Warning: Spoilers for The Flash season 8, episode 6
What The Flash season 8 is doing with Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) is creating complications for Firestorm’s impending return. Played by Robbie Amell, the Ronnie Raymond version of Firestorm died in The Flash season 2 premiere. However, the character will be making a return at some point in the show’s current season.
After sacrificing himself to save Central City, Ronnie has made recurring Arrowverse appearances as a Speed Force manifestation, an alternate timeline character, and through flashbacks. Somehow, he’ll be back in The Flash season 8. Reportedly, Amell will reprise his role as the character in two episodes, beginning with episode 11. How it happens hasn’t been confirmed, but Impulse and XS’ story in The Flash season 8, episode 6, titled “Impulsive Excessive Disorder”, provided a possible clue. Their adventure hints that time travel will be vital to what comes next. If that’s the case, accidental changes to the timeline could undo Ronnie’s death and bring him back into the picture as Firestorm.
Ronnie’s return is sure to be a huge shock to the system for his widow, who struggled for quite some time to move on without him. While an appearance from him promises an emotional reunion, confirmation that Caitlin now has a new love interest throws a wrench into things. Killer Frost said at the end of “Impulsive Excessive Disorder” that Caitlin has a new boyfriend named Marcus. The Flash set up the possibility of her entering a new relationship during the Armageddon event when Caitlin said that she wanted to start dating again, and now it’s become a reality. This will naturally become an issue when Ronnie comes back into her life.
For several years on the show, Caitlin has gone without a real love interest, and the series is changing that just in time for Firestorm’s return. The timing of all this is unlikely to be a coincidence. Assuming they’ll be crossing paths, their meeting will force Caitlin Snow to reevaluate old feelings for Ronnie and her relationship with Marcus (a character who has yet to be officially introduced). Regardless of what she decides, having a boyfriend in her life will cause a great deal of tension to develop between her and Ronnie and keep their reunion from being the happy one that it could have been.
If a timeline change that brings Ronnie back isn’t undone and his stay becomes permanent, Ronnie could make additional appearances beyond his two-episode arc and possibly become a long-term love interest for Caitlin again. Or, he could end up taking his own path in the Arrowverse and distance himself from Caitlin as a result of her new relationship. Depending on what sort of role Firestorm has in The Flash season 8, the series has the potential to use his return to help Caitlin move on for good – or accept that she never can.
The Flash releases new episodes on Wednesdays on The CW.