‘The Flash’: Is a My Chemical Romance Song a Clue About Joe’s Fate?
The events of The Flash Season 6 Episode 16, “So Long and Goodnight,” caused heartbreaking consequences for the West family. But could a song by My Chemical Romance give viewers a clue about what is yet to come?
Previously on ‘The Flash’
In the second half of The Flash Season 6, the members of Team Flash have been caught in a series of perilous positions. From the death of the Speed Force to a near resurgence of Reverse Flash, they have been put through the wringer. And “So Long and Goodnight” follows suit with high stakes and dangerous situations.
Over the last several episodes, Joe has been hot on the trail of Black Hole, Joseph Carver, and his group of assassins. The police captain aims to nail Carver and his goons for arson and multiple homicides. Consequently, his relentless pursuit of justice has made him a target.
“So Long and Goodnight” brings trouble for Joe
In Season 6, Episode 16, “So Long and Goodnight,” an unseen hitman disables the brakes on Joe’s car, then causes the car to accelerate. Luckily, his police training kicks in, and he maneuvers away from busy roadways. Joe bails out of the car in the nick of time before it slams into a concrete wall.
Later in the episode, it is revealed that the recurring Flash foe, Rag Doll, was the culprit responsible for Joe’s almost deadly car wreck. When that plan fails, the creep kidnaps Cecile and parks the telepathic lawyer in a chair fitted with a pressure-sensitive bomb.
The Flash and Joe show up, capture Rag Doll, and narrowly rescue Cecile, but they realize that the danger of Black Hole and Carver is still imminent. Alas, Joe must leave his beloved Cecile — without so much as a goodbye to his daughters or Team Flash — and enter the witness protection program. But for how long?
Could the title of the episode be a clue?
On the surface, The Flash episode title, “So Long and Goodnight,” appears to refer to Joe’s departure. However, a deeper dive into how the phrase has been used in a different context could provide hints about how long — or how short — Joe’s absence could be.
In 2005, My Chemical Romance released a radio single called “Helena (So Long & Goodnight)” from their second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The last passage of the song alludes to a bogus departure and swift reunion. The lyrics are:
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then
We’ll meet again
When both our cars collideWhat’s the worst that I can say?
Source: LyricFind
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Songwriters: Frank Iero, Gerard Way, Matthew Pellisier, Michael Way, Ray Toro
Helena lyrics © Blow The Doors Off Chicago
Could the portion that says “Can we pretend to leave and then we’ll meet again” apply to Joe and Cecile? Is Joe really going away indefinitely, or is it possible that he is faking his move into witness protection to throw off his enemies? Could the brave police captain pop up with a sneak attack designed to take down the entire Black Hole operation? With any luck, fans will get these answers and more in the final three episodes of The Flash Season 6.
Read more: ‘The Flash’: The ‘Rag Doll’ Actor and Contortionist Nails Big-Screen Horror Roles
