'The Flash' Season 6 Episode 15: As much as the world needs a superhero, it also needs Barry Allen
Spoilers for 'The Flash' Season 6 Episode 15 'The Exorcism of Nash Wells'
Time and again, 'The Flash' has proved that it is more than a regular superhero show. The series has spanned five hit seasons and each season, there are themes of love, friendship, and family that make the show a great watch. After four intense episodes post 'Crisis', 'The Exorcism of Nash Wells' comes in as an emotional affair that sees Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) realize something that he's seemed to have forgotten of late. He is Barry.
It is understandable that he is a superhero, one of the greatest there is. However, being the Flash comes with its own cons. The previous episode saw the Speed Force being destroyed partly because of Barry as he harnessed Spectre's energy within the Force causing the entire dimension to crash and be pulled apart. This drains him of his speedster abilities and all he has left is some residual speed.
Now, this is as powerless as Barry can get, meaning no more zooming and zipping across the world to tackle metas. This isn't the first time Barry lost his powers, but he always found a way to bounce back stronger and heighten his abilities, except, in 'The Exorcism of Nash Wells'. What the world and Nash could really use is Barry the hero and not the Flash.
It's safe to say Barry has been through a lot. From losing his parents, his daughter, a friend in Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and the Speed Force, he's seen enough grief that over the years has made him a stronger person and this quality of being stronger makes him a more valuable part of Team Flash.
When Nash Wells (Tom Cavanagh) is trapped in a mindscape with Eobard Thawne/ Reverse-Flash, it is revealed the former is battling his own demons. His adopted daughter, Maya (Kayla Compton) dies during one of their archaeology missions leaving him guilty. Thawne uses this guilt and hopes to reconstruct his negative Speed Force so as to gain his speed back. This is when Barry steps in to help Nash and teaches Thawne a lesson. Barry explains that people are limitless and while superpowers can be lost, strength gained from weakness can never be gone.
While it is a lot of emotion, it is also inspiring and heartening to see Barry embrace the person he is and in his words is a hidden message for the fans in this episode— you don't need superpowers to be a hero.
'The Flash' Season 6 airs Tuesdays 8 pm on The CW.
