Plot

Barry is shocked when Eobard Thawne returns in the most unexpected way, and with a tie to a loved one. Damien Darhk offers advice to Barry but there is a catch. An epic battle begins with The Reverse-Flash against The Flash and Team Flash.

Barry is shocked when Eobard Thawne returns in the most unexpected way; Damien Darhk offers advice to Barry, but there is a catch; an epic battle begins with Reverse Flash pitted against The Flash, Team Flash, Batwoman, Sentinel and Ryan Choi.

Central City: 2031

At the West Party, Ryan and Iris discuss Ryan having a baby. Iris tells Ryan that her heart will figure out how to have a baby. Cecile come over and talks about her daughter Jenna, and Allegra joins them. Chester comes over and asks Allegra how London was, clearly nervous around her. She says that she might be moving back to the stated and she has a job offer in Gotham, but hasn't decided yet.

Eobard calls for everyone's attention and offers a toast to Iris and Fate. He declares Iris the love of his life, and everyone joins in. Barry comes in and Ryan wonders what he's doing there, Eobard tells Barry that he has a lot of nerve showing up there, and Barry figures that it's been Eobard the whole time. Iris calls Barry a murderer, and Cecile empathically confirms that Barry believes the things he's saying. Barry puts on his costume and discovers that it's the Reverse-Flash's costume, and asks Eobard what he's done. Eobard tells Barry that he's not Flash, dons his Flash costume, and says that he's Flash.

Barry and Eobard face off, and Eobard tells Team Flash to suit up. Iris draws an energy gun, the rest of the guests suit up, and Eobard throws a lightning, knocking Barry into a table full of presents. Barry yells to the others that Eobard is tricking them, and he came there from 2021. Iris says that they're not falling for his mind games "this time", and Eobard throws another lightning bolt that Barry dodges at superspeed. He throws a bolt back, and Ryan shrinks Eobard out of the way and then enlarges him back to normal size.

Barry punches Eobard, and Sentinel immobilizes Barry with a paralysis ray from her weapon. He asks why she's attacking him, and Batwoman and Sentinel attack Barry. They say it's for Ray and Nate and Sara, and Allegra blasts him with UV rays and says she's attacking for Cisco. Iris goes to Eobard and checks on him, and Barry speeds Iris out and Eobard goes after them. Frost and Mark come back in and ask what they missed.

Stopping with Iris at their loft, Barry insists that he's Flash and Eobard isn't. He figures that Eobard changed the timeline, and says that it's their home. Barry reminds her of Nora and Bart, and Iris tells him to stop talking. She says that Barry is psychotic, and Eobard runs in, grabs Barry, and takes him out to a nearby alley. He tells Barry that Iris is his lightning rod now, and says that he created a Reverse-Flashpoint. Eobard sabotaged STAR Labs and then killed Joe, and after their last encounter he realized that the only way to defeat Barry was to become him.

Eobard explains that he ran back to the year 2013 and made sure he was the one struck by lightning, formed Team Flash, made sure that Iris fell in love with him, and stole Barry's life. He created Barry as his nemesis, wore Barry's face, and attacked the city making everyone think that Barry had gone berserk. Eobard made everyone think Barry was crazy, crazy enough to beg Jeff to take his speed. When Barry says that Eobard has done creates Armageddon, Eobard insists that he created a perfect world and wouldn't do it just to watch it die. The only thing set to expire is Barry, and he killed Barry as a child.

Barry punches Eobard but discovers that he's insubstantial. Eobard says that at midnight, his timeline will solidify and Barry will cease to exist. The Speed Force won't help Barry because it chose Eobard in the new timeline, and Iris chose him, and Eobard boasts that he finally won. He blasts Barry down with lightning.

As Barry recover, the police approach. Barry speeds off before they can arrive.

At Jitters, people watch a newscast about how protesters gathered earlier outside of Damien Darhk's penthouse demanding justice. Barry is in his civilian clothing, trying to keep a low profile, as the newscaster says that Damien was recently released from Iron Heights on a technicality, was convicted six months ago for the murder of Cisco, Ray, and the Legends. Meanwhile, Damien's accomplice Reverse-Flash is still at large.

