The Flash: Time Travel, Multiverse, and the Consequences of Altering History

 

In the movie "The Flash," Barry Allen discovers he can travel back in time and change events. He wants to save his mother, who was murdered when he was young. However, when he alters the past, it creates a new timeline that threatens to destroy the world.

The movie is based on a comic book storyline called Flashpoint. Barry's ability to time travel and visit other universes is shown in the film. He uses the Speed Force, the source of his powers, to access different timelines and alter events. But when he returns to the present, the outcomes are not always predictable.

Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe's linear multiverse, the DC multiverse is complex and intertwined. Changes made by Barry affect not only the present and future but also past events. Barry tries to prevent his mother's murder by placing a can of tomatoes in her grocery cart, but it leads to unexpected changes throughout the new timeline.

While searching for Bruce Wayne, Barry encounters an alternate version of Batman played by Michael Keaton instead of the one he knows as Ben Affleck. This is an example of an unexpected change caused by Barry's actions. The movie explains that the multiverse is like tangled spaghetti, with intersections where certain events cannot be changed.

Barry discovers that these intersections, or "intersectional inevitabilities," cannot be altered no matter what he does. He realizes he can't save his mother without risking the destruction of the entire universe.

The movie features three main timelines. The first is the familiar DC timeline where Barry's mother is killed, and his father is wrongly convicted. The second timeline is created when Barry saves his mother, but it alters the entire universe and removes important superheroes. The third timeline is created when Barry accepts his mother's death and ensures his father's release.

In summary, "The Flash" introduces the concept of the DC multiverse and alternate timelines as Barry Allen tries to change history. His actions have unintended consequences, and he learns that certain events are fixed and cannot be altered. The movie explores the complexity of the multiverse and the importance of accepting fate.