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Thawne eventually learns of the Flash's secret identity&nbsp;– [[Barry Allen (Arrowverse)|Barry Allen]]&nbsp;– and travels back in time to the year 2000 to kill him as a child. When his plan fails, Thawne kills Barry's mother [[Nora Allen (Arrowverse)|Nora]] and frames his father [[Henry Allen (Arrowverse)|Henry]] instead so that the Flash would never exist. In doing so, Thawne inadvertently severs his own connection to the Speed Force, stranding himself in the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Out of Time |episode-link=Out of Time (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 17, 2015 |season=1 |number=15}}</ref> He murders and assumes the identity of Dr. [[Harrison Wells]] to found [[S.T.A.R. Labs]], and spends the next fourteen years building a particle accelerator with the intention of creating the Flash ahead of schedule.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Tricksters |episode-link=Tricksters (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 31, 2015 |season=1 |number=17}}</ref><ref name="Fast Enough" /> As Wells, he mentors Barry in defeating [[metahuman]] criminals created by the explosion of the particle accelerator and helps him to increase his speed, hoping to use Barry's pure connection to the Speed Force to return to his own time period.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Pilot |episode-link=Pilot (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 7, 2014 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Things You Can't Outrun |episode-link=Things You Can't Outrun |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 21, 2014 |season=1 |number=3}}</ref> Thawne also taunts and bests Barry in combat as the Reverse-Flash to push him into getting faster.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Man in the Yellow Suit |episode-link=The Man in the Yellow Suit |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=December 9, 2014 |season=1 |number=9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Revenge of the Rogues |episode-link=Revenge of the Rogues |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 20, 2015 |season=1 |number=10}}</ref>
Thawne eventually learns of the Flash's secret identity&nbsp;– [[Barry Allen (Arrowverse)|Barry Allen]]&nbsp;– and travels back in time to the year 2000 to kill him as a child. When his plan fails, Thawne kills Barry's mother [[Nora Allen (Arrowverse)|Nora]] and frames his father [[Henry Allen (Arrowverse)|Henry]] instead so that the Flash would never exist. In doing so, Thawne inadvertently severs his own connection to the Speed Force, stranding himself in the 21st century.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Out of Time |episode-link=Out of Time (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 17, 2015 |season=1 |number=15}}</ref> He murders and assumes the identity of Dr. [[Harrison Wells]] to found [[S.T.A.R. Labs]], and spends the next fourteen years building a particle accelerator with the intention of creating the Flash ahead of schedule.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Tricksters |episode-link=Tricksters (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 31, 2015 |season=1 |number=17}}</ref><ref name="Fast Enough" /> As Wells, he mentors Barry in defeating [[metahuman]] criminals created by the explosion of the particle accelerator and helps him to increase his speed, hoping to use Barry's pure connection to the Speed Force to return to his own time period.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Pilot |episode-link=Pilot (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 7, 2014 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Things You Can't Outrun |episode-link=Things You Can't Outrun |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 21, 2014 |season=1 |number=3}}</ref> Thawne also taunts and bests Barry in combat as the Reverse-Flash to push him into getting faster.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Man in the Yellow Suit |episode-link=The Man in the Yellow Suit |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=December 9, 2014 |season=1 |number=9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Revenge of the Rogues |episode-link=Revenge of the Rogues |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 20, 2015 |season=1 |number=10}}</ref>


After his secret is discovered, Thawne is captured by Barry with the help of [[Oliver Queen (Arrowverse)|Oliver Queen]], [[Ronnie Raymond (Arrowverse)|Ronnie Raymond]] and [[Martin Stein (Arrowverse)|Martin Stein]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Rogue Air |episode-link=Rogue Air |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=May 12, 2015 |season=1 |number=22}}</ref> Thawne offers Barry a chance to travel back in time to save his mother in exchange for a time machine to return to the future once the Speed Force wormhole is open. Barry ultimately refuses and destroys Thawne's machine. Before Thawne can kill Barry, his ancestor, police detective [[Eddie Thawne]], shoots himself, seemingly erasing Thawne from existence.<ref name="Fast Enough" /> A [[flash memory|flash drive]] containing Thawne's will as Wells bequeaths S.T.A.R. Labs to Barry and a video-recorded confession to Nora's murder which allows for Henry's exoneration.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Man Who Saved Central City |episode-link=The Man Who Saved Central City |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 6, 2015 |season=2 |number=1}}</ref> Barry travels back in time a couple of times to seek Thawne's help during this timeframe in which he masqueraded as Wells.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Flash Back |episode-link=Flash Back (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 29, 2016 |season=2 |number=17}}</ref><ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" />
After his secret is discovered, Thawne is captured by Barry with the help of [[Oliver Queen (Arrowverse)|Oliver Queen]], [[Ronnie Raymond (Arrowverse)|Ronnie Raymond]], and [[Martin Stein (Arrowverse)|Martin Stein]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Rogue Air |episode-link=Rogue Air |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=May 12, 2015 |season=1 |number=22}}</ref> Thawne offers Barry a chance to travel back in time to save his mother in exchange for a time machine to return to the future once the Speed Force wormhole is open. Barry ultimately refuses and destroys Thawne's machine. Before Thawne can kill Barry, his ancestor, police detective [[Eddie Thawne]], shoots himself, seemingly erasing Thawne from existence.<ref name="Fast Enough" /> A [[flash memory|flash drive]] containing Thawne's will as Wells bequeaths S.T.A.R. Labs to Barry and a video-recorded confession to Nora's murder which allows for Henry's exoneration.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Man Who Saved Central City |episode-link=The Man Who Saved Central City |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=October 6, 2015 |season=2 |number=1}}</ref> Barry travels back in time a couple of times to seek Thawne's help during this timeframe in which he masqueraded as Wells.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Flash Back |episode-link=Flash Back (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 29, 2016 |season=2 |number=17}}</ref><ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" />


