'The Flash' Season 8 Ending Explained: Did Barry save Thawne? Finale perfectly sets up Season 9

The final moments of 'The Flash' Season 8 showed what can we expect from the next season, but how did Season 8 end
Tom Cavanagh as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash in 'The Flash' Season 8 (The CW)
Tom Cavanagh as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash in 'The Flash' Season 8 (The CW)

Spoilers for 'The Flash' Season 8 Finale

Season 8 of ‘The Flash’ has finally come to an end and it was undoubtedly one of the most exciting seasons ever. Since the beginning, we were introduced to some really amazing storylines and cool characters that kept us glued to our screens. For 4 weeks, fans have been waiting for Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) to stop Armageddon and save himself from being the bad guy.

He certainly did that in Episode 4, but he certainly gave a masterclass on how to be a good guy in the finale of Season 8. The finale starts with Thawne (Tom Cavanagh) attacking a few police officials to get Barry’s attention. However, it is Mia Queen (Kat McNamara) who comes and confronts her. As soon as Thawne attacks her, Barry comes and saves her. Thawne surrenders and tells Barry that he is not here to fight and wants to live. So, he asks Barry to save him.

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He takes him to Team Flash and is captured inside ARGUS. Some of the team members want Thawne dead, however, Iris West (Candice Patton) believes that the whole team needs to talk and then make a decision. Mia is not happy with the decision and walks away. She is soon possessed by Despero and tries killing Thawne. Did Thawne die in the end? Or Team Flash saved him? Let’s take a look at ‘The Flash’ Season 8 ended.

Barry Allen (The Flash) and Despero (Tony Curran) in 'The Flash' (The CW)

‘The Flash’ Season 8 Ending Explained: Did Thawne die?

While taking the decision, Barry says that Thawne needs to die in order to save humanity from future threats. Most of the team members support him, but Barry and Iris are called by Joe West for a discussion. Joe tells them that we don’t let people die in here and Thawne won’t die on my watch. Iris tells Joe that Thawne has done bad things and if he doesn’t die he will do them again.

Joe explains to them that the suit that Barry wears is not about killing people, it’s all about how he can save lives and it’s up to them on how he should save Thawne. Barry gets an idea and he shares it with the team.

Barry says that it’s a chance they need to take because they are no one to let someone die when they know how they can save him or her. However, the biggest threat to them is Despero (Tony Curran) who has taken the matter into his own hands and taken control of Mia. Mia attacks Iris and other team members as they get to know that Despero has her. Iris calls her out and tells her to save herself. Mia comes back and she is taken to another room.

Kat McNamara as Mia Queen in 'The Flash' Season 8 (The CW)

Meanwhile, The Flash has new golden boots that will help him in his fight against Despero. Barry tells Despero that he knows that everything he told about his planet was a lie and he’s not a hero. An epic fight sequence sees Barry defeating Despero and ending all the threats.

Barry has only 30 seconds to save Thawne. He reaches the lab and takes Thawne’s negative speed away in order to save him. Thawne is not happy with that and tells Barry that by taking away his speed, he has taken away his entire life.

‘The Flash’ Season 8 Ending Explained: What happened to Damien Darhk?

Damien actually came back to 2021 and didn’t die. So, he was trying to find out what exactly happened. During the final moments of the episode, Damien talks to Joe about being a father and realizes what he needs to do in order to get his daughter back. He says a prayer and gives the time stone to Joe. As soon as he does that, Damien disappears and meets his daughter. A few moments later, Damien’s daughter comes back into the real world while Damien dies.

Neal McDonough (Damien Darhk) and Grant Gustin (Barry Allen) in 'The Flash' Season 8 (The CW)

‘The Flash’ Season 8 Ending Explained: Will Barry and Iris’s children make an appearance?

Surprise, Surprise!!! The end scene sees the camera zoom into a photo in which we see Joe West and the entire team. However, we see two new faces coming into the frame and they were none other than Nora and Bart Allen. It seems they will have an important role to play in the upcoming season.

‘The Flash’ returns to The CW with a new season in 2022.

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