"The Return" Of ARROW

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 14 The Return on Seat42F.



This week’s ARROW, “The Return,” flips the setting a bit, with the present day story taking place on Lian Yu, the island Oliver (Stephen Amell) was once marooned on, and the flashbacks happening in Starling City. Oliver and Thea (Willa Holland) are training to take on a villain, but they have no choice in their method when Malcolm (John Barrowman) unleashes a former foe on them. Meanwhile, it turns out Oliver did check in on his loved ones during his “dead” period, even if they didn’t know it.

Doing “The Return” this way greatly limits the screen time of a couple of the main characters, but almost everyone is worked into the hour in some way or another. Better, a number of long-missing players, such as Robert Queen (Jamey Sheridan), Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), and Detective Lucas Hilton (Roger R. Cross), get a chance to pop up. By letting these returning guest stars take screen time away from the main players who logically wouldn’t have a large role in this time and place, “The Return” manages to tell a strong, cohesive story, rather than delivering the flimsy stunt it could have been. Sure, cameos by Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and Diggle (David Ramsey) are unnecessary, but they’re small enough not to distract from the main piece, which is a very good installment.

The Starling City of the past is one we’re aware of, but there’s a new twist tossed in by Oliver’s presence. We get to witness, through his eyes, just how bad some of the people in his life were doing, and see how Tommy tries to pull them out. We also get to see Oliver as a murderer again, and while he does so for a noble purpose, it’s more disturbing than I remember it being, highlighting his growth in the present.

Malcolm wishes Oliver would return to his killing form, which is why he unleashes Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) on the island. Trapped with Thea to protect, Malcolm believes Oliver will have no choice but to kill his old enemy. Not only does Oliver not give in to the temptation, Thea also passes up the kill shot when she has the chance. Slade doesn’t deserve their mercy, but they are too moral to kill him if they don’t have to, which is a good thing for their journey towards being heroes.

Thea faces a major setback when, much to Malcolm’s chagrin, Oliver tells her she is the one that killed Sara. It’s a hard thing for Oliver to say, but Thea knows he’s keeping something from her, and he eventually decides she deserves to know. I get why Oliver makes that decision, because he doesn’t want his sister to distance herself again due to his secrets. But he hasn’t told her everything, including, I’m assuming, murdering her drug dealer, as we see him do in the flashbacks of “The Return.” Secrets have always been a sticking point between the siblings, and even as Oliver makes progress in being open with her, his growth isn’t complete.

It is really nice to see Thea and Oliver together, though. Whatever obstacles lie ahead, they get this time to be brother and sister, working together. Malcolm does many bad things, but helping Thea get to a place where she can be on Oliver’s level is not completely one of them, his methods of doing so aside. Thea justifiably hates Malcolm now, telling him he will never be her father, but that doesn’t erase what he did for her.

Are Oliver, Thea, and Malcolm ready to face Ra’s al Ghul yet? I don’t know. Oliver and Thea manage to take down Slade, but it’s quite a struggle for them to do so. Ra’s is arguably harder to beat than Slade, but they will have Malcolm helping, too. I kind of wish Oliver would ask Team Arrow for help, which would not only give him a better shot at winning, but show how he is developing into a team player, moving further and further away from the lone wolf he begins Arrow as.

The other subplot in “The Return” finds Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) mourning Sara’s death and considering drinking. Laurel (Katie Cassidy) tries to help her dad, but now that the news has set in, he has found anger at Laurel for keeping Sara’s death a secret. Worse, he feels betrayed by the daughter he has always shared a bond with. Their relationship needs much work, and even if most viewers saw it coming, it’s no less painful.

“The Return” is one of my favorite episodes of the season so far, and that’s saying something since ARROW is having a stellar year. The character development is strong and story is surprising. The producers have promised season three will only get crazier from here, and I can’t wait.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

ARROW Remembers "Sara"

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 2 Sara on Seat42F.

As is appropriate for an hour that spends most of its running time mourning the death of a character, this week’s installment of the CW’s ARROW, called “Sara,” is named after the deceased. Sara’s (Caity Lotz) murder rocks the entire team, and they begin searching for whoever killed her. How they go about this varies depending on the individual, and while the culprit has not yet been found, they do manage to take down another assassin in the process.

