This week’s episode of The Flash features the return of Pied Piper, but what happened between Hartley Rathaway and Barry Allen to destroy their friendship?
The Flash has spent much of its run bringing back familiar faces. The Scarlet Speedster has a classic Rogues gallery of DC Comics villains, so it’s quite fitting that they regularly pop up on-screen.
This week’s installment, “Pay The Piper”, will see the return of Hartley Rathaway. But do you remember the last time you met the Pied Piper?
Let’s remind ourselves who he is.
Who is Pied Piper on The Flash?
Pied Piper is portrayed by Andy Mientus and he’s become something of a recurring favorite over the years.
He made his debut all the way back in season 1, episode 11 “The Sound And The Fury” and his real name is Hartley Rathaway.
A former protege of Harrison Wells, Hartley was obnoxious and took pleasure in rubbing people up the wrong way – particularly Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes). However, once he recognized that something was wrong with the particle accelerator, he didn’t hesitate in doing the right thing.
Unfortunately, as Wells was really the Reverse-Flash, he had Hartley removed from the project. And after the accelerator exploded, Hartley sought revenge by becoming the soundwaves-manipulating Pied Piper.
He later returned in the Season 2 episode, “Flash Back”, when Barry traveled back to that day and crossed paths with Hartley once again. However, after accidentally bringing a Time Wraith with him – which Hartley was able to defeat using soundwaves – he changed the timeline, resulting in the former villain becoming a friend.
What happened between him and Barry Allen?
Barry’s alterations to the timeline turned Pied Piper from a foe to a friend. In fact, it changed his life so much that Hartley was a part-time member of Team Flash and even had a healthy relationship with his parents (who previously never accepted him for being gay).
Unfortunately, the character’s return earlier this season (in season 6, episode 13 “Grodd Friended Me“) saw Pied Piper revert back to his old ways due to Crisis On Infinite Earths rewriting much the timeline. To make things worse, he had developed into a full metahuman with a sonic scream (like the Canary Cry) and the ability to fly.
He claimed that Team Flash – and particularly Barry – had slighted him in some way, and holds it as one of the reasons that he is a criminal. The question is: Can Barry make him see that he’s still his friend, or will Godspeed get to him first? We’ll find out tonight.
The Flash returns to The CW tonight, May 5, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Are you looking forward to seeing Pied Piper? Let us know in the comments below!