It’s always been about the legacy. DC Comics has had a “Flash” prominently playing a significant role in every age. As the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick set the standard and lead the charge against Nazi forces that threatened to destroy freedoms and democracy. As the Silver Age dawned a new speedster would find inspiration in Garrick’s adventures and follow in his boots. Central City CSI, Barry Allen would embody everything that we’ve come to know is a true hero, and he would himself inspire several generations, including Wally West to assume the mantle.

On The CW’s live-action series The Flash starring Grant Gustin the themes of family and legacy have always played a significant role in the show’s narrative, including literally with the series’ casting. Actor John Wesley Shipp portrayed the character of Barry Allen in the 1990 CBS original run of The Flash and joined the cast of the 2014 series playing Henry Allen, Barry’s father. Eventually, he would also be revealed as the “real” Jay Garrick (from Earth-3) and during the epic “Crisis on Infinite Earths” 5-part crossover, Shipp would reprise his role as Barry Allen/The Flash of Earth-90 and saved the multiverse.

With the multiverse rebooted and post-crisis Earth-Prime “cooling” so-to-speak, the family has once again emerged at the center of The Flash story this season as Barry learned that he and Iris have inadvertently given birth to exterior forces that could have threatened the natural order of the Speed Force. Fortunately, Team Flash prevailed and saved the day, but it wouldn’t be The Flash if there wasn’t another threat looming around the corner — in fact, later this season The Flash family is going to experience a growth spurt when Bart Allen drops into Central City.