Board Thread:The Flash discussions/@comment-9346948-20160518004647/@comment-2112031-20160518192848

Xandermcc wrote: Diagonally33 wrote: Aggression25 wrote: Wait, couldn't Barry just go back in time by one day and prevent his father's death like he tried to for his mother? If he does it, it will cause 'Flashpoint', where all the even of the earth is different including all DC comic characters. It's hard to explain, google it. It's a comics where the current events have changed because Barry saved his mother. I'm pretty sure saving his dad won't cause massive destruction to the timeline.

Remember, the reason why Barry didn't save his mom is because that is the reason he became the Flash.

What would rescuing Henry do? Why do people keep saying that Barry's mom dying caused him to become the Flash?

It didn't. Being hit by the particle accelerator is what gave him his powers. In the original timeline, in which Nora Allen wasn't killed, Barry still became the Flash, albeit in 2020.

As for rescuing his dad through time travel, we've already seen that time travel has consequences, specifically the Time Wraith. Barry was already pushing his luck when he went back a year to talk to Eobard, so he's unlikely to try again.

It's also been shown in Legends of Tomorrow that time "wants" to happen, as Rip Hunter's attempts to save his family resulted in them dieing anyway in slightly different circumstances.