Sara will be missed. While never a main character, she is a big part of the mythology. I’m sure we’ll see her again in flashbacks, but until then, it’s with sadness that we think of her, no longer a part of this group of heroes. Viewers want to know who took her out almost as much as the characters do.

Being the title character, Oliver (Stephen Amell) gets the most focus in “Sara.” Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) accuses him of being unfeeling, but that dialogue makes absolutely no sense because Oliver is definitely, obviously, greatly affected. He might channel those emotions into rage and his work, but his single-minded determination should be enough to show that he’s not himself to anyone paying attention, and thus, the scene feels out of place and poorly constructed.

Sara’s death also leaves Oliver reaching out for family, which is understandable. Losing someone makes one re-examine their priorities, though one wishes that would drive him to Felicity, which it does not. Oliver misses Thea (Willa Holland), and so tries to get in contact with her, which is difficult, though Roy (Colton Haynes) eventually reveals why.

Thea is off becoming bad-ass under the tutelage of her father, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman). One wonders just how she becomes so skilled at combat in half a year, but it’s nice to see her do something other than stand around and whine. This could definitely be the beginning of a new, improved Thea Queen, and that will be nice to see on ARROW.

Back to Sara. Felicity, for her part, lets the tears flow. She is also prompted to make a major life decision, taking a job from Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), who, let’s be honest, leaves her little choice when he buys the tech store chain she works for. Still, it’s a conscious decision for Felicity to join Ray in his office, her old stomping grounds, and one can assume she leans towards him because he’s offering compassionate comfort, as opposed to Oliver, who is icy cold. Though, as stated above, her accusations towards Oliver are unfair, so while Ray may have more of what Felicity is looking for in a man’s reactions, she shouldn’t mistake Oliver’s lack of blubbering for a hard heart.

Diggle (David Ramsey) also changes direction, deciding to stay with Team Arrow. This makes sense, wanting to help avenge a friend. He may still retire to spend time with his family eventually, but it would be callous of him not to offer to help when many people he cares about are reeling. Though it’s a little strange how it is just tossed in that his baby is now named Sara. It sort of works, but feels a little off.

Laurel (Kate Cassidy) reacts the strongest, of course, furious at being unable to help her sister. In pursuing leads, she breaks the rules and probably should realistically be fired, even if the witness to the worst of her actions is dead. This is a dangerous, destructive path for Laurel, and while one might understand why she does what she does, it’s not sustainable, nor is it good for her. It’s almost as bad as the alcoholism, which, thankfully, she manages not to slip back to.

Why doesn’t Laurel tell their father, Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), about Sara’s passing? She may want to protect him, but surely it’ll be worse if he finds out later that she is hiding it from him. He has a right to know the truth. Instead, she offers no explanation to Quentin about her behavior, and he is far too forgiving of it.

“Sara” has some very uneven handling of personalities, as pointed out in the above paragraphs. Grief makes for great drama, and there is some of that in ARROW, but it seems like some choices are made for the sake of easiness and don’t quite work for the characters. I wish just a tad more care had gone into writing this episode, rather than forcing some decisions that just don’t quite make sense. It’s a good installment, not a great one, which it should have been.

Nor does the decision to have a flashback where Oliver is assigned to murder Tommy (Colin Donnell) seem like a solid one. I guess this is another type of grief shown here, but it doesn’t really fit all that well in the larger plot, and highlights once more why ARROW should ditch the constant backstory. It’s not necessary to have it every week. Though it is nice to see Tommy again; that goes without saying.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

ARROW Has More Than "Three Ghosts"

Article first published as ARROW Has More Than "Three Ghosts" on TheTVKing.

The CW's Arrow ended its fall run with an exciting two-parter, the second half of which aired this week. In "Three Ghosts," Oliver (Stephen Amell) hallucinates people from his past after his near-brush with death. There's no time for rest and recuperation, however, when Brother Blood (Kevin Alejandro) kidnaps Roy Harper (Colton Haynes).