=== Crisis on Earth-X ===
=== Crisis on Earth-X ===
{{further|Crisis on Earth-X}}
{{further|Crisis on Earth-X}}
Thawne survives his erasure following Eddie's sacrifice through his connection to the Negative Speed Force which, according to himself, is immune to timeline changes.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 27, 2017 |season=6 |number=8}}</ref><ref name="Legacy" /> He allies with Dark Arrow and [[Overgirl]] of the [[Nazism|Nazi]]-dominated [[Earth-X (Arrowverse)|Earth-X]] to invade Earth-1.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Supergirl |series-link=Supergirl (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 27, 2017 |season=3 |number=8}}</ref> During the final battle, Barry defeats Thawne but spares his life. Thawne speeds off while his allies are killed.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 28, 2017 |season=4 |number=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 28, 2017 |season=3 |number=8}}</ref>
Thawne survives his erasure following Eddie's sacrifice because he's connected to the Negative Speed Force which, according to him, is immune to timeline changes.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Arrow |series-link=Arrow (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 27, 2017 |season=6 |number=8}}</ref><ref name="Legacy" /> He allies with Dark Arrow and [[Overgirl]] of the [[Nazism|Nazi]]-dominated [[Earth-X (Arrowverse)|Earth-X]] to invade Earth-1.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Supergirl |series-link=Supergirl (TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 27, 2017 |season=3 |number=8}}</ref> During their final battle, Barry defeats Thawne but spares his life. Thawne speeds off while his allies are killed.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 28, 2017 |season=4 |number=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4 |episode-link=Crisis on Earth-X |series=Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=November 28, 2017 |season=3 |number=8}}</ref>


=== Imprisonment in 2049 ===
=== Imprisonment in 2049 ===
{{Further|The Flash (season 5)}}
{{Further|The Flash (season 5)}}
Sometime after his failed alliance with Earth-X, Thawne is captured and imprisoned in [[Iron Heights Penitentiary]] in 2034.<ref name="Godspeed" /> He is placed under a death sentence and is routinely tortured by a corrupt prison guard.<ref name="Godspeed" /> while his super-speed is dampened by a dagger that once belonged to the metahuman serial killer [[Orlin Dwyer|Cicada]].<ref name="Legacy" /> In 2049, Barry and [[Iris West-Allen (Arrowverse)|Iris West-Allen]]'s future daughter, [[Nora West-Allen]], seeks Thawne's help in solving a police case and controlling her own newly-discovered super-speed.<ref name="Godspeed" /> Thawne becomes Nora's mentor and claims that he seeks to create a more noble legacy for himself before his execution.<ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" /><ref name="The Flash & the Furious" /><ref name="Godspeed" /> He manipulates Nora into traveling back in time to help Barry defeat Cicada,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Time Bomb |episode-link=Time Bomb (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 19, 2019 |season=5 |number=17}}</ref> and the pair routinely keep in touch through Nora's journal entries.<ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" /><ref name="Snow Pack" /> Thawne's plan proves successful as Cicada's dagger is destroyed, freeing him moments before his execution in 2049. He briefly fights Barry, Nora and Team Flash before Nora begins to be erased from existence due to the changes in the timeline. After Barry runs Nora into the Negative Speed Force at Thawne's fervent suggestion, he makes his escape.<ref name="Legacy" />
Sometime after his failed alliance with Earth-X, Thawne is captured and imprisoned in [[Iron Heights Penitentiary]] in 2034.<ref name="Godspeed" /> He is placed under a death sentence and is routinely tortured by a corrupt prison guard.<ref name="Godspeed" /> while his super-speed is dampened by a dagger that once belonged to the metahuman serial killer [[Orlin Dwyer|Cicada]].<ref name="Legacy" /> In 2049, Barry and [[Iris West-Allen (Arrowverse)|Iris West-Allen]]'s future daughter, [[Nora West-Allen]], seeks Thawne's help in solving a police case and controlling her own newly-discovered super-speed.<ref name="Godspeed" /> Thawne becomes Nora's mentor and claims that he seeks to create a more noble legacy for himself before his execution.<ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" /><ref name="The Flash & the Furious" /><ref name="Godspeed" /> He manipulates Nora into traveling back in time to help Barry defeat Cicada,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Time Bomb |episode-link=Time Bomb (The Flash) |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 19, 2019 |season=5 |number=17}}</ref> and the pair routinely keep in touch through Nora's journal entries.<ref name="Whats Past Is Prologue" /><ref name="Snow Pack" /> Thawne's plan succeeds as Cicada's dagger is destroyed, freeing him moments before his execution in 2049. He briefly fights Barry, Nora, and Team Flash before Nora begins to be erased from existence due to the changes in the timeline. After Barry runs Nora into the Negative Speed Force at Thawne's fervent suggestion, he makes his escape.<ref name="Legacy" />


=== New multiverse ===
=== New multiverse ===
{{Further|The Flash (season 6)|The Flash (season 7)}}
{{Further|The Flash (season 6)|The Flash (season 7)}}
Thawne is turned into a being of negative tachyons and is fused with [[Harrison Nash Wells]] following the multiversal [[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis]], after Nash became the 'repository' for the consciousness of every version of Wells, which includes Thawne due to his time spent in Wells' form. Thawne is able to assert control of Nash's body but is captured by Barry and imprisoned at S.T.A.R. Labs.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Death of the Speed Force |episode-link=Death of the Speed Force |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 10, 2020 |season=6 |number=14}}</ref> Before Thawne can regain his connection to the Negative Speed Force, Team Flash expels him from Nash, leaving him without a body to possess.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Exorcism of Nash Wells |episode-link=The Exorcism of Nash Wells |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 17, 2020 |season=6 |number=15}}</ref>
Thawne is turned into a being of negative tachyons and is fused with [[Harrison Nash Wells]] following the multiversal [[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis]], after Nash became the 'repository' for the consciousness of every version of Wells, which includes Thawne due to his time spent in Wells' form. Thawne is able to control Nash's body but is captured by Barry and imprisoned at S.T.A.R. Labs.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Death of the Speed Force |episode-link=Death of the Speed Force |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 10, 2020 |season=6 |number=14}}</ref> Before Thawne can regain his connection to the Negative Speed Force, Team Flash expels him from Nash, leaving him without a body to possess.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Exorcism of Nash Wells |episode-link=The Exorcism of Nash Wells |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 17, 2020 |season=6 |number=15}}</ref>


