The Flash Season 6 Review: 5 Ups & 2 Downs From 'Pay The Piper'

2. Giving Hartley What He Deserves

Hartley Rathaway is a character with so much potential and yet it feels like The Flash hasn't fully made use of him since the second season. His return in the show's sophomore offering showcased all the things that made his debut appearance great, while adding some unexpected and real storyline potential to his backstory. Unfortunately that was never explored and the Post-Crisis reset undid all of that, reverting him back to a villain-of-the-week. Or did it?

The character's return in this week's installment saw Team Flash strike a deal with him: Help them and they'd help heal his right hand henchman Roderick (who was injured in the Post-Crisis version of Pied Piper's first run-in with Team Flash). It was soon revealed, however, that Roderick was so much more than just a henchman.

From the character's emotional connection to the person he loved - and thereby unexpected connection to the overall narrative (by making Barry see things from a different angle) - to how imperative he proved to be in the fight against Godspeed, it felt like The Flash was finally ready to appreciate the nuanced, layered person that had been in front of them the whole time.

Andy Mientus once again turned in an exceptional performance as the infectiously sassy Pied Piper and it really does go to show that The Flash would be much better off if it increased his presence moving forward.