From the very start, CW TV series "The Flash" has made it known that it will pay tribute to the 1990s version of the show that aired in CBS for one season which starred John Wesley Shipp in the title role.
Shipp is now portraying Barry Allen's father in the 2014 series. Then, they call up Amanda Pays to reprise her role as Dr. Tina McGee. In its very last episode, Mark Hamill returned to the show for his 90s role the Trickster.
With this pattern, fans can't help but speculate the 2014 and 1990s TV series might be connected. That the next "The Flash" episode guide whether for first or second season, will be about the huge secret of John Wesley Shipp's Henry.
In an interview with Comic Book Resources, "The Flash" executive producer Andrew Kreisberg was asked if there will be a time people will see Barry's dad as the Scarlet Speedster. His answer? "I Don't Know."
"I don't know. At what point do you get so meta that the whole thing collapses?" Kreisberg said.
"I mean look, we're always open to anything and everything. I don't want to sit here and say never and then two years later going, "A-ha, yeah." But we definitely have plans, and everyone who, from the old show, who's been on for us, it really has been a dream. And none of them have -- if it was just a gimmick or like a wink and a nod to the past, I don't think any of them would work."
Kreisberg also explained how Shipp's role as The Flash's father will affect the rest of the story and Barry Allen's quest to find justice.
"And John Wesley Shipp was just such an amazing actor. And Barry's father, it's a pivotal, important role, and you've seen the emotion that that's played out of it. My favorite scenes throughout the season have been those scenes between John and Grant [Gustin], especially that scene at the end of episode twelve where John just as much told Grant that he knew he was the Flash without actually saying it. And that wouldn't have worked if John was just some bad actor who was on a bad show from 20 years ago."
Will fans see the two versions of the "The Flash" TV series get connected? That is something to watch out for.
"The Flash" is currently on a hiatus. It will return next week for the "All-Star Team Up" episode. Read the full "The Flash" episode guide below:
"Barry (Grant Gustin) is surprised when Felicity Smoak (guest star Emily Bett Rickards) arrives from Starling City along with her boyfriend, Ray Palmer (guest star Brandon Routh), who flies in as the Atom. They've come to visit S.T.A.R. Labs as Ray needs help with his suit. Their timing turns out to be fortuitous because it's all hands on deck after a meta human named Brie Larvin (guest star Emily Kinney) unleashes hundreds of robotic bees to attack and kill her former co-workers, including Dr. Tina McGee (guest star Amanda Pays). A group dinner with Barry, Felicity, Ray, Iris (Candice Patton) and Eddie (Rick Cosnett) turns into a disaster."