Barry later has the Speed Force reconstitute Thawne's corporeal form in exchange for his aid in subduing [[Godspeed (Arrowverse)|Godspeed]]. Thawne double-crosses Barry by incapacitating Godspeed before making an attempt on Barry's life. Barry easily defeats him, revealing that he is now faster than him. Thawne vows vengeance before speeding off.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Heart of the Matter, Part 2 |episode-link=Heart of the Matter, Part 2 |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=July 20, 2021 |season=7 |number=18}}</ref>
Barry later has the Speed Force reconstitute Thawne's corporeal form in exchange for his aid in subduing [[Godspeed (Arrowverse)|Godspeed]]. Thawne double-crosses Barry by incapacitating Godspeed before making an attempt on Barry's life. Barry easily defeats him, revealing that he is now faster than he. Thawne vows vengeance before speeding off.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Heart of the Matter, Part 2 |episode-link=Heart of the Matter, Part 2 |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=July 20, 2021 |season=7 |number=18}}</ref>


=== Armageddon ===
=== Armageddon ===
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=== Final showdown with the Flash ===
=== Final showdown with the Flash ===
{{Further|The Flash (season 8)}}
{{Further|The Flash (season 8)}}
Incarcerated in a [[supermax prison]] on [[Lian Yu (Arrowverse location)|Lian Yu]], Thawne is visited by [[John Diggle (Arrowverse)|John Diggle]] who seeks his help in unlocking a [[Power ring (DC Comics)|mysterious cube]]. Seeing it as a chance to escape, Thawne helps to open it but is frustrated when Diggle declines its power. Soon after, [[Deon Owens]] materializes in Thawne's cell to help him "fulfill his destiny".<ref name="The Man in the Yellow Tie" /> This version of Owens reveals himself as a manifestation of the Negative Still Force that seeks to restore Thawne as the Negative Speed Force's avatar after Barry severed his connection to it. To that end, Owens ages Thawne to death before sacrificing a time-sickened Iris' life so that he can "resurrect" Thawne in his redeemed time remnant's body, allowing him to become the Reverse-Flash once again.<ref name="Negative, Part One" />
Incarcerated in a [[supermax prison]] on [[Lian Yu (Arrowverse location)|Lian Yu]], Thawne is visited by [[John Diggle (Arrowverse)|John Diggle]] who seeks his help in unlocking a [[Power ring (DC Comics)|mysterious cube]]. Seeing it as a chance to escape, Thawne helps open it but is frustrated when Diggle declines its power. [[Deon Owens]] materializes in Thawne's cell to help him "fulfill his destiny".<ref name="The Man in the Yellow Tie" /> This version of Owens reveals himself as a manifestation of the Negative Still Force that seeks to restore Thawne as the Negative Speed Force's avatar after Barry severed his connection to it. To that end, Owens ages Thawne to death before sacrificing a time-sickened Iris' life so that he can "resurrect" Thawne in his redeemed time remnant's body, allowing him to become the Reverse-Flash once again.<ref name="Negative, Part One" />


After taunting Barry over Iris' death, Thawne goes into the Negative Speed Force and absorbs the powers of all the Negative Forces, which transforms him into the '''Negative Reverse-Flash'''. Thawne attacks [[Central City (DC Comics)|Central City]] and kills dozens of civilians until Barry absorbs the powers of all the Positive Forces to become Thawne's equal. The two speedsters engage in a battle that threatens to bring about Armageddon and destroy Central City. Realizing that neither of them will ever win, Barry surrenders and tricks Thawne into unleashing the full power of the Negative Forces, only to redirect the negative energy back into him, destroying Thawne for good.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Negative, Part Two |episode-link=Negative, Part Two |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=June 29, 2022 |season=8 |number=20}}</ref>
After taunting Barry over Iris' death, Thawne goes into the Negative Speed Force and absorbs the powers of all the Negative Forces, which transforms him into the '''Negative Reverse-Flash'''. Thawne attacks [[Central City (DC Comics)|Central City]] and kills dozens of civilians until Barry absorbs the powers of all the Positive Forces to become Thawne's equal. The two speedsters engage in a battle that threatens to bring about Armageddon and destroy Central City. Realizing that neither of them will ever win, Barry surrenders and tricks Thawne into unleashing the full power of the Negative Forces, only to redirect the negative energy back into him, destroying Thawne for good.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Negative, Part Two |episode-link=Negative, Part Two |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=June 29, 2022 |season=8 |number=20}}</ref>
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Once he escapes the Flashpoint timeline,<ref name="Flashpoint" /> Thawne enters a nullified state of existence as a time remnant,<ref name="Moonshot" /> causing him to be hunted by the demonic enforcer of the Speed Force, the [[Hunter Zolomon (Arrowverse)|Black Flash]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Legion of Doom |episode-link=The Legion of Doom (Legends of Tomorrow) |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 31, 2017 |season=2 |number=10}}</ref> Seeking to cement his existence, Thawne forms a [[Legion of Doom (Arrowverse)|legion]] of villains to locate the fabled Spear of Destiny.<ref name="Moonshot" /><ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Chicago Way |episode-link=The Chicago Way |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=December 8, 2016 |season=2 |number=8}}</ref> While Thawne and his co-conspirators succeed in using the Spear to rewrite reality to their whims,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Doomworld |episode-link=Doomworld |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 28, 2017 |season=2 |number=16}}</ref> the [[Legends of Tomorrow (Arrowverse team)|Legends]] travel back in time to de-power the Spear, causing him to be vaporized by the Black Flash.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Aruba |episode-link=Aruba (Legends of Tomorrow) |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=April 4, 2017 |season=2 |number=17}}</ref>
Once he escapes the Flashpoint timeline,<ref name="Flashpoint" /> Thawne enters a nullified state of existence as a time remnant,<ref name="Moonshot" /> causing him to be hunted by the demonic enforcer of the Speed Force, the [[Hunter Zolomon (Arrowverse)|Black Flash]].<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Legion of Doom |episode-link=The Legion of Doom (Legends of Tomorrow) |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 31, 2017 |season=2 |number=10}}</ref> Seeking to cement his existence, Thawne forms a [[Legion of Doom (Arrowverse)|legion]] of villains to locate the fabled Spear of Destiny.<ref name="Moonshot" /><ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Chicago Way |episode-link=The Chicago Way |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=December 8, 2016 |season=2 |number=8}}</ref> While Thawne and his co-conspirators succeed in using the Spear to rewrite reality to their whims,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Doomworld |episode-link=Doomworld |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=March 28, 2017 |season=2 |number=16}}</ref> the [[Legends of Tomorrow (Arrowverse team)|Legends]] travel back in time to de-power the Spear, causing him to be vaporized by the Black Flash.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Aruba |episode-link=Aruba (Legends of Tomorrow) |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=April 4, 2017 |season=2 |number=17}}</ref>


