ARROW Finds Target

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Arrow - The Complete Fourth Season' on Blogcritics.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this blog post. The opinions I share are my own.

The CW’s Arrow is coming back for year five soon, so let’s take a look at the WB release of The Complete Fourth Season, available now. The four-disc set contains all twenty-three episodes of the run (of course), plus a handful of bonus features.

The end of season three found our hero, Oliver (Stephen Amell), and his gal, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), riding off into the sunset together. It’s no surprise that they will be drawn back home early in the season, as Arrow wouldn’t work without the whole team, which also includes Laurel (Katie Cassidy), Diggle (David Ramsey), and Thea (Willa Holland), in Star City. It’s also no surprise that the couple will go through their share of drama over the course of this run, as an hour-long series needs personal strife in order to keep it humming along.

Thus, season four is as much about Oliver and Felicity finding identities apart from one another as it is them finding a way to work together. While Felicity struggles to run the company she is now CEO of, Oliver jumps into a frantic election for mayor of the city. It’s good material for each to work with, even as long-time shippers will ache each time something comes between them, and the frequent additions of Felicity’s mother, Donna (Charlotte Ross), and employee, Curtis (Echo Kellum), are a delight.

A lot of the first half of this season is very obviously gearing up for the mid-year launch of spin-off DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Several of the characters announced for that show (which was released on Blu-ray, Digital, and DVD a week earlier) are dead in the Arrow cannon, so in order to prevent that new program from being bogged down in origin stories, they must be brought back on Arrow. The result is lots of screen time having to be given up from the main arcs in order to accommodate this set up, though it isn’t too distracting, since these are mostly characters Arrow fans already care about.

Speaking of caring, a nearly year-long tease of Oliver at a grave provides a compelling mystery that propels the plot. By the time we realize who has been buried, there have been multiple false starts, but not enough to take away from the impact of the death. (SPOILER!) Press materials promising a return in some form do not do much to lessen the sting, at least at this point, and did not come to light until well after the fateful hour aired.

The main drag on year four is the same one that brought down years two and three: the flashbacks. Even as each subsequent present-day story gets better and better, Oliver’s journey leading up to the beginning of the series has become tedious and unimportant. While it does give some scant clues about the Big Bad this season, Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough), it’s not enough to be worth it. Hopefully, knowing season five will complete this arc will infuse the events with a new sense of urgency to make them less cumbersome in the upcoming installments.

The best bonus on this set is The Flash crossover episode. Arrow and The Flash did a two-parter in the fall, and while I suspect most of the audience is shared between the two, I appreciate that Arrow makes it easy for those who just watch this show to follow along. Three featurettes are more mixed. I think the one on Darhk is definitely appropriate, but cared much less for those on Hawkman and Hawkgirl, the most forgettable characters in Legends, introduced in this episodes in this set. There is also another regrettably truncated Comic Con panel, as well as some deleted scenes and a gag reel. So, overall, the amount of material included is fine, but the quality is a bit lacking.

Still, I definitely recommend checking out Arrow – The Complete Fourth Season, now on sale.

ARROW "Haunted" By Canceled Hero

Article originally written for Seat42F. 

 
It seems like Oliver (Stephen Amell) is no longer “Haunted” by his past on this week’s ARROW, as he finds a way to get along with everyone. This is a great example of how he’s changed, and how being in a relationship with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) has made him softer, in a good way. But not everyone is so lucky, as two dead characters destined for a 2016 spin-off deal with the aftereffects of their deaths in various ways, and a canceled DC television character crosses over.

Let’s start with Sara (Caity Lotz), who is on the loose and murdering people. Her bloodlust has her targeting Thea (Willa Holland), which makes sense because Thea killed her, even if Thea wasn’t in control of herself at the time. A run-in between the two leaves Thea hospitalized and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) feeling bad. But in the end, Oliver (with help) is able to catch Sara, and has a plan to restore her soul.

