At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Flash Fans were eagerly greeted with their first taste of the Flashpoint storyline; that almost amassed an individual fanbase from its comic book notoriety alone.
.@KeiynanLonsdale suits up as Kid Flash this fall on The CW! #TheFlash pic.twitter.com/S37B1XOsL2
— The Flash (@CW_TheFlash) July 12, 2016
In the trailer previewing the upcoming third season this fall, main talking points stem from the alternate universe introduction of Kid Flash, that whilst disappointing on some level, is an alluring tease; that is perhaps enough to spur our ever-speedy Barry into a Mentorship position with Wally – once he has presumably righted the timeline. In other words, stop keeping me waiting in this game of speedster bachelorette. We all knew Jordan Wally was the “one”.
“There’s only one thing I know about life”, Barry narrates as the moment of his Mother’s impending death opens the trailer; “some things happen by chance, and some things happen because we make them happen”. Assuring his Mother that she is safe now, we see Barry in the present – or the future, following his Mother’s survival – having seemingly screwed up the world as know it to be, as moments from the series thus far, are reversed into nothingness.
In the Flashpoint timeline, Barry has instead, grown up with his parents; who are seemingly normal, and more importantly, alive. As a result, we see Iris and Barry meet as adults – without no pseudo-sibling bond; or any kind of bond, to span a love story upon. Yet as if fate has a way with, these things, romance flits in and out of the trailer as Barry’s Pleasantville (1998) living, begins to show cracks similar to its movie namesake.
With what seems to be a new villain in the Flashpoint storyline, taunting Barry with carved threats of ‘alchemy’; alongside his internal battle aka mental singularity, of messing with the timeline, it doesn’t take much for the team to assemble in this new world.
With no Wells in sight, I often wonder if he still played a part in Barry’s remaking, and subsequently did time for it (as Eobard Thawne); who taunts Barry over his mirage of an alternate timeline, and subsequently gifting it the name Flashpoint. Instead, Star Labs has been remade and renamed by Cisco; described by Carlos Valdes as “an ostentatious billionaire”, at this year’s panel, to which Barry must seek help – having confided the truth in Iris. By the implication of Thawne’s words, the Flashpoint universe seems illusory for now, and not beyond repair.
Elsewhere, the one Thawne we care about seems to not have been recast in the AU, despite Rick Cosnett’s charisma and charm as Iris’ love interest. The trailer further separates the West’s from the Allen’s, and our Speedster from everything he knows, as Barry and Joe; whilst working together, seemingly lack even a mutual friendship. Though, as the Flashpoint timeline soon reveals, not everything is what it seems. Jesse L. Martin, speaking of Barry and Joe’s relationship this season, says,
“Things at home aren’t going well. He’s [Joe’s] having a particular issue with [Iris] that doesn’t seem solvable. So Joe gets depressed about it. It starts to affect his work [and] his life. Barry is the one that makes sure that Joe still has a job because things get so dire.”
Check out the trailer below!
Seemingly prior to Barry’s big reveal, in which Wally joins Cisco and Co.; Barry discovers that Wally is Kid Flash; after they both rush to confront the villain known to us – at this point – as Dr Alchemy.
Though Dr Alchemy is the only tease towards a villain in this trailer, Fans loyal to canon, eagerly anticipate Tom Felton’s arrival as the season’s ultimate villain, Cobalt Blue; as his confrontation with both Barry and Kid Flash – aka this moment in the trailer – is part of the comic book narrative.
More shockingly, when one Thawne isn’t recast, another arrives, as Cobalt Blue is
*spoiler*
…
Barry’s twin; raised Thawne.
Before speculation consumes me; perhaps to later only be disproved, the trailer’s biggest reveal is without a doubt, Kid Flash. Though I was so excited at the prospect of Wally becoming Kid Flash following the explosion in Star Labs, perhaps his eagerly anticipated reveal in the Flashpoint storyline will connect the dots for our unassuming Flash in the real present.
With theories awry and Barry’s decisions morally questionable to say the least, Eobard aptly closes out the trailer with a taunt of, “Whose the villain now?!”. Beyond being suggestive of Barry’s world-altering decisions, Eobard teases fans as Tom Felton’s role is still; at this point, speculative.
What are your thoughts on the Flashpoint storyline? With the graphic novel perpetually stuck on my to-read list; gathering shameful dust on my bookcase, I welcome any fans loyal to canon to enlighten us on what’s to come and whether the series will follow suit!
Check out more of The Flash #WBSDCC news by watching the panel below:
The Flash returns October 4th on the CW at 8/7c!
