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NOC Recaps Arrow: Pulling Out the Arsenal

Constance Gibbs
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I got several notifications during both the East Coast and West Coast airings of this episode that said, “You were right.” And even though the following act proved me both right and wrong (somehow…), I feel so validated and honored that people listen to me. And that I am right.

If you’re reading this recap, then you’re going to be spoiled for the exit of a major character on Arrow. Continue at your own risk.

Okay, now that you’ve watched the episode or read any major entertainment site headline that told you exactly who was leaving the show, OMG ROY! I am glad to be proven both right and wrong: I knew he was leaving the show, but I really thought he would die. I figured his death would propel Oliver to the League of Assassins and would push Thea into either being Oliver’s sidekick or being a temporary nemesis. But instead ROY LIVES, and it is Thea who will push Oliver into becoming the new Demon’s Head.

If you’re still with us, this week’s episode of Arrow — fittingly called “Broken Arrow” — changes a lot of the series’ dynamics that will take us to the end of the season and beyond. There’s the business with Roy, the awkwardly hilarious Oliver/Felicity/Ray trio, the existence of metahumans in Starling City, and what happens to Thea.

I am so glad Roy’s alive! I knew something would happen to him, but the thought of the team losing another member so soon after Sara (and so soon after the trauma of Oliver being dead then alive again) would have been too much. As I stated earlier, I could see its narrative purpose, but I am glad they didn’t go that way. They crafted the reveal well. Even though I knew that Roy would die in the episode (I was spoiled via texts and tweets that said “you were right” since I watched the episode later in the evening, but then not spoiled by it being a reveal), my heart still sank as he lay bleeding on the floor.

I was sad to be correct and disappointed in his manner of death. But then they turned it around on us and Oliver who was locked out of the info loop. It’s about time really, he’s spent all season making unilateral decisions where he chooses what’s best of the team without informing them. Now he knows how it feels. I loved this moment of Team Arrow working together (without the Arrow).

Side thought: Is this the first episode where Oliver doesn’t suit up as the Arrow? I feel like there must be another (and I even mean early on where he wasn’t exactly in a suit. Even in the pilot he wears a hood at some point), but I can’t think of it. But aside from his virtual reality stint, he doesn’t really get to do much heroing. He’s a “broken arrow” indeed.

Roy’s absence is going to be interesting considering the end result of the episode. It seems like the kind of thing where they’d call him immediately to come back, I mean, it’s THEA after all. They’ll have to do some explaining as to why he doesn’t run back. But it’s nice to know that he can return any time, whether on Arrow, The Flash, or the new superhero team up show. Good luck on your other adventures, Roy.

Ray annoyed me less on Arrow this week than he has ever before! Progress?

(I’m still a bit miffed about Felicity co-signing his stalkage on The Flash this week, but that’s another story.) Humility looks good on you, Palmer. The awkward tensions between Ray and Felicity (after his “L” bomb drop — I’m sorry “l” — last week), between Oliver and Ray (because Oliver needs to rely on Ray for help and has to watch the love of his life make googly eyes at him), and the surprisingly good vibes between Oliver and Felicity all made for great dynamics and one liners.

When the metahuman starts robbing banks in Starling, Oliver is anxious to help, but with Lance’s men tailing him, he can’t suit up or fight crime. Felicity offers Ray’s help (with her cutest face) and Oliver reluctantly agrees because he is all out of options. Ray is way too hyper (he should lay off the caffeine a bit…) and has little sense of “right place, right time.” I know people have begrudged Felicity’s somberness this season, but she has a stronger sense of when a light-hearted joke is lifting the mood or completely inappropriate.

Ray has still has no skills beyond his tech, which Oliver calls him on after his failed run in with Fake Cyclops, but with Oliver’s mentor help, Ray manages to pull through in the end. It was great seeing Oliver SO uncomfortable in Ray’s lab. His crossed arms, the visible tension rolling through his body, the awkward high-five that must have merely been reflex…

Oliver was so physically uncomfortable and restrained.

Fave Quotes from AwkwardCity Times:

None of you are a DUFF Felicity, and Robbie Amell isn’t here.

“Stop calling it a team up, Ray.”

“The moment you gt in over your head…” “I’ll run. Fly, probably.”

“Stay focused, Ray.” That’s his Felicity line!

