WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for "Death of the Speed Force," the latest episode of The Flash, which aired Tuesday on The CW.
In the latest episode of The Flash, "Death of the Speed Force," Wally West returned to Central City with new abilities. In addition to those powers, Kid Flash brought some distressing news: Something is wrong with the Speed Force. Barry, of course, knows all about it, given that he has experienced hiccups with his own abilities lately. The damage, however, was worse than both speedsters could have imagined. When Barry Allen received a power-up from the Spectre during "Crisis on Infinite Earths," the Speed Force became infected.
The latest episode of The Flash lived up to its name when it showed the Speed Force, in the form of Barry's mother Nora, die. Although Barry isn't powerless yet, he soon will be. However, he already has a plan -- to create his own Speed Force.
With all of these developments, we're left to ask whether The Flash still needs the Speed Force, or can the series move on without the concept?
The Speed Force, Then and Now
The Speed Force is an energy that gives Barry Allen and all other speedsters their abilities. In the comics, the Speed Force often manifests as the blur of energy that surrounds The Flash when he runs. It's a void made up of pure electricity through which speedsters can run or even become lost. However, on the television series, the Speed Force has often been depicted in a more grounded manner. When visiting the Speed Force, Barry often sees a version of his world. While there, he has visited replicas of his home, S.T.A.R. Labs and other locations, such as a hospital.
However, the Speed Force is also a sentient entity, and it has reached out to Barry on multiple occasions; in order to talk to him, it has taken the form of his mother. Through his actions, Barry has been an ally to the Speed Force, and its enemy. After tampering with time and creating the Flashpoint reality, Barry spent months willingly confined within the Speed Force.
Essentially, the TV series has used the Speed Force as a storytelling device. Yet, despite all of that, The Flash has never fully grasped the potential hidden inside the powerful energy. The series has scratched the surface, but never truly tapped into it.
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The Other Forces
As important as it is to the mythology of The Flash, the Speed Force is also a gateway to more stories. In the past few years, The Flash comic series revealed there are other Forces, with the Sage, Still and Strength Forces long kept behind a barrier. When they were freed, the forces found human hosts. Just as the Speed Force grants Barry his powers, so too do the other Forces imbue their hosts with abilities.
The addition of these Forces was a massive new layer for the DC Universe, and it's something The Flash TV series could easily adapt. While there is no way of knowing whether we will ever see the Sage, Still and Strength Forces on television, the death of the Speed Force would be the perfect starting point for their arrival. With the Speed Force gone, the others would be free to reach into the world to find hosts. It's the type of overarching plot that would make for an exciting season, and an important reason to keep the Speed Force around.
A New Beginning
After the events of "Crisis on Infinite Earths," The Flash resumed its sixth season with a fresh start. With the creation of Earth-Prime, and the multiverse dead (as far as anyone is concerned), much of the staples of the series could no longer be used. In fact, without the multiverse, The Flash can no longer fall back upon two of its signature tropes, parallel universes and doppelgangers. Without those elements, The Flash has already gone back to basics, as is apparent with the return of Eobard Thawne.
Given all of these changes, the presence of the Speed Force is more crucial now than ever before. Without the multiverse, the series can bring the focus back on the Speed Force, and examine what it is and how it can be used.
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What's more, The Flash is about to go into uncharted territory, with the arrival of the Negative Speed Force and Barry's quest to create an artificial Speed Force. Although the Speed Force has died, it's an event that may have created a renewed focus on it. With a new story that emphasizes on various Speed Forces, now would be the perfect time to deepen Barry's knowledge of the original.
At the end of the day, the Speed Force is the source of Barry Allen's powers, and he needs it if he wants to keep running. Sure, he might find some alternatives for a while, but the real thing needs to return. It's too important to the mythology of the character.
Airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/CT on The CW, The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Nicolet and Hartley Sawyer.