1. “Team Arrow” is taking shape
Everything involving Roy this week was great. I think his reaction to learning that Ollie is the Arrow was handled just about as well as could be expected. His temper, anger and naiveté are all realistic for a person of his age, education, background and chemical makeup. But Ollie says something really key before introducing him to Diggle and Felicity – too many people know who he is. Between Slade, Sara, “Team Arrow,” and Barry Allen, there are more potential leaks in that system than are preferred or, really, even tolerated.
Of course, everyone should know who the Arrow is – even with the mask, he’s not all that tough to identify. I have to hand it to Arrow – the disbelief I have to suspend the most when watching the show isn’t everyone just greeting him as Oliver when he shows up places.
2. As is the Suicide Squad
Bronze Tiger has been a poorly used part of the show, thus far. Considered one of the best martial artists in the world in the comics, here he has been taken down time and time again by the Arrow + co. However, bringing in Amanda Waller and creating a Suicide Squad is a great move – especially if the rumored Suicide Squad film is something they would still be interested in producing. We’ve seen Deadshot, we’ve seen Bronze Tiger, we’ve seen Count Veritigo – who can be next? My money is on Captain Boomerang next season (so Arrow and The Flash can crossover), but let’s go with…Vixen, as a liaison between the “good” Arrow and the “bad” Squad.
3. Wicked Moira is back
One of the more interesting developments of the first half of the season was Moira atoning for her sins. Well, that’s over. “Hey, ex-hubby, do me a solid? Go whack my OB-GYN, k? Thanks, bye.”
I get why the show wants that Moira back, as it creates lots of dramatic tension, but look around you, Arrow producers – you’ve got dramatic tension literally everywhere. Having Moira be anything other than evil is more interesting.
That said, I do sort of like the idea of the elite of Starling City, of which the Queens are obviously a part of, being resistant to Sebastian Blood’s charms/financially irresponsible plans for the city. That’s a nice bit of subtle storytelling, actually.
4. Laurel is at rock bottom
The beauty of the way that Sara revealed herself to Laurel this week is that, 1) Laurel is at her lowest point, and would be most willing to accept something nuts and hurtful without flipping the fuck out and, 2) it can be played up as a hallucination if need be. Overall, Laurel’s character has been dull this season, and needed a kick in the ass. Getting disbarred, falling prey to her father’s addictions, and now encountering Sara? Yeah, that works.
5. Diggle needs to do something
Who hasn’t been very interesting this season is Diggle. Roy is now Ollie’s muscle, and Felicity is firmly his intel, so what can Diggle do to get interesting again? What can Diggle do better than anyone else in Team Arrow? He’s a military man – maybe he becomes the strategist? Anything other than the “voice of reason in a dark suit,” because that doesn’t make for interesting TV.