“There’s a decent chance you and Palmer are related.”

Oliver throwing ample amounts of shade. But the glare Felicity gives him leads to this look which I took a photo of from my phone because I happened to be paused on it’s brilliance.

Is that fear, Oliver? LOL

“Do you get this anxious when I’m out in the field?” “I honestly can’t think of an answer to that question that doesn’t get me in trouble.”

I really love mentor Oliver.

“If you rely on the suit more than you rely on yourself, it’s going to get you killed.”

Then, when Roy is attacked in prison, Oliver wants to run after him, but Felicity and Diggle won’t let him. When he gets outside (completely ignoring Diggle, which we’ll talk about briefly later), he and Felicity have a heart to heart.

“You’re struggling with doing nothing.”

“Right now you need people to help you. You need to let them.”

“I was told once that a man cannot live by two names. Right now, I can’t live by either.”

I thought this season would be Oliver working towards learning to deal with the duality of his selves towards the end of the season, but rather they’re erasing both and applying a new one upon him which is I presume will lead him back towards Starling with a renewed sense of identity. I wasn’t expecting them to burn himself to his core, but as Felicity says, no matter which suit he wears, he’s the same man (that she LOOOOOOOVES, but she caught herself).

“You need practice in letting people help you.”

Yeah, I’m just quoting every Oliver/Felicity moment because it’s not only about their relationship — and Felicity needing to make BANK off her of her Superhero Psychiatry Practice (even at 5¢ a chat, she’d be making some good money with all the help she’s provided Oliver, Diggle, Laurel, Ray, and Barry), but also about instilling these words in Oliver through someone he trusts. I can’t imagine he’ll learn the lesson right away, not with him impending League of Assassins role, but I’m hoping they will come back to him when he needs his humanity the most.

Back to the plot, when the evil Scott Summers goes after Felicity, Ray and Oliver must work together to save her. She’s not completely helpless, she manages to get away in time for Ray to come in (with Oliver’s instincts) to save the day. Wasn’t there a show in the 90s about Virtual Reality crime fighting maybe? VR5? It reminded me of that show.

“I really hope you played video games as a kid.” “I’m trying to concentrate.” Also, there was Felicity’s line on the Flash about Ray being a Barry in an Oliver like body and here is Oliver in Ray’s body? No wonder poor girl is confused and in denial.

In the end, Ray sees Felicity and Oliver’s special connection (partly because Diggle the shipper DIPPED and let them talk alone. He’s an expert at navigating the third wheel) and it makes him think about a lot.

Of course this is a wonderful shipper moment (the way she scoops his arm thooooo!), but it isn’t just about Felicity. Roy just sacrificed the life that he knows, his relationship with Thea, and his position on Team Arrow to save Oliver’s life. That’s love right there.

Our Cyclops rip-off (his name was Simmons, which is close to Summers), named Deathbolt by Ray and Cisco, is taken to the particle accelerator tunnel prison.

He also looks a bit like Peter Capaldi (the 12th Doctor from Doctor Who)

Cisco realizes that the guy’s last known address in Central is not where he was on December 11th, when the particle accelerator went off. Fake Cyclops was in Starling (!), meaning that the dark matter blast spread beyond Central City! This does a couple of things:

I know Cisco appears on Arrow sometime soon (probably next episode right?), which I’m glad for because more of him on our TV screens is a wonderful thing.

And finally, we get to Thea. Poor sad, lonely, drunken Thea. I can’t even tell if she’s been told at this moment about Roy (or does she think he’s dead still?) but Ra’s chose the perfect time to come after her. Thea weakly attempts to fight back (Why? Why do that to yourself?), but Ra’s SLAMS HER INTO A GLASS TABLE STABS HER AND LEAVES HER THERE. With the insinuation that Oliver will choose to become the Demon’s Head in order to save Thea’s life.

Yikes! Just when we’re losing Roy, Thea gets into some new trouble.

Time for a trip to Nanda Parbat!

Flechettes:

Well, we’re heading towards the final arc, which is usually good. In fact, this episode was better than the last few have been, including great lines, character moments, and twists.

Yes, get back on track, Arrow! There’s a lot riding on these last few episodes for a lot of (coughDaredevilcough) fans, so I hope you exceed my utter faith in you.

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