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Dr. '''Harrison "Harry" Wells''' is introduced in the second season as the founder and director of S.T.A.R. Labs on [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] and the Earth-2 [[doppelgänger]] of Harrison Wells. He is the father of [[Jesse Chambers|Jesse Wells]] ([[Violett Beane]]). Like Eobard, he was responsible for the creation of metahumans on Earth-2 using a particle accelerator which also exploded, including the psychopathic serial killer [[Hunter Zolomon]] ([[Teddy Sears]]) as the rogue speedster Zoom. However, he refused to take responsibility for the metahumans, while making a profit with developing metahuman detector technology. But when Zoom kidnaps Jesse, Harry travels to Earth-1 to assist Barry in the fight against Zoom's extorted metahumans and locate Jesse. Team Flash, specifically Cisco and Joe, distrust him because of the prior betrayal by Eobard, and Harry himself is mistaken by people unaware that Eobard's actions ruined his Earth-1 doppelganger's name and legacy. Harry also meets the Reverse-Flash's younger self, suspecting that the encounter between them is what caused Eobard's future actions towards his Earth-1 self. Harry is extorted by Zoom into developing a device to steal the Flash's speed for Zoom in exchange for his daughter's life, a feat that even the Reverse-Flash had failed to achieve. But Harry confesses to his collaboration with Zoom so Barry and Cisco decide to travel to Earth-2 with Harry to rescue Jesse. After their mission is complete, Harry and Jesse seek refuge on Earth-1 from Zoom's pursuit. After Barry's speed is sacrificed to Zoom to save [[Wally West]] ([[Keiynan Lonsdale]]), Harry recreates a miniature particle accelerator to help Barry regain these powers based on Eobard's plans. Although the accelerator explosion causes Barry to disappear, and its dark matter affects both Wally and Jesse (who enters a coma), Harry eventually locates Barry at the Speed Force; he is able to bring Barry back with Cisco and [[Iris West Allen|Iris West]] ([[Candice Patton]])'s help, and Barry wakes Jesse from the coma. After Zoom's defeat, Harry and Jesse return home to Earth-2 with [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]] (the Flash of Earth-3), promising to help him return to his own Earth.
Dr. '''Harrison "Harry" Wells''' is introduced in the second season as the founder and director of S.T.A.R. Labs on [[Earth-Two|Earth-2]] and the Earth-2 [[doppelgänger]] of Harrison Wells. He is the father of [[Jesse Chambers|Jesse Wells]] ([[Violett Beane]]). Like Eobard, he was responsible for the creation of metahumans on Earth-2 using a particle accelerator which also exploded, including the psychopathic serial killer [[Hunter Zolomon]] ([[Teddy Sears]]) as the rogue speedster Zoom. However, he refused to take responsibility for the metahumans, while making a profit with developing metahuman detector technology. But when Zoom kidnaps Jesse, Harry travels to Earth-1 to assist Barry in the fight against Zoom's extorted metahumans and locate Jesse. Team Flash, specifically Cisco and Joe, distrust him because of the prior betrayal by Eobard, and Harry himself is mistaken by people unaware that Eobard's actions ruined his Earth-1 doppelganger's name and legacy. Harry also meets the Reverse-Flash's younger self, suspecting that the encounter between them is what caused Eobard's future actions towards his Earth-1 self. Harry is extorted by Zoom into developing a device to steal the Flash's speed for Zoom in exchange for his daughter's life, a feat that even the Reverse-Flash had failed to achieve. But Harry confesses to his collaboration with Zoom so Barry and Cisco decide to travel to Earth-2 with Harry to rescue Jesse. After their mission is complete, Harry and Jesse seek refuge on Earth-1 from Zoom's pursuit. After Barry's speed is sacrificed to Zoom to save [[Wally West]] ([[Keiynan Lonsdale]]), Harry recreates a miniature particle accelerator to help Barry regain these powers based on Eobard's plans. Although the accelerator explosion causes Barry to disappear, and its dark matter affects both Wally and Jesse (who enters a coma), Harry eventually locates Barry at the Speed Force; he is able to bring Barry back with Cisco and [[Iris West Allen|Iris West]] ([[Candice Patton]])'s help, and Barry wakes Jesse from the coma. After Zoom's defeat, Harry and Jesse return home to Earth-2 with [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]] (the Flash of Earth-3), promising to help him return to his own Earth.


