The Complex Timeline of Future Barry and the Speed Force

On the Flash TV show, the universe of Central City is constantly pushing the boundaries of time and physics. In a particular storyline, Future Barry Allen (also known as the Flash) found himself in a unique position after saving his younger self from Thawne and encountering Reverse Flash, who tragically killed his mother. This article delves into the complexities of the timeline, focusing on Future Barry's fate and the mysterious role of the Speed Force.

Stable Timeline and Time Travelers

For all intents and purposes, the timeline is relatively stable, with familiar villains making appearances. Savithar is an intriguing figure – a time loop that allows Eobard Thawne (Reverse Flash) to die and a temporal anomaly that isolates him from his other counterparts, Nora, and Da Voe. This event is a consequence of the time stream's alterations. As a result, we can observe three distinct timelines:

The Original or Eobard’s original timeline The timeline after the first season of The Flash The Flash Point event that liberated Savithar

During the Flash Point event, the Speed Force required a presence within it, leading to the replacement of an original Savithar by a time remnant who had found the Philosopher's Stone and accessed the Speed Force. This timeline alteration effectively erased Savithar from reality, yet the Speed Force still maintains its knowledge of past, present, and future events.

Future Barry and the Speed Force

Considering that Future Barry did not return to his original timeline after saving his younger self from Thawne or being erased from the timeline, where exactly is he? My theory is based on the Flashpoint Paradox movie, where Thawne prevented Barry from traveling through time after he saved his mother, thereby creating the Flashpoint timeline. In this scenario, Reverse Flash was killed by Batman, and Barry eventually stopped himself from traveling through time.

In my theory, Future Barry got stuck in the Speed Force, preventing Thawne from traveling through time again, which was the reason behind Reverse Flash losing his speed and not being able to return to his original timeline. At the end of season 3, when Barry visits the Speed Force, he encounters his future self, who warns him about impending events in the past, present, and future. This interaction suggests that the Speed Force has comprehensive knowledge of all time events.

Consolidating the Evidence

When Barry emerges from the Speed Force at the beginning of season 4, his first words after seeing Iris are indicative of the events that transpired. This scene further reinforces the idea that he is now residing within the Speed Force, preserving the temporal integrity and preventing further interference from time-traveling villains like Thawne.

The Speed Force appears to be an entity that operates beyond the conventional laws of time and space. It can maintain a continuous timeline while preventing paradoxes, as evidenced by the temporary loss of Reverse Flash's speed and his inability to return to his original timeline.

Conclusion

The timeline of the Flash TV show is a delicate balance of history, physics, and cosmic forces. The role of the Speed Force in maintaining temporal stability and preventing paradoxes is crucial to the narrative. Future Barry’s fate and his presence within the Speed Force suggest a complex web of events that ensure the integrity of the timeline.