The Paradox of Speed in The Flash: Why Reverse-Flash Maintains His Velocity

In The Flash Season 3 Episode 1, a key question arises: why does Reverse-Flash, Eobard Thawne, retain his speed after killing Barry's mother? To explore this and other related questions, we must delve into the complex interplay of time travel, the Speed Force, and the series' unique narrative structure.

Understanding the Speed Force

In the show, Eobard Thawne's speed is derived from the Speed Force, a mystical plane of energy that allows him to manipulate time and space. The Speed Force's unique properties can be at odds with our intuitive understanding of causality and time travel.

When Thawne killed Barry's mother, a significant change was made to the timeline. However, this change did not directly impact his speed. This is because the Speed Force is interconnected with the timeline, but its effects on individual characters can be more complex.

The Complexity of Time Travel and Consequences

The consequences of time travel in The Flash are not always straightforward. The timeline can shift in ways that don't immediately affect the time traveler. In the case of Thawne, even though he altered the timeline by killing Barry's mother, his speed remained unchanged.

This aspect of the narrative is crucial to the show's exploration of time travel and its paradoxes. The series often deviates from the more intuitive rules of time travel to create a more engaging and complex storyline, which is why Thawne retains his speed despite the timeline alterations.

The Role of Time Travel and Flashpoint

The argument that killing Thawne's mother would affect his speed force connections is not supported by the show's established canon. Instead, let's turn to the Flashpoint event.

During the Flashpoint storyline, Thawne changes the timeline by killing Barry's mother. In the context of Flashpoint, the Speed Force does not immediately supersede Thawne, allowing him to retain his speed until the timeline is restored.

When Barry and Thawne are together, they have the combined energy to manipulate the timeline and travel through it, as evidenced by their ability to open the wormhole and travel to the future. However, if Thawne had gone alone, he would likely have lost his speed due to the lack of sufficient energy to maintain his temporal manipulations.

It is important to note that Thawne never lost his inherent speed; he merely lacked the energy and context to use it when separated from Barry. In the timeline restored by Flashpoint, Thawne retains his speed because the context of their combined effort allows it.

Conclusion

The paradox of Reverse-Flash's maintained speed in The Flash is not a simple matter of causality but a reflection of the complex and intricate narrative design of the series. The Speed Force and the Speed Force's relationship with the timeline play a key role in shaping the story, and these rules are not always aligned with our traditional understanding of time travel.