The Speed Force later brings Thawne back to life to be enslaved. His powers are removed and he is assigned to defend the [[assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand]]&nbsp;– a "fixed point" in history&nbsp;– from time travelers. When the Legends visit the fixed point to attract the attention of an evil Gideon, Thawne decides to aid them.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Fixed Point |episode-link=The Fixed Point |series=Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 26, 2022 |season=7 |number=10}}</ref> Thawne is then killed by [[Sara Lance]]'s android doppelgänger, after which [[Nate Heywood (Arrowverse)|Nate Heywood]]'s android doppelgänger is tricked into taking his place as the defender of the fixed point.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Rage Against The Machines |episode-link=Rage Against The Machines |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=February 2, 2022 |season=7 |number=11}}</ref>
The Speed Force brings Thawne back to life. His powers are removed and he is assigned to defend the [[assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand]]&nbsp;– a "fixed point" in history&nbsp;– from time travelers. When the Legends visit the fixed point to attract the attention of an evil Gideon, Thawne decides to aid them.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Fixed Point |episode-link=The Fixed Point |series=Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=January 26, 2022 |season=7 |number=10}}</ref> Thawne is then killed by [[Sara Lance]]'s android doppelgänger, after which [[Nate Heywood (Arrowverse)|Nate Heywood]]'s android doppelgänger is tricked into taking his place as the defender of the fixed point.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Rage Against The Machines |episode-link=Rage Against The Machines |series=DC's Legends of Tomorrow |series-link=Legends of Tomorrow |network=[[The CW]] |date=February 2, 2022 |season=7 |number=11}}</ref>


