Arrow is really ramping up to its season finale, and that makes for a show that is flying by each week. Well, except for the flashbacks – but you knew that already. “Checkmate” is one of the show’s most tense hours for really odd reasons.
1. So…you never knew her last name?
I’m of the belief that you don’t knock a good story for a weird decision or two; my pal Greg Matiasevich blew up the timeline of The Empire Strikes Back for me, but it is still an amazing film. So, I’m not saying that this season of Arrow can’t recover from Ollie being trained by someone simply named Talia, without asking what her last name is. Who is she, Seal?
And let’s not pretend that Ollie would’ve had any clue with an ‘al Ghul’ was before season 3. It’s not like if she said “I’m Talia al Ghul,” he’d have come back with “Of the Nanda Parbat al Ghuls?” It might have been a weird surname, sure, but to just drop it all together seems bizarre. She didn’t even assume a last name? Talia Luhg-La? C’mon, now.
2. Hockey? Really?
I wish I knew as much about any location as the Arrow writers know about Russia. Vodka? Check. Organized crime? Check. Hockey? Check.
Next week, the flashback will feature them listening to Stravinsky while eating borscht. “Lenin’s tomb is something, eh comrade?” says another Russian stereotype Ollie encounters.
3. Felicity’s gamble
Felicity is walking a thin line with her further involvement into Helix* – part of what makes Felicity such an interesting character is her ability to cross certain lines without the difficulty that might be expected of her. The ease with which she has been able, in the past, to destroy a life, or take a bold risk, is at odds with her personality, which gives her unexpected depth. So, putting her into this situation – even with her clunky line about this much power being outside of the government – is an inspired one, and will lead to some interesting character choices for her.
That said, she’s already way in over her head. As Diggle pointed out, her empathy is her super power, and she’s getting deeper and deeper into the shit based on that empathy, and she’s eventually going to run afoul of Helix. She’s fine hacking when it is for the greater good (The Greater Good) as she sees it, but that won’t last forever. I hope the show explores this in detail, aka in season 6, as there is no way they can shoehorn it into this season in a satisfactory way.
4. This shouldn’t be this hard
Look, I know that this is a ‘new’ Ollie, but defeating Prometheus shouldn’t be this hard, especially when he gives zero fucks about his wife or, seemingly, about anyone that isn’t his mother. I’m not saying Ollie should kill him, either. But the dude goes from “I will not kill” to shooting down helicopters – he can break a brother’s leg or knock out his teeth, can’t he? Ollie will arrow any thug in the back when they’re faceless, but the second there’s a real character in place, he decides he can’t do that.
I know that last season sucked, but the team really struggled against a powerful villain; Prometheus is a dude with a bow and arrow and some dirt on Ollie. That’s it. Take the chump out!
5. Back to its roots
This may seem to contradict my previous point, but I stand by it: the show, by having Prometheus as the main villain, is bringing itself back to its roots. I’m glad that Team Arrow has a formidable opponent (even if it borders on too formidable) that doesn’t rely on magic or a gang of goons at their side. Adding in the Vigilante mystery gives another wrinkle to the mystery, and seeing the team (more or less) working together means that the show has recognized what makes Arrow special.
Keep it up, Berlanti and co.
*Helix is essentially the idea of hacking from Hackers 21 years^ into the future, where hacking is 90% visual.
Continued below^21 years? Fuck I’m old.#
#Everyone already knew that%
%Am I trolling myself?&
&Yes
