Art Feature Reviews 

Five Thoughts on Arrow’s “Nanda Parbat” [Review]

By | February 26th, 2015
Posted in Art Feature, Reviews | 9 Comments

Before a two week break, we get an episode of Arrow jammed with questionable logic and poor decision making. Let’s get into it!

1. A Ra’splacement

So, I’m not going to bury the lede here: the episode ends with Ollie being approached to take over the mantle of Ra’s al Ghul and lead the League of Assassins. This idea, that Ra’s is a title, and one that can be passed on to others, has been hinted at in other media before, but it takes something away from what makes Ra’s the best (in my opinion) Bat-villain.

But for Arrow? I think this idea works pretty well. Now, granted, Ollie’s never going to accept – that’s as much of a given as the fact that Thea is going to flat out say who she has for Secret Santa next year (more on her inability to shutter her yapper later). But the idea that Ollie has fashioned himself into such a warrior that Ra’s takes notice, well, that’s a fun place for the story to go.

The logic still escapes me a bit, though – pert near a month ago, Ra’s stuck this dude with a sword and left him for dead – the only reason he’s still alive is because of a divorced couple that Ollie was previously friendly with, where the husband, who happens to be in the League’s employ, takes pity on him/allows Ollie’s past kindness to inform him. And yet, Ra’s still wants that guy to take over for him? That’s like a guy winning the field goal challenge at an NFL game by slipping on a banana peel and accidentally using a rocket launcher to kick a field goal replacing his team’s kicker a few weeks later.

2. “It’s OK John, go orphan your child!”

The Diggle family needs to go to therapy. They seriously make some horrid personal decisions this week, the worst of which is Lyla encouraging Diggle to go with Ollie. Let’s not forget something really important here: Lyla is an A.R.G.U.S. agent. She is fully aware that Ra’s al Ghul is the most dangerous man on the planet, and she knows that Ollie was nearly killed last time, and she knows that Ollie’s combat skills are far superior to Dig’s, and she knows that the location is secret and that finding him on some sort of rescue mission is next to impossible. But still, she’s like, “John, put down that teddy bear, and pick up your shaving kit and neck pillow; you’ve got a trip to take. Also, take my boss’s jet there. No big whoop. I’ll make sure you look nice in your casket.”

3. “I know I’m essentially your slave, but want to be my best man?”

The Diggle/Ollie relationship is one that I get very uncomfortable with for a few reasons. What it, essentially, boils down to is this: Diggle is Oliver’s slave in all but name. Let’s set the scene: Ollie has no money anymore (a plot point that is hilariously ignored constantly), so he isn’t getting paid. He is the member of the team that’s opinion should be trusted the most – he was a soldier, he’s been with Ollie the longest – and yet, when was the last time Oliver took anything Dig said seriously? Never is my guess.

Not only that, but Ollie takes the time to train Roy, he gives Felicity control of the information, he lets Laurel keep her stupid wig in his workshop, and what does Diggle get? Maybe Ollie bought him that leather jacket a few years ago? The show excels at building relationships between characters, but Diggle is such a wasted character, and having him be so inept, and yet in awe of Ollie, just makes him sad.

4. Hopefully his suit is the only thing that shrinks

So, I didn’t want to talk about this because I like to imagine that the fictional Felicity Smoak is waiting for me to be written into Arrow so we can fall fictionally in love, but I must honor my journalistic tendencies: Rayicity sealed the deal tonight. She couldn’t resist his shirtless magic (and, let’s be fair, who could blame her?), and she kissed him, and he kissed her right back and then some (some = sex).

Continued below

This union, of course, makes sense: she’s pined for Ollie, who’s too in love with justice for her, she’s pined for Barry, who is too in love with a boring, boring Iris to commit to her, so she’s moving on to a guy who’s name doesn’t end with an “e” sound. We also got our first look at the A.T.O.M. suit and, thus far, it looks to just be a fancy jetpack with blue streaks. I am excited to see how they work in the shrinkage, and I can’t wait for Hawkman to show up so they can have their classic friendship.

Side note: remember Hawkman on Smallville? I’m pretty sure that was just a dude doing a Jesse “The Body” Ventura impression with some wings on.

5. Thea just can’t shut the fuck up

At this point, I wouldn’t let Thea anywhere near me when I’m using my debit card, because she would see my pin code and shout it through the mall/tweet it out right away. What is she thinking? The writers are calling this guilt, but this is something else – are we supposed to believe that she is legitimately self destructive? We see her as a junkie in flashbacks, we know her personal life is a mess when she let DJ Dip Shit spin his record in her booth (high five), and she seems legitimately unable to have any sort of friendships/relationships that don’t end with her confessing how terrible of a person she is – except for the fact that, in this instance, she did nothing wrong except be the spawn of a dickhead.

Tell me how you’re going to be spending the next two weeks in the comments.


//TAGS | Arrow

Brian Salvatore

Brian Salvatore is an editor, podcaster, reviewer, writer at large, and general task master at Multiversity. When not writing, he can be found playing music, hanging out with his kids, or playing music with his kids. He also has a dog named Lola, a rowboat, and once met Jimmy Carter. Feel free to email him about good beer, the New York Mets, or the best way to make Chicken Parmagiana (add a thin slice of prosciutto under the cheese).

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