Who Is the Real Reverse Flash for the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' TV Crossover?

Ever since the show’s inception, The Flash has given us the Reverse Flash from the comics, Eobard Thawne—as played by both Tom Cavanagh and Matt Letscher. That version of the character plagued season one as the big bad, and from there onwards, has made multiple appearances across the entire Arrowverse.

But with the CW looking to adapt one of the biggest comic book crossover events in history, do we really think that they’re going to throw in the same old Reverse Flash? We know that the character is present during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event to see the Flash disappear forever, but maybe we’ll get something fresh. Let’s discuss...

Eobard, the Original

Eobard Thawne created the events that made Barry Allen the fastest man alive. Since then, he has manipulated, killed, and even risked his own life in the name of evil—currently playing mind games with Barry’s own daughter in the future.

Although he has been a truly formidable foe for Team Flash over the past four years, the same old Thawne wouldn’t be enough for the Arrowverse’s biggest crossover yet, surely. We need something new. Something harrowing. Something shocking. How about...

Eddie Thawne, the Red Herring

Eddie Thawne was introduced at the very beginning of the show, existing all the way to the first season’s finale where he bravely gave his life to save the world (by shooting himself to wipe his descendant—Eobard Thawne—from existance).

From the very start of the whole "who is the Reverse Flash?" mystery that ran through season one, Eddie was the prime suspect. Why? There was obviously his surname. Then there was the fact that he was a sort of love rival for Barry when it came to Iris West. The writers cleverly diverted Eddie away from that route, instead having Eddie be a truly good person all of the way through his time on the show. Then something happened...

The Flash’s True Enemy?

Eddie’s body was pulled directly in the singularity that almost destroyed Central City and the rest of the world in the season one finale, and it got people thinking. Ever since Eddie’s body went hurtling into a never-ending vortex, he has once again been the prime suspect for every major villain who’s identity has been kept secret until later on in that villain’s respective season. Zoom in season two. Savitar in season three. He is usually the frontrunner online for who could be under the mask, and the way each villain acts gives good motives for it being Eddie. But it never is. The writers stray away from making Eddie a villain, keeping him as a good guy. But maybe there’s a reason for that.

The Ultimate Showdown

We are about to entire theoryville, so hang on tight. Crisis on Infinite Earths is a traditional comic book crossover event that sees the death of the Flash, which the CW show has been telling us about since the show’s first season. Fans of the show are now overly familiar with that headline by Iris West-Allen: Flash Missing, Vanishes In Crisis.

The newspaper article talks about the Scarlet Speedster being in his biggest battle ever with the Reverse Flash and his "shadow demons." From the articles seen on the show that have been (somehow) read by viewers, we also know that the Flash and Reverse Flash had a very heated discussion during the fight, and that no one knows what the fight was actually about.

What if...

When Eddie’s body was sucked into the singularity, it put him in a state similar to when Barry was stuck in the speed force; seeing his entire life from start to finish constantly, even seeing the future. During that time, he sees Barry and his one true love, Iris, together. Getting into a relationship. Getting married. Having children.

This, tied in with the mind-bending reality he is now a part of, could send him insane. In doing so, he somehow escapes wherever he is, and is now somehow blessed with the powers of the speed force. Eddie could maybe have been stuck in a section of the speed force itself and been soaking in its energy from being there so long. In his newly found freedom, with a pinch of insanity, he decides to stop, give up being the nice guy, and seek revenge on Barry for taking everything from him—that everything being Iris.

The heated discussion? About how Iris was Eddie’s and how Barry stole her, which of course would get Barry riled up. Nobody knows what they were fighting about? Because it’s personal! Mind ya business! Those Shadow Demons? What if Eddie (was dead after all) can somehow bring forth the souls of the dead, and he decided to bring along... oh, I don’t know... metahumans from the Flash’s history who have long since perished.

It all fits. We get Reverse Flash, but a new version who truly bookends the show’s beginning and ultimate crossover event that is arguably one of the title character’s biggest ever stories.

This would probably never happen simply because of scheduling, etc.—but just imagine if the CW pulled it off. The man who was originally the red herring returning to be the biggest villain for the biggest episode. Either way, Eddie Thawne, please be the Reverse Flash just once!

The Flash returns March 5th on the CW with "King Shark vs. Gorilla Grodd."