Arrow S:03 E:21

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: Al Sah-Him
Original Airdate: 4-29-15

Season 3 has had a number of rough patches — Roy’s abrupt departure, the back and forth with Team Arrow missing Oliver, the nothing happening Hong Kong flashbacks — but this week felt like a much-needed step in the right direction as we head to the final two episodes. And with so much happening tonight, it almost seemed like these events in both current and flashback time could have used more episodes to develop.

The big development was Oliver has been fully ingrained as a League of Assassin thanks to a strict brainwashing regiment. Oliver has no remorse and little concern for his old way of life so when Ra’s tests him and Oliver sees a vision of Diggle, Oliver kills him without hesitation. It was presumably a LOA member that got on Ra’s bad side, but you know it’s effective brainwashing when Oliver is killing again.

Arrow - Al Sah-Him - Arrow as Al Sah-HimRa’s sends Oliver to bring back Nyssa so he can eliminate the only rival to his claim as heir to the demon so Team Arrow has to defend their unlikely ally from their former leader. It’s a nice shake-up and I wish there was more time to explore this subplot as Oliver shows no sign of his former self even going so far as to kidnap Lyla to force Nyssa to turn herself in.

I loved how the show worked in Laurel’s Canary Cry. It makes perfect sense and works in the context of the show. Roy’s absence was especially felt this time to the point I wished his exit was saved for the season finale after Team Arrow dealt with Dark Arrow. Fortunately Thea is ready to lend a hand, or arrow to help her friends and send her brother and his new henchmen back to Ra’s with Nyssa in tow. Thankfully Felicity didn’t keep Thea in the dark any longer about Roy still being alive.

The Hong Kong flashbacks finally got some payoff. Oliver, Maseo and Tatsu stop Shrieve’s men from spreading the Alpha/Omega bioweapon, but not before Maseo and Tatsu’s son, Akio, starts showing signs that he’s been infected.

Arrow - Al Sah-Him - Diggle and Black CanaryBack to the present day, Ra’s reveals he doesn’t want Oliver to kill Nyssa. Removing a vial from her sword base, Ra’s instead wants Oliver to marry her — oh and use the recovered Alpha/Omega drive on Starling City. Will Oliver regain his sense before or after consummating the marriage and creating a little Damian Queen?

I’m digging the new status quo even if Team Arrow isn’t and I’m fascinated in seeing what goes down in these final two episodes. Should be a lot of fun!

Arrow S:03 E:20

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title:The Fallen
Original Airdate: 4-22-15

There was a lot of good moments in this episode that on their own would have resulted in an obvious home-run, but too many decisions from earlier this season watered down what was poised to be one of the season’s most dramatic outings.

The main problem was yet again Oliver was saying goodbye to Felicity and Diggle. This season alone I can think of at least three other instances where Oliver has bid an emotional farewell to an ally and eventually it leads to diminishing dramatic returns when everything reverts to normal an episode or two later.

arrow-the-fallen-oliver-and-ras-al-ghulThis time should be more impactful as since the midseason finale, Oliver has resisted the lure of Ra’s al Ghul to become his heir only to be forced to accept the position in order to save Thea. There’s no turning back and everyone knows it, but a lot of the emotional sting was absent as we’ve been here too often this season.

Still, the actors delivered some of their best of the season with Amell conveying Oliver’s shock at seeing a bloody Thea, Emily Bett Rickards giving Felicity some fire as she confronts both Malcolm and Ra’s, the overall quiet composure David Ramsey provides as Diggle and Matt Nable shining in easily his best performance.

The Hong Kong flashback was more action-packed despite a lack of anything happening until Oliver fights one of Shrieve’s soldiers and the vial containing the Alpha/Omega compound shatters leading to….? Stay tuned.

arrow-the-fallen-ras-and-priestess

Thea coming back from being brain dead courtesy of The Lazarus Pit was fine, but hopefully there will be more repercussions for her dip in Ra’s “magic hot tub.” Felicity drugging Oliver after they made sweet Cinemax-worthy love (poor Ray) was funny as she reasoned there had to be some secret catacombs they could escape without Ra’s knowing. But in the end, Oliver is a man of his word even when dealing with The Demon’s Head and he agreed to become Ra’s heir.