Enter John Constantine (Matt Ryan, Constantine). Having met Oliver in yet another pointless flashback, Oliver gets the hero who communes with the supernatural to come to Star City and help him rescue Sara’s soul. Constantine is a fun character who effortlessly slides into “Haunted,” serving an actual purpose, his appearance anything but gratuitous. Given ARROW’s penchant for touching the other side from time to time, I think Oliver should keep Constantine’s number handy, even though it seems a little weird he hasn’t been called or mentioned before. I feel like he needs an arc, not just a guest spot.

In the Constantine sequence, we see Oliver getting along with the abrasive man, giving him warm thanks for his help, even though Constantine isn’t exactly behaving in a manner that would trigger warmth. We also see fuzzy moments between Oliver and Thea, and while Oliver and Laurel have it out regarding Laurel secretly bringing her sister back, Oliver brokers peace between them. Oliver even shoots down a political strategist’s (Parker Young, Suburgatory) advice to stand by Laurel. So “Haunted” proves Oliver’s transformation from cold dictator into understanding team player is complete.

Laurel and Thea also have a little moment when Laurel says losing Thea would make bringing Sara back not worth it. Thea and Laurel have been acting like sisters, and it’s satisfying to see Laurel does have a limit as to what she will do for her soulless sister.

Now the question is, how will restored-soul Sara and Thea deal with their bloodlusts, and is this something that can be cured? Obviously, Oliver won’t let them kill people to work out their feelings. How can he help them stop it once and for all? Maybe Constantine can help? But if so, why isn’t he asked in “Haunted”?

Speaking of people back from the dead, Curtis (Echo Kellum) decodes Ray’s (Brandon Routh) message and it turns out the former CEO is alive! He doesn’t give Felicity clear instructions on how to find him yet, but it’s nice to know another favorite character will be coming back, if only briefly before heading to the Legends of Tomorrow spin-off with Sara. How Felicity can save him is put off for another day, but as I said last week, I’m digging her solo plots this season. And I love her speaker voice.

The final subplot of the week involves Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne) obtaining Diggle’s brother’s file from Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough). The file says Dig’s bro wasn’t as noble as Diggle (David Ramsey) believes. Is Darhk possibly lying and forging evidence? It doesn’t seem so. But I do wonder why Darhk handed over this paperwork. Is he just trying to get Diggle to stay away, one less distraction for Darhk?

“Haunted” is a decently solid episode of ARROW. As usual, the flashbacks are wasted screen time, but it’s cool to see Constantine survive beyond his short-lived series, and I’m very happy with the
interactions between the core characters of late. It’s about time they have some happiness and harmony, even if I’m sure it’ll be short-lived.

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

ARROW is Not "Beyond Redemption"

Article first published as ARROW Review "Beyond Redemption" on Seat42F.

Arrow -- "Beyond Redemption" Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen -- Photo: Diyah Pera/ The CW

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.

The "Restoration" of Team ARROW

Article originally published as ARROW Review "Restoration" on Seat42F.

Arrow -- "Restoration" Pictured: Steven Amell as Oliver Queen -- Photo: Diyah Pera /The CW

Team ARROW is in need of a “Restoration,” and they get one in this week’s installment on the CW. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) tries to bring Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey) back together. A new villain might just help her along, though also exposes her secret to yet another person. Meanwhile, Thea’s (Willa Holland) quest for help and Laurel’s (Katie Cassidy) mission to bring her sister back to life don’t go as either of them expected.

Team Arrow expands rapidly over the years. While it starts as just three people, several others are let in on the secrets as time goes on. It’s gotten to the point where it seems like just about anyone can find the lair and figure out who is on the team.

Take Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum). Just introduced as an employee of Felicity’s, he already gets into the headquarters and learns that Felicity is connected to Star City’s costumed vigilante. Now, Curtis’ discovery is due to mistakes that Felicity makes, so he can’t really be blamed. But it still seems like everyone important finds out sooner or later, usually sooner. I suppose this means Curtis will be sticking around, at least for a little while, which in his case is welcome news.

I like the separate life “Restoration” shows us for Felicity. As ARROW has gone on, her character has gotten more and more development. Seeing her as a CEO with her own activities apart from the others is gratifying. I was beginning to wonder how she balances everything, but with a base just downstairs from her job, a busy boyfriend, and being more than capable of herself, any lingering doubts are laid to rest as we see her in action this week. Though, it might get harder, depending on where the new command center will be.

