The Flash’s Danielle Panabaker Shares Thoughts On Latest Caitlin Shocker As Two More Former Co-Stars Confirm Season 9 Returns
Spoilers ahead for Season 9 Episode 2 of The Lightning, “Hear no evil.” Read at your own risk!
The LightningThe final season of just keeps getting bigger and bigger and only two episodes have aired so far. Nothing is predictable between Danielle Panabaker’s new character and familiar faces popping up left and right across Central City. After the last few episodes said goodbye to an original character, two more veterans return.
Goodbye Caitlin
Perhaps the most shocking twist from Season 9 of The Lightning So far, when fans were reunited with Caitlin at the end of the premiere, it was revealed that she wasn’t Caitlin, and neither was she Frost. In this week’s episode, the new character, originally introduced as Snow, revealed that Caitlin was dead. Danielle Panabaker tells TV Insider how it felt to say goodbye to Caitlin after portraying her for nine seasons while also looking forward to playing another variant:
I have to say it was a bit of a surprise for me. I think Eric had this great idea that I could play another character, which of course is very flattering that they’ve given me so many different characters over the past nine seasons. I was surprised to hear that the birth of a new character would coincide with the death of another character, but also excited. As an actor, especially on a show so long ago, it’s been a real blessing to be constantly creating new challenges, creating new characters, and doing new things.
After first dealing with Frost’s death in Season 8 and now Caitlin’s death in Season 9, it’s no wonder the actress was surprised! I can’t imagine saying goodbye to two beloved characters in such a short time. However, since this new character, who officially introduced himself as Khione at the end of the episode, will be around for a while, Panabaker seems excited to learn more about her and it will be interesting to see what happens. However, characters have been known to come back, so you never know if Caitlin will be staying away, as well as Frost. There are always surprises.
Hello, old friend… and foe
Speaking of surprises, TVLine has revealed that this tops its impressive list of returning guest stars The Lightning two more were added for Season 9, which is both a good and bad thing for the Scarlet Speedster. John Wesley Shipp and Teddy Sears have signed on for the final season, reprising their roles as Jay Garrick and Hunter Zolomon, aka Zoom.
Sears first appeared as Zoom in season two and has remained one of Barry’s most dangerous opponents to this day. While it’s unknown what will bring him back to Central City after all this time, EP Eric Wallace teases that he’ll have “one last fight against Team Flash,” and it’s definitely something you won’t want to miss.
Shipp, meanwhile, reprises his role as Jay Garrick. As of Season 2, Garrick has had a recurring role on the show, with a few different variations, and has become a friend and ally of Team Flash. It was even revealed that he’s basically Nora and Bart’s uncle in the future. Wallace announces that for Jay, this upcoming story will also shed light on Barry’s past, which continues to show how emotional The Lightning Season 9 is.
With only 13 episodes this season, there are storylines The Lightning that have been cut, but it still sounds like a lot is planned. Fans must tune in to The CW on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST to see the conclusion of the Team Flash story. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what’s coming out soon.