As a reward for his sacrifice in protecting the timeline, Thawne is offered an opportunity for redemption when he is seemingly resurrected by the Speed Force [[Amnesia|without his memories]]. Feeling inexplicably compelled to once more become a speedster, he works with Dr. Meena Dhawan, the CEO of Fast Track Labs, to create an artificial Speed Force device. Thawne eventually falls in love with Meena and sacrifices his dream when he uses their invention to save her life by giving her super-speed after she suffers a cardiac arrest. The process inadvertently connects Meena to the Negative Speed Force, and Thawne works with the Flash to free Meena from its corruption.<ref name="The Man in the Yellow Tie" /> When Deon Owens threatens to kill Thawne, Barry teaches Meena to temporarily give him super-speed and the three confront the Negative Forces. Owens tricks Barry into killing a time-sickened Iris as a sacrifice so that the timeline's original version of Thawne can be revived in his time remnant's body, much to Meena's horror.<ref name="Negative, Part One" />
As a reward for his sacrifice in protecting the timeline, Thawne is offered an opportunity for redemption when he is seemingly resurrected by the Speed Force [[Amnesia|without his memories]]. Feeling inexplicably compelled to once more become a speedster, he works with Dr. Meena Dhawan, the CEO of Fast Track Labs, to create an artificial Speed Force device. Thawne eventually falls in love with Meena and sacrifices his dream when he uses their invention to save her life by giving her super-speed after she suffers a cardiac arrest. The process inadvertently connects Meena to the Negative Speed Force, and Thawne works with the Flash to free Meena from its corruption.<ref name="The Man in the Yellow Tie" /> When Deon Owens threatens to kill Thawne, Barry teaches Meena to temporarily give him super-speed and the three confront the Negative Forces. Owens tricks Barry into killing a time-sickened Iris as a sacrifice so that the timeline's original version of Thawne can be revived in his time remnant's body, much to Meena's horror.<ref name="Negative, Part One" />
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=== Characterization ===
=== Characterization ===
Cavanagh has stated many times that he enjoys playing the character of Eobard Thawne as the character is interesting, complex and challenging to portray.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=October 6, 2016 |title=Tom Cavanagh on Playing the Many Versions of His Character on 'The Flash' |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/features/actor-tom-cavanagh-flash-1201879049/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130222637/https://variety.com/2016/tv/features/actor-tom-cavanagh-flash-1201879049/ |archive-date=November 30, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=May 19, 2015 |title='The Flash' Finale: Tom Cavanagh on Eobard Thawne's Plans for Barry |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-flash-season-1-finale-barry-save-his-mother-fast-enough-1201500289/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626120420/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-flash-season-1-finale-barry-save-his-mother-fast-enough-1201500289/ |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2015 |title=An interview with Tom Cavanagh for season one of The Flash |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2015-08-18/An-interview-with-Tom-Cavanagh-for-season-one-of-The-Flash/170735 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207040143/https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2015-08-18/An-interview-with-Tom-Cavanagh-for-season-one-of-The-Flash/170735 |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[The Hans India]]}}</ref> When speaking with the Television Academy he had this to say about playing Thawne: 'The Reverse Flash has what I like to a call timeless way of speaking. He doesn't use colloquialisms from 2016, he's a little more formal, and he takes joy in destroying people. He has a larger perspective because he comes from 100-plus years in the future and has seen it all. It's easy to play a character like that. He's the arch in arch-villain.'<ref name="Supervillain Costume" /> He also sat down with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' to discuss his supervillain voice in which he said: "If you're doing it right, you can be charismatic, you can win people over, and you can have so much fun. You build a cage and then you just rattle that cage more than the leading guy can a lot."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=May 24, 2016 |title='The Flash': Tom Cavanagh on Nailing a Supervillain Voice |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/the-flash-tom-cavanagh-on-nailing-a-supervillain-voice-39284/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206221836/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/the-flash-tom-cavanagh-on-nailing-a-supervillain-voice-39284/ |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Kreisberg insisted that Thawne was not evil because his fatherly affection for Cisco was genuine, and "he has a reason for doing what he's doing and he has an agenda and he thinks of himself as the hero ... bad people are capable of incredible amounts of kindness and generosity".<ref name="redherring" /> Though Thawne is frequently shown to die a [[comic book death]] throughout his appearances, Eric Wallace (''The Flash'' showrunner since 2019) intended for his death in the season eight finale to be permanent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drum |first=Nicole |date=June 29, 2022 |title=The Flash: Eric Wallace Breaks Down Reverse Flash's Fate in "Negative Part Two" |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/the-flash-eric-wallace-breaks-down-reverse-flash-death-season-8-finale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630183440/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/the-flash-eric-wallace-breaks-down-reverse-flash-death-season-8-finale/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=[[Comicbook.com]]}}</ref>
Cavanagh has stated many times that he enjoys playing the character of Eobard Thawne as the character is interesting, complex, and challenging.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=October 6, 2016 |title=Tom Cavanagh on Playing the Many Versions of His Character on 'The Flash' |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/features/actor-tom-cavanagh-flash-1201879049/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130222637/https://variety.com/2016/tv/features/actor-tom-cavanagh-flash-1201879049/ |archive-date=November 30, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prudom |first=Laura |date=May 19, 2015 |title='The Flash' Finale: Tom Cavanagh on Eobard Thawne's Plans for Barry |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-flash-season-1-finale-barry-save-his-mother-fast-enough-1201500289/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626120420/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-flash-season-1-finale-barry-save-his-mother-fast-enough-1201500289/ |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2015 |title=An interview with Tom Cavanagh for season one of The Flash |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2015-08-18/An-interview-with-Tom-Cavanagh-for-season-one-of-The-Flash/170735 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207040143/https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2015-08-18/An-interview-with-Tom-Cavanagh-for-season-one-of-The-Flash/170735 |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=[[The Hans India]]}}</ref> When speaking with the Television Academy he said about playing Thawne: 'The Reverse Flash has what I like to a call timeless way of speaking. He doesn't use colloquialisms from 2016, he's a little more formal, and he takes joy in destroying people. He has a larger perspective because he comes from 100-plus years in the future and has seen it all. It's easy to play a character like that. He's the arch in arch-villain.'<ref name="Supervillain Costume" /> He also sat down with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' to discuss his supervillain voice in which he said: "If you're doing it right, you can be charismatic, you can win people over, and you can have so much fun. You build a cage and then you just rattle that cage more than the leading guy can a lot."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=May 24, 2016 |title='The Flash': Tom Cavanagh on Nailing a Supervillain Voice |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/the-flash-tom-cavanagh-on-nailing-a-supervillain-voice-39284/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206221836/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/the-flash-tom-cavanagh-on-nailing-a-supervillain-voice-39284/ |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Kreisberg insisted that Thawne was not evil because his fatherly affection for Cisco was genuine, and "he has a reason for doing what he's doing and he has an agenda and he thinks of himself as the hero ... bad people are capable of incredible amounts of kindness and generosity".<ref name="redherring" /> Though Thawne is frequently shown to die a [[comic book death]] throughout his appearances, Eric Wallace (''The Flash'' showrunner since 2019) intended for his death in the season eight finale to be permanent.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drum |first=Nicole |date=June 29, 2022 |title=The Flash: Eric Wallace Breaks Down Reverse Flash's Fate in "Negative Part Two" |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/the-flash-eric-wallace-breaks-down-reverse-flash-death-season-8-finale/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630183440/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/the-flash-eric-wallace-breaks-down-reverse-flash-death-season-8-finale/ |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |website=[[Comicbook.com]]}}</ref>