Felicity even manages to survive an encounter with the metahuman villain Double Down (JR Bourne, Teen Wolf)! Now, it’s only by accident that she makes it out alive, but still, her life has become colorful, indeed!

Oliver and Diggle have a rather tame time by comparison. It does feel a little too easy, the way they come back together when Oliver almost literally takes a bullet for Diggle, but it’s needed. The tension between them has gone on long enough, and ARROW needs to move on. “Restoration” gets a little hokey in doing so; connecting Diggle’s query, Mina Fayad (Carmen Moore, Blackstone), to Oliver’s foe, Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough), seems way too convenient. But at least “Restoration” dispels with the drama and gets the show back to where it needs to be.

One thing ARROW is doing better and better these days is balancing characters. In the Laurel / Thea plot, the two travel to Nanda Parbat in order to seek a cure for Thea’s bloodlust and bring Sara (Caity Lotz) back to life. In Nanda Parbat, the two girls have their own very personal motivations, which somewhat clash with Ra’s (John Barrowman) and Nyssa (Katrina Law). Yet, all four intermingle their through lines nicely, combining events where they need be, but still making all feel authentic to who they are. It’s a delicate dance that is handled more deftly than some of ARROW’s other interweaving threads, such as Diggle and Oliver’s part of “Restoration.”

Ra’s brings Sara back to life not for Sara nor Laurel’s sake, but for Thea’s. He genuinely is trying to be a good dad and help her. Giving her prey to kill doesn’t work, so maybe bringing a friend back will. I don’t admire Ra’s method of assistance, but one has to admit that he is definitely devoted to his daughter and past the point of just using her.

Now that Sara’s back, all sorts of possibilities are on the table for the former Black Canary. Obviously, Thea’s bloodlust is just a taste of what Sara will go through. But we know Sara is destined for the mid-season spin-off, so her recovery time is finite. I’m not sure where ARROW will take her over the next couple of months, but I’m anxious to see and happy to have her back.

ARROW isn’t a perfect show, and some parts of “Restoration” don’t quite make sense (not to mention the nearly useless flashbacks). Yet, overall it’s fun to watch, and it does a good job keeping the audience engaged. The longer it goes on, the smarter the writing seems to get, and I greatly appreciate that.

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

"The Candidate" for ARROW

Article originally written for Seat42F.

This week’s ARROW finds a friend of the Queens becoming “The Candidate” for mayor of Star City. Given what has been happening to other candidates, and that Team Arrow has made no progress against the ghosts terrorizing the town, this doesn’t seem like a good idea. But not everyone believes what Star City needs is a mask; some people want a hero in the light. Is there anyone who can be found to fill that role?

I am disappointed that Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager, Body of Proof) is brought in to play Jessica Danforth, a seemingly one-episode character. I enjoy that actress, and I liked this role for her. I was hoping she’d stick around a bit longer.

But it’s hard to blame Jessica for withdrawing from the race. With her daughter, Madison (Tiera Skovbye), kidnapped by mad man Anarky (Alexander Calvert), one understands why Jessica doesn’t want to ride things out. She’s fine with risking her own life when the city needs her to, but not her daughter’s. Few would act differently in her position, nor blame her for this.

The primary conflict between Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne) and Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) at this point seems to be that Oliver keeps his identity a secret. I can see why a police officer has a problem with that, but I’m glad things are thawing a little between them, Quentin even asking for Oliver’s help at one point. Hopefully, their relationship will much improve now that Oliver is running for mayor, a position that he is uniquely suited for given his ability to stay alive.

I wonder if Oliver can keep being the Green Arrow while running for mayor. It seems like he’ll have to choose one or the other. As mayor, he will be watched much more closely than he is now. But he’s seen how bad the city is, and someone has to step up. At least Thea (Willa Holland), the one family member he has left, can take care of herself at this point, unlike Madison.

