'The Flash' Season 6 Episode 8: Nash Wells becomes Pariah, releases the Anti-Monitor and launches the 'Crisis'
The Crisis is here, and this is the moment DC fans have been waiting for. The 'Crisis On Infinite Earths' will span five shows, including 'Batwoman', 'The Flash', 'Arrow', 'Legends Of Tomorrow' and 'Supergirl'.
Goodbyes and tearful adieus have been said, and our heroes are aware of the colossal loss that could befall them. At the end of 'The Flash', an ominous red glow hits the Earth.
Just a few minutes before that, Nash Wells (Tom Cavanagh) says in a dark tunnel, "For so many years, I’ve traveled across worlds — across the multiverse — to do one thing: kill you. And now, here, you saved my life."
In return, a voice tells him to "begin your life anew" and he is consumed by light, making the way for Pariah. In short, he has released the Anti-Monitor and launched the crisis.
Who is Pariah?
In the comics, Pariah is Kell Mossa, a scientist from an undesignated Earth in the DC multiverse. He engineered an experiment that would allow him to see the dawn of time, which is similar to Krona, the Malthusian from Earth-Prime, who witnessed the dawn of creation that created the multiverse.
However, Pariah is clearly villainous in his intent. He conducted his experiment through an anti-matter chamber. However, when he viewed the birth of the universe, instead of creating infinite worlds, he helped free the Anti-Monitor and let him go on a universe-collapsing rampage.
In 'The Flash', Pariah is Nash Wells, who has apparently been on the trail of the Monitor, who he wants to expose as a false god. He had been tracking down a multiversal particle called Eternium.
He finds Eternium underground in Central City, as well as a wall guarding a portal, leading to the Monitor, supposedly. However, the voice behind the door has seemingly saved him and tells Nash to begin a new life, with the temptation of knowledge.
Nash presses the symbols on the door and is then consumed by a bright light. "In the original comics, Pariah is very much responsible for releasing the Anti-Monitor onto our multiverse and then more bad things happen," showrunner Eric Wallace told the audience at The Flash panel at SDCC.
"For Tom to play such a pivotal character is not only exciting, but the interpretation that he is bringing to it is just going to tear your guts out and make you cry," he added.
The next time we see Nash, we know he would be wearing his Pariah costume.
What are Pariah's powers?
According to the comics, Pariah does not age and is immortal. He is invulnerable, and so when the wave of anti-matter rages through the universe, it does not affect him. He can fly and teleport as well, which means he is no longer stuck on Earth.
'The Crisis On Infinite Earths' will air on December 8, 9 and 10.