The Flash may be off the airwaves for another week, but the show definitely hasn’t vacated our hearts or minds. “King Shark” left us with some major questions to add to the ongoing list of queries we’ve been tallying up since the Season 2 premiere. We’ve spent this mini-hiatus reflecting on all of the loose ends this show has to tie up in its final eight episodes of the season...

Who is the Man in the Iron Mask?

This is The Big Question to ask and answer right now. In fact, we wrote an entire article speculating on the identity of the man Zoom is keeping prisoner. Now that we know some version of Jay Garrick is Zoom, it seems even more important to figure out who The Man in the Iron Mask is because it is probably the key to explaining which version of Jay Garrick Zoom is. Our top guesses: Earth-1 Henry Allen and some alternate version of Jay (perhaps Hunter Zolomon), but — on this show — it could be anyone. (It’s probably not Gorilla Grodd, though.)


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Image via The CW

Which version of Jay Garrick is Zoom?

“King Shark” ended with the reveal that Zoom has a Jay Garrick Face. Ruling out the use of polyjuice potion, it then follows that Zoom is a version of Jay Garrick. Is he Hunter Zolomon, the Jay Garrick from Earth-1? Could he be the Earth-2 Jay Garrick we have gotten to know over the course of Season 2? (And, if so, who was that Jay Garrick who died literally by Zoom’s hand?) Or is he a version of Jay Garrick from another version of Earth? In the multiverse, the possibilities are literally endless.

Why does Zoom need so much speed?

As relevant as it is to figure out which version of Jay Garrick Zoom is, I am even more interested in his motivation — although the two answers are doubtlessly inextricably connected. Zoom has been targeting Barry’s speedster abilities since the beginning of Season 2. But why? We get it: he wants to be faster, but he is already pretty much the fastest dude we know. What could he want the additional speed for? Or is it just that he doesn’t want Barry to have it? Does he have some beef against Barry, like Eobard Thawne did? Basically: what turned Zoom into such a jerk?

Has Zoom been pretending to be on Team Flash?

The reveal that Zoom is Jay Garrick implies that he may have been “undercover” on Team Flash this entire time — or at least gleaning information from the Jay Garrick who died trying to help the others through the multiverse portal. Were any of the Jay Garrick moments we have seen in Season 2 actually Zoom? Asking for a friend… (That friend is Caitlin.)

Is Jay really dead?

Speaking of the version of Jay we all grew to know and love over the course of Season 2, is there any chance he is still alive? He looked pretty dead when Zoom brought him back to his lair. Getting a speedster’s hand to the chest usually does that to a man. But, he did have Velocity-9 in his system, and he was once a speedster, which equates to super healing capability. Is there a chance this version of Jay Garrick is just taking a nap?

Will Wally West join Team Flash?


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Image via The CW

In the comic books, Wally West is Kid Flash. Will we get to see The Flash’s version of Wally West assume the mantel? Right now, that possibility feels very possible, but pretty far away — then again, this show knows how to churn through plot in the best way possible. Perhaps we’ll get to see Kid Flash before the end of Season 2…

Will Wally and Barry ever get along?

Wally’s assumption of the Kid Flash role will most likely bring about a change in his complicated relationship with Barry, but, at the moment, these two are not on the best of terms. Though Joe and Iris want Barry and Wally to have a good relationship, the two have mostly struggled to form a connection. It hasn’t helped that Barry’s attention has been elsewhere. When King Shark attacked the West-Allen residence, it appeared to Wally that Barry took off to hide (when, in actuality, he was becoming The Flash). This did not help Wally’s impression of Barry.

Will Patty Spivot be back?

Patty’s departure from Central City to study forensics at another college left a lot up in the air. She and Barry still have intense feelings for one another. Their goodbye on the train didn’t feel permanent. Is there any chance Patty will be back in Season 2?

What is Gorilla Grodd up to?

When we last saw Gorilla Grodd, he was hanging out in an Earth-2 sanctuary for gorillas who had been experimented upon. Personally, I’m hoping they are forming some kind of telepathic gorilla community — a la Dawn of the Planet of the Apes — that will eventually come into play before Season 2 is over. (Read more here for what EP Andrew Kreisberg said about Grodd's future).

What happened to Killer Frost after she helped Team Flash?


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Image via The CW

One of the best parts of the Earth-2 escapades plot was getting to meet Killer Frost. Though she is nowhere near as compassionate or moral as our Caitlin Snow, she did eventually help Team Flash escape from Zoom’s lair. What were the repercussions for those actions? Is she still alive? And can we expect to see her again before Season 2 is over? I hope so...

Will Cisco harness more of his Vibe powers?

When The Flash ventured to Earth-2, we briefly got to meet Cisco’s Earth-2 doppelganger — and he was super powerful. Will Cisco develop more of his powers this season? The evolution of his character into the Vibe persona has been a steady, but relatively minor subplot so far. Hopefully, it will get to take center stage for at least one episode before the season is over.