Well, Thea can defend herself, but she’s not all right. The effects of the Lazarus Pit are beginning to show themselves in her brutality. Oliver is willing to let Quentin believe he burned Anarky to protect his sister, but he won’t be able to keep covering things up for her long-term. That’s why, even though The League is dangerous, it seems a good plan for Laurel (Katie Cassidy) to take Thea back to the Pit. With her dad in charge now, surely something can be figured out to help Thea.

Less smart is Laurel’s plan to bring her own sister, Sara, back in the Pit. Laurel has already seen the negative effects of resurrection. She should definitely wait and see what happens with Thea first, to understand if the negatives can be overcome. I also wonder if the Lazarus Pit would even work on someone who has been dead as long as Sara has. I guess we’ll soon find out, though Sara’s starring role in the Legends of Tomorrow spin-off seems to indicate she will rise again.

I enjoy “The Candidate” a great deal. Besides the stories above, which are all interesting and engaging, there’re a lot of fun moments in Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) asking for a code name, or as she tries to take control of the company she now runs. New character Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum, Ben and Kate) has plenty of potential. The series is doing a great job balancing the various plot lines, while developing each character on an individual basis. As long as ARROW keeps up this trend, I’ll have no complaints.

Except the flashbacks. It still needs to get rid of the flashbacks.

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

ARROW Has Gone "Green"

Article originally published as ARROW Review "Green Arrow" on Seat42F.

Arrow -- "Green Arrow" -- Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen -- Photo: Dean Buscher /The CW

When we left the CW’s ARROW last spring, there was no more Arrow, with the city believing the ‘hero’ to be dead. It will come as no surprise, though, when the fourth season premiere, entitled “Green Arrow,” finds Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) taking on a new persona after he is called back into action to handle a grave new threat to Star City.

Star City is in bad shape in “Green Arrow.” It’s suffered a lot these past few seasons, and a handful of do-gooders can only do so much. The place looks run down, citizens are moving out, and in general, it resembles Gotham before Batman arrives to clean it up.

Team Arrow is doing the best job they can without their leader. We see Diggle (David Ramsey), Black Canary (Katie Cassidy), and Speedy, who now wants to be called Red Arrow (Willa Holland), in action, and they handle themselves well. They are more than capable of dealing with run-of-the-mill villains.

But Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough, Captain America, Public Morals) is now in Star City, and he’s far more than run-of-the-mill. Damien calls upon mystical powers, and his team is so dedicated that they swallow a cyanide capsule the moment anyone from Team Arrow gets close. So it isn’t long before Laurel and Thea ask Oliver to come back and lend a hand, much to Diggle’s dismay.

It’s a little frustrating that Diggle hasn’t forgiven Oliver yet. After all, Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson) has, and she was the one Oliver put in danger. Everyone else understands that Oliver did what he thought he had to do, and Diggle, being the first to come in on Oliver’s secret, knows him better than anyone. But their deep connection may be the very reason Diggle feels so betrayed, and it does seem authentic that “Green Arrow” does not find the former bodyguard forgiving Oliver. It will take more time.

Oliver himself isn’t too eager to jump back into action. Besides having to don a new suit and go by a new moniker, he’s enjoying his freakily domestic time away with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), whom he’d like to propose to, should they get a free minute. But she is ready to be back in action, having secretly been helping their friends, and I think her want to return is a big part of why he agrees to come back. He does delay proposing after her deception comes to light, but I think that’s only because he wants to stop Damien first, not because he’s getting cold feet. This couple has staying power.

Or do they? The end of “Green Arrow” sees Oliver and Barry (Grant Gustin) standing beside a grave, tears in Oliver’s eyes. This is a flash forward to six months in the future, so we won’t find out who is dead for awhile, but I hope it’s not Felicity. I also hope it’s not a minor character because it would be much more affecting to be one of ARROW’s core group and I feel like that needs to happen in order to raise the stakes. I’m sorry, I like Diggle a lot, but he’s my choice, given that Oliver has already lost all of his family but Thea, and the previous Canary also died, and Ollie shouldn’t have to lose his love so quickly. We’ll see, though.

Someone in serious danger right now is Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne). He doesn’t seem happy to be in an alliance with Damien, but in one he is, as “Green Arrow” reveals. I assume that’s the real reason Quentin isn’t assassinated, not because Laurel shows up to save him. How did Quentin get in this position and how he can get out remains to be seen, but at least this provides an opportunity for Oliver to rescue him and put their bad blood behind them. Maybe.

