Introductory cast credits order (iirc): SA, DR, WH, EBR, EK and PB, with KC listed as guest star.
After reading spoilers, I was hesitant about watching this episode. But I'm glad I did because, to my surprise, I really liked it (maybe because my expectations were low). Yes, the action and stunt sequences were fantastic, but more importantly, the episode had a cohesiveness that kept me riveted to the screen. The Bratva flashback scenes were much better executed and connected to the present day storyline than last season. Yay - we find out Kovar's first name is Konstantin! I loved Anatoly's re-appearance and his dialogue exchanges with Oliver.
In the present day, I have to admit I love the badass Oliver who doesn't need three teammates to defeat the bad guy(s). Chad Coleman was fantastic playing a bad guy. Oliver's killing or not killing still seems a bit arbitrary. He didn't kill Anarky but just told Felicity to call the SCPD to pick him up. (Maybe because they're saving Anarky for a future episode?)
Of course, I didn't like the minimal screen time given to Diggle or reduced screen time given to Felicity, but I understood it for this episode, which was setting up the season. The primary focus of this show should be about Oliver. I liked that Oliver got to show off his fighting prowess again. I loved the trick arrows - the arrow into the computer, the arrow to the helicopter, and especially the parachute arrow. Remember all those times last season when he appeared to shoot his arrow straight up into the sky? Well, I guess we can now surmise that a parachute popped out and propelled him up into the air. I've never been a fan of Thea, so I didn't care for all of her screen time. However, that's just my preference.
As for the not-so-surprising "surprise" reveal of Felicity's new boyfriend at the end, I'm going to wait and see. This Detective Malone appears to be a good guy, and it's too early to know how serious it is. I'm not crazy about it, but I'm resigned to it... And we still don't know his first name. I'm also curious as to how they even met. Where does Felicity go when she's not in the Arrow Bunker?
The weakest part of this episode, by far, was Saint Laurel - the repeated reference to WWLD, Laurel wouldn't want that, etc. Just seemed like they retconned the actual Laurel that we've seen throughout the prevous four seasons (you know, the one who killed and advocated killing).
As for Laurel's last words to Oliver and what they mean? After watching this episode, I don't think she was asking him to train another Black Canary. I think she was concerned that what happened to her would lead Oliver to go it alone again. Consider these exchanges from last night's episode:
Oliver: "After what happened with Laurel, how can you ask me to put more people in the crosshairs?" Felicity: "I am not the one who is asking, or do you not remember the promise that you made to Laurel before she died? Laurel was thinking about the future. You need to think about yours."
Laurel: "Please... please don't let me be the last Canary. That way, a part of me will always be out there with you." Oliver: "I promise."
Also, remember that the SDCC highlight reel back in July included a clip where Laurel says to Oliver: "I need you to promise me something. Your instinct has always been to go it alone. Ollie, you can't." That clip was cut from last night's episode, but it's an indication of where they were going with this episode - which was to convince Oliver to add newbies to his team. He promised Laurel back in the spring that he would not let her be the last Canary (meaning, the last hero vigilante fighting beside him), but then he subsequently chose to go it alone to avoid anyone else on his team getting killed. But last night he finally left the land of denial and decided to recruit.
Of course, I could be wrong and the EPs changed their minds since SDCC and are indeed setting the stage for a future new Black Canary and love interest for Oliver - but that would be kinda odd and icky - that Oliver would have an almost Pavlovian response to hook up with anyone called "Canary" (Sara, Laurel, new girl).
Of course, I think Laurel's second sentence - "That way, a part of me will always be out there with you." - was unnecessary and kinda stalkerish. It also doesn't do her character any favors, simply underscoring the fact that she was still in love with Oliver and wanted him to carry a part of her with him always. If I were Oliver, I would've been creeped out by that last sentence coming from an ex-girlfriend.
And by the way, has Laurel forgotten about her sister Sara - the original Canary? She's still alive and kicking, so Laurel was not the "last Canary."
BTW, I noticed that Laurel's pic (you know, the photo that Oliver carried around on the island) is now framed and sitting on a table in Quentin's apartment. So to track that pic's journey: Laurel > Oliver > Laurel > Oliver > Quentin.
Hello... and goodbye to Mr. Poppy. Hello, Prometheus - a/k/a Dark Archer 2.0.
I'm actually looking forward to Oliver
I thought the Arrow season premiere was better than the Flash season premiere by a good country mile. YMMV. So next week we get to see Felicity on The Flash and Oliver on Legends!
