'The Flash' Teases An Emotional Return

I've noticed that The Flash just loves to bring back its dead characters, only to rip open the gaping wound in my heart even further. As if resurrecting Ronnie Raymond — or technically, Deathstorm — wasn't enough, the preview for next week's episode reveals that Eddie Thawne is coming back to The Flash , too. And, it looks to be on this earth. Well, Earth-1.

But, how exactly is the very dead Eddie back and looking very alive? Time travel, of course! At least, that's what Wells is leading us to believe when he rattles on about traveling back in time to a decidedly off-looking Barry. And by "off-looking" I mean, sort of... devious? I don't know, man. A non-altruistic Barry freaks me out. Oh, and then there's the Pied Piper being back and the whole Harry Potter reference thrown in there, because apparently there's a death eater thing wreaking havoc.

Don't worry, though. Comicbook.com posted The CW's episode synopsis for "Flash Back," which helps explain Eddie's return much more than the preview. It seems Barry has a good reason for messing with the time/space continuum, yet again.

Desperate to find a way to increase his speed, Barry decides to travel back in time and masquerade as his earlier self in order to get his arch-nemesis, Dr. Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne (Tom Cavanagh), to teach him how to run faster. However, things don’t go as planned and Barry is stunned to face familiar foe Hartley Rathaway (guest star Andy Mientus), as well as old friend Eddie Thawne (guest star Rick Cosnett)

You can watch the full preview below, and just keep the context of that episode summary in mind if you want to understand what's actually happening.

Prepare yourselves for this cruel Eddie tease with some tissues. "Flash Back" is not going to be an easy episode of The Flash to digest.

Image: Cate Cameron/The CW