BWW Recap: THE FLASH Heats Up with a Shirtless Nuclear Man

Things literally heat up as Barry (Grant Gustin) goes on another date and Ronnie (Robbie Amell) returns as the nuclear-powered and flaming superhero Firestorm on tonight's ep, "Nuclear Man." Sit a spell, we'll catch you up to speed.

We open with Barry trying to figure out what to wear on his second date with Linda Park (Malese Jow). Det. West (Jesse L. Martin) tells him if he uses his super speed to change one more time, he's going to shoot him.

The couple goes to a Mexican restaurant where they play a game of chicken to see who can eat the spiciest food and go the longest without water. I already like Linda more than Iris, but this puts her over the top. Barry loses, by the way. Cisco (Carlos Valdes) interupts the date to tell Barry about a robbery in progress (fortunately, Linda is in the bathroom). He quickly thwarts the crime before Linda has even returned.

And while Linda is on the phone with the newspaper, he saves a suicidal jumper from a building (all before she turns around). She goes in for a kiss to see if she wants another date with him and then goes in for a second kiss to make sure (yep, he's getting another date).

A homeless-looking Robbie, meanwhile, approaches a professor trying to convince him that he is also Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber; the professor and Robbie were fused into one being when the accelerator blew up). Before he can full convince the guy, he goes supernova (and I'm guessing Dr. Stein's former colleague is literally toast).

Cisco is moonlighting with Det. West to solve the murder of Barry's mom. West wants to keep the investigation on the downlow from Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) and Dr. Wells (Tom Cavanagh). What evidence would still be there after 15 years, I ask.

At S.T.A.R. Labs, Wells tells Caitlin they have to stop Ronnie before he hurts anyone else. Since Professor Stein seems to be in control of Ronnie's body, Wells theorizes they should try to put themselves in his shoes. Barry tells Wells he doesn't even know what Stein looks like. Wells brings up a photo on the computer screen. Barry recognizes the guy. He chatted him up on the train on the day the partical accelerator exploded.

The team head to Stein's home. Stein hasn't contacted his wife, but Ronnie stopped by and spooked her. Wells and Caitlin go on a stakeout. Barry is off on a second date.

Back at the former home of Barry's parents, Cisco discovers an old mirror (the backing is silver nitrate). He theorizes it might have captured images of the two speedsters at the time of the murder.

Barry has dart night all planned. So does Linda. His involves more clothes than hers. Insert joke about Barry taking it slow here. There's a fire and mood music. Barry literally starts vibrating and Linda moans. She has no plans to take it slow. Caitlin texts him one word: Firestorm. He tells Linda it is important, but he will call her (I am wondering if Barry has just blown it).

Firestorm and Barry tango. Firestorm doesn't seem to be too in control of his powers/abilities. He's about to burn Barry and Caitlin emerges from the van to beg him 'no.' He stops when he sees her and then flies off, leaving a trail of fire behind him.

Cisco can barely contain his glee. Not only has he been able to develop the images left in the mirror, he also managed to build a 3-D model from them. It reveals a blood spatter not previously seen (which, fortunately enough, still exists behind a layer of wallpaper). Cisco goes to fetch a sample kit.

At the newspaper the next day, Barry shows up to apologize and Linda is putting him through the ringer for leaving her in the middle of a hot and heavy date. Barry works for the police department and I wonder why he doesn't use that obvious excuse. Even a sports reporter would understand. Barry gets called away to work, leaving Linda to ask Iris (Candice Patton) about him. I get the feeling that Iris is kind of sabotaging the relationship while she is being truthful (she certainly isn't doing him any favors talking about the fact that he was in love with someone else, but the feeling wasn't mutual). I hate Iris even more right now.

Under an overpass, Caitlin, Barry and Mrs. Stein catch up to Robbie/Stein (Barry placed a tracker on him when they were fighting previously). Mrs. Stein begs him (them?) to let S.T.A.R. Labs help. He agrees and once back at the lab they hop him up on the kinds of drugs they give people with split personalities. It manages to stabilize him. Also, he somehow gets a haircut. Caitlin runs more tests.

Linda calls Barry. Barry is pissed that Iris told her he was hung up on her. He confronts Iris.

At the precinct, Cisco tells Det. West there are two different types of blood. West asks him to run it against Dr. Wells. Cisco refuses.

Things aren't any more rosey at S.T.A.R. Labs. Robbie's body has begun to reject Stein's d.n.a. and Wells worries he might go nuclear. Wells believes they might need to kill Ronnie before he explodes. This troubles Cisco to no end.

To win Linda back, Barry appears at the paper holding a ghost pepper (the world's hottest pepper). If she refuses to go on a date with him, he will eat the pepper. She calls his bluff and he eats it. She grabs a carton of milk off a co-worker's desk and gives it to him (milk counteracts the pepper's effect). She agrees to another date. Iris watches, disappointed.

In Wells' secret room, Wells is toying with shooting Ronnie, or using the energy harness he has been using to save him. Caitin tells Barry to take her and the splicer to Ronnie (she is the only one besides Cisco who can operate it). The pair speed off to the desert outside of Central City where Ronnie is prepared to explode.

Cisco, meanwhile, take a break from the nuclear crisis to phone West. The blood turned up one hit. Barry. Not Barry as a child, mind you, but Barry as an adult. So, Barry somehow managed to go back in time, but still couldn't save his mom. Yikes.

Caitlin and Barry arrive and place the device on Ronnie. Ronnie still explodes as Barry speeds Caitlin away to safety. Final moment: General Wade Eiling (Clancy Brown) catches wind of the explosion and tells his men: Bring me Firestorm. Well, that was certainly a hot episode, no? Comment below and follow me @triggercric and follow @BWWTVWorld for all the latest updates, scoops and recaps.

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