The visions Oliver sees in this episode are a logical development for his character. He is constantly thinking about his past, with much of each episode being set in flashback. It makes total sense that that's where his mind would go when it wonders, even with the surprise final ghost that is as satisfying as it is unexpected. It's just an extension of what we've already seen.

Things take a darker turn, however, when Oliver chooses to save Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) at the expense of Shado (Celina Jade) while trapped on the island. It's an impossible decision to make, two women he cares about being held at gunpoint, and both going to die if he doesn't pick. Ivo (Dylan Neal) is just plain sadistic for putting Oliver in this position, and it's this type of thing that helps one understand why Oliver was so psychologically damaged upon his return to society, explaining why this time occupies his thoughts.

Honestly, I am getting a little tired of this stuff in the past. I understand that it informs who Oliver is, and in "Three Ghosts," it's used effectively. But sometimes it's just another story that doesn't connect much to the present, and when that happens, the installments drags in those scenes. Perhaps this isn't a popular opinion, but as Arrow becomes more and more of a hero, it's time to put the past behind him and move forward with his life. I think this should happen sooner, rather than later, by the end of season two, not seasons five or six.

That being said, it is kind of neat how Slade (Manu Bennett) is revealed as the villain behind Brother Blood, and that's only because we've gotten so much of Slade in the past. He has understandable motivation, blaming Oliver for Shado's death, and apparently he didn't survive the island as well as Oliver did, which is also something one can be sympathetic about, given what we've seen of that place so far. Plus, Slade is a genuine super-powered bad guy because of the injection he received, so he's a formidable foe with a personal grudge, whom Oliver doesn't even realize is in town. And he looks cool with the eye patch, even if the grey hair looks fake. Nice setup for the back half of the year!

As Oliver battles an external force, he also needs to pay more attention to an internal one. No, not whether he should be good or not; his vision of Tommy (Colin Donnell) indicates that that struggle is pretty much over). I'm talking about his feelings for Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), which he is in denial about.

Oliver has plenty of reason to avoid a new relationship. He hasn't been a good boyfriend in the past, which he feels bad about, and people he cares about are constantly in danger. He thinks he needs to focus on the mission, not his personal life. Yet, Felicity knows the truth about Oliver and fights by his side, proving she is strong and worthy. She may consider him out of her reach, he being her boss and the vigilante hero, but she's wrong. Almost no one is as close to Oliver as Felicity, so it's time he paid her a bit more attention. He deserves love, too.

If Oliver doesn't come around, Felicity has Barry (Grant Gustin, Glee) to fall back on. The boy who becomes the Flash at the end of "Three Ghosts," presumably, is definitely interested, and has made that interest known. While Felicity seems a little older than he and they live in different cities, it's not inconceivable she could go to him for his planned spinoff. It would be a loss for Arrow, but as long as Felicity is happy, fans should be happy, too.

Gustin is doing a good job with Barry. Given his evil-ish role in Glee, which was mostly one-note, I had my doubts about his abilities. Yet, in two hours he has established a likeable character who could realistically grow into a crusader to root for. Enough history has been mentioned to provide an origin for his part, and I'm actually really looking forward to the new series, should it go forward.

Oliver's other challenge will be dealing with Roy. Now that Roy has been injected with the super venom, he is vulnerable to Brother Blood and Slade's influence. The extra powers that come with it may make him eligible to be Arrow's sidekick, but it's more likely Arrow will try to do right by Thea (Willa Holland) by continuing to try to keep Roy out of harm's way. Clearly, that is not a choice Roy is willing to live with, and could encourage Roy towards the wrong side of the battle.

Arrow is shaping up nicely in its second year (not that the first was bad), developing its characters further and bringing in nice, big arcs that are well thought out. It has set itself apart from Smallville, which was a concern at first, and it has the elements it needs for a nice, long run, as long as it keeps doing what it's doing. There are few complaints to be found at this point, as while Arrow is somewhat limited by the rules of the format, it does a credit to its particular genre, pushing the boundaries where it can.

Arrow will return with new episodes January 15th on the CW.