=== Costume ===
=== Costume ===
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=== Critical response ===
=== Critical response ===
The American business magazine ''[[Forbes]]'' praised Cavanagh for his role in [[The Flash (season 1)|The Flash season 1]] with Erik Kain stating "Tom Cavanagh is uncanny, a perfect fit for the ominous yet likable villain. All his lines and statements connect with audiences precisely because of how well Cavanagh pulls off the role, and how well that role is written."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kain |first=Erik |date=April 29, 2015 |title='The Flash' Season 1, Episode 20 Review: Reverse Trap |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/04/29/the-flash-season-1-episode-20-review-reverse-trap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530064337/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/04/29/the-flash-season-1-episode-20-review-reverse-trap/#3ec06bcf5667 |archive-date=May 30, 2018 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> The entertainment website [[Collider (website)|''Collider'']] chose Tom Cavanagh has the Best TV Actor of the Week on May 18, 2015.<ref name="Best TV Actor" /> [[Rotten Tomatoes]] ranked Tom Cavanagh's Reverse Flash as the Scariest Character on Comic Book Television as of November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amaya |first=Erik |date=October 30, 2019 |title=THE 5 Scariest Characters on Comic Book Television |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-5-scariest-characters-on-comic-book-television/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116035116/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-5-scariest-characters-on-comic-book-television/ |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> Chancellor Agard from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised the character of Thawne saying "No matter how many ups and downs ''The Flash'' has had over its run, it has never faltered when it comes to its characterization of Thawne."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agard |first=Chancellor |date=April 23, 2019 |title=The Flash recap: Season 5, Episode 19 |url=https://ew.com/recap/the-flash-season-5-episode-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810091937/https://ew.com/recap/the-flash-season-5-episode-19/ |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>
''[[Forbes]]'' praised Cavanagh for his role in [[The Flash (season 1)|The Flash season 1]] with Erik Kain stating he "is uncanny, a perfect fit for the ominous yet likable villain. All his lines and statements connect with audiences precisely because of how well Cavanagh pulls off the role, and how well that role is written."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kain |first=Erik |date=April 29, 2015 |title='The Flash' Season 1, Episode 20 Review: Reverse Trap |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/04/29/the-flash-season-1-episode-20-review-reverse-trap |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530064337/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2015/04/29/the-flash-season-1-episode-20-review-reverse-trap/#3ec06bcf5667 |archive-date=May 30, 2018 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> [[Collider (website)|''Collider'']] chose Tom Cavanagh as the Best TV Actor of the Week on May 18, 2015.<ref name="Best TV Actor" /> [[Rotten Tomatoes]] ranked Tom Cavanagh's Reverse Flash as the Scariest Character on Comic Book Television as of November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amaya |first=Erik |date=October 30, 2019 |title=THE 5 Scariest Characters on Comic Book Television |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-5-scariest-characters-on-comic-book-television/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116035116/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-5-scariest-characters-on-comic-book-television/ |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> Chancellor Agard from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' wrote "No matter how many ups and downs ''The Flash'' has had over its run, it has never faltered when it comes to its characterization of Thawne."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agard |first=Chancellor |date=April 23, 2019 |title=The Flash recap: Season 5, Episode 19 |url=https://ew.com/recap/the-flash-season-5-episode-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810091937/https://ew.com/recap/the-flash-season-5-episode-19/ |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>


=== Accolades ===
=== Accolades ===

Revision as of 22:55, 16 July 2022

Eobard Thawne
Arrowverse character
Tom Cavanagh as Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash in The CW's Superhero Fight Club promotional video[1]
First appearance
Last appearance
Based on
Adapted byGreg Berlanti
Andrew Kreisberg
Geoff Johns
Portrayed by
Other
Victor Garber (as Martin Stein)
Sean MacLean (as Jack Swigert)
In-universe information
Alias
  • Reverse-Flash
  • Harrison Wells
  • The Flash (altered reality)
  • Negative Reverse-Flash
SpeciesMetahuman
Occupation
FamilyEddie Thawne (ancestor) †

Eobard Thawne, otherwise known as the Reverse-Flash, is a character in The CW's Arrowverse franchise. The character first appeared on the television series The Flash and has also been featured in spin-off shows and crossover events in the shared fictional universe. Based on the DC Comics supervillain of the same name, Thawne is primarily portrayed by Tom Cavanagh and Matt Letscher. Letscher plays Thawne's original likeness, while Cavanagh portrays him in the form of Harrison Wells. As in the comics, Thawne is depicted as a scientist-turned-time traveling criminal from the future and the archenemy of Barry Allen / The Flash.

Storylines

Origins

In the 22nd century, Professor Eobard Thawne was a scientist obsessed with a speedster known as the Flash. Thawne managed to recreate the accident that created the Flash to give himself super-speed, tapping into his own "negative" version of the Speed Force.[2][3][4] He became bitter and jealous of the Flash when his idol, having traveled through time, saved a crowd that he had intended to rescue.[5] Thawne ultimately grew to despise his former hero upon traveling through time and learning that he was destined to be the Flash's greatest and most feared enemy, and vowed to become the "reverse" of everything the Flash stood for as the Reverse-Flash.[2][6] At some point, Thawne traveled to the year 2016 and finally learned what time period the Flash was from.[2] The Reverse-Flash and the Flash battled each other across centuries, with both speedsters equally matched and neither ever prevailing.[7]

Creating the Flash

Further information: The Flash (season 1), The Flash (season 2), and The Flash (season 5)

Thawne eventually learns of the Flash's secret identity – Barry Allen – and travels back in time to the year 2000 to kill him as a child. When his plan fails, Thawne kills Barry's mother Nora and frames his father Henry instead so that the Flash would never exist. In doing so, Thawne inadvertently severs his own connection to the Speed Force, stranding himself in the 21st century.[8] He murders and assumes the identity of Dr. Harrison Wells to found S.T.A.R. Labs, and spends the next fourteen years building a particle accelerator with the intention of creating the Flash ahead of schedule.[9][7] As Wells, he mentors Barry in defeating metahuman criminals created by the explosion of the particle accelerator and helps him to increase his speed, hoping to use Barry's pure connection to the Speed Force to return to his own time period.[10][11] Thawne also taunts and bests Barry in combat as the Reverse-Flash to push him into getting faster.[12][13]

After his secret is discovered, Thawne is captured by Barry with the help of Oliver Queen, Ronnie Raymond, and Martin Stein.[14] Thawne offers Barry a chance to travel back in time to save his mother in exchange for a time machine to return to the future once the Speed Force wormhole is open. Barry ultimately refuses and destroys Thawne's machine. Before Thawne can kill Barry, his ancestor, police detective Eddie Thawne, shoots himself, seemingly erasing Thawne from existence.[7] A flash drive containing Thawne's will as Wells bequeaths S.T.A.R. Labs to Barry and a video-recorded confession to Nora's murder which allows for Henry's exoneration.[15] Barry travels back in time a couple of times to seek Thawne's help during this timeframe in which he masqueraded as Wells.[16][17]

