Iris Ann West-Allen (née West), is a fictional character in The CW's Arrowverse franchise, first introduced in the 2014 pilot episode of television series "The Flash". The character is based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino. Candice Patton portrayed Iris West-Allen.
In the series, Iris is initially a barista studying journalism, portrayed as a smart investigator, who falls in love with a speedster superhero, nicknamed by her "The Streak," later "The Flash." When she was younger, her father told her that her mother, Francine, died in an accident, but it was turned out she had left her, due to having a drug addiction. She later found out that her childhood best friend, Barry Allen, was The Flash, and went on to work with him and his team in S.T.A.R. Labs, eventually falling in love with him. In the first three seasons, she has the role of only the love interest for the protagonist, but in later seasons she upgraded her role.
Patton appeared as Iris West-Allen in crossovers on the television series "Arrow", "Legends of Tomorrow", "Supergirl", and "Batwoman", all set within the Arrowverse. The character has also appeared in a digital comic book series and tie-ins.
Concept and creation.
Iris West was first introduced in the DC Comics, as a supporting character and the main love interest and later wife of Barry Allen, the alter ego of the Silver Age version of the superhero The Flash, first appearing in "Showcase" #4 on October 4, 1956. On television, she has appeared in various adaptations in other media; the character has been portrayed by Paula Marshall in the 1990 CBS television series as a guest star, in animation she appears in "Young Justice" voiced by Nicole Dubuc. She has also appeared in the animated film ' voiced by Vicki Lewis, next in the animated film ' voiced by Jennifer Hale, and the animated film "", voiced by Ashleigh LaThrop. She has appeared in the live-action film, in the DC Extended Universe's "Zack Snyder's Justice League", portrayed by Kiersey Clemons, who was also supposed to appear in "Justice League", but her scenes were cut.
Characterization.
Candice Patton was cast as Iris West-Allen on The CW show "The Flash", in February 2014. Her casting process was characterized by her, as "surreal", as she auditioned for the role in December 2013, and didn't hear from the production until January of the next year, assuming she wasn't picked. She had also expressed interest in appearing in "Gotham", due to her favorite superhero being Batman. She has mentioned that her character is not based on the comics, but she had studied them to prepare for the role. With her casting she described the character as "passionate" and adding that the triangle between Barry, her, and Rick Cosnett's Eddie Thawne, was "very complicat[ing]". Patton said that she was proud that a black actress was portraying such a significant role, with her being a role model to young people, and normalizing interracial relations, while supporting the decision of race-changing, made by the showrunners. She has described her role as strong, fearless, passionate and emotional, with Iris having strength in vulnerability. She took inspiration from fellow actresses, Halle Berry and Zoe Saldaña, and politician Hillary Clinton, with highliting the fact that Iris is not a side character in the show. Throughout the show, her dressing style changing, showcasing her maturing, and becoming a leader. Patton expressed her view that the scheduling of the show is hard, and every year the storylines are getting bigger and more complex, with her being more nervous everytime the show restarts production, as a resulting, consuming more caffeine than she normally would. The actress also said that during the first three seasons, Iris and Grant Gustin's character were in conflict, and she was happy that their relationship's nature changed afterwards. When asked about how hard was to play a different version of her character, she said that she tried to stay close to the original one, and had to improvize in some instances, with her taking this version as a more tough person and protective over her in-show husband. The moment when her character learnt that its version was married to Barry Allen, she knew she had to show to the viewers that Iris was developing romantic feelings for him. For season 2, she found it interesting that Iris was starting to grow her relationship with her editor, but they were never meant to be together. When asked about her relationship with her fictional brother, Keiynan Lonsdale's Wally West, she responded by saying that "Iris is just going to continue to try to support Wally and help him find his place in the West family. And hopefully try to bridge a relationship between him and Barry. She'll help Wally discover who he really is". For season 4, she said that Iris had a responsibility to take up the role of her husband, after he vanished in the Speed Force, while also being depressed and sad that Barry's gone, as she doesn't know when or if he will return, but also angry, for him leaving her. She also added that her and Barry have no secrets anymore, and Iris is ready to face bigger threats. For the episode Run, Iris, Run, where the character gets Flash's powers, Patton said that "It's a complete role reversal [...] And the team trusting in her and her stepping out from behind the console and being a leader in a different way.", with executive producer Helbing adding that "[She's] using everything she's learned, plus Barry's expertise. But we really wanted to have this dynamic when they flop places where she really gets to know what it's like for Barry when he goes out there, and Barry gets to know what it's like for her". Patton, after watching "Wonder Woman", appreciated the decision of giving powers to Iris even further. For her wedding scene on the crossover event, "Crisis on Earth-X", she picked her wedding dress on her own. For season 5, when asked about its themes, she responded by saying that it is about legacy and family, especially due to the presence of Jessica Parker Kennedy's character, Nora West-Allen / XS. When asked about the CC Citizen, she said that it was made to showcase the leadership skills of Iris, but also to show the power of women. For season 6, Patton has stated that Iris was dealing with the death of Nora, and try to heal, while she has expressed interest into building her relationship with other members of the Team Flash. In 2022, she revealed that she had mood swings on set, due to her lack of vitamin D. Commenting on her absence from four episodes of season 8, she said that when negotiating her contract, she wanted to be able to get back to her home in the United States if the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, and she wasn't able to cross the Canada–United States border. On the fact that "The Flash" was ending with its ninth season, Patton expressed a sense of "release", that such a huge project was over.
