Multiverse Of Blandness

Last month a new series called The Irrational debuted on NBC, which is apparently still a thing. According to the publicity blurb, the show centers on Alec Mercer, a world-renowned professor of behavioral psychology, who uses his expertise to solve high-stakes cases involving governments, corporations and law enforcement. As all professors do, dontcha know.

The show stars Jesse L. Martin— aka Joe West of The Flash fame— as Alec Mercer. 

I haven't watched the show and have no plans to, but I did see a promo for it. The thing that immediately jumped out at me is that Martin is basically playing Joe West here. Same look, same speech patterns, same mannerisms, everything. 

He even looks like Joe West in this show, as he's wearing the exact same outfit— complete with top coat and ever-present wool cap!

It looks for all the world like Martin literally just walked off the set of The Flash and onto the soundstage of The Irrational— without even changing his wardrobe!

Plus they're filming this new show in Vancouver, where The Flash was shot— making the two shows even more similar!

In the interest of full disclosure, this new character does have one slight difference— unlike Joe West, Alec Mercer has a scar on the right side of his face. Other than that, they're the same guy.

Clearly this show's a secret spinoff of The Flash, and Alec Mercer is the Joe West of another Earth or timeline in the Arrowverse. Damn you, Barry Allen! What have you done this time??!?