Harry returns early in season three after Jesse is revealed to have developed super-speed as a result of the accelerator, but Harry tries to have the team talk his daughter out of pursuing heroics. After Barry and Jesse are forced to team up, Harry becomes more supportive of it. Harry and Jesse return to Earth-2 a few days later so Jesse can protect Earth-2 Central City. Before Harry and Jesse leave, Team Flash, in need of a replacement for Harry, send a complicated mathematical equation to the Harrison Wells on different Earths, and four versions respond with the equation solved: a [[hillbilly]] from an unnamed Earth; a British-accented version from Earth-17; a French-speaking [[Mime artist|mime]] from another unnamed Earth; and a version from Earth-19 known as H.R. Although Harry objects to H.R, he is nonetheless selected.<ref name="vulture" /> Later on Earth-2, Harry leads an expedition to [[Gorilla City]], but is captured and held captive there. Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry's colleague Julian Albert arrive there to rescue him, but are captured by [[Gorilla Grodd|Grodd]], a telepathic gorilla. Speaking through Wells, Grodd asks Barry to assassinate his master [[Solovar]] (leader of Gorilla City) to prevent a planned invasion of Central City. Barry agrees to fight Solovar in the arena for the lives of the others; defeating him, he spares his life. Grodd seizes control of Gorilla City and prepares an invasion of Earth-1. After Grodd leaves, Barry frees Harry and his friends; they all return to Earth-1. Harry and H.R. clash over their personalities, and Jesse intends to stay on Earth-1 with Wally, which Harry eventually agrees to. After Grodd is defeated by Solovar (who re-assumes leadership of Gorilla City) and all the gorillas return to Earth-2 (except Grodd, who is imprisoned in [[A.R.G.U.S.]]), Harry also leaves. When Iris is in danger of being killed by [[Savitar (comics)|Savitar]], she, Wally and Joe seek refuge with Harry on Earth-2, but H.R. inadvertently gives away their location to Savitar who forcibly takes her back to Earth-1, despite Harry's attempts to stop him.
Harry returns early in season three after Jesse is revealed to have developed super-speed as a result of the accelerator, but Harry tries to have the team talk his daughter out of pursuing heroics. After Barry and Jesse are forced to team up, Harry becomes more supportive of it. Harry and Jesse return to Earth-2 a few days later so Jesse can protect Earth-2 Central City. Before Harry and Jesse leave, Team Flash, in need of a replacement for Harry, send a complicated mathematical equation to the Harrison Wells on different Earths, and four versions respond with the equation solved: a [[hillbilly]] from an unnamed Earth; a British-accented version from Earth-17; a French-speaking [[Mime artist|mime]] from another unnamed Earth; and a version from Earth-19 known as H.R. Although Harry objects to H.R, he is nonetheless selected.<ref name="vulture" /> Later on Earth-2, Harry leads an expedition to [[Gorilla City]], but is captured and held captive there. Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry's colleague Julian Albert arrive there to rescue him, but are captured by [[Gorilla Grodd|Grodd]], a telepathic gorilla. Speaking through Wells, Grodd asks Barry to assassinate his master [[Solovar]] (leader of Gorilla City) to prevent a planned invasion of Central City. Barry agrees to fight Solovar in the arena for the lives of the others; defeating him, he spares his life. Grodd seizes control of Gorilla City and prepares an invasion of Earth-1. After Grodd leaves, Barry frees Harry and his friends; they all return to Earth-1. Harry and H.R. clash over their personalities, and Jesse intends to stay on Earth-1 with Wally, which Harry eventually agrees to. After Grodd is defeated by Solovar (who re-assumes leadership of Gorilla City) and all the gorillas return to Earth-2 (except Grodd, who is imprisoned in [[A.R.G.U.S.]]), Harry also leaves. When Iris is in danger of being killed by [[Savitar (comics)|Savitar]], she, Wally and Joe seek refuge with Harry on Earth-2, but H.R. inadvertently gives away their location to Savitar who forcibly takes her back to Earth-1, despite Harry's attempts to stop him.