Crisis on Earth-X

Further information: Crisis on Earth-X

Thawne survives his erasure following Eddie's sacrifice because he's connected to the Negative Speed Force which, according to him, is immune to timeline changes.[18][19] He allies with Dark Arrow and Overgirl of the Nazi-dominated Earth-X to invade Earth-1.[20] During their final battle, Barry defeats Thawne but spares his life. Thawne speeds off while his allies are killed.[21][22]

Imprisonment in 2049

Further information: The Flash (season 5)

Sometime after his failed alliance with Earth-X, Thawne is captured and imprisoned in Iron Heights Penitentiary in 2034.[23] He is placed under a death sentence and is routinely tortured by a corrupt prison guard.[23] while his super-speed is dampened by a dagger that once belonged to the metahuman serial killer Cicada.[19] In 2049, Barry and Iris West-Allen's future daughter, Nora West-Allen, seeks Thawne's help in solving a police case and controlling her own newly-discovered super-speed.[23] Thawne becomes Nora's mentor and claims that he seeks to create a more noble legacy for himself before his execution.[17][6][23] He manipulates Nora into traveling back in time to help Barry defeat Cicada,[24] and the pair routinely keep in touch through Nora's journal entries.[17][3] Thawne's plan succeeds as Cicada's dagger is destroyed, freeing him moments before his execution in 2049. He briefly fights Barry, Nora, and Team Flash before Nora begins to be erased from existence due to the changes in the timeline. After Barry runs Nora into the Negative Speed Force at Thawne's fervent suggestion, he makes his escape.[19]

New multiverse

Further information: The Flash (season 6) and The Flash (season 7)

Thawne is turned into a being of negative tachyons and is fused with Harrison Nash Wells following the multiversal Crisis, after Nash became the 'repository' for the consciousness of every version of Wells, which includes Thawne due to his time spent in Wells' form. Thawne is able to control Nash's body but is captured by Barry and imprisoned at S.T.A.R. Labs.[25] Before Thawne can regain his connection to the Negative Speed Force, Team Flash expels him from Nash, leaving him without a body to possess.[26]

Barry later has the Speed Force reconstitute Thawne's corporeal form in exchange for his aid in subduing Godspeed. Thawne double-crosses Barry by incapacitating Godspeed before making an attempt on Barry's life. Barry easily defeats him, revealing that he is now faster than he. Thawne vows vengeance before speeding off.[27]

Armageddon

Further information: The Flash (season 8)

To seize control of Barry's life as revenge for his defeat, Thawne uses the Negative Still Force to alter the timeline and create a "Reverse-Flashpoint" reality in which he is the Flash and Barry is the Reverse-Flash. Barry uncovers Thawne's machinations and reconnects to the Speed Force to avert the impending "Armageddon" and restore the timeline,[28] causing Thawne to begin fading from existence. To save Thawne's life, Barry strips him of his powers and has him remanded into A.R.G.U.S. custody.[5]

Final showdown with the Flash

Further information: The Flash (season 8)

Incarcerated in a supermax prison on Lian Yu, Thawne is visited by John Diggle who seeks his help in unlocking a mysterious cube. Seeing it as a chance to escape, Thawne helps open it but is frustrated when Diggle declines its power. Deon Owens materializes in Thawne's cell to help him "fulfill his destiny".[4] This version of Owens reveals himself as a manifestation of the Negative Still Force that seeks to restore Thawne as the Negative Speed Force's avatar after Barry severed his connection to it. To that end, Owens ages Thawne to death before sacrificing a time-sickened Iris' life so that he can "resurrect" Thawne in his redeemed time remnant's body, allowing him to become the Reverse-Flash once again.[29]

After taunting Barry over Iris' death, Thawne goes into the Negative Speed Force and absorbs the powers of all the Negative Forces, which transforms him into the Negative Reverse-Flash. Thawne attacks Central City and kills dozens of civilians until Barry absorbs the powers of all the Positive Forces to become Thawne's equal. The two speedsters engage in a battle that threatens to bring about Armageddon and destroy Central City. Realizing that neither of them will ever win, Barry surrenders and tricks Thawne into unleashing the full power of the Negative Forces, only to redirect the negative energy back into him, destroying Thawne for good.[30]

Other versions

Time remnant

Further information: The Flash (season 3), Legends of Tomorrow (season 2), Legends of Tomorrow (season 7), and The Flash (season 8)

After losing his father to Zoom, Barry decides to travel back in time to save his mother from Thawne, creating an alternate "Flashpoint" timeline in which Thawne is imprisoned. Upon realizing his mistake in manipulating time, Barry releases Thawne and allows him to kill Nora to restore the timeline.[31]

Once he escapes the Flashpoint timeline,[31] Thawne enters a nullified state of existence as a time remnant,[32] causing him to be hunted by the demonic enforcer of the Speed Force, the Black Flash.[33] Seeking to cement his existence, Thawne forms a legion of villains to locate the fabled Spear of Destiny.[32][34] While Thawne and his co-conspirators succeed in using the Spear to rewrite reality to their whims,[35] the Legends travel back in time to de-power the Spear, causing him to be vaporized by the Black Flash.[36]

The Speed Force brings Thawne back to life. His powers are removed and he is assigned to defend the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – a "fixed point" in history – from time travelers. When the Legends visit the fixed point to attract the attention of an evil Gideon, Thawne decides to aid them.[37] Thawne is then killed by Sara Lance's android doppelgänger, after which Nate Heywood's android doppelgänger is tricked into taking his place as the defender of the fixed point.[38]

