When ‘The Flash’ Season 4 opens, six months have passed since Barry Allen sacrificed himself in the Speed Force to save Central City. In those months, Team Flash managed to function without the scarlet speedster. As for Barry, no one knows what happened to him in the Speed Force, but we can take a hint from the promo CW released called “Hero Reborn.”

Barry’s rebirth

The promo opens with The Flash colliding with a pickup truck, completely stopping it on its track. We can assume that Barry came out of the Speed Force naked because he does not have any trousers on.

Perhaps he lost the pair he wore when he went into the Speed Force. This is where we can literally apply the word “reborn” since Barry returns home in his birthday suit.

In a general sense though, the word “reborn” applies to Barry’s transformation. His time in the Speed Force has changed him into a better person. The Season 4 premiere title, “The Flash Reborn,” applies to Barry. Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg told Entertainment Weekly that in a way, he has been born again. “His experience in there has really washed away a lot of his sins and cleansed him of a lot of his doubts, his fears, and his guilts, and it really is leaving him free and clear to just have an open road and a fresh start,” Kreisberg said.

Grant Gustin, who plays the title character, chimed in and said the premiere focuses on Barry’s change of outlook in life. His time in the Speed Force helped him move on from the mistakes he made in the past. He is now ready to have a clean start with the team and with his fiancée Iris West (Candice Patton).

What happened to Barry in the Speed Force

However, before Barry resumes being the hero of Central City, his friends still have to make sense of what happened to him in the Speed Force. It looks like he had a rough time in there. We don’t hear him utter a word in the promo. He just looks confused.

This is understandable according to Gustin.

When Barry comes out, his mind is in a jumble and what he says does not make sense to his friends. This is the after effect of having his life laid out in front of him over again while in the Speed Force. On the positive side, his experience made him wiser.

A faster speedster

The promo teases a faster and more powerful speedster in “The Flash” Season 4. We see Barry’s eyes lit up and we are reminded of Savitar. Has he gained the villain’s speed? After all, he went to the Speed Force to replace Savitar.

A new suit

Cisco mentions that he made a new suit for Barry. We have our first look at the costume from leaked images online. The obvious change is the missing lightning bolt insignia on the chest, although it is uncharacteristic of The Flash suit without it.

Perhaps it was not attached at the time the photo was taken. Then there’s the belt which is now in gold instead of red. The suit bears a resemblance to the one Barry from the year 2042 wore in Season 3 Episode 19.

A new villain

A Samuroid kidnaps Iris and this seemingly prompts The Flash to come out. We hear Cisco say “The Flash is back,” although it’s surprising why the speedster came out from the reactor at S.T.A.R. Labs. Perhaps this is the moment that the team brought him back from the Speed Force as seen in the first trailer for “The Flash” Season 4.

In summary, the promo tells us that Barry’s time in the Speed Force did him more good than harm. It made him into a wiser and faster speedster.
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