First time poster. I'm doing a season 1 re-watch and while Laurel and Oliver are definitely not as cringeworthy as I first felt on initial viewing, they really do have not much in the way of warmth or romantic chemistry.
I just watched episode 19, Salvation, and this episode shows Oliver in the aftermath of Helena/McKenna, and he's feeling all alone and lonely and isolated. Diggle insists on taking him out to dinner and cautions him against wrapping himself up in the "hood" life and foregoing making personal connections. Dig tells him that although Oliver's been away from the island for almost 8 months, it's as if he has never really left.
Then later in the episode Oliver walks outside Verdant and stands looking lost in the street, aimless. Romantic music begins (Stay by Rihanna) and then Laurel steps out of a cab. I think the way this scene played out on paper, Oliver is supposed to see Laurel and she is like a lighthouse on his bleak island, a familiar, much beloved face who is supposed to light his way back home (or something). They chat for a while and then he asks her if she wants to go out for coffee or dinner sometime. She asks "why?" in a rather hostile tone. He says "because I don't want to be on an island anymore".
Now this is quite a profound statement coming from Oliver. The episode title is "Salvation" and it's as though he is literally looking at her for a lifeline. His eyes and facial expression are all soft and longing and romantic, Stephen Amell really sells it. But Laurel, ugh, she just pats him on the shoulder in a condescending way and says "ok" and walks away. I mean there is just nothing there. This should have been an epic moment but instead just emphasizes that there is absolutely no charm or warmth between these two. I mean she does try (emphasize try) to give him this coquettish, over the shoulder look as she walks away but the acting choice does not match the intended tone of the scene. This is supposed to be a breakthrough moment for Oliver where we really see his walls starting to come down but it just falls totally flat.
In contrast, Oliver then shows up at the lair and gives Felicity the "if you ever need to tell anyone about your day, you can tell me" line. There is so much warmth in that moment which I didn't really notice the first time I watched but which is really obvious when contrasted against the previous L/O scene. It makes you really feel for Oliver because it's as if he didn't get any reciprocity from Laurel but he is still willing to be that shoulder for someone else.
I don't know, these producers have a very hard sell ahead of them if they want to convince us that L/O are "soul mates". There is just no "there" there.
