The Flash Hints Iris West Has Had Powers All Along

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Flash season 7, episode 3. 

The Flash hints Iris West has had powers all along. Season 7’s third episode, “Mother,” concluded the Mirrorverse arc. After Barry, who was using the artificial Speed Force at the time, pulled Iris out of the Mirror World, she went into a brief coma and it was unclear when or how she would get out of it in time to defeat Eva McCulloch, the second Mirror Master. However, after waking up, The Flash revealed Iris actually possessed unique abilities that included both Mirror World and Speed Force powers alike. 

As early as The Flash’s pilot episode, Iris was linked to Barry’s powers, which were first activated when he held her hand to his heart. Nearer to the end of season 1, it was confirmed there was a literal spark between them, one that allowed Iris to realize her best friend and the Scarlet Speedster were one and the same. The idea that Iris was metaphorically and physically linked to the Speed Force came full circle in season 7 when Barry, now completely drained of his speed, was able to regain his powers after Iris used the residual Speed Force energy inside her to power a machine that once again struck The Flash with lightning. What’s more, “Mother” also revealed Iris had picked up the ability to control reflective surfaces and mirrors like Eva, which had been hinted at while Iris was still inside the Mirrorverse. 

In just one episode, Iris was able to rejuvenate the artificial Speed Force, which was corrupted by Bloodwork in season 6, in an organic way that didn’t involve a temporary jolt of power. This time, it would be long-lasting. With the addition of the Mirrorverse powers, Iris was once more an active metahuman, with the ability to stop shards of glass from flying at her in her fight with Eva. Iris’s use of her mirror powers was short-lived, but her time inside the Mirrorverse showcased how strong she was to be able to master and harness the manipulation of reflective surfaces in the way that Eva could do beforehand. 

As for Iris’ connection to the Speed Force, one can argue that the reason she was able to briefly obtain speedster powers in season 4 was due to her strong relationship with Barry. While Iris gave Barry back his speed when they could finally switch, it seems the Speed Force energy remained inside of her all this time, dormant until it was reignited through the spark shared between her and Barry. This suggests that, though Barry was the one struck by lightning years before, the love he shares with Iris is so powerful that it allowed her to forge a physical connection with the Speed Force as well. By revealing Iris has always had Speed Force energy, The Flash reinforces the Iris-Barry lightning rod concept first mentioned in season 4 while also establishing she’s always had these powers.

While it seems Iris’s mirror powers were only temporary, it’s possible they could be reactivated at some point in the future. After all, Iris spent too much time in the Mirrorverse for her powers to last for only one episode (even though she’s always been a hero sans powers). Meanwhile, it’s likely that Iris still has Speed Force energy inside of her and that, along with the resulting blast that created a few new cosmic Speed Force forces, proves Iris was the key in more ways than one in The Flash’s conclusion to the Mirrorverse arc. 

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Mae Abdulbaki
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Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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