The Flash: 8 Unpopular Opinions About Reverse-Flash, According To Reddit - Screen Rant

The Flash has featured a number of supervillains since the show began, but few are as memorable as the Reverse-Flash. As Barry's first and arguably worst nemesis, it's no surprise the show is almost centered on him. He orchestrated major events that led to Barry becoming the Flash, and no matter how he's defeated, he always finds a way to come back.

Despite his excellence as one of the most powerful villains on The Flash, Reverse-Flash's relentless returns have become a source of frustration for some fans. That and a few other things about the villain, such his motivations and true intentions, are the subjects of many heated debates among fans on Reddit.

8 He's An Overused Villain

Tom Cavanagh as Reverse-Flash on The Flash

Barry's story as the Flash began with the Reverse-Flash from season 1. After the reveal that Thawne/Wells was Reverse-Flash, he became one of Barry's worst foes, and he kept returning to the show as the seasons progressed. Some fans, including Reddit user YourBoyJaden31 feel that he's returned too many times for it to be logical and said "they're overusing Thawne."

Apart from season 1, in which he was a major part of the storyline, Reverse-Flash has returned only a handful of times, including his latest appearance in season 7. However, because of his popularity and the impact he has on the show and its storylines, it's understandable that some fans feel like they've seen too much of the character.

7 He Should Die

As the Flash's arch-rival, it's understandable that some fans want to see Reverse-Flash defeated once and for all. Reddit user ImOnReddit18 shared an a particularly intense take on this, writing, "At this point, he needs to die and they can bring in a new villain."

It's an unpopular opinion because, while Reverse-Flash's random appearances can be frustrating for some fans, killing him off now might rob the audience of a satisfying conclusion to his arc. The Flash hasn't provided some much-needed insight into the character, his origin, and his motivations.

6 He's Less Menacing Than Zoom

Reverse-Flash with glowing red eyes on The Flash

In a discussion on Reddit, some fans agreed that season 2 of The Flash was better than season 1. Reddit user Icepickthegod said, "Zoom was more menacing than Reverse-Flash," and pointed out that season 2 used the same formula as season 1 but improved on it and made Zoom a better villain than Reverse-Flash.

The Flash's fans on Reddit have lots of opinions about which villain is the greatest enemy on The Flash. In general, speedsters like Zoom and Reverse-Flash are fan favorites because they have similar powers to Barry and are thus on equal footing. Zoom's black mask looked scarier and more menacing, but Reverse-Flash's red eyes and low voice were terrifying too. Judging which villain is better divides viewers.

5 His Constant Appearances Aren't Annoying

The Reverse-Flash with his hood off on The Flash

A few fans enjoy Reverse-Flash's constant reappearances. Reddit user BusiestWolf said they don't mind the character and commented, "His whole arc in the comics is to be constantly reoccurring so it's on brand."

A big part of Reverse-Flash's story on The Flash and in the comics is how, after every defeat, he finds his way back to the present day in Central City. While the reappearances might be a bit much for some viewers, he always comes with a fascinating new story and a challenging new threat that makes the season more exciting. His latest battle with Barry against Godspeed in season 7 is just one example.

4 Matt Letscher As Reverse-Flash > Tom Cavanagh

The Flash season 8 Villain return Eobard Thawne Reverse Flash

Matt Letscher, who played the real Eaobard Thawne before he took over Harrison Wells' (Tom Cavanagh) identity, appeared a couple of times on The Flash and made quite an impression on some fans as the Reverse-Flash. Reddit user Dulek_Zax_Chf shared their unpopular opinion that Letscher was more convincing in the role than Cavanagh and said, "The pipeline conversation in the latest episode where he's threatening the team didn't feel that scary compared to when Matt Letscher Thawne was the one threatening Flash."

Many fans applaud Tom Cavanagh for his portrayal of the many members of the council of Wells as well as the Reverse-Flash, so this view comparing him with Matt Letscher is quite controversial. However, considering Cavanagh's many appearances as the Reverse-Flash, it's understandable that he might not seem as menacing these days as he was when he first appeared.

3 Reverse-Flash Should Be Called Flash

Reverse-Flash and Flash standing together in STAR Labs

While sharing unpopular opinions about the Arrowverse, Reddit user BestAtTeamworkMan shared an interesting one about the nomenclature of the Flash and Reverse-Flash. They said, "If Reverse-Flash came first, then he's just the Flash." They further explained that Thawne created the Flash with the particle accelerator explosion.

The view is an interesting one, although some explanations of Reverse-Flash's powers are that he uses the negative speed force, which he generates himself and which is opposite to Barry's, hence the name.

2 He Was Better In Legends Than Flash

After his defeat on The Flash, Reverse-Flash made an appearance in another part of the Arrowverse on DC's Legends Of Tomorrow. Despite his brief appearance there, some fans felt that he had a better presence on that show than on The Flash. As user superman6262 said, "Reverse-Flash was better in Legends than the Flash."

On Legends, Reverse-Flash had similar motivations as he had on The Flash, namely to change time by rewriting reality and escape the paradox of his existence, as Eddie Thawne had effectively erased him from the timeline. His storyline was a little more intriguing because it was packed into a shorter time, unlike his constant reappearances on The Flash.

1 He Was The Only Good Thing About Season 7

Season 7 of The Flash had a different format from most of the previous seasons and was filled with various storylines and characters such as the forces and the return of Nora West-Allen. Some fans weren't happy with much that season 7 tried. While discussing it, Reddit user stragermars_0801 wrote, "The only good thing about this whole season was Thawne."

The Reverse-Flash's appearance was a monumental one, but there were plenty of other events throughout the season that made it good, from the touching goodbye of the council of Wells to Impulse's addition to the Flash family. There was also the long-awaited emergence of Godspeed, whose appearance on The Flash was long-foreshadowed.

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Tricia Mawire (108 Articles Published)

Tricia is a List Writer for Screen Rant with a background in creative writing and a love for all things film and TV. She fell in love with reading at the age of 10 after discovering that her favorite movie, Matilda, was based on a novel. That led to her first in-depth analysis of literary work to her mom and anyone who'd listen. If she's not reading or writing stories with crazy plot twists, she's bingeing a new series and ranting about character arcs and plot holes. Or she's eating French fries.