In this week's episode of The CW's The Flash, Dr. Harrison Wells mentions the "speed force," a concept from the comics, which is the force that gives speedsters, like Flash, his powers.
But what exactly is the speed force and how does it play into Dr. Wells endgame?
In DC Comics, the speed force is a lot like the force in Star Wars, except that it gives those with its energy the power of speed. Speed force is why The Flash can run really fast. It comes from The Source, which is the place where all things come from, the source of all living creatures. It was a concept created by Jack Kirby during his New Gods run.
Only a few characters in the comics have access to the speed force, which is most often the result of an accident (Barry Allen received access to it via a laboratory accident in the comics and through the particle accelerator explosion in the TV series).
However, Professor Zoom, also known as Reverse Flash, developed technology that allowed him to tap into the speed force.
We already know that Harrison Wells, a character created solely for the TV series, is at least one version of Reverse Flash, so it's likely that he's also Professor Zoom or at least the TV series' version of it. Like Zoom/Reverse Flash, we saw in this latest episode that his powers come from technology, a weird Astro Harness-like device he straps to his chest that allows him to tap into the speed force.
However, Wells' is having issues stabilizing his use of the speed force and we see that he's having problems controlling his powers, to the point that it leaves him immobile and unable to move when Pied Piper escapes from S.T.A.R. Labs.
Also, this week's episode had Pied Piper revealing that he knew Wells' secret. Most assume that this secret was what Wells eventually admitted to: that he knew the particle accelerator might fail before he turned it on. However, it's likely that the secret is something deeper and involves his use of speed force and that yellow Reverse Flash suit he keeps locked away from prying eyes.
Whatever the case, we're in for a surprise, at least according to Grant Gustin, the actor who portrays Barry Allen, aka The Flash.
"The twist that I was given be [executive producer] Andrew Kreisberg a couple months ago about the Reverse Flash and what we're working toward at the end of this season blew my mind," Gustin says. "I've seen the theories online. No one has this theory."
If that doesn't have you guessing, consider what Tom Cavanagh, who portrays Wells, had to say:
"The nature of the Reverse Flash ... it's just not solely archenemy territory," says Cavanagh. "Barry Allen and Harrison Wells mesh often, and when they do the result is often The Flash increasing his potential. The result of that is good for Central City, hence good for humanity, hence good."
There's a good chance that we'll see two versions of Reverse Flash this season, especially considering that in DC Comics, five men have taken up the moniker. It's also likely that one of them, and not Wells, was responsible for the death of Barry's mother.
Meanwhile, next week brings a Valentine's Day episode as Barry and Caitlin decide to get out there and start dating again. But as we all know, at some point, Barry and Iris share a kiss this season, so it's a safe bet that none of Barry's dating adventures go well.
The Flash airs on The CW on Tuesdays.
