Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please read with caution.

“My Name Is Emiko Queen” is structured more like a series premiere than a mid-season one. We are finally properly introduced to the new Green Arrow, Emiko Queen, and her motive for being a superhero. She is the daughter of Robert Queen and another woman, the latter she was raised with alone. Robert Queen had fallen in love with Emiko’s mother but ultimately returned to his family (Oliver and Thea). Moira knew the truth about Emiko and left them alone to survive. Emiko’s mother is killed in The Glades, and now she wants revenge on the killer, keeping a list to track him down.

We don’t know who trained her yet, but her skills are Oliver-like. Next week should provide answers on why she is copying her brother’s outfit and who trained her to fight like he does. If it was Talia, I wouldn’t be too mad.

I enjoyed going on this journey with Emiko and her formation of a Team Arrow with Rene. This week’s flash forward also centered on Rene and his very bad wig. He is the Mayor of The Glades, having gotten rid of crime in Star City through politics. He has become corrupted, and his daughter resents him for becoming this awful person. It’s honestly sad to see Zoe and Rene’s relationship deteriorate when in the present, she still admires him and encourages him to do the vigilante stuff with Emiko.

Suicide Squad is back with Ricardo Diaz as its first recruit. I liked this idea in season two, but not sure it’s needed for this current season, especially with Diaz being involved. I think the writers have to remove him by the end of season seven. He should’ve stopped playing a role back in season six, but when Oliver beat him in prison felt like a more solid conclusion. We’ll see, but I’m not a fan of Slade’s son trying to take his place in the Arrowverse. A good work around since they don’t have access to Slade Wilson at the moment.

Oliver Queen was not a major player in the episode. He was mostly reacting to Emiko Queen’s existence, which reminded me a lot of what Thea went through when she discovered Malcolm Merlyn was her dad. The secret letter to Walter, the off-shore bank accounts, the lies, Moira knew about Emiko (of course she did!), and Oliver is tired of his father’s secrets. By episode’s end, he goes to meet Emiko for the first time at his father’s grave, the one behind the Queen Mansion.

This episode mostly moved a lot of pieces to establish the new status quo and the direction of the show’s second half, which will center around Emiko Queen probably going through the hardships of being a hero and doing right to her father’s wrongs… plus revenge for her mother’s death. I hope she gets a different code name later… New Green Arrow is not a good name anymore.

Overall, not a bad episode. I’m impressed with Sea Shimooka. The training montage was giving me season one vibes. I think she can take over as the lead character when Oliver sacrifices himself next year. I haven’t forgotten what the crossover teased. See you next week!

back to blog