The return of Eobard Thawne aka The Reverse Flash on The Flash answered  several questions:  Why does he hate The Flash? And how did he know about Barry and everyone at Star Labs?  It was sort of a prequel to events mentioned in Season 1.

This article contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen the episode “The Reverse Flash”, please do not continue reading.

The problem with time travel is that if you change one thing, you change history.  But unfortunately as Harrison Wells 2.0 explains to him, even if Barry is able to destroy Eobard Thawne on this Earth, he still wouldn’t be able to prevent his mother from being murdered by The Reverse Flash.  The explanation involved scientific timeline physics which is a little complicated to explain here.

Eobard Thawne explained to Barry how he tried to duplicate the circumstances of Barry becoming The Flash so he could be him.  However, he learned that his destiny wasn’t to be The Flash but a popular opposite.  So, he decided to be “the reverse” of everything The Flash stood for.  He also vowed to take away everything Barry loved so that’s why he killed Barry’s mother.

When the team’s attempts to defeat The Reverse Flash put Cisco’s life in danger, Barry is forced to make a difficult choice – send Thawne back to his own time or let Cisco die.  Additionally, if The Reverse Flash goes home, he takes his knowledge of Barry and Star Labs with him and will be set on the path of murdering Barry’s mother.  Who said being a hero was easy!

Speaking of difficult choices, Patty finally puts two and two together and realizes Barry is The Flash.  She shares her theory with Joe and later confronts Barry, which he of course denies. So Patty gives him an ultimatum: Admit he’s The Flash or she leaves town. Although heartbroken, Barry sacrifices love and happiness and continues to deny that he’s The Flash.  He doesn’t want to put Patty in danger with the truth about his identity as she would become a target of The Flash’s enemies.

In a touching and emotional scene, Iris forgives her mother for Francine leaving and breaking up their family.  Iris sadly tells her that she wishes Francine and Wally had been a part of their lives. Later, Iris encourages her brother to say goodbye to their mother or Wally will regret not having the closure.

The combined speeds of Barry and Thawne sends The Reverse Flash back to his own time so Cisco survives.  When Barry gets an urgent call from Patty about danger on the train she’s on, he races to her rescue.  But it was a trick and Patty now has her answer that Barry is The Flash when The Flash appears on the train minutes after her call to Barry.  She still leaves town but the look on Patty’s face as she sits on the train is not one of anger for Barry keeping the truth from her but relief and love.

“The Reverse Flash Returns” was a satisfying hour of television that reached into the show’s mythology.  Did you like The Flash?  Sound off in the comments.  Or tweet @thenerdygirlexp and @stacyamiller85 .