Warning: spoilers ahead for the latest episode of The Flash, called "The Elongated Man Rises."
Fans of The Flash have been wondering for months just what's going on with a certain mystery woman who debuted back in the gigantic "Crisis On Earth-X" crossover. During the first episode of the crossover, Barry had a strange encounter with a young wedding caterer who seemed just a little bit too invested in the nuptials of a pair of people she wasn't supposed to even know. Theories abounded about her possible identity, but there wasn't much to go on. Now, "The Elongated Man Rises" brought her back, and it revealed a major connection to Barry.
The mystery woman (played by actress Jessica Parker Kennedy) turned up out of nowhere at the end of the episode when Cisco and Ralph were bickering over who had to pay for coffee at Jitters. She supplied the cash for their beverages, babbled a bit in a way that was just a little too familiar for a stranger in a coffee shop, then returned to her seat.
The guys noticed that she was a friendly person and Ralph decided not to hit on her, which is probably for the best considering just who she might be. The woman sat down and opened her notebook, which just so happened to be filled with those bizarre symbols that Barry was drawing all over the walls after his big return from the Speed Force. Whoever she is and however she is in the mix is still a mystery, but she obviously has a connection with Barry via the symbols.
The Flash has gone to some lengths to explain a few of Barry's bizarro statements after his return from the Speed Force, but the symbols have remained as much of a mystery as the identity of the woman from the wedding and now Jitters. That said, we have reason to suspect that the symbols might not be entirely connected to the Speed Force. Similar symbols could be found on the Thinker's face (before he switched bodies) and Caitlin's skeezy acquaintance from earlier in Season 4. Unless both of those baddies are also connected to the Speed Force, the symbols may have an entirely different source.
The reveal that the mystery woman has some knowledge of the symbols indicates that it's not just bad guys other than Barry who are connected to them. While we obviously don't know enough about this character to gauge whether or not she's a hero, all signs point toward her as a friend to Team Flash. In fact, if fan theories are character, she's actually family to a few members of Team Flash. She seems quite invested in preserving the lives of Barry and his friends, and her complete lack of surprise at running into Cisco and Ralph at Jitters could point toward her having time travel capabilities, which would fit with her as Barry's daughter or granddaughter. Superspeed and corresponding time travel abilities may well run in the family!
The return of the mystery woman and the symbols points toward more answers sooner rather than later, which bodes well for those of us who have been speculating for months now. Tune in to The CW on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET for new episodes of The Flash. For more superhero action, check out our midseason TV premiere guide.
