insomniadreams88

I worry that even if the tracking nanites are in play that somehow Chase will come up with some way to disable them. And with little or no explanation as to how because he's always X steps ahead of Oliver.

I think even if there is a redemption arc for BS - which, if there is, what's the point? To ship her off elsewhere once it's done? I can't ever see her joining Team Arrow - she's starting off next season as a villain, if only to see her when she's not working for Chase. Even if she ends up working for/with next season's Big Bad (I can't see them making her the Big Bad), I think they might start her off as a villain working on her own. Because so far, we've only seen her working for other villains (Zoom, Chase).

Season 4 was the "lighter" season. You know, the one that started with a flashforward to a grave. And this season is the "back to basics." You know, the one where we had a guy with magical rags and now a meta canary cry on the team.

And eating the cake in the loft after everyone has been taken.

Nice catch. I was too distracted by the heart eyes and all the decorations to check.

I really hope we find out what Lance got Oliver: Can they please hold off on the kidnapping part of the episode long enough for Oliver to open presents?

Well, she was in ARGUS custody, right? She didn't have time to dye her hair. (Never mind that she apparently went and pierced her nose mid-episode in 510.)

I think someone forgot to tell Olicity they're not together? (Unless they are by this scene. But if they're not, someone forgot to tell them.) Also, I really hope someone told Lance about Black Siren before this episode.

It was confirmed for the finale? Maybe we'll get a repeat of the 2x23 beach scene, only it'll end with a kiss/reunion. I'm still going to keep assuming that something will happen in 5x22 - maybe not a full reunion, but at least a hint at one - because of TV 101 that something good happens before it all goes to hell. I don't think Oliver's birthday party is quite enough before all the kidnappings, but maybe it is for the writers?

It should be something like this. That Samantha was Chase's GF in the past and that she kept in contact with him because even though she apparently hid herself and William so well that Felicity can't find them, she also thought, "hey, talking to an ex and letting him know where I am while no one else does is a great idea! Also, I'm not going to stay up to date with anything happening in the city where my son's father lives just in case something's going on that could put us in danger because that would make sense. There's no way someone I know could be a crazy killer."

Rewatching the extended promo for 522, I can't help but wonder what Curtis was doing when Oliver flipped him to the floor. Going to hug him in the dark? Why wasn't he just standing with the others?

It sounds like Rene and Dinah are the first two to go missing, so is Dinah not at the party either? I don't think I saw her in the promo, but that doesn't mean anything. I'm guessing Lance tells the others that Rene missed his hearing and they all just figure he's off somewhere by himself maybe? But then after the party - I think Felicity's wearing the same earrings at the party as she is when she's in the green jacket in the bunker - they realize something's going on and maybe Rene's not off brooding? As much as I'm looking forward to any Oliver/Felicity interaction at his party, I'm also hoping for something with Felicity/Lance and/or Felicity/Thea since they'll be in the same room. At this point, I'm even willing to take them talking in the background. Just something.

I'm going to laugh if Rene has been taken, no one really notices because he's been busy at the mayor's office a lot lately/Lance thinks he just skipped out on the hearing, and they throw Oliver a party.

The shoulder touch is back! And as I said in the live thread, the touching ban has clearly been lifted. I did like that Felicity inspired Oliver to put the suit back on - even though it also has to do with the fact that for plot reasons, it had to happen in this episode, so I'm pretty sure she could have said, "Hey, Oliver, you look hot in the suit, put it on," and he would have for the exact same reason he gave the team. I am really annoyed that Chase found William but Felicity can't? I don't care how long he's been looking for him - where did he get those kind of skills? This is Felicity Smoak, like Oliver said. I can't buy that Chase can do something Felicity can't at a computer. I feel like even the team knows that none of them can die just yet. Being buried alive in concrete? "Meh, it's only the beginning of May, we can probably catch up on our DVRs and talk about it while Curtis and Dinah run from ... wherever they are." Were they around the corner? I don't think I paid enough attention to that. But they did get there pretty fast, at least to me. It was really good to see Thea again, and I'm glad she got to watch her father's video, but at the same time, part of me was going, "Wait, if you watch this now, that means it's not a loose thread they need to return to in the future, so now I'm worried about her future on the show." Still, show, see how much better things are when you let the characters with relationships you've spent years developing interact and be there for one another? The "fathers" part of the episode was just okay for me. I liked seeing more about Robert Queen, but it was so obvious that Chase was not just going to be taken down with words. He clearly is right where he wants to be. And dear god, Rene, what the hell? Someone save Lance from this storyline because I'm starting to not like Rene again. (And not just because he seems to suddenly be part-time Team Arrow, full-time Lance's assistant at the mayor's office for some reason?) Also, does it seem cruel to anyone else to have Lance stuck in a storyline where he's watching someone trying to get their daughter back (and getting close only to not show up, probably for reasons beyond his control, yes, but still) while one of his daughters is dead and the other is time-traveling Overall, not as good an episode as the last two, but better than most of rest of the season.

Uh, this has to be part of Chase's plan, right?

Words can really hurt.

Nice of him to let Oliver pin him long enough for Diggle and Curtis to get by.

I'm back to not particularly caring for Rene. Can we please get Lance into scenes with Felicity, Diggle and Thea?

The touching ban really has been lifted. Finally.

Am I the only one who expected the footage to be more, I don't know, grainy? But also, what else could have been on there?

Is Rene not on the team anymore?

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like there was no sense of urgency from Oliver or Diggle there. Just, "oh, concrete, being buried alive, okay."

I still think Rene should've waited until after they took care of Chase to get his daughter back.

There's still time! But honestly, I'd rather get Felicity and Thea in the same room. And talking to each other. It's so rare.

Okay, show, I expect a really good explanation as to how Chase found William but Felicity can't. Oh, wait, MG said we won't get one.