===H.R. Wells (Earth–19)===
===H.R. Wells (Earth–19)===
'''Harrison "H.R." Wells''' from Earth-19 is selected as a replacement for Harry in the third season, after having seemingly solved a complicated mathematical equation.<ref name="vulture" /> Subsequently, Cisco discovers that H.R. is not a scientist even though he works at S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-19 as well; H.R.'s scientist partner, Randolph Morgan (Adam Bergquist), was the one who solved the equation meant for H.R. Barry suggests letting H.R. stay for a few more weeks to see if they could still work together or otherwise they will send him back to Earth-19. In each episode since, H.R. proves his worth despite not being a scientist, that he is generally intelligent and intuitive and helps form plans and locate super-criminals, and is also a skilled organizer, businessman, and entrepreneur. He also agrees to train Wally to be a hero after seeing the youth's potential as a speedster. He also strives to transform S.T.A.R. Labs into a museum to open to the public to maintain Team Flash's cover after discovering how many criminals breached the facility prior to his arrival. Unlike Harry, H.R. is able to venture into the public by using a device invented by Randolph Morgan that disguises H.R.'s appearance to resemble its creator. It is eventually revealed that H.R. is a wanted criminal on Earth-19 for having crossed dimensions when [[Gypsy (comics)|Gypsy]] ([[Jessica Camacho]]), an enforcer from Earth-19 (where interdimensional travel is illegal), arrives to collect him before being defeated by Cisco. It is also revealed that H.R. had been transmitting fictionalized versions of the season's events with him as the protagonist to Earth-19, which is how Gypsy was able to track him. H.R. later falls in love with Tracy Brand ([[Anne Dudek]]), a scientist who Team Flash recruits to help build a device to imprison Savitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.ign.com/cause-and-effect-the-flash/107979/review/the-flash-cause-and-effect-review|title=The Flash: "Cause and Effect" Review|date=May 10, 2017|publisher=}}</ref>
'''Harrison "H.R." Wells''' from Earth-19 is selected as a replacement for Harry in the third season, after having seemingly solved a complicated mathematical equation.<ref name="vulture" /> Subsequently, Cisco discovers that H.R. is not a scientist even though he works at S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-19 as well; H.R.'s scientist partner, Randolph Morgan (Adam Bergquist), was the one who solved the equation meant for H.R. Barry suggests letting H.R. stay for a few more weeks to see if they could still work together or otherwise they will send him back to Earth-19. In each episode since, H.R. proves his worth despite not being a scientist, that he is generally intelligent and intuitive and helps form plans and locate super-criminals, and is also a skilled organizer, businessman, and entrepreneur. He also agrees to train Wally to be a hero after seeing the youth's potential as a speedster. He also strives to transform S.T.A.R. Labs into a museum to open to the public to maintain Team Flash's cover after discovering how many criminals breached the facility prior to his arrival. Unlike Harry, H.R. is able to venture into the public by using a device invented by Randolph Morgan that disguises H.R.'s appearance to resemble its creator. It is eventually revealed that H.R. is a wanted criminal on Earth-19 for having crossed dimensions when [[Gypsy (comics)|Gypsy]] ([[Jessica Camacho]]), an enforcer from Earth-19 (where interdimensional travel is illegal), arrives to collect him before being defeated by Cisco. It is also revealed that H.R. had been transmitting fictionalized versions of the season's events with him as the protagonist to Earth-19, which is how Gypsy was able to track him. H.R. later falls in love with Tracy Brand ([[Anne Dudek]]), a scientist who Team Flash recruits to help build a device to imprison Savitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.ign.com/cause-and-effect-the-flash/107979/review/the-flash-cause-and-effect-review|title=The Flash: "Cause and Effect" Review|date=May 10, 2017|publisher=}}</ref> H.R. inadvertently gives away Iris and Joe's location to Savitar who forcibly takes her back to Earth-1, and forces Barry to watch her being killed. However, it is later revealed that H.R., stricken by the guilt of letting Iris be captured, located Savitar and released Iris from the chains she was bound in. Before the two could escape, Savitar noticed and H.R. had no choice but to use Randolph Morgan's device to assume Iris' likeness. Ultimately, he let himself be killed by Savitar, who is later shot dead by Iris.