Differences from the comics.
The origin story of Iris West-Allen has been somewhat altered for the show, although many writers have taken upon the development of the character throughout its sixty-six years of existence in the comic books. Even in the comics, Iris' origin was re-written once following the Flashpoint reboot of mainline DC Comics continuity. In the Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis continuities of DC Comics Iris was originally from the future and adopted by the West family (although in neither the Post-Flashpoint or the series version of Iris is adopted). Joe West is not her father, her Post/Pre-Crisis (adoptive) father was a physicist named Ira West (although Francine was the first name of her biological mother in Pre-Flashpoint continuity) and her Post-Flashpoint father is named William West. She has two older siblings (who are somewhat significantly older than her) in both Pre-Flashpoint and Post-Flashpoint continuity, Rudy (the father of Wally West) and Charlotte in Pre-Flashpoint and Rudy and Daniel in Post-Flashpoint (the father of Wallace "Ace" West), rather than being Barry's adopted sister and childhood friend. Iris does not have a younger brother named Wallace West, which is instead the names of her two nephews, the older one Wally West is a redhead and the son of her eldest brother Rudy and the younger one Wallace West is the biracial son of her brother Daniel West. Iris is also not African-American and has brown/auburn hair in either continuity. Bart and Nora are not her and Barry's children, with Nora not being a character in the comics and is instead an amalgamation of Barry and Iris' daughter Dawn and their granddaughter Jenni Ognats, Dawn's daughter (though Jenni does use Nora's moniker of XS). Bart is Barry and Iris' grandson and the son of their son Don (Dawn's twin brother), but he does maintain the codename Impulse of his comics counterpart. Iris learned of Barry's identity differently in the comics, with Pre-Flashpoint Iris learning his identity from Barry sleep-talking (though Barry also admitted it to her later on an anniversary) and Post-Flashpoint learned Barry's identity after having glimpses of the past continuity versions of themselves. Currently, the comics iteration of Iris is a reporter and engaged to Barry (due to the many continuity resets of the DC Universe they did gain the memories of their past married selves but due to being chronologically younger, current Barry and Iris are still younger).
Fictional character biography.
In season one, Iris is a barista studying journalism through childhood friend Barry Allen's persuasion. Barry was fostered by her father Joe after his mother Nora was murdered and his father Henry convicted. She begins dating her father's partner CCPD detective Eddie Thawne, while Barry is in a coma after being struck in his laboratory by lightning from the explosion of the S.T.A.R. Labs' particle accelerator. Iris becomes fascinated by a superhuman speedster in Central City known as the Flash and starts a blog documenting his activities. She becomes an investigative reporter for the "Central City Picture News" through her blogging fame. When Barry admits his feelings about her, she is conflicted. She later confesses her love for Barry, but he goes back in time and negates the events of that day. Iris learns that Barry is the Flash after he saves her from Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash. She feels betrayed by Barry for keeping secrets and further upset at her father for conspiring with him. Iris chooses Eddie, and she and Barry decide to let things proceed between them naturally. However, in the final battle, Eddie, who is revealed to be Eobard's ancestor, kills himself to save the Flash and prevent Eobard from being born.
In season two, Iris becomes more involved with the S.T.A.R. Labs team. She learns that her mother is terminally ill and gave birth to a son, Wally, after abandoning her family. She tells her father about Wally, and they meet him at Christmas. Iris forgives her mother on her deathbed and bonds with Wally after she saves his life. Iris reconsiders a relationship with Barry after he breaks up with Patty Spivot, and professes her love to him near the end of the season. After Barry defeats Zoom for killing his father, he and Iris kiss and then he travels back in time to save his mother's life.
In season three, during the alternate Flashpoint timeline, Iris assists Wally who fights crime as the Flash. After the timeline is reset, Iris reconciles with Joe after Barry reveals the changes. She and Barry begin their romantic relationship, but she wonders if she really is needed. Barry reassures her, saying that there would be no Flash without her. Barry and Iris become engaged after an encounter with Music Meister. An alternate future Iris is killed by speedster Savitar, but Barry tries to prevent her murder. Ultimately, H.R. Wells, disguised as her, takes her place for Savitar to kill which changes the future. She, along with Barry, tries to talk down Savitar, revealed to be a future evil time remanent of Barry, but he continues his plan and attacks Barry when it is foiled. Iris shoots Savitar through the back to save Barry.
In season four, Iris takes on a leadership role