Damien is at his penthouse, and Barry speeds into see him. The villain cheerfully greets Barry as his old partner, and Barry says that he needs Damien's help again. Damien realizes that Barry is running low on speed, and Barry says that he wants payback against Eobard Barry says that he fought Eobard and won, but Eobard ran back in time and changed things so that he won and they lost. When Barry tries to stop Eobard, Eobard took his speed. Damien warns that fixing things won't be easy, and they'll need to turn everything back at the same time so they'll need the PED: the Particle Eradication Distributor, that erases any type of matter and that Barry took from Ray.

Barry plays along, but Damien notices his ignorance of the PED but dismisses it as Barry being darker than him. Damien says that if they combine the PED with his Time Stone, any anachronisms will be erased. He smiles and says where the PED ended up.

At STAR Labs, Cecile tells Team Flash, Ryan, and Alex that she can't sense Barry anymore, and Eobard tells her to try harder. He quickly softens his tone when the others notice it, and Allegra wonders if Barry has gone crazy thinking that he's Flash. Eobard says that there's no explaining a sociopath, and asks Chester where they are with the satellites. Chester reports that it looks like Barry is running on limited speed, and thus lower tachyon output making him harder to track. Eobard suggests that they sync Atom's bracelet that Ryan is wearing and used earlier, to the satellites. He gives the others their assignments, and suggests that Iris should be at home resting up for their wedding. Iris points out that Barry called her his "lightning rod", and Eobard says that Barry is attacking their love, and they can't let him pull them apart. They both say that Barry won't.

Alex goes off with Allegra, and asks what's going on with her and Chester. Allegra finally says that the two of them linked up ten years ago, but it went nowhere. Nothing ever came of it, but Chester left her and they later decided that it was better they be friends. A voice tells them goodbye, and telekinetically slams them into the wall , knocking them unconscious.

Chester and Ryan are in the lab, making some last-minute tweaks to the tachyon-detection equipment. They finish and detect negative tachyons in the room. Barry drops his vibrational invisibility shield, and Damien magically chokes Ryan and Chester. He tells Barry to find the PED, and Barry finds it in hidden in Chester's pinball machine. Cecile comes in, using Psycho Pirate's mask to enhance her powers, and she catches Damien and Barry off-guard. Damien magically blasts her back, and Barry discovers that he's turning insubstantial. Damien says that they should kill Eobard's friend,

Barry speeds Damien back to his penthouse and says that killing the others wouldn't be efficient, and they can kill them later. Damien figures that Barry isn't the Reverse-Flash he knows. He telekinetically grabs Barry's throat and asks who he really is, and Barry tells him the truth. Damien releases his grip, admires Eobard's plan, and says that he's still the bad guy and isn't going to help Barry. Barry reminds him that he's a father and knows what it's like to love his daughter. Damien says that Nora is dead, and Barry says that Nora is alive in his timeline, and Damien gave his life to save Nora. Touched, Damien gives Barry his Time Stone and shares Barry's memories of Nora. Damien realizes that what Barry is saying is true, and agrees to help Barry.

Batwoman, who has been searching the city for Barry, returns to the loft and tells Iris that there's an emergency in Gotham that she has to leave to deal with. She gives Iris a Velocity-Zero gun that will temporarily disrupt Barry's connection to whatever Speed Force he's using. Iris says that what Barry said to her reverberates, and Ryan gives Iris the same advice to think with her heart that Iris told her earlier. Ryan and Sophie are going to adopt, and promises to get Iris away if Iris still has doubt about marrying Eobard.

Ryan and Chester work in the lab, and Alex comes in and asks Chester why he ghosted Allegra ten years ago. Chester says that he left to get coffee and muffins, but when he came back Allegra was gone. They were attacked by the Legion of Doom, and afterward he tried to talk to Allegra but she said their night together was a huge mistake, and they were better off as friends. Chester goes out to get some air, and Ryan says that he's finally convinced Chester that he is better off alone. Alex tells Ryan that one day he's going to realize he's missing the best part of being human and leaves.

