The Flash is turning Barry Allen into the Arrowverse's Doctor Strange ahead of "Crisis on Infinite Earths." This year's Arrowverse shows are all about setup for "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which promises to be the biggest crossover DCTV has ever attempted. The assembled heroes will be fighting for the fate of the entire Multiverse, and there have long been hints that Barry Allen will pay the ultimate price.

The Flash season 6 premiere is an important step along the journey to Crisis. The timeline has been changed, and the episode ends with the Monitor appearing in the Time Vault to reveal that the Crisis has moved forward in time. It's no longer due to happen in 2024; now, Barry will disappear forever on December 10, 2019. He's going to need a significant power-up if he has even a chance of survival.

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It seems Team Flash already have an idea in the works. The episode reveals that Cisco has been working on a new device called a "Mental Augmentation Chamber" (MAC), which should give Barry Allen a new ability. In theory, the MAC will allow Barry to use the Speed Force to see every possible outcome of a given scenario at the same time. It's easy to see the attraction this idea holds for Barry Allen; he may be the fastest man alive, but he's frequently been outsmarted by enemies such as the Mad Thinker and Eobard Thawne. No doubt the upcoming Crisis will make Team Flash treat this as an even higher priority. It's amusing to note, however, that Team Flash's strategy is pretty much the same as the one deployed by Doctor Strange in Avengers: Infinity War.

The Flash Eobard Thawne With Cicada’s Dagger Strapped To Chest

When he learned of the threat of Thanos, Doctor Strange used the Time Stone to explore all the possible outcomes of the conflict. He discovered there was only a one in 14 million chance of success; as revealed in Avengers: Endgame, it involved everything from time travel to Tony Stark's sacrifice. The Flash is swapping an Infinity Stone for the Speed Force, but the general idea remains loosely the same.

It will be fascinating to see how the MAC technology plays into "Crisis on Infinite Earths." It's being developed as a response to the disappearance of Nora West-Allen, meaning it's part of the timeline changes. It could well give Team Flash an edge, helping Barry to avoid his fate. Alternatively, with time and space itself in flux due to the Crisis, it's possible visions of the future will prove to be a hindrance rather than a help. That would be a smarter approach for the Arrowverse, because it would essentially subvert Avengers: Infinity War rather than copy it.

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