The Flash season 8 is set to include more of Rick Cosnett than originally planned, as the season 1 cast member will be featured for several episodes. As The Flash has been running for almost a full decade, multiple characters have joined and left the series since 2014. One of the first characters to leave was Eddie Thawne, played by Cosnett, who had family ties to Eobard Thawne, a.k.a. the Reverse-Flash (Tom Cavanagh.) However, in a surprise twist during The Flash season 1 finale, Eddie shot himself to make sure that Eobard would never be born.
Even though the villainous speedster has managed to come back several times, Eddie has remained dead ever since. Luckily, being dead doesn't restrict the Arrowverse in bringing back past cast members, either through flashbacks or as doppelgangers. In Cosnett's case, the Australian actor has made some guest spots since Eddie's passing in The Flash season 1. Despite the DC drama having numerous timeline changes, Eddie's death has always remained intact. However, Cosnett was announced earlier this season to come back in another guest appearance, but it turns out that The Flash has more in store for the fallen Thawne.
Deadline has now reported that Cosnett is set to appear in a multi-episode arc that will be at least three episodes. The Flash season 8, episode 6 titled "Impulsive Excessive Disorder," will be Cosnett's first appearance, but as part of a flashback story. It was also revealed that his multi-arc will include an "unconventional way" for the character's reintroduction. Cosnett will reportedly be "embodying" other characters, although showrunner Eric Wallace would not confirm that. While The Flash season 9 is close to becoming a reality, it appears they may be leaving the door open for him to recur next year. Wallace shared his excitement in the following statement:
“Rick’s been such a fantastic part of our Flash family since S1. And we have been looking for ways to bring him back to the show ever since. Fortunately, we’ve been able to do so now in Season 8. And Rick has been fantastic in bringing an exciting new side to his portrayal of ‘Eddie Thawne’ that both honors the character’s past, but also takes it somewhere unexpected.”
Due to Impulse and XS's return in "Impulsive Excessive Disorder," time travel may play a role in how The Flash season 8 includes Cosnett for those episodes. With Wallace's comments on honoring Eddie's past but also doing something unexpected, it sounds like it may be more than just embodying other players. In one way or another, this arc seems to be the plot where Barry Allen and some version of Eddie will be on opposite sides. When initially cast, many always thought Cosnett would be the Reverse-Flash, which ended up being Cavanagh's role instead.
It wouldn't be out of the question for The Flash season 8 to somehow end Cosnett's arc with a proper resurrection for Eddie. Given that Crisis on Infinite Earths gave the Arrowverse a soft reboot, they have an organic way to alter Eddie's fate in The Flash season 1 and perhaps reveal he was alive this whole time. As powerful as Eddie's sacrifice was, it always felt like The Flash had some stories left to tell with the character. When The Flash season 8 resumes on Wednesday, March 9, fans will definitely want to make sure to tune in for "Impulsive Excessive Disorder."
Source: Deadline