The Eternal Struggle: Why Eobard Thawne Is Stuck in the Past
Eobard Thawne, better known as the Reverse Flash, has been a fan favorite and notorious villain in the DC universe, especially in the The Flash TV series. His struggle to return to his original timeline is a complex narrative that involves time travel, the power of the Speed Force, and the concept of Flashpoint. Why is Thawne stuck in the past, and what are the implications of his actions on the timeline?
Thawne’s Desire for Power
Eobard Thawne's journey begins with his intense hatred for Barry Allen, better known as The Flash. Once he identifies Barry as the reason for his own powers, he becomes determined to eliminate him. Thawne travels back in time to kill Barry before he can become The Flash and exert his influence. However, his plan fails when the older version of The Flash interferes, resulting in the death of Barry's mother, Nora Allen.
When Thawne attempts to return to his original timeline, he discovers that his original timeline no longer exists. This act of killing Nora has irrevocably altered the timeline, similar to the events of Flashpoint in DC Comics. This causes Thawne to realize that the only way to return to his original timeline is to re-create the conditions that allowed him to become the Reverse Flash. This requires him to essentially re-engineer The Flash’s existence and, by extension, return to his original timeline.
The Subtleties of Time Travel
Time travel is a fascinating and intricate concept, especially in the context of The Flash. When Thawne travels back in time, he encounters significant challenges. The farther back in time he goes, the weaker the impact of his actions becomes due to the temporal barriers. Additionally, every change he makes to the timeline creates ripples that can have unforeseen consequences. For instance, the event where a Speedster goes into the past and makes a minor change can cause ripples that change various aspects of the timeline.
One of the most significant changes in the series is the discovery that Thawne needed both The Flash’s power and The Flash himself to exist in order to create a portal to his original timeline. This realization is pivotal in understanding Thawne’s continued existence in the past. He has become an eternal contender in the Flash-speed rivalry, but with an obsessive focus rooted in his hatred for Barry Allen.
The Role of Flashpoint
The concept of Flashpoint is a crucial timeline-altering event that has been a significant part of The Flash. In this comic/event, the timeline is altered significantly, and the characters experience changes in their pasts and futures. When Thawne interferes with the timeline by killing Nora, it sets off a series of events that lead to a new timeline.
Vashem Eobard (the older version of Thawne) attempts to mold the timeline to his advantage, but his actions have an unstable impact. This instability has created a new timeline where some events occur differently. For instance, instead of John Diggle having a daughter, he has a son. Additionally, Diggle is now targeted by the Devastators, which were not a concern in the original timeline.
Nora’s son, XS Kara (referred to as Nora's daughter but should be understood as her son), travels back in time to meet his father, an event that causes another ripple in the timeline. These ripples have caused a series of events to unfold, including the Cicada’s evolution from a satellite fragment finder to a meta-hunter with a different order of targets.
Conclusion: The Impacts of Thawne's Actions
The timeline's instability resulting from Thawne’s actions exemplifies the complexity of time travel and the repercussions of every change made. Thawne’s choices have not only perpetuated his presence in the past but also significantly altered the future of the The Flash universe and its characters. The series has taught us that every action has consequences, and the characters' destinies are often shaped by decisions made in the past.
Thawne is stuck in the past, but his influence resonates through the timeline, creating a cycle of events that cannot be easily dismantled. His actions serve as a reminder that the past and the present are interconnected, and any change in one has far-reaching effects on the other. As the series continues, Thawne's influence will undoubtedly remain a central theme, shaping the future of The Flash and his world.