At the penthouse, Barry says that he'll have to hit Mach 20 to open a time portal, and he'll need a 40,000 mile head start. Damien suggests that Barry use the entire planet, and Barry warns that the pressure he'd exert on Earth's molten core would be cataclysmic, and cause Armageddon. He'd have to risk destroying the planet, just as Despero predicted.

Damien tells Barry that he has to do it, but Barry explains that he'll only have two minutes to run before he destroys the world. The odds of him succeeding are only 2%, and he won't be responsible for killing everyone. Damien says that Barry is the paragon of love, and love is guiding both of them right now. Damien says that he'll sacrifice his life out of love to bring Nora back, and Barry fights for his teammates out of his love for them. All that matters is Barry remembering what he and Iris had.

At STAR Labs, Ales confronts Allegra and tells her that Chester loves her, and asks why Allegra cut Chester off. Allegra says that everyone's she's loved has left her, and she knew that Chester loved her so she freaked out and pushed him away. Alex says that putting one's self out for love is scary, but worth it. Allegra wonders what happens if she loses Chester, and Ryan comes in and tells Allegra that she'll never know unless she tries. He tells Alex that he doesn't love love because nothing scares him more than putting his heart out there. Ryan doesn't wake up alone, and tells Allegra that Chester needs Allegra. They're interrupted by Chester on the loudspeaker, saying that he has a hit on Barry..

Barry speeds into the loft and tells Iris that he just wants to talk. She draws the Velocity-Zero gun on him and notices that he's phasing and out. Barry tells Iris that he came there because he's about to do something impossible. Eobard speeds in, says that Iris loves him, and tells her to say it or just shoot Barry. Barry tells Iris that he loves her, and Iris shoots Eobard. She tells Barry to go before she changes her mind.

Barry meets Damien on the street, and he tells Barry that he'll deal with the others if they come to point of origin. He warns Barry that Barry has two minutes to reach Mach 20 and opens a temporal portal. Barry thanks Damien and offers his hand. Damien shakes it and tells Barry to go.

At STAR Labs, the team track Barry as he speeds around the planet. Barry's speed wake is causing the planet to tear itself apart, and they figure Barry is trying to kill them all. Ryan tells Allegra that now would be the time to say something, then leaves with Alex to help Frost and Mark. Eobard closes in on Barry, while Frost and Chillblaine attack Damien. Damien's powers don't work on them because of a protection spell that Constantine gave them, and Damien holds them off in hand-to-hand.

Allegra tells Chester that she loves him, and he says that he loves her. They kiss, as Caitlin looks on.

Through their link, Damien tells Barry to focus. The two heroes use their ice powers on Damien, who deflects the blast back and knocks them flying. When Damien summons a sword to kill them, Ryan arrives in his new Atom cost6um and increases the density on the sword a thousandfold. Sentinel touches Damien and shocks him unconscious, and the city starts collapsing.

Eobard tells Barry that he's too late, but Barry remembers his love for Iris and calls to her. At the loft, Iris looks out the window and hears Barry, She says that she loves him, and Barry speeds away from Eobard and opens the time portal.

Central City 2021

At STAR Labs, Despero has tied up the team and asks Cecile where Flash is. She says that she doesn't know, and Despero says that he believes her and prepares to psychically kill her. Despero is overwhelmed by temporal backlash, and a wave of temporal energy washes through the room. Flash arrives in his original costume, and tells Despero that he went to the future. He tells Despero that someone manipulated the timeline to drive him insane, and to fix it he had to start Armageddon. Barry tells Despero that the alien left 231 before Armageddon, so Despero didn't know that Eobard was trying to stop Barry from restoring the timeline. Iris' love helped Barry r3econnect to the Speed Force and now the future's safe.

Despero's senses confirm that the world is safe, but the true reason still remains to be seen. Flash tells him to go to 2031 and see for himself. Despero grows to his giant form and says that if he sees the world of 2031 is still in danger, he'll come back and kill Flash.

Later, the team gather in the lounge to celebrate. Barry comes in and speeds over to hug Iris, and she asks where it's coming from. He tells her that he'll explain later, and just wants to be there with everyone. Iris calls Joe, and Barry takes the phone and talks to his adoptive father.

In the Time Vault, Reverse-Flash appears and vows that he will change what's about to happen... and Gideon will help him.