As a reward for his sacrifice in protecting the timeline, Thawne is offered an opportunity for redemption when he is seemingly resurrected by the Speed Force without his memories. Feeling inexplicably compelled to once more become a speedster, he works with Dr. Meena Dhawan, the CEO of Fast Track Labs, to create an artificial Speed Force device. Thawne eventually falls in love with Meena and sacrifices his dream when he uses their invention to save her life by giving her super-speed after she suffers a cardiac arrest. The process inadvertently connects Meena to the Negative Speed Force, and Thawne works with the Flash to free Meena from its corruption.[4] When Deon Owens threatens to kill Thawne, Barry teaches Meena to temporarily give him super-speed and the three confront the Negative Forces. Owens tricks Barry into killing a time-sickened Iris as a sacrifice so that the timeline's original version of Thawne can be revived in his time remnant's body, much to Meena's horror.[29]

Concept and creation

On February 10, 2014, Tom Cavanagh was set to join The Flash as Harrison Wells.[39] The producers of the show said the following about the character: 'There's obviously more that meets the eye when you see Harrison Wells. ... His motivations are a big mystery, and tracking that through has been a very interesting ride with Mr. Cavanagh.'[40] In episode 15 of the series, Cavanagh was revealed to be playing Eobard Thawne. Regarding this, co-creator Andrew Kreisberg said: "There are the people who read the comics and know everything, and then there are the people who know nothing and you have to make the show for both of those people and that's one of the things we did very early on: oh, if we name Eddie 'Eddie Thawne' then immediately a whole bunch of comic book fans are going to go 'obviously he's the Reverse Flash,' so I get it and hopefully they were surprised when that turned out not to be the case".[41] Two episodes later featured the debut of Matt Letscher in the role, which shocked viewers. The executive producers had not planned this twist from the start, with Kreisberg saying, 'We were talking about, 'well what if Wells wasn't Wells? What if he stole Wells' body?'[42] While Cavanagh would continue playing Thawne on The Flash, Letscher subsequently went on to portray a time-displaced version of the character in Legends of Tomorrow.[43][44]

Character development

Characterization

Cavanagh has stated many times that he enjoys playing the character of Eobard Thawne as the character is interesting, complex, and challenging.[45][46][47] When speaking with the Television Academy he said about playing Thawne: 'The Reverse Flash has what I like to a call timeless way of speaking. He doesn't use colloquialisms from 2016, he's a little more formal, and he takes joy in destroying people. He has a larger perspective because he comes from 100-plus years in the future and has seen it all. It's easy to play a character like that. He's the arch in arch-villain.'[48] He also sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss his supervillain voice in which he said: "If you're doing it right, you can be charismatic, you can win people over, and you can have so much fun. You build a cage and then you just rattle that cage more than the leading guy can a lot."[49] Kreisberg insisted that Thawne was not evil because his fatherly affection for Cisco was genuine, and "he has a reason for doing what he's doing and he has an agenda and he thinks of himself as the hero ... bad people are capable of incredible amounts of kindness and generosity".[41] Though Thawne is frequently shown to die a comic book death throughout his appearances, Eric Wallace (The Flash showrunner since 2019) intended for his death in the season eight finale to be permanent.[50]

Costume

When asked by the Television Academy about wearing the Reverse-Flash suit, Cavanagh replied with "That's a lot of what acting is. Often times, you're tapping into the things you did as a youth. You pretended. A lot of us pretended to be Batman, to be our favorite super-hero. A lot of times, you pretended to have the power of imagination at your side. And the first time you put it on, the cameras are rolling, and off you go at superspeed. I've gotten to do some great, great thrilling stunts in the suit. It is a dream come true. I understand that it's a job, and I'm getting paid, but the second that a director yells, "Action", all that disappears, and you're a guy in a supersuit. It's extremely thrilling. I've said before that I wish that anyone who is a legitimate comic book fan could have this opportunity. It really feels like a privilege."[48] Cavanagh also said "I benefited from all the trial and error that went into that. ... I think they did a marvelous job with the suit, I'm always very flattered and honored to put it on," when speaking with Access Hollywood.[51]

Reception

Critical response

Forbes praised Cavanagh for his role in The Flash season 1 with Erik Kain stating he "is uncanny, a perfect fit for the ominous yet likable villain. All his lines and statements connect with audiences precisely because of how well Cavanagh pulls off the role, and how well that role is written."[52] Collider chose Tom Cavanagh as the Best TV Actor of the Week on May 18, 2015.[53] Rotten Tomatoes ranked Tom Cavanagh's Reverse Flash as the Scariest Character on Comic Book Television as of November 2019.[54] Chancellor Agard from Entertainment Weekly wrote "No matter how many ups and downs The Flash has had over its run, it has never faltered when it comes to its characterization of Thawne."[55]

Accolades

The Flash's Eobard Thawne was ranked number 35 on Rolling Stone's list of the 40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time.[56] He also topped Entertainment Weekly's list of 20 "best" villains on superhero TV in 2015,[57] and was included on Collider's list of Best TV Villains of 2015.[58] Cavanagh received an IGN Awards nomination for Best TV Villain for his portrayal of the character in The Flash.[59] He was also nominated for Choice TV Villain at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.[60] Screen Rant's Jason Berman ranked Cavanagh fifth on his 2016 list 20 Best Actors in the Arrowverse.[61] The entertainment website Collider chose Tom Cavanagh as the Best TV Actor of the Week on May 18, 2015.[53]

Other appearances

References

  1. ^ Dyce, Andrew (April 13, 2015). "'The Flash' & 'Arrow' Stars Battle in 'Superhero Fight Club' Promo". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "The Reverse-Flash Returns". The Flash. Season 2. Episode 11. January 26, 2016. The CW.
  3. ^ a b "Snow Pack". The Flash. Season 5. Episode 19. April 23, 2019. The CW.
  4. ^ a b c "The Man in the Yellow Tie". The Flash. Season 8. Episode 18. June 15, 2022. The CW.
  5. ^ a b "Armageddon, Part 5". The Flash. Season 8. Episode 5. December 14, 2021. The CW.
  6. ^ a b "The Flash & the Furious". The Flash. Season 5. Episode 10. January 15, 2019. The CW.
  7. ^ a b c "Fast Enough". The Flash. Season 1. Episode 23. May 19, 2015. The CW.
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