Will Caitlin ever have a happy love life?

Can you stop breaking Caitlin’s heart, show? Thanks. It seems unnecessarily cruel that Caitlin has had to say goodbye to the man she loves in the most brutal and shocking ways three times (we’re counting Ronnie twice…) in only one and a half seasons. Frankly, we’re pulling for a miraculous resurrection for Dead Jay Garrick almost exclusively for Caitlin’s sake.

How is Jesse feeling about her new Earth-1 home?

With everything going on in the post-Earth-2 storyline, we haven’t had much time to spend with Harry’s daughter Jesse, but she seems pretty cool. She has taken a months-long captivity and cross-dimensional move very well. In the wake of all of this trauma, she has even managed  help her father with some of his calculations. Hopefully, we’ll get to spend more time with Jesse as Season 2 progresses, and the character will have a chance to work through some of her totally justifiable angst.

Does Jesse have any speedster abilities?


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Image via the CW

In the comics, Jesse Quick has speedster abilities. Though we’ve seen no hint of this so far in The Flash, we do see a female speedster in the promo for the next episode. Could it be Jesse?

Is there something more behind Henry Allen’s absence?

Yeah, we’re still not over the fact that Henry Allen up and left Central City — and his son — just when they had the chance to be together again, following his release from prison. Sure, he came back for a quick pep talk when Gorilla Grodd was in town, but it still feels contrary to character. Is Henry’s extended absence simply a case of behind-the-scenes logistics (John Wesley Shipp isn’t a series regular), or could it be somehow connected to the Zoom plot?

Will we meet other Earth-2 doppelgangers?

The two-part Earth-2 story arc we’ve already gotten this season packed in so many doppelgangers, but there are still versions of Earth-1 characters we’ve yet to meet. Will we be meeting anymore Earth-2 doppelgangers in Season 2? It seems likely and possible. As long as we’re putting in requests, we’d be particularly into meeting some Earth-2 versions of Arrow characters. I’m still pulling for a Villainous Felicity Smoak character.

Will we ever get to see Earth-2’s Atlantis?

The Flash name-drops Earth-2 Atlantis so often. I think we deserve an eventual visit. If this doesn’t happen in Season 2, I will also accept a Season 3 episode set entirely in Atlantis. Thanks in advance, show!

What does Team Flash think of the Legends of Tomorrow?


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Image via the CW

There are many great things about created a shared television universe, but one of the narrative difficulties is in not allowing character who would normally spend more time together — or, at the very least, chat — to act like normal family and friends. Team Flash is besties with Dr. Stein, probably feel some sense of responsibility towards Jax, have a complicated frenemy relationship with Snart, and Cisco is totally in-like withe Kendra. Will we get to hear more about Team Flash’s perspective on the Legends of Tomorrow gang’s crazy, crazy mission? Hopefully.

Will Barry and Iris address their unresolved feelings for one another?

It’s kind of strange that The Flash has so thoroughly eschewed the Iris/Barry romance thus far this season. Sure, it might be kind of realistic — after all, the stakes are high with WestAllen, and Iris is still grieving Eddie — but most TV shows would not go this long without checking in on one of the show’s central ships. Presumably, Barry and Iris’ lingering romantic feelings for one another will come up again, especially in the wake of the realization that Earth-2’s Barry and Iris are married.

One of the overarching themes of this season is the question, first posed by Eobard Thawne in that video message he left for Barry in the Season 2 premiere, is if Barry can be happy in his life as The Flash. This question seems inextricably tied to his relationship with Iris. And if, according to the wise Joe West, “You’re responsible for your own happiness, Barry,” then it is only a matter of time before Barry — and The Flash — bring the WestAllen stuff up once again.

How is Team Flash supposed to get back to Earth-2?


Barry ended “King Shark” by letting Team Flash know that he intended on returning to Earth-2 to take out Zoom. He would not leave the citizens of the multiverse to deal with the terrible repercussions of a problem he feels a responsibility in having created. This is a nice thought, but — having closed all of the portals between Earth-1 and Earth-2 — Team Flash currently has no way of traveling the multiverse. I’m interested in finding out how they solve this problem, especially because one of the overarching themes of this season seems to be the price Team Flash pays for playing the superhero game. What will the cost of crossing over to Earth-2 be this time?

What will the cost of stopping Zoom be?

An even larger, seemingly inevitable question is: What will the cost of stopping Zoom be? The Flash is that rare high-stakes show that doesn’t always let its heroes get away with risking their own lives. The end of Season 1 saw Eddie losing his life to save the world. The beginning of Season 2 saw Ronnie doing the same thing. Playing this superhero game might be morally necessary for the members of Team Flash, but it doesn’t come without a personal cost. Who will pay it come the end of Season 2?

The Flash returns to the CW Tuesday, March 22nd.

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Image via The CW

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Image via The CW
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Image via the CW