==Portrayal==
==Portrayal==

Revision as of 05:48, 25 May 2017

Harrison Wells
The Flash character
First appearance"Pilot" (1x01)
Created byGreg Berlanti
Andrew Kreisberg
Geoff Johns
Portrayed byTom Cavanagh
In-universe information
NicknameHarry (Earth-2)
H.R. (Earth-19)
AffiliationTeam Flash
S.T.A.R. Labs

Harrison Wells is the name of several fictional characters appearing in the CW's 2014 television series The Flash. Most versions of the character come from parallel universes, each working as the director of S.T.A.R. Labs in their respective universes. All versions of the character are played by Tom Cavanagh.

Fictional character biographies

Harrison Wells (Earth–1)

Dr. Harrison Wells is introduced as the director of S.T.A.R. Labs in Central City. He activates a particle accelerator that malfunctions, releasing dark matter energy that kills several people and grants various individuals metahuman abilities, including Barry Allen / The Flash (Grant Gustin). Six months later, Wells is a recluse and a pariah, confined to a wheelchair. Along with Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker), he helps develop Barry's powers as the Flash and mentors him in pushing speed to the limit to come up with novel solutions to take down metahuman criminals. However, Wells is revealed to have many secrets: he is faking paralysis, possesses the AI Gideon with futuristic information, and is willing to kill to protect his protégé and cover his own tracks. He turns to be the Reverse-Flash, a mysterious tachyon-powered speedster that occasionally terrorizes the Flash and the S.T.A.R. Labs team despite being close to all of them, especially Barry and Cisco. Despite being a father figure alongside Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) and Henry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) to Barry, Wells is eventually revealed to be Eobard Thawne (Matt Letscher), the Flash's archenemy from the future and a descendant of Central City police officer Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett). He transmuted the appearance of the real Harrison Wells, killing the scientist and his wife Tess Morgan (Wells' partner in scientific research) whilst doing so; the investigation into Tess' death by Joe and Cisco leads to the discovery of Wells' corpse and Eobard's facade. Although his tachyon equipment restored most of his former abilities, Eobard orchestrated the events that would turn Barry into the Flash himself in order to use Barry's connection to the Speed Force to create a wormhole and return to his own time period. However, the Flash foils the Reverse-Flash's plan to return to the future, resulting in the two speedsters engaging each other again. As the Reverse-Flash attempts to kill the Flash, Eddie sacrifices himself, which causes Eobard to cease to exist. Season two reveals that Eobard had a will that left S.T.A.R. Labs to Barry along with a recorded confession that would clear Henry of all charges in the event of his death.

