The Flash: Why Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale) Left the Show | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Wally West / Kid Flash made an electric entrance into The CW's The Flash series during the Season 2 mid-season finale. As the show was expanding into the Flash universe, bringing in more comic characters and plot lines, the introduction of Keiynan Lonsdale as Wally was exciting. He quickly became a beloved character among fans, as Lonsdale gave Kid Flash an energetic and endearing personality. Naturally, it came as a shock to fans when news broke that Lonsdale would be leaving The Flash after Season 4. With the seeming success he had in the role, one would think the actor would want to stay -- but he had other plans.

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Who Was Wally West / Kid Flash?

Wally West was the son of Joe and the late Francine West and the brother of Iris West-Allen. He was raised by Francine in Keystone City. The two didn't have a lot of money growing up, but Wally was always drawn towards cars. He began participating in street races and soon became a champion drag-racer in Keystone. However, he had to go to Central City to keep racing since he no longer had competition in his hometown.

It is here that Wally became the Flash; however, this was in an alternate timeline called Flashpoint. Wally had super abilities, mainly speed, just like Barry Allen. He used his powers to protect Central City. Post-Flashpoint, he regained his superpowers and took on the name Kid Flash. He and Flash teamed up for a time, but, eventually, Kid Flash decided to leave Central City on a soul-searching journey. He ended up at a monastery in China, where he joined the Legends.

Why Keiynan Lonsdale Left The Flash

Keiynan Lonsdale said goodbye to The Flash after Season 4 on good terms. In an Instagram post from 2016, Lonsdale announced his departure, saying, "I love Kid Flash, I love the family I’ve made, [and] I’m absolutely in love with the invaluable lessons I’ve learnt along the way." Lonsdale knew it was time for him to move on. The year preceding his departure announcement was a major one for the actor. After starring in the teen romantic comedy Love, Simon, he spoke out about his sexuality, saying he's attracted to people regardless of their gender and prefers not to use a label.

In the Instagram post, he continued, "I've changed a lot in the past year (as you've probably noticed lol), and for infinite reasons my perspective on life [and] what I want from it now is just completely different. Because of that, my heart told me it was the right time to continue my journey on an unknown path..." Lonsdale was growing personally and professionally and decided to take the opportunity to pursue different ventures, though he did return to The Flash as Wally sporadically in future episodes.

Though Lonsdale made an excellent Kid Flash and fans were sad to see him go, the actor did what was best for him, leaving to follow a new life path. It's not unlike Wally West's self-discovery journey to the Chinese monastery, where the character started a new chapter himself. Both Kid Flash and his actor Lonsdale had fittingly similar ends in The Flash series.

The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanagh. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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