complicated by the discovery, following an analysis of Dr. Thomas Snow's notes regarding the process that gave birth to Frost, that Caitlin's plan could only resurrect one Snow sister.
Again Team Flash debated which of their friends they should save, with most of the team favoring Frost. Chillblaine obviously wanted to save his girlfriend but also argued that Caitlin had died trying to save Frost and that her wishes should be honored. Conversely, Chester argued against the idea of using science to raise the dead, based on his own experiences dealing with Deathstorm in The Flash season 8. Barry was unable to choose, admitting that he felt guilty for causing this conflict in the first place while lamenting that "the last thing I said to Caitlin before I destroyed her lab was, 'I'm sorry.' The truth is, I wasn't."
Why Team Flash Ultimately Leave The Choice Up To Khione
Ultimately, Team Flash decides the only person who could decide which Snow sister to save is the newborn Snow, who had decided to name herself Khione after the Ancient Greek goddess of snow. Khione decided not to sacrifice herself at all, affirming that for all Chillblaine's talk about her being a blank slate, she was "a person with feelings and free will." Khione compared herself, Frost, and Caitlin to flowers on a vine, saying, "we can mourn the flowers that have fallen from the vine, but we can't ask a new bloom to give up its place."
The consequences of Barry Allen's choice to destroy Caitlin's lab have yet to be fully resolved. While most of Team Flash accepted Khione's decision and welcomed a chance to get to know her as a new friend, Chillblaine was upset by her newfound independence and ready to force her into helping him before the Pied Piper intervened and destroyed the equipment needed to bring back Frost. It seems certain that Chillblaine will return with revenge on his mind later in The Flash season 9.