“Green Arrow” again flashes back five years. This time, we see Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) kidnap Oliver and send him on an Argus mission. I still can’t wait for these flashbacks to end, but at least they are starting to seem more relevant as we move towards the pilot. Once those two timelines can be brought together, ARROW can reinvent itself into a better format. It’s a great show, but this element drags it down.

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

"My Name Is Oliver Queen," Not ARROW

Article originally written for Seat42F.

The CW’s ARROW tells us who its lead character is in the season finale, “My Name is Oliver Queen.” Still trying to trick Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable), Oliver’s cover is blown early in the hour, resulting in a scramble to stop Ra’s from releasing a deadly virus that could wipe out Starling City. Will Oliver’s friends, last seen being poisoned themselves by Ra’s, be able to help?

Oliver (Stephen Amell) has a rough go of things. In order to trick Ra’s, he must fully insulate himself into the League of Assassins, cutting himself off from those he cares about. Doing so requires making tough decisions and seemingly betraying people he would never betray. But not for one second did I believe, nor should any fan, that Oliver would allow Ra’s to murder all of Team Arrow, as appears to happen in last week’s “cliffhanger.”

Instead, Malcolm (John Barrowman) inoculates those captured, and The Flash (Grant Gustin) stops by to help them escape, with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) inadvertently blowing his cover, something that could have ramifications later. Even though this is Oliver’s plan, this isn’t enough to assuage any hurt feelings, as he finds out when he returns to Palmer Technologies with Nyssa (Katrina Law) in tow and is greeted by stony silence, especially from Diggle (David Ramsey).

I understand why Diggle doesn’t approve of Oliver’s methods in “My Name is Oliver Queen.” When they first meet, Oliver does the wrong thing sometimes. Diggle sees Oliver’s latest actions as a backslide. Even with Oliver sparing lives, he crosses the line when he kidnaps Diggle’s wife. For Diggle, the ends do not always justify the means, and he thinks Oliver should have found another way. There’s no telling if another option would work, but that’s how Diggle feels.

Even by the end of “My Name is Oliver Queen,” after the virus has been stopped with minimal casualties, Diggle doesn’t forgive Oliver. The fact that Oliver leaves town might allow Diggle to continue on Team Arrow, hopefully finally adopting a secret identity, but their bond is broken. Is there anything Oliver can ever do to help Diggle understand what Oliver has done, or at least that Oliver regrets any pain caused? I just don’t know, and that seems a ripe question for season four.

Yes, Oliver will be back next season. As satisfying as it is to see him drive off with Felicity into the sunset, that’s series finale stuff, not the way ARROW will send off its titular character. The Arrow might be a blown cover that can’t be used any more, at least not for a bit, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be resurrected at some point, nor that Oliver can escape his mission, even if the voiceover indicates the mission is complete. It’s a bold choice to leave Oliver in this position, as it is really neat that the Arrow identity has been gone from the show for so long. However, this is just a part of the journey, not the conclusion.

The season also ends with Malcolm assuming the mantle of Ra’s. I assume this is something he demands in order to help Oliver, and Oliver did need his help. Still, I can’t help but wonder if this will end up being a huge mistake. Will Malcolm play nice with Team Arrow because Thea is a part of the group now? Or will his new position go to his head and make him more dangerous than ever? How will Nyssa try to take him down? This is an interesting development with many possibilities.

The last twist is that Ray (Brandon Routh) and Palmer Technologies blow up. He may be dead, at least temporarily. True, Ray is heading to the spin-off next January, but so is Sara, who is killed earlier this season. The fact of the matter is, though, Ray will return, so the stakes here are pretty low.

Surprisingly, “My Name is Oliver Queen” has quite a few moments that make me question the quality of the writing, something I don’t typically find with ARROW. I often complain about the flashbacks, the ones this week equally as useless as in other recent installments, but that isn’t the only problem here. The Flash leaves with a flimsy excuse. Oliver decides not to give Thea (Willa Holland) any gruff about becoming a costumed hero. Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) helps Oliver without complaint, something he has not shown a willingness to do lately, and the dialogue between he and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) when she confronts him about his drinking seems trite and cliché. Felicity learns to fly The Atom suit in moments.

