Savitar’s Big Reveal Brings More Questions Than Answers

Can Team Flash stop Savitar now that they know who’s behind the mask?

By Daniel Schwartz

Tuesday’s episode of The Flash promised to finally reveal Savitar’s true identity and it did not disappoint. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead.

After a long build-up and several Killer Frost attacks, Barry confronts Savitar and tells him that he knows who he is……Barry Allen. Or more specifically, Barry Allen from the future. This version of the Scarlet Speedster appears haggard, scarred, and bent on making his younger self suffer.

This big reveal was a stunner, but it also raised several questions:

What is his motivation?
He is hell bent on destroying his younger self without killing him (for obvious reasons). He knows that the worst thing he can do to himself is to kill Iris. Why is he intent on making younger Barry suffer? Does he regret ending Flashpoint, or did he spend an eternity in the Speed Force and snap?

How did he get those powers?
He already had the super speed, but he has never run as fast as Savitar can. Savitar can also mentally communicate with people and bring back their Flashpoint identities. He cannot do these things now, and would need a really big jump in his meta-human abilities to pull these off. Did he get these powers from the Speed Force or another outside source?

What’s up with the scars?
When future Barry emerges from the Savitar suit, half of his face is seriously scarred. How did this happen? Did he run so fast that he caught fire, hence the fancy new suit? Was it a result of his new powers (or attaining them)? These scars may be the key to figuring him out (or they are just a plot device to make future Barry look different than Present Barry).

Is Barry actually Savitar?
Perhaps Savitar is a disembodied entity that has taken up residency in Barry’s future body. We know that he pulled that trick with Alchemy. Is it possible that this evil entity possessed the body of his greatest foe as revenge for defeating him?

What are his plans for Killer Frost?
He obviously has big plans for the former Dr. Snow. The second that she revealed herself, he recruited her to his cause. She may serve as a distraction for his big plans. She may also be used to hurt Team Flash emotionally as they battle their former colleague. He also promised to rid her of Dr. Snow for good (which would also emotionally hurt the team). Either way, she has a big part to play in the coming events.

These questions and many more are set to be answered in the coming weeks as the finale approaches.

The Flash returns next Tuesday with an all new episode.