Tonight was one of those episodes of Arrow that I know I really liked, yet I also really hated. But not hated because any of it was bad, more like I hated what the producers decided to do with some characters. Season 2 had high stakes and characters died but it was done for good reason. Some of the directions that this season has gone have involved decisions with characters that I just don't think are necessary. I always talk about which Avenger may be killed off in Age of Ultron, but now thinking about it, I'm not sure I want anyone to die. I think you can create high stakes without anybody dying and I think Arrow is struggling with that right now.
To begin with what the episode starts with, I was really happy to see Roy take the hit for Ollie. I think it's a terrific character moment for him and Colton Haynes nailed it. He's had so many ups and downs over the past few years that I was glad that if they decided to send his character off (Haynes contract is up), they did it in a heroic way. Lance was on Team Arrow's a** tonight as he pursued Oliver's lair, which can now be considered no longer usable. On the other hand, Ray took a leadership role this week out in the field with the new and improved ATOM suit. The whole video game like scenario was a bit cheesy but I have grown to really like Palmer, and especially him with the team. He had a great back and forth banter with Ollie throughout the episode. It was also a great time to see Oliver and Diggle exchange pushes. Of course that led to another great Olicity moment with the "you're the man....you're the man I believe in" line.
With everything going on, we also had an actual villain, Deathbolt, doing god knows what. We never got a sense of his intentions nor did I really care. I really just wanted to see more of the great character conflict and interactions we were getting. Though he gave us another brief crossover with Cisco appearing at the end, keeping Deathbolt in the STAR LABS holding cells. But the true ending of tonight was the shocking reveal that both Roy is pretty much gone, and Thea is dead (for now). For some reason the shock value wasn't as high for Thea and I'm not sure why. But I think it's pretty evident that she's not gone for good. The preview for the next episode saw Ollie carrying her into Nanda Parbat and presumably, the pit. I do wonder how they are going to approach the whole resurrection thing. We also did briefly see Caity Lotz as Canary in that preview in the background. Could this mean somehow she gets resurrected as well? I think it's doubtful, but it was a great tease. So as far as I'm concerned this week gave us one of the more unexpected episodes of the entire series, but it also ticked me off quite a bit. But that's Arrow for you.
+Deep character moments
+Roy's heroic exit
+ATOM-Ollie banter
+Small crossover
-Don't get obsessed with killing characters off. Have reasons for it
-Deathbolt unnecessary
8.6/10
To begin with what the episode starts with, I was really happy to see Roy take the hit for Ollie. I think it's a terrific character moment for him and Colton Haynes nailed it. He's had so many ups and downs over the past few years that I was glad that if they decided to send his character off (Haynes contract is up), they did it in a heroic way. Lance was on Team Arrow's a** tonight as he pursued Oliver's lair, which can now be considered no longer usable. On the other hand, Ray took a leadership role this week out in the field with the new and improved ATOM suit. The whole video game like scenario was a bit cheesy but I have grown to really like Palmer, and especially him with the team. He had a great back and forth banter with Ollie throughout the episode. It was also a great time to see Oliver and Diggle exchange pushes. Of course that led to another great Olicity moment with the "you're the man....you're the man I believe in" line.
With everything going on, we also had an actual villain, Deathbolt, doing god knows what. We never got a sense of his intentions nor did I really care. I really just wanted to see more of the great character conflict and interactions we were getting. Though he gave us another brief crossover with Cisco appearing at the end, keeping Deathbolt in the STAR LABS holding cells. But the true ending of tonight was the shocking reveal that both Roy is pretty much gone, and Thea is dead (for now). For some reason the shock value wasn't as high for Thea and I'm not sure why. But I think it's pretty evident that she's not gone for good. The preview for the next episode saw Ollie carrying her into Nanda Parbat and presumably, the pit. I do wonder how they are going to approach the whole resurrection thing. We also did briefly see Caity Lotz as Canary in that preview in the background. Could this mean somehow she gets resurrected as well? I think it's doubtful, but it was a great tease. So as far as I'm concerned this week gave us one of the more unexpected episodes of the entire series, but it also ticked me off quite a bit. But that's Arrow for you.
+Deep character moments
+Roy's heroic exit
+ATOM-Ollie banter
+Small crossover
-Don't get obsessed with killing characters off. Have reasons for it
-Deathbolt unnecessary
8.6/10