Now, I’m not saying that the season finale is a bad episode; it is super exciting, and there is no denying how cool it is to see Felicity swoop in and catch Oliver, who then appears totally uninjured a short time later. I’m just saying that usually the writers don’t have so many plot holes or things that just don’t make sense. I feel much of this happens because they must wrap up a season in a single hour and want to end it happily and with a feeling of finality. These things aren’t enough to ruin the show, nor even the episode, but they do knock it down a few pegs from its usual perch.

ARROW has been renewed and will return for a fourth run next fall on the CW.

This Is ARROW

Article originally posted as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 22 This Is Your Sword on Seat42F.

With only an hour left in this crazy, crazy season of Arrow on the CW, Al Sah-Him (Stephen Amell) has only two tasks left before he can become Ra’s al Ghul. But Malcolm (John Barrowman) suddenly claims that Al Sah-Him is still Oliver, executing an elaborate ruse. With everything Al Sah-Him has done, from kidnapping Lyla to almost killing Nyssa (Katrina Law) and Diggle (David Ramsey), it doesn’t seem likely Malcolm is telling the truth. Plus, Malcolm is a known liar. Should Team Arrow take a chance and trust him in “This Is Your Sword?”

It turns out, Oliver is still in control of his actions. I’d say that is unrealistic, given how far Oliver has gone, and I definitely question the scene in which Oliver maybe thinks he slaughters Diggle, but Oliver is known to go to extremes. If he believes a cause is important enough, he will sacrifice far more than most, totally committing to a mission. Because of this personality trait, I can see how Oliver may have been playing a game the entire time.

It’s not a game anymore in “This Is Your Sword,” though. Malcolm leads Team Arrow in an assault to stop Ra’s (Matt Nable) from unleashing a deadly virus on Starling City. The battle is an awesome sequence, with Laurel (Katie Cassidy) getting a great dig into Malcolm, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) wrongly believing she has killed with an iPad, and The Atom (Brandon Routh) spectacularly saving the day. In the end, though, Tatsu (Rila Fukushima), who joins Team Arrow in the assault, executes Maseo (Karl Yune), releasing him from The League to be at peace with their daughter, and everyone else is captured.

In Nanda Parbat (which, despite the plane ride, must be one county over given how often travel to and from it happens), Oliver begs the others to believe him, but even Diggle is having none of it. Diggle is blinded by anger as to what Oliver has done, thinking he has gone too far in keeping his cover, and thus has crossed the line into unforgiveable territory. It’s a real shame to see the best friends at such odds. I wish Oliver had been able to let Diggle into the plan earlier, rather than team with Malcolm. But Oliver knows Diggle would try to stop some of the things he’s doing, while Malcolm does not. So even if Oliver succeeds, will he have a home to go back to?

To Oliver, it probably doesn’t matter if he loses everyone or not by “This Is Your Sword.” That’s not to say he doesn’t care, and I don’t for a single second believe that Oliver let Ra’s kill all his friends with the virus. But Oliver clearly has made peace with the necessities of what he is doing. If losing his cherished relationships is the price he must pay in order to save tens or hundreds of thousands of lives, he’s prepared to do so. He truly is the hero of ARROW.

Does that mean Diggle and the others are not heroes, since they aren’t willing to go as far as Oliver? That’s a tough question to answer. On one hand, how far can a hero go to pretend to be on the dark side without losing the essence of good? Do the ends justify the means? On the other, Oliver is still saving lives that he may not be able to, playing by Team Arrow’s rules. I think this chasm can be bridged next season, but there’s a long way to go until Oliver can be back in anyone’s good graces.

Malcolm is definitely not a hero. He agrees to help Oliver because Thea (Willa Holland) is in Starling and could be one of the dead. But captured by Ra’s, Malcolm wastes no time in selling Oliver out. Ra’s may or may not believe Malcolm, but the last step of Oliver’s plan will certainly be that much harder to carry out after this betrayal.

