The Flash's Rag Doll Debut Improves Iris & Nora's Relationship

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The Flash: Rag Doll's Debut Greatly Impacts Iris & Nora's Relationship

By Tim Adams

Published Nov 14, 2018

The strained relationship between Iris and Nora takes a turn when Rag Doll makes his debut on The Flash.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "All Doll'd Up," the latest episode of The Flash.

The DC villain Rag Doll (Troy James) made his debut on tonight's episode of The Flash, and his villainous scheme had a positive impact on the tense relationship between Iris West (Candice Patton) and her daughter, Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy).

The future speedster XS hasn't exactly gotten along with Iris ever since she arrived from the future, with her hard feelings boiling down to Iris not telling her she was a speedster while growing up. However, once Rag Doll sets his sights on Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris, Nora is able to see her mother in a whole new light.

Rag Doll's motivation for his thievery and kidnappings boil down to his own strained relationship with his mother. After Rag Doll overhears a conversation with Barry and Iris regarding Nora at his mother's gala, the contortionist sees the same dynamic playing out from his childhood and decides to kidnap Barry.

While the Rag Doll of the DC Universe hardly spoke, viewers did get to hear his voice as he taunted Iris over a video recording and while Barry was left tied up and dangling over a building rooftop. With Cisco unable to vibe and Nora unavailable, Elongated Man has the bright idea from a comic to swing himself and Iris to the scene. After a brief confrontation, Rag Doll pushes Barry over the edge, but Iris risks her own life and jumps down after him.

Iris frees Barry's hands during their fall, allowing him to race the two of them to safety on the street below. Nora arrived just in time to witness her mother's fearless action and is impressed she would do something like that when she isn't a speedster. Along with some sound advice from Cecile, Nora is able to give her mother a second chance, putting mother and daughter on a path of coexistence.

Airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW for its fifth season, The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanaugh, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Nicolet, Hartley Sawyer, and Jessica Parker Kennedy.