Barry Allen and his wife, Iris West-Allen, may describe themselves collectively as The Flash, but in an upcoming episode of the superhero series, it'll be Iris who dons the costume and tackles the villain, when a new meta transfers Barry's super speed to his other half.
In episode 16 of Season 4, titled "Run, Iris, Run," Iris (Candice Patton) will have to suit up and confront Melting Pot (guest star Leonardo Nam) who has the ability to swap people's DNA, while Barry (Grant Gustin) is forced to take a backseat and act as team leader from the safety of STAR Labs -- a switch we're guessing he won't be too thrilled about.
The CW has released a first look at Iris in her new speedster costume -- check it out below:
The Flash
DC Comics fans may have noticed that the costume's purple and white color scheme is reminiscent of three other DC heroes: the Tornado Twins, aka Don and Dawn Allen, Barry and Iris' son and daughter; and XS, aka Jenni Ognats, Barry and Iris' granddaughter
And we might have already met Dawn or Jenni in Season 4 -- Jessica Parker Kennedy has made two appearances as a mystery woman who seems very invested in Barry and Iris' relationship, first appearing as a waitress at their wedding and later showing up at Jitters in "The Elongated Knight Rises."
Could Iris' brush with the Speed Force help uncover the identity of Kennedy's enigmatic character? And if Dawn or Jenni are involved in Season 4, does that mean The Flash might be heading into the future sometime soon, since both characters have connections with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who have already been introduced on Supergirl? For that matter, could the show be toying with giving Iris powers permanently, since the series has always struggled with writing her meaningful storylines outside of her relationships with Barry, Joe and Wally? We'll find out when The Flash returns with new episodes next week.