With each passing episode of the second half of "The Flash" Season 2, show-runners are taking the show a little bit closer to Zoom. In the upcoming Season 2 Episode 11, aptly titled "The Reverse-Flash Returns", we will see the return of Eaobard Thawne (Matt Letscher).
In the last few moments of Episode 10 "Potential Energy", viewers saw the Reverse-Flash running through Barry's (Grant Gustin) neighbourhood and abruptly coming to a stop. He then asks the AI Gideon where he is. It looks like Thawne has travelled in time and has reached 2016.
In the Season 1 finale, viewers saw Eddie (Rick Cosnet) killing himself, so Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse Flash, is never born. Considering Eddie was his ancestor, his death erased Eobard from existence as well. However, it looks like Zoom has found a way to move things around and ensure Eobard is born and arrives at the right place at the right time.
The coming episode would be interesting for many reasons; least of all because Eobard Thawne does not know what happened in the previous year — or, incidents from the previous season — whereas it will be impossible for Barry to forget them. And Barry's decision on how to deal with Reverse Flash will more or less be a battle between what he wants to do and what he has to do.
The Eobard Thawne that appears on "The Reverse-Flash Returns" has not committed the crimes Team Flash knows the Eobard Thawne of Season 1 did. Zoom's intention is to make Barry face-off against all meta-humans and increase his speed with each fight, so when his speed reaches its maximum potential, Zoom can steal it.
While a few fans believe Zoom has altered the timeline to make sure Thawne was born, a few think he may be from Earth 2. However, Thawne could not be from Earth 2, because Earth 2 already has Flash and Reverse Flash in Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears) and Zoom, respectively. Zoom has, in fact, made many changes on Earth 1 that did not happen in Season 1, and one of them could very well have been that he ensured the birth of Thawne.
Watch season 2 episode 11 of "The Flash" which will be aired at 8 pm (EST) on Tuesday, 26 January. You can also live stream "The Reverse-Flash Returns" via The CW website.
