Article first published as ARROW Review "Beyond Redemption" on Seat42F.
No one on the CW’s ARROW is “Beyond
Redemption,” or so it seems in this week’s installment. Captain Lance
(Paul Blackthorne) doesn’t approve of Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) plan to
run for mayor of Star City, even though it’s Lance’s own noble nature
that has prompted Oliver’s actions. It’s Lance, however, who is ashamed
when Oliver uncovers more than one secret about the city’s police force.
Yet, by the end of the hour, all is happy and as it should be in the
world.
“Beyond Redemption” begins its upbeat
run by introducing the new lair, secreted beneath Oliver’s campaign
office, former site of a villain’s own democratic activities. With
Diggle (David Ramsey) and Oliver back on good terms, it’s satisfying to
see the crew settle into their new digs, funded by Palmer Tech (at least
until the board revolts and kicks loose-money Felicity (Emily Bett
Rickards) out of the CEO spot, which is certain to happen before long).
This is how fans want to see the cast, one united front, bent to stop
the bad guys in the city.
Star City has plenty of crooks, but
perhaps none are so surprising as Liza Warner (True Blood’s Rutina
Wesley) and her band of vigilante strike force officers, who are making
money off the backs of criminals. Lance is shocked and angry to learn
about this group, and quickly joins forces with Team Arrow to bring them down. Which they do, appealing to the morality left in Liza, who is a cop for a reason.
Along the way, Oliver and CLance come to
an understanding. The revelation that Lance has been suckered into
working with Darhk (Neal McDonough) knocks the captain down a few pegs
to Oliver’s level. Both men have screwed up, both men are ashamed about
it, and both are determined to make up for past wrongs. Lance even
intends to turn himself in until Oliver stops him. Finally on equal
footing, their bond over this adventure heals the last rift in the
central group.
Which is good. If Oliver is going to run
for mayor, he needs a united front around him. Other candidates have
met with ill fates, and while Oliver is more capable than the others, he
still needs the support of his team and the police. Oh, and a bit of
help from Thea (Willa Holland), whose trip to Nanda Parabat seems to
have had the desired effect, as she’s bright and ready as the campaign
manager, doesn’t hurt.
Unfortunately, there is one slight
hiccup in “Beyond Redemption.” The Sara (Caity Lotz) that Laurel (Katie
Cassidy) brings home to Captain Lance doesn’t seem to be the same Sara
that died. This one is feral and creepy. Not to mention, Oliver and the
others aren’t aware of what Laurel and Thea did. And Sara escapes. But
that’s all strife for another installment of ARROW, not this one.
In the B story this week, Felicity
resists Curtis’ (Echo Kellum) attempts to unlock Ray Palmer’s final
message. I understand Felicity’s reticence, but clearly Ray is not going
to give her a choice. Her haywire phone is due to his tech, and it
would not surprise me if the problems with the power in the new lair are
related, too. Ray wants to be heard, and with Curtis determined to help
him, he will be.
When is Curtis going to be brought onto Team Arrow?
Don’t get me wrong, it does feel like ARROW lets too many people in on
the secret too quickly, and it’s nice for Felicity to have a life apart
from the group. But Curtis is way too helpful and observant to be left
on the sidelines for long. He is going to join up, probably sooner
rather than later, and I think the writers have drawn it out enough.
“Beyond Redemption” has a few minor
flaws, such as Oliver’s easy catch of Liza after she shoots down one of
his arrows with far less warning, and the fact that ARROW still insists
on showing flashbacks to Oliver’s time before the series. Other than
that, though, this is a feel-good, action-packed installment of the
enjoyable series.
ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.
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