One of the popular members of the Flash family who will be making a debut during The Flash Season 2 is Wally West (played by Keiynan Lonsdale). Wally is notable in the comics for fighting alongside Barry Allen as Kid Flash during his early years, and later inheriting the Flash mantle following Barry’s “death” in Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, when we first meet him in the TV series, he’ll just be an ordinary, powerless teenager. But that doesn’t mean he won’t eventually become the speedy hero fans are familiar with.
While talking about the role Wally will play in Season 2 with EW, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg compared Lonsdale’s character to to Roy Harper's pre-Arsenal days during Arrow Season 1 and early in Season 2. In his words:
I would liken Wally coming in to the way we brought on Colton Haynes on to Arrow. Just like with Colton Haynes, who eventually one day put on the Arsenal costume, I wouldn’t be surprised if one day Wally West becomes Kid Flash.
This approach is similar to how Wally’s being handled in the New 52. Currently, Wally is just a normal kid whom Barry is mentoring. He’s nowhere near becoming Kid Flash, although a version of him from five years in the future did gain super speed and travel back in time in The Flash: Futures End #1 (as seen above). The chances of Wally becoming a superhero in The Flash are extremely likely, but we may have to wait a season or two before it happens. As for how Wally would gain his super speed, the comics' Wally got them through the same lightning and chemicals accident that Barry Allen did, but I suspect the series would have a different cause.
Kreisberg also mentioned that Wally’s presence will help with Barry’s maturing and development during The Flash’s Season 2, both as a superhero and a person. The executive producer said:
Suddenly introducing him to a bit of a wayward kid who has some attitude problems and some authority issues and is quick with a sassy remark — all of which is very Wally West — and then watching Wally integrate into S.T.A.R. Labs universe, but also just the world of these characters, is going to be a lot of the fun of the back half of the year.
Wally won’t be the only speedster from the comics making a debut during The Flash Season 2. Other new heroes this season will include Earth 2’s Flash Jay Garrick (played by Teddy Sears), and Jesse Quick (played by Violett Beane), although like Wally, the latter may not get her powers right away. Unfortunately, they all will have to contend with the mysterious demon-like speedster Zoom, who will be voiced by Tony Todd.
The Flash Season 2 will premiere on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 p.m. EST on The CW.
