The Flash’s Phasing Powers Explained

Would it truly be a “Flash” movie if it didn’t involve some seriously wacky, universe-threatening mayhem? Unfortunately, that ended up ringing uncomfortably true with the real-life controversy surrounding star Ezra Miller’s actions after filming was completed. But within the constraints of the script itself, Barry’s efforts to travel back in time and prevent the death of his mother Nora (Maribel Verdú) and his father Henry (Ron Livingston) has unintended consequences on the entire multiverse, ultimately dumping him in the path of his younger, alternate self — one who promptly experiences his own lightning-induced origin story at the lab, but at the cost of our Barry’s abilities. Thus begins a complicated and comedic dynamic that involves teaching the younger Barry how to control his newfound superpowers.

Chief among his new responsibilities is mastering the art of phasing. We first see our main universe Barry use this power when he invites his crush Iris West (Kiersey Clemons) over to his apartment and realizes he’s short on drinks. Having already used his super-speed to clean things up a bit (or attempt to, at least), he resorts to phasing through the wall to head out and grab some beer. When it’s time to impart his knowledge upon the younger and more inexperienced Barry, hijinks ensue when the latter’s a little too eager to try it out and ends up phasing — naked — into the apartment of his downstairs neighbor. Accompanied by a nifty visual of the microscopic world, Barry explains it as vibrating the cells in his body to such an extent that he’s able to neatly move through matter. Essentially, it’s another riff on super-speed, but on a molecular level.

This power comes in handy when the duo has to break into S.T.A.R. Labs for their date with destiny.