The final scene of Ra’s branding Oliver with an arrow mark was tremendous as was the closing moments of Oliver Queen being figuratively buried and replaced by Ah Sah-Him, Heir to the Demon.
This wasn’t the sharpest outing, but next week teases some fascinating possibilities for a very fun episode.

The Flash S:01 E:18

Posted on by Bubbawheat

Episode Title: All Star Team Up
Original Airdate: 4-14-15

It’s been a little while since the last crossover, so it’s nice to see the return of Felicity Smoak and the introduction of Ray Parker also known as the Atom here in Central City. And as I haven’t been watching Arrow, I’ve brought in fellow writer here at Channel: Superhero Jeffrey Lyles, our Arrow correspondent to share his thoughts on the episode from Arrow’s perspective. But as for my own thoughts, there was a little bit of television trope tension involving keeping secrets and the tensions that creates between friends and lovers, and it never ends well. But other than that, there’s a lot of fun to be had throughout the episode which is one of the reasons why I love this show so much. There were a few rocky patches, but overall there was much more to enjoy than there was to criticize.
Continue reading The Flash S:01 E:18

Arrow S:03 E:17

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

 Episode Title: Suicidal Tendencies

Original Airdate: 3-252015

Atom vs. Arrow! Suicide Squad! Felicity stands by her man! One shocking character death! And the manhunt begins!

If anything, this week’s show was probably a little too jam packed with storylines that would have been better suited as focus of their own episode. Putting two significant storylines in one shortchanged both and didn’t give either enough time to breathe. In one sense, it certainly kept things moving. Continue reading Arrow S:03 E:17

Arrow S:03 E:16

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

 Episode Title: The Offer

Original Airdate: 3-18-2015

Oliver has to decide how effective his stint as the Arrow has been as Ra’s al Ghul offers him the opportunity to save not just Starling City, but the world as his replacement. Season 3 has been all about destiny, purpose and deception and their impact on the cast leading to some interesting character soul-searching and eventful episode. Continue reading Arrow S:03 E:16

Arrow S:03 E:15

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: Nanda Parbat

Original Airdate: 2-25-15

Consistently in “Arrow,” a little past the midway part of each season, the show feels less like your standard TV series and more these elaborately small scale movies. This week’s episode was the meaty middle act that finds our heroes at a crossroads as the burden of lies and guilt proves overwhelming for some leading to some unpredictable occurrences, the rise of a hero and a potential fall of another. Continue reading Arrow S:03 E:15

Arrow S:03 E:14

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: The Return
Original Airdate: 2-18-15

“Arrow” had more of a 50/50 flashback/present day ratio this week and it came at the expense of two really intriguing plots— Oliver’s return to Starling City and the latest chapter in his rivalry with Slade Wilson.

To hone their skills, Merlyn suggests Oliver and Thea head to the island, but he neglects to mention he freed Slade making it even more of a deathtrap than normal. Slade wastes little time taking out the Queen siblings and places them in his cell so they can experience his life since his failed attempt to destroy Starling City. They eventually escape and Oliver finally tells Thea that Merlyn made her kill Sara. Continue reading Arrow S:03 E:14

Arrow S:03, E:13

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: Canaries
Original Airdate: 2-11-15

This week’s outing marked a turning point for most of the characters and a significant shift to status quo as long held secrets finally came to the forefront that drastically impacts Team Arrow.

Most importantly, Merlyn convinced Oliver he had to finally admit to Thea he’s the Arrow so Merlyn can most effectively train them. I was dreading a long second half of the season arc where Thea is bitter and upset with Oliver, but surprisingly she’s incredibly grateful knowing he was sacrificing so much to protect the citizens of Starling. Their easygoing banter about Oliver’s crime-fighting exploits further indicated it was a great time for the show to pull the trigger on the last big reveal of Oliver’s secret identity. Quentin doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Continue reading Arrow S:03, E:13