Post — Aaron Ngo

Arrow's season six finale arrived last night. It was marvelous. The episode was packed with emotional scenes, well-directed fight scenes, "unexpected" twist, Sara Lance sighting, Longbow Hunters mention, and a major character death. The problem? I don't think the season earned this finale. Yes, it changed the dynamic of the show in a big way, and there were hints to the twist along the way, but there are clear disconnects.

Let's get into the review. Spoilers ahead:

Team Arrow and the FBI took back SCPD. They beat down the corrupt cops and the tech guy, hoping to get the drop on Ricardo Diaz, our big bad of the season. They discover he moved and need another lead on where he went.

The FBI and Oliver have come to an understanding: they understand Ricardo Diaz is the bigger issue and granted the entire team immunity. ALMOST the entire team. We'll get into that later.

Oliver and John make proper amends. They address the big fight over the mantle and presents Diggle with his own Green Arrow costume. I was under the impression he had his own already because the two of them are different sizes... no way Diggle was wearing Oliver's costume!

Felicity, rather than be happy about OTA making up, has a concerned look. She should because Oliver did something without telling her first. He has got to stop lying to the woman he claims to love. If he keeps this up, Felicity will not wait for him!

While Team Arrow has immunity, Oliver was not granted the same. He gave himself up to ensure they could stop Diaz and to protect everyone else. Agent Watson agreed to those terms. Felicity is not happy about this revelation, but we'll get into that later. This is why "unexpected" is in quotes in the first paragraph.

Anatoli arrives at the police station to turn himself in. He is such a great character. I would've loved to see him as the main villain against Oliver. They have the history and the fallout between them during season five indicated a change like that for sixth season. It sort of delivered but not really.

Diaz gifted Anatoli with his location: the place where he'll meet with the Longbow Hunters. Rumored assassins that the League of Assassins were even afraid of. How did Diaz find these people? Better Question: how come we didn't get to meet them?

Villains of Season Seven are coming to Star City!

Outside the police station, Quentin and Oliver have an emotional talk as well. They comment on how far they've come, and their long history. Oliver promises Quentin that Laurel E2 will not get hurt, and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Quentin appreciates that and mentions he has a pacemaker (he got it at the end of season two), something Oliver never learned about. I'm going to miss Quentin Lance!

Armed with Ricardo Diaz's location, Team Arrow and the FBI prepare to attack. Predictably, this is a trap and Rene is trapped inside with explosives along with Agent Watson and another agent. Thinking this is the end for him as Wild Dog, Rene calls his daughter and tells her how much he loves her.

This scene reminds us how much we grew to love Rene. How is this guy one of the best additions to the show? He hasn't done well this season overall, but the last few episodes proved how much his presence is appreciated.

I thought this was goodbye for him, but I'm glad it wasn't. Luckily, he survived and this lead to an emotional amends talk with Oliver. They talked about how far they've come as teammates and how Oliver misjudged him when he first joined: his ridiculous costume didn't help. But the two of them officially bury the hatchet and agree to keep moving forward.

Oliver gets Dinah next and apologizes for how he treated her about Vince's death. He appreciates Dinah putting her vendetta behind for the mission. They're going to save Laurel, and Dinah doesn't fight anyone on this. Then she confesses to Oliver how much she respects him and that got me! Did it get anyone else? Because whoa!

SKIP CURTIS.

The next plan to get Diaz is to use Laurel. Quentin will ask him for proof of life and lure him into a trap. This almost works until Quentin betrays everyone and wants to ensure Laurel is safe. Diaz kidnaps Quentin, roughs him up, and bails out before anyone can intercept.

Diaz is not convincing in the next scene. He throws Quentin in the same room as Laurel E2 and ends up shooting Quentin in the gut. Laurel E2 is devastated and begs him to hold on. I thought Diaz needed him to get rid of the FBI and makes no effort to save him or gives the option.

Team Arrow and the FBI storm the place. They track Quentin's pacemaker to their location, and Oliver has one final showdown with Ricardo Diaz. He sees Quentin shot, but Laurel E2 promises to look after him.

Dinah and Laurel E2 work together using their Canary Cries to get Quentin to safety. They have put their feud on hold or discarded altogether. I hope it's the latter because Laurel will continue as a series regular next season and having her around for the redemption arc will be appreciated.

Oliver vs Ricardo Diaz!

The fight scene between the two of them is well-done. I was quite impressed how easily Oliver got the upper hand this time around. Before Oliver can finish him though, Laurel E2 appears and blasts him out into the freezing ocean. Oliver is angry because he knows Diaz can survive that fall. That's pretty meta of you to admit, Mr. Queen.

No one finds a body, and Ricardo Diaz did survive.

Everyone reunites at the hospital to see how Quentin is doing. Regardless of the outcome, Oliver's deal still stands. He will go with the FBI to serve a life sentence at a Super Max Prison. This is a tight place not even Oliver can escape from.

Cue Sara Lance looking sharp! She meets with Laurel E2 to check on "their" father. It is a compelling meeting where Laurel E2 admits she is nothing like Laurel Lance E1. I think we need to stop comparing the two. Black Siren is her own character and being called "not Laurel" needs to stop here.

Oliver has one-last encounter with Quentin Lance before he dies in surgery. YES HE DIED IN SURGERY! It is touching and cements the father-son relationship they shared over the years.

He isn't given much time to grieve and apologies to Sara for her father's death before being taken away. Sara is overcome with grief and seeing Oliver taken away that she runs into Felicity's arms. Everyone, including Laurel E2, is mourning a huge loss.

Felicity begs Oliver to break the deal and to run. But he wants to take responsibility for everything he did. He goes on camera too and reveals to the world: "I am the Green Arrow". I think the reveal should've happened in season five, it would've been more compelling that way, but it works here too.

The FBI arrests Oliver and everyone who worked on Diaz's payroll. Ricardo Diaz is pissed and ready for a reckoning next season. The final shots show: Sara and Laurel over Quentin's body, Newbies watching the reveal on TV, Diggle watching it at ARGUS with the Green Arrow costume, and Felicity and William.

Oliver is taken to prison, where the inmates yell and scream wanting to kill him. He sits in his cell and that's how the season closes.

WOW! I have mixed feelings about how all of this went down. I think keeping Diaz alive is a mistake, Longbow Hunters is exciting, but the reveal about Green Arrow will fundamentally change the show.

Sara Lance lost her family too. No one is talking about this, but now she only has her mother. I feel for her and how losing her father will affect her in Season Four of Legends. How will this affect Laurel E2 going forward? I hope she joins Team Arrow to make up for the past.

Maybe not right away, but at some point in season seven.

Comment and let me know how're doing about the season six finale? I don't know how I feel.

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