Harry Wells (Earth–2)

Dr. Harrison "Harry" Wells is introduced in the second season as the founder and director of S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-2 and the Earth-2 doppelgänger of Harrison Wells. He is the father of Jesse Wells (Violett Beane). Like Eobard, he was responsible for the creation of metahumans on Earth-2 using a particle accelerator which also exploded, including the psychopathic serial killer Hunter Zolomon (Teddy Sears) as the rogue speedster Zoom. However, he refused to take responsibility for the metahumans, while making a profit with developing metahuman detector technology. But when Zoom kidnaps Jesse, Harry travels to Earth-1 to assist Barry in the fight against Zoom's extorted metahumans and locate Jesse. Team Flash, specifically Cisco and Joe, distrust him because of the prior betrayal by Eobard, and Harry himself is mistaken by people unaware that Eobard's actions ruined his Earth-1 doppelganger's name and legacy. Harry also meets the Reverse-Flash's younger self, suspecting that the encounter between them is what caused Eobard's future actions towards his Earth-1 self. Harry is extorted by Zoom into developing a device to steal the Flash's speed for Zoom in exchange for his daughter's life, a feat that even the Reverse-Flash had failed to achieve. But Harry confesses to his collaboration with Zoom so Barry and Cisco decide to travel to Earth-2 with Harry to rescue Jesse. After their mission is complete, Harry and Jesse seek refuge on Earth-1 from Zoom's pursuit. After Barry's speed is sacrificed to Zoom to save Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale), Harry recreates a miniature particle accelerator to help Barry regain these powers based on Eobard's plans. Although the accelerator explosion causes Barry to disappear, and its dark matter affects both Wally and Jesse (who enters a coma), Harry eventually locates Barry at the Speed Force; he is able to bring Barry back with Cisco and Iris West (Candice Patton)'s help, and Barry wakes Jesse from the coma. After Zoom's defeat, Harry and Jesse return home to Earth-2 with Jay Garrick (the Flash of Earth-3), promising to help him return to his own Earth.

Harry returns early in season three after Jesse is revealed to have developed super-speed as a result of the accelerator, but Harry tries to have the team talk his daughter out of pursuing heroics. After Barry and Jesse are forced to team up, Harry becomes more supportive of it. Harry and Jesse return to Earth-2 a few days later so Jesse can protect Earth-2 Central City. Before Harry and Jesse leave, Team Flash, in need of a replacement for Harry, send a complicated mathematical equation to the Harrison Wells on different Earths, and four versions respond with the equation solved: a hillbilly from an unnamed Earth; a British-accented version from Earth-17; a French-speaking mime from another unnamed Earth; and a version from Earth-19 known as H.R. Although Harry objects to H.R, he is nonetheless selected.[1] Later on Earth-2, Harry leads an expedition to Gorilla City, but is captured and held captive there. Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, and Barry's colleague Julian Albert arrive there to rescue him, but are captured by Grodd, a telepathic gorilla. Speaking through Wells, Grodd asks Barry to assassinate his master Solovar (leader of Gorilla City) to prevent a planned invasion of Central City. Barry agrees to fight Solovar in the arena for the lives of the others; defeating him, he spares his life. Grodd seizes control of Gorilla City and prepares an invasion of Earth-1. After Grodd leaves, Barry frees Harry and his friends; they all return to Earth-1. Harry and H.R. clash over their personalities, and Jesse intends to stay on Earth-1 with Wally, which Harry eventually agrees to. After Grodd is defeated by Solovar (who re-assumes leadership of Gorilla City) and all the gorillas return to Earth-2 (except Grodd, who is imprisoned in A.R.G.U.S.), Harry also leaves. When Iris is in danger of being killed by Savitar, she, Wally and Joe seek refuge with Harry on Earth-2, but H.R. inadvertently gives away their location to Savitar who forcibly takes her back to Earth-1, despite Harry's attempts to stop him.

