October 4th is less than a week away. Why should that get you excited? Because on that Tuesday, at 8 PM, CW’s The Flash begins its third season, and it’s shaping up to be the most wild one yet.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead!
In the final minute of the season two finale, The Flash threw both TV viewers and comic fans for a loop-- Barry Allen ran back in time to save his mother from being murdered by the vile Reverse Flash, completely dashing Barry’s original timeline to pieces. Fans of the comics recognized (and were largely thrilled) that this signified the start of the show’s adaptation of the extremely popular comic crossover series, “Flashpoint”.
In the Flashpoint series, Barry wakes in a reality where everything is wrong-- members of the Justice League are at war with each other, Batman is not Bruce Wayne, Barry himself has lost his superpowers, and-- most importantly-- Barry’s mother is alive. Although at first Barry suspects this to be the work of the Reverse Flash, it is the Reverse Flash himself who reveals that it was Barry who created the alternate universe by saving his mother (Barry wasn’t able to remember this happening at first as a result of plot-induced amnesia).
It’s pretty safe to say that Warner Bros. isn’t going to license the CW to use the big-game Justice League members such as Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Cyborg, especially considering the upcoming movie starring the fivesome, but lesser-known characters such as Doctor Alchemy are scheduled to appear in the season.
One of the biggest reveals is Wally officially making his debut as a speedster (whether as Kid Flash or simply the Flash is yet to be seen). Whether his powers will carry over when Barry inevitably fixes the Flashpoint universe is yet to be seen.
A big mystery surrounding the series, however, is who exactly former Harry Potter actor Tom Felton is playing. Officially, the actor is cast as a CSI member at the Central City Police Department, Julian Dorn. The showrunners claim he is an original character, but past experience with both the CW and other shows and movies says that the name Julian Dorn is probably merely a new identity for an existing hero (or villain). Many theorize that Felton will be playing a member of the Thawne family (the identity of the Reverse Flash is Eobard Thawne, and given there has been another Thawne-- Eddie-- on the show, it’s completely plausible). Another theory, however, is that Tom Felton is playing the newest Flash villain in the comics-- Godspeed.
With Godspeed’s secret identity only revealed two weeks ago, some feel that this theory is a little far-fetched. However, others have noted similarities, such as both Godspeed’s secret identity, (COMIC SPOILERS!) August Heart, and the new Julian Dorn both working at the CCPD, as well as suspecting Barry as being “more than he seems”, and all the while harboring “a secret of his own”.
Will Godspeed make an appearance in The Flash Season Three? Will Wally keep his Flash costume throughout the season? Tune in to the CW at 8:00 on October 4th to see what conspiracies unwind.
