Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review.

Oliver Queen is finally out of prison and back in his Green Arrow suit. Yes, he’s already doing the hero business but without the mask. The New Green Arrow is also revealed in the opening minutes of the episode and has been upgraded to the main cast. Yes… that’s what we needed in a crowded show… Another character.

The New Green Arrow is not named in the episode, but comic book fans have already deduced it. She’s Emiko Queen, the illegitimate daughter of Robert Queen and the younger half-sister of Oliver. I’m already in love with this idea, but I don’t know how she’ll fit in with everything else going on this season.

Max Fuller, the douchebag from season one, returned as the villain of the week. This carried a lot of season one callbacks, especially the nightclub scene. Oliver’s entrance to take down Max Fuller reminded me of the Pilot episode when he took down Adam Hunt. Except this time, he’s working with the SCPD rather than escaping from them.

Oliver and Felicity argue about the actions she took to protect herself and William. Oliver’s expressions and hesitations were spot-on in this episode. He finally realizes how deep the corruption goes in his wife. It took seven seasons, but Felicity has given into the darkness.

The ARGUS subplot was spinning their wheels on the Longbow Hunters and the threat they pose to the team. Diggle and Lyla decide to team up with Ricardo Diaz to get the dirt on the mysterious group. This arrangement will not sit well with Oliver and Felicity. It might not sit well with the audience either. I’m so tired of Ricardo Diaz.

Curtis is underused. He doesn’t do anything. Rene might start a political career, but according to the flash forwards, it probably won’t end well for him.

The flash forwards cut out Roy Harper. Instead, it focused on William, Dinah, and Zoe looking for Blackstarr. The excuse for not having Roy is that he might be recognized in the fight club, which is actually fair. He has that kind of reputation.

Anyway, Blackstarr is a street fighter named Maya. She kicks ass and is hiding something about Felicity from the group. The “Mark of Four” is also revealed to be a concept created by Oliver to remind the team what it means to be a hero. I wasn’t really invested in this week’s flash forwards… there was no Roy Harper.

Overall, the episode was somewhat packed but very thrilling. There’s only one Green Arrow and it’s Oliver Queen. Emiko Queen needs a new code name. In the comics, she picked up the Red Arrow mantle. Maybe she’ll choose to wear red instead of green.

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