Arrow not quite a bullseye

Grade: 85%

My first impression of the CW’s new superhero saga, ARROW, are mixed. On one hand, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Justin Hartley playing the hooded vigilante, especially because his long run on Smallville only recently ended. For another, the “Pilot” is far from perfect, with a number of plot holes and things that should be handled differently. But overall, it’s an exciting hour with an enticing backstory, and the bugs can mostly be worked out over time.

Many are already familiar with the history of the DC comic book character. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell, Hung, Private Practice) is shipwrecked on an island alone for several years. Finally rescued, he returns home in peak physical condition, a handiness with a bow and arrow, and driven by a determination to clean up the city that has become a mess, thanks in part to Oliver’s father (Jamey Sheridan, Homeland). Donning a hood, Oliver goes by the moniker Green Arrow, acting as a modern day Robin Hood.

Missing Hartley aside, Amell makes a great Green Arrow, and plays him in a different way, avoiding too many comparisons. Whereas the Smallville version of the character could be a bit goofy, ARROW takes a more serious tone. There is greater anger and pain in Amell’s eyes, and it’s easy to believe that he can accomplish the physical feats he engages in.

But there are some things that don’t add up. Why doesn’t Oliver return from the island malnourished? Why doesn’t anyone recognize his famous face with just a hood and some green eye makeup? There isn’t even the voice changer that Smallville employed. Why is Oliver the first to tell the police about the Green Arrow, when the timing is already suspicious enough to make the cops suspect that Oliver is the one behind this new “hero” on the scene? He just doesn’t go about things very smartly.

There is also a disconnect as to who the previous Oliver was. He had a good enough heart to befriend the help (Kathleen Gati, Alphas), inspire loyalty and affection from friends and family, and win the heart of the beautiful, intelligent, compassionate Dinah Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy, Gossip Girl, Melrose Place), who would not have been swayed by his money. Yet, he is also said to be a womanizer and a drunkard, cheating on Dinah with her sister, Sarah (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, The Bold and the Beautiful). It doesn’t quite make sense.

The “Pilot” sets up the story pretty well. Oliver builds a lair in one of his father’s abandoned factories and begins his mission by making Adam Hunt (Brian Markinson, The Killing, Caprica) pay, literally, for his misdeeds. After giving Adam the chance to do the right thing, and Adam declines, Oliver sweeps in for big action sequences that totally deliver to the superhero fans in the audience.

My complaint is, why does Oliver cross Adam off his list after robbing him of millions? This is just money, and while it helps the victims, it doesn’t truly lead to justice. Why not bring Adam back for an arc, as it appeared might be the case earlier in the episode, after taking the time to introduce several cohorts of Adam’s? Oliver is going to run out of names to cross off soon, and some will have the means to exact revenge, so these should not be one-shot stories, played out in a rote, procedural manner. Give them more to do!

Also, how come the rewarded victims get to keep the money? Surely the police can figure out what Oliver did, even if Laurel tells them to keep quiet about it. As right as it may be for them to receive the cash, Oliver gets it by illegal means, which should mean that it will be taken back, and may even hurt their court case.

That being said, every single one of the characters is enjoyable. Besides the ones listed so far, there’s: Detective Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne, The River, Lipstick Jungle), who, considering his daughters, has plenty of reason to dislike the young Mr. Queen; Oliver’s little sister, Thea (Willa Holland, The O.C.), who is repeating Oliver’s mistakes; body guard John Diggle (David Ramsey, Blue Bloods, Dexter), who is just screaming for sidekick status; Oliver’s best friend, Tommy (Colin Donnell, Pan Am), who is happy to be cavorting with his buddy again; Queen business partner Walter Steele (Colin Salmon, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), who is now married to Oliver’s widowed mother, Moira (Susanna Thompson, King); and Moria herself, who has Oliver secretly kidnapped to try to figure out what his father told him. All of these set up plenty of plot to be explored.

And that’s why I like ARROW, in spite of its flaws. There are so many ways it can go, and even with uneven writing, the production looks fantastic, and gets the adrenaline pumping. Yes, some elements may need cleaned up a little, and better attention to detail should be paid. But there are already all of the ingredients here for something special, maybe even better than Smallville. I’m more than willing to give it a chance to improve.

ARROW premieres this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.