H.R. Wells (Earth–19)

Harrison "H.R." Wells from Earth-19 is selected as a replacement for Harry in the third season, after having seemingly solved a complicated mathematical equation.[1] Subsequently, Cisco discovers that H.R. is not a scientist even though he works at S.T.A.R. Labs on Earth-19 as well; H.R.'s scientist partner, Randolph Morgan (Adam Bergquist), was the one who solved the equation meant for H.R. Barry suggests letting H.R. stay for a few more weeks to see if they could still work together or otherwise they will send him back to Earth-19. In each episode since, H.R. proves his worth despite not being a scientist, that he is generally intelligent and intuitive and helps form plans and locate super-criminals, and is also a skilled organizer, businessman, and entrepreneur. He also agrees to train Wally to be a hero after seeing the youth's potential as a speedster. He also strives to transform S.T.A.R. Labs into a museum to open to the public to maintain Team Flash's cover after discovering how many criminals breached the facility prior to his arrival. Unlike Harry, H.R. is able to venture into the public by using a device invented by Randolph Morgan that disguises H.R.'s appearance to resemble its creator. It is eventually revealed that H.R. is a wanted criminal on Earth-19 for having crossed dimensions when Gypsy (Jessica Camacho), an enforcer from Earth-19 (where interdimensional travel is illegal), arrives to collect him before being defeated by Cisco. It is also revealed that H.R. had been transmitting fictionalized versions of the season's events with him as the protagonist to Earth-19, which is how Gypsy was able to track him. H.R. later falls in love with Tracy Brand (Anne Dudek), a scientist who Team Flash recruits to help build a device to imprison Savitar.[2] H.R. inadvertently gives away Iris and Joe's location to Savitar who forcibly takes her back to Earth-1, and forces Barry to watch her being killed. However, it is later revealed that H.R., stricken by the guilt of letting Iris be captured, located Savitar and released Iris from the chains she was bound in. Before the two could escape, Savitar noticed and H.R. had no choice but to use Randolph Morgan's device to assume Iris' likeness. Ultimately, he let himself be killed by Savitar, who is later shot dead by Iris.

Portrayal

On February 10, 2014, Tom Cavanagh was cast as Harrison Wells, with his role described as "a rock star in the world of physics and the mind and money behind Central City's S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator".[3]

Character development

Concept and creation

Although a character only known as "Dr. Wells" had previously appeared in Flash TV Special #1, a 1991 tie-in comic book to CBS' The Flash (1990), DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns has stated that Harrison Wells is an original creation for the 2014 series.[4]

Characterization

Relationships

Reception

Critical response

Reviewing "The New Rogues", which features Cavanagh portraying multiple versions of Wells, Angelica Jade Bastién of Vulture stated that the various portrayals of Wells "let Tom Cavanagh stretch himself even more as an actor".[1]

Accolades

The Eobard Thawne version of Wells was ranked at number 35 in Rolling Stone's list of 40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time.[5] He also topped Entertainment Weekly's list of "20 “best” villains on superhero TV in 2015",[6] and was included in Collider.com's list of Best TV Villains of 2015.[7] Cavanagh received an IGN Awards nomination for Best TV Villain for his portrayal of the character in The Flash.[8] He was also nominated for Choice TV – Villain at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.[9]

Other media appearances

A version of Wells appears on the Robot Chicken episode "Ants on a Hamburger", also voiced by Cavanagh.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Flash Recap: Greetings From Earth-19". Vulture. October 26, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  2. ^ "The Flash: "Cause and Effect" Review". May 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Nededog, Jethro (February 10, 2014). "'Ed' Star Tom Cavanagh Joins CW's 'Flash' Pilot". The Wrap. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "TV Legends: Was Flash's Harrison Wells Based On a Comic Character?". Comic Book Resources. September 14, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Collins, Sean T. (February 9, 2016). "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ "The 20 best villains of superhero TV in 2015". Entertainment Weekly. December 18, 2015.
  7. ^ Keene, Allison (December 30, 2015). "The Best TV Villains of 2015". Collider.com.
  8. ^ "Best TV Villain - IGN's Best of 2015". IGN. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  9. ^ "Wave 2 Nominees". Teen Choice. Teen Choice. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Robot Chicken Features Arrow, The Flash and CW Shows In Recent Spoof". Realtytoday.com. November 7, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

External links

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