The Flash Season 4: 7 Theories On How Barry Allen Will Return

7. He Doesn't (At Least For A While)

Before we get onto the ways that he could come back, let's for a moment entertain the idea that, hey, maybe Barry is actually stuck in the Speed Force for the foreseeable future.

Now, obviously I don't believe for a second that Grant Gustin is going to disappear from the show. Yes, Wally West was the Flash for a long time in the comics, but the TV show belongs to Gustin. Not to mention the fact that we 100% know that the actor is still on board next year.

It is, however, possible that he could be absent for at least a few episodes at the start of the year. There are enough characters inhabiting STAR Labs at the moment that we probably wouldn't miss Barry for a few weeks and there could be lots of drama and entertainment to be had from the gang trying to protect Central City without him. Specifically, it could grant Wally some much-needed character development, as he would have to step out of Barry's shadow.

Season 3 got a lot of flak from fans for setting up something as massive as Flashpoint and then dispensing with it within a single episode. Maybe The Flash's writers have taken that on board and will keep the 'Barry in the Speed Force' storyline going on for a while.