The Flash season 1, episode 17, “Tricksters,” featured Mark Hamill and a major reveal about Harrison Wells. We look at our top moments from the episode.
In The Flash season 1, episode 17, “Tricksters,” Mark Hamill reprised his role from the original Flash series as James Jesse, the Trickster, and Joe and Barry brought Eddie in on the secret of Barry’s identity so he could run interference with Iris and help them investigate Wells.
Meanwhile, flashbacks revealed that Harrison Wells was not the original Reverse Flash. In fact, the real Eobard Thawne, after killing Nora Allen, discovered he was unable to travel back to the future. In order to get back to his own time, he caused a car accident that killed Tess, Wells’ wife. He then stole Wells’ appearance and killed him in order to expedite the launch of the particle accelerator.
Related: The Flash season 1, episode 17 postmortem
We look at our top five moments from the episode.
‘Star Wars’ Easter egg
The Flash writers didn’t waste their opportunity to throw in all kinds of Easter eggs from Hamill’s run on the original Flash series, including photos and his actual lair. But that wasn’t Hamill’s only project they played homage to; in a hilarious twist, James Jesse reveals to the copycat Trickster that he sought him out and cultivated his skills because Luke, I am your father they are related.
Too funny.
Barry phases through matter
Wells/Thawne talks Barry through vibrating at the correct frequency to pass through a wall in order to lose the bomb attached to his wrist. Phasing through matter is one of the Flash’s comic book abilities, and it’s been interesting to watch Barry grow into his powers as a speedster as the freshman season of The Flash goes on.
We’ll be excited to see what Barry learns next!
Eobard Thawne becomes Harrison Wells
The biggest reveal of “Tricksters” was that Harrison Wells was not originally Eobard Thawne. Rather, after Nora Allen’s murder, Eobard Thawne discovered he was stuck in the present time. Realizing his best way home lay in the particle accelerator, he stole Wells’ appearance and took his identity.
There have been numerous teases this season that audiences would never guess the truth behind Wells/the Reverse Flash… and, despite fan skepticism, it turns out they were right. This was a huge shocker.
Barry reveals his identity to Henry
While this wasn’t a completely new revelation, as Henry already knew his son was the Flash, there is such a look of pure joy and awe on both Barry’s and Henry’s faces when Barry takes his mask off that it’s infectious. Henry is so proud of his son, and Barry is excited to show this off to his father. Their relationship is one of the cornerstones of the show, and this moment is a testament as to why.
Barry reveals his identity to Eddie
This scene runs in complete contrast to Barry revealing his identity to his father. The look of pure joy on Barry’s face is transformed into dead seriousness, and Eddie’s face is full of shock rather than pride. This is a complex, messy situation with the intricacies of the Barry/Eddie and Eddie/Flash dynamics, which have at times been adversarial, coming together.
Now will someone please tell Iris? This is getting ridiculous.
The Flash returns with new episodes on Tuesday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW.