In last week's episode of
The Flash, Hartley Rathaway's parents were referenced. Did you catch it? They were the ones that owned the expensive painting that Heat Wave and Captain Cold stole, and was later torched. Can we expect Hartley's parents to be referenced in tonight's episode? "It's definitely referenced and without giving too much away I'll say that it's not dealt with head-on, at least just yet, but it's brought up because it really keys into Hartley's whole motivation to do what he's doing,"
Andy Mientus told
comicbook.com. "You see that his lack of a family created this big hole in him and another character sort of filled that gap for a time and when that turns sour, it really sets him off and sets him on this villainous path."
Hartley will be introduced to the series as Dr. Harrison Wells former protege. Currently, Well's pet project is Barry Allen, will that cause a conflict between Hartley and Barry? "Yeah. I think it's classic almost sibling rivalry that's going on," Mientus explained. "If Barry is the new baby, the new golden child, then what does that make Hartley if Harrison has become that for him? So yes is the answer to that.
Pied Piper isn't your typical villain. He isn't after money or power, but he is after revenge against Dr. Wells. When you find out why he's fighting Wells, I think you start to see that he's not your typical villain and maybe not a villain at all," he said. "Maybe just so confused and angry but maybe not so different from Barry or from some of the other S.T.A.R. Labs kids."
Another aspect of Pied Piper that has a lot of being talking is that he was one of DC Comic's first openly gay characters. That aspect of the character will be brought to the show as well, but Mientus thinks there is more to the character than his sexual preference.
Well, that's how I look at it, definitely. I think that when you're a queer person, it's generally not the first thing you think of about yourself. I think it's part of you; it's like having blue eyes or brown hair or whatever but there are much more interesting things to say. I think there's a whole lot more going on than just him being gay. I think him being gay is like a few lines so far. I think there's room for it to be more of a focus in his storyline down the pike but for now it isn't that much of a focus, just more of a cool detail about him.
I think people are making a big deal about it becuase there just aren't that many badass, dangerous, gay male characters for whatever reason. I don't think people expect that. I think there's this stereotype of gay men being weak in some way or being polite or whatever. I think the tide is turning on that. I think on [American] Horror Story, there's so many terrifying gay characters on that every year. So I just think its something people don't expect and so it's something that people have to talk about. I'm hoping that soon it will sound as ridiculous as talking about a black superhero or a female superhero -- something you don't need to mention or something that sounds silly to even mention. But for now it's a point of interest so we have to talk about it.
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Dr. Wells’ (TomCavanagh) former protégée, Hartley Rathaway (guest star Andrew Mientus), returns to seek revenge on his mentor after being affected by the particle accelerator explosion. Now able to manipulate sound waves, the brilliant Rathaway is a dangerous threat to both Wells and The Flash (GrantGustin). Meanwhile, Iris (Candice Patton) is thrilled when she’s hired by the Central City Picture News as their newest cub reporter. Unfortunately, her editor (guest star Tom Butler) pairs her with aveteran reporter, Mason Bridge (guest star Roger Howarth), who wants nothing to do with her. Cisco (Carlos Valdes) recalls his first day on the job at S.T.A.R. Labs when he met Hartley and Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker). Joe (Jesse L. Martin) asks Eddie (Rick Cosnett) for a favor but asks him to keep it a secret from Barry. John Show alter directed the episode written by Alison Schapker; Brooke Eikmier.