Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this Episode Review. Please Read with Caution.

I found myself not bored with this episode. This season is clearly shaping up with three distinct storylines: Prison Oliver, Team Arrow vs Longbow Hunters (which is broken into two), and then the flashforward (YAY ROY)! Although I did get annoyed with Felicity and Friends… I don’t know why Felicity is annoying to me. Ever since Laurel E-1 died and even a bit before that, she wasn’t the same anymore.

Anyways, the Laurel E2 and Dinah arc of the episode seemed forced. I think we needed more time with Laurel to show her redemption… like season 6 would’ve been perfect. But we’re diving right into the first steps with her sorrow and guilt over Quentin’s death. Dinah also seemed moved by her apology to an extent, but I hope forgiveness is not in the cards here.

Felicity and Diggle had clear tension over how to handle Ricardo Diaz, which hurts them. Diggle is playing by a different set of rules. He is with ARGUS and making sure Team Arrow commits to the immunity they were offered by the FBI. This is where the struggles of having a crowded cast rolls in:

Dinah, Curtis, and Rene need to find a concrete purpose. I think Dinah being the law enforcer can work, Renee looking toward the new Green Arrow has potential, but Curtis only working at ARGUS seems… I don’t know. There are too many main characters… someone has to die!

(hint: Not Rene).

Felicity is too used to the old ways of Team Arrow and desperately wants to protect her family (Oliver and William). In the end, Felicity realizes Diggle and herself are walking different paths and she goes to Agent Watson for her assistance, making her hold up the deal she made with Oliver.

Longbow Hunters are a threatening foe. The League of Assassins were right to fear these people. We’ve met three of them: Red Dart, Silencer, and Kodiak. Their fight scenes are well-done, but Silencer is the one that caught my attention.

Laurel E2 vs Silencer was a good fight scene. I thought it held a lot of weight. Hell, I’m happy to see Laurel E2 back this season. She needs more attention. Katie Cassidy was always better playing villainous characters anyway (I remember you from Supernatural).

The Prison Story line.

Oliver is fighting back. He wants to find Ricardo Diaz using the prison system. Oliver can’t use his usual methods to intimidate the villains into giving him what he wants. Brickwell, Bronze Tiger, and Sampson are not messing around. They are willing to help Oliver.. if they take care of a guard for them.

I love Stanley. He is a good partner to Oliver’s broodiness. With his help, Oliver manages to find a way to take care of the guard without killing him, but situations like this won’t happen often. Stephen Amell is acting the hell out of this role. I’m looking forward to see how Oliver keeps doing favors like this with Brickwell and his gang… I want more from Bronze Tiger.

Flashforward: William is GAY! He confirms he had a jerk of his ex-boyfriend and it was great! Good for him! Roy Harper and Adult William have a good dynamic. I like how they’re already gearing up to leave Lian Yu… because I expected them to stay on the island similar to every other scenario. Good for Arrow to change up like this.

Roy Harper is clearly no longer with Thea and William never reunited with his family. What has happened in this future? What will they find in Star City? I wonder if the present and the future will have more concrete connections to each other.

The Potential is starting to pay off here. Season 7 might become something great. The Flash Forward and the Prison Arc were strong points in this episode. Team Arrow was the weak link of the episode, but it had good moments like the Longbow Hunters.

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