Ray is a hero, giving of himself for a woman who doesn’t love him. He even gifts Felicity the company, though she doesn’t realize it yet. I’m glad Ray is continuing in the spin-off, since his time on ARROW seems nearly over.

Thankfully, Thea is far away from all of this. She tracks down Roy (Colton Haynes), now living as “Jason,” and reconnects with him, emotionally and sexually. When she wakes in the morning, though, Roy is gone and his suit is still there, giving Thea is blessing to take on the Arsenal mantle. He doesn’t want to hold Thea back and doesn’t see a way to return. I don’t agree with Roy’s decision, but it makes sense for his arc for his departure to be real in “This Is Your Sword,” as regrettable as that may be for the show, and at least Thea gets to see him one last time.

There are flashbacks again, even more unnecessary than ever. Viewers can glean from the present events that Maseo and Tatsu lose their son to the virus. We don’t need to see Oliver and Maseo fail to find a cure. These become more and more unnecessary with every passing year. I hope they are ditched entirely in the very near future.

ARROW’s season finale, airing next Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on the CW, is sure to be tense and satisfying. Don’t miss it.

ARROW Is Dead, Long Live "Al Sah-Him"

Article originally written for Seat42F.

ARROW is dead, long live “Al Sah-Him.” Those are not words you’re likely to hear from any of Team Arrow, whose leader, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), is gone. But it is a chant that could be uttered within the walls of Nanda Parbat, the place where the man formerly known as The Arrow is now residing. Is there any chance of getting Oliver back, or is he lost to his loved ones forever?

It doesn’t take much time for “Al Sah-Him” to establish how good Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable) is at brainwashing. A mere three weeks since Oliver agreed to become the next Ra’s, Ra’s has him murdering a man he thinks is John Diggle (David Ramsey), his best friend. It seems like Oliver has been completely erased from the body of this man, and whether Oliver knew what he was signing up for or not, his immersion into the new life is proceeding as Ra’s wants.

This causes much distress among Team Arrow, understandably. While Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) helping Diggle find the bad guys for him to take down seems to be working all right, the gang is definitely operating on a shoestring. Starling City is somewhat vulnerable to attack, its hero not returning and the third member of the team gone, too.

Which means they are not prepared when Al Sah-Him comes home and kidnaps Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson), something he would never have done as Oliver. His goal is to nab Nyssa (Katrina Law), who must face justice from her father, Ra’s, for abandoning The League of Assassins. But even with Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and her new scream, as well as Felicity and Diggle, standing up for her, Nyssa stands no chance escaping from Al Sah-Him. Thankfully, Ra’s has forced marriage in mind for Nyssa, intending to wed her to Al Sah-Him, rather than death. But she’s still being held against her will and Team Arrow cannot save her. Like I said, the city needs a hero again.

In fact, Starling needs saving more than any of the good guys know. Ra’s reveals to Al Sah-Him that the last thing he needs to do to erase Oliver Queen’s existence is destroy his home, meaning to kill everyone in Starling City. Ra’s himself did this once upon a time, and has the virus that Oliver, Maseo (Karl Yune), and Tatsu (Rila Fukushima) narrowly escape from, with grave consequences, in this week’s unnecessary flashback. Al Sah-Him may have forgotten himself enough to murder a friend, but is he so brainwashed that he would slaughter millions without blinking?

One bright spot of hope in “Al Sah-Him” is when Thea (Willa Holland) dons the hood and shoots Al Sah-Him through the arm before he can kill Diggle for real. I’m sure Team Arrow is resisting letting Thea in, as they did Laurel before her, but Thea is quite capable at this point. With the roster feeling empty, it’s time for recruitment, and Thea is the best candidate around. If she pitches in, Starling might just survive this.

“Al Sah-Him” is an emotional hour. Thea, Diggle, and Felicity all still have deep feelings of affection for Oliver, and only believe he’s been lost to them when they see his behavior. The acting in this installment is terrific, proving the cast is capable of more than just running around and shooting arrows. ARROW doesn’t have the best cast on television, but the group is certainly well used, the show playing to the strengths of what it has. And the story couldn’t get much better, high stakes with bold choices.

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