Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and the rest of Team Flash raced onto our screens last Tuesday with the season four premiere "The Flash Reborn." In Barry's absence, Iris (Candice Patton), Cisco (Carlos Valdes), Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale), and Joe (Jesse Martin) worked together to keep Central City safe. When a powerful samurai villain threatens to destroy the city unless he can fight the Flash, the team reunites with Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) to free Barry from the Speed Force. When he's finally free, however, his mind has been scrambled from his time in the Speed Force.
The return of the Flash
After the experiment to free him from the Speed Force malfunctioned and freed Barry several hundred miles away from the target area, the team was able to reunite with him at the police department. When they found him, he was speaking nonsense and scribbling symbols on the wall. When they took him back to Star Labs to perform tests, Caitlin theorized that, because the Speed Force exists outside of time and space, what was six months to them could have been thousands of years for Barry.
However, I have a different theory: Barry experienced his entire timeline at once and couldn't keep his memories straight after getting free. Amid mentions of the stars melting, he recognizes Iris as his mother and makes several mentions of how his father didn't hurt his mother - a reference to when the Reverse Flash killed her and he was a child.
As for the stars melting, it's likely that this refers to the upcoming Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Earth-X." Amid melting stars and memories of his mother's death, Barry says "We're going to need more diapers." This seemingly innocent remark might hint at a future with Iris that involves children. His expression is also worth noting; when he was talking about the Reverse Flash killing his mother, he was nearly in tears, but he had a look of sheer joy on his face while talking about needing more diapers.
"Crisis on Earth-X"
It's possible that Iris's pregnancy will be announced during or shortly after the crossover later this season, for several reasons. Firstly, the entire "Crisis on Earth-X" event is going to happen on Barry's and Iris's wedding day. This would be either a perfect time to announce the pregnancy, with all their friends and family gathered, or a point for the couple to decide they want to try to have children.
Also, Iris and Barry conceived the twins during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths," so Iris and Barry have a comic book precedent for creating children during big Crisis events.
This season of "The Flash" promises new challenges for the team as they face a villain that can't be beaten with speed, but with quick thinking. Barry and Iris having children - accidentally or by choice - would elevate this season to new level by introducing another level of conflict that can't be outrun. Whether or not we'll see the Tornado Twins appear is up for debate, but I certainly think it's going to happen.
