Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-28265951-20160421125919/@comment-28555794-20160610234445

Kaestal wrote: Eobard neeeded to move inside and around a building rapidly to perform that feat. Basically, run to his secret room, get his RF suit, run to the containment field, and then speed mirage it so it looks like RF is hitting him, when really he might just be punching himself in the face. Well, as it is explained to the audience, and Cisco, yes, this is supposedly how Thawne pulls this off. But I noticed something...

In the S2 Episode where Barry uses speed mirages to take down Linda's doppelganger, those mirages stay completely still. When Thawne demonstrates this ability to Cisco in S1 E-15, his speed mirages also stay completely still.

But look again at the scene in S1E9. After RF "beats" Wells, Joe breaks the containment field controls, then RF runs out, grabs the Tachyon device, and Wells is REACTING! He's breathing, nursing his wounds, and turning his head. And he is STILL lying there when RF takes down the task force! Then when Barry & RF fight outside, Eddie and Joe do not go outside. Presumably, they stay with Wells. One would think that they would say "Let's help this beaten paraplegic man into his wheelchair". I would hope they did that! Otherwise they are very negligent cops. They didn't ask him questions? Like "Hey Wells, are you okay?" A speed mirage can't move or talk back.

A "speed mirage" can't last forever, I'm assuming. And the only two times where we have CLEARLY seen "speed mirages" at work here was when Thawne demonstrates to Cisco in S1 E-15, and then whatever S2 Episode it was when Barry used multiple speed mirages to take down Linda's doppleganger. The mirages stay completely still.

So, with the way you explained it, @Kaestal, that is probably how it officially happened. Obviously the directors and/or cinematographers wanted us to keep guessing how this was all possible. They wanted us to ask questions like "Is Wells the RF who killed Barry's mom that night? Are they 2 different people? Is there another Wells/RF running around?" And therefore it was directed in a way that could make ANYONE think there were 2 completely different people! That was actually my initial guess before Thawne showed Cisco his "speed mirage" ability. I honestly didn't believe it at first! But I guess I'll put the sloppy writing/directing aside and believe it now ;)