S04.E05: Haunted

[apinknightmare]

I wonder if Sara's soul was in the Pit because that's where it was before Laurel demanded a dip (even though it makes no sense for her to be stuck there) or if she was somewhere else and got stuck there because of some Pit juju. Was that brought up in the ep and I missed it? Maybe that's something we need to hear about from Sara, if we ever get her POV on the whole thing. But since it seems like we'll be seeing her a week or more after the fact, probably not.

Edited November 9, 2015 by apinknightmare

[AyChihuahua]

I think the little there is in the episode about what souls and afterlives signify in this universe point to Laurel at least believing that souls exist. Oliver says the LP resurrected Sara's body, and Laurel is the one that finishes with "but didn't bring back her soul". But that's pretty much it. There's nothing in the text that said anyone believed Sara's soul was in a bad place before Constantine showed up and revealed it so.

Except, since her soul was trapped in the LP, it was most likely the actual resurrection that trapped her soul there.  Her soul was probably off somewhere happily jaunting about in a grassy meadow, with no bugs except nice ones like cicadas, sunshine, a light breeze, and lots of puppies and kittens gamboling about.  (That's my idea of heaven anyway.)  And then she was yanked out and thrown into a monstrous version of Nanda, which is already plenty monstrous. 

 

So yeah, Laurel sucks ass.

[Sakura12]

I'm going with Sara's soul was somewhere else, Laurel threw her in the Pit and her soul got sucked into it. 

I also don't think we'll get much on where Sara was, at least not on Arrow. They'll go over her bloodlust and she'll try to move on from that like she does for everything else. 

Edited November 9, 2015 by Sakura12

[AyChihuahua]

I'm going with Sara's soul was somewhere else, Laurel threw her in the Pit and her soul got sucked into it. 

I also don't think we'll get much on where Sara was, at least not on Arrow. They'll go over her bloodlust and she'll try to move on from that like she does for everything else. 

Agree.  It really makes no sense for her soul to have been in the Pit prior to her resurrection, as she had nothing to do with the Pit, other than probably having seen it, before Laurel stuck her in it.  Even if she had been in hell or something, why would her version of hell be the Lazarus Pit?  

[tarotx]

The show said that the pit has a little piece of everbody who bathed on it. I can assumed that it was most of Sara instead of just a piece.

But the thing is with them adding Constantine, I have to assume there is an afterlife. Not just the nothingness of death. He mentioned Angels on Arrow but Heaven and Lost souls to underworld&demons is a very real thing within his world.

Edited November 9, 2015 by tarotx

[BunsenBurner]

Maybe the right prayers or spells weren't said because no one knew them. It was said after all that it had been forever since anyone had ever brought back someone from the long been dead if ever.

Edited November 9, 2015 by BunsenBurner

[kismet]

Was on Tumblr and they did a parallel between when SL in s2 told OQ that she "looked into the eyes of the devil and gave her soul to the devil" and he offered to get it back. So kudos to him for keeping his promise. But I brought it up, because it makes me made that they were so lackluster on the whole hot tub rescue. After setting up such a big statement in s2, I feel like they should have had more of devilish or dark-eyed presence in the hot tub vision quest. Like somehow O, L & C really did have to battle to take back her soul. We don't really know about  the afterlife on ARROW, but clearly SL felt she had pre-booked her destination on the devil's tourbus. I just wish the writers had remembered some of what they set up in s2, so as to pay better homage to her sacrifice & loss. Instead of finding the easiest way to explain reversing the tub's effects one simply has to climbing out of it instead of leap frogging.

 

http://dettiot.tumblr.com/post/132875764699/jorahandal-saras-soul

[dtissagirl]

The show said that the pit has a little piece of everbody who bathed on it. I can assumed that it was most of Sara instead of just a piece.

 

Sure. Sara's soul was trapped in the pit for a couple of weeks [maybe it felt like more for her, but we also don't know].  But where was Sara's soul the full year before she was dumped into the pit? That's the unanswered question, and the show didn't establish anything about that. Which they should have, through Laurel, but they couldn't be bothered, because that's how they always write Laurel.

[tarotx]

I know. That's why I went onto talking about how afterlife is a real thing on Constantine. Guess I didn't get my point across. They have to address Sara's experience because of their decision to bring Constantine into this universe.

Sure. Sara's soul was trapped in the pit for a couple of weeks [maybe it felt like more for her, but we also don't know]. But where was Sara's soul the full year before she was dumped into the pit? That's the unanswered question, and the show didn't establish anything about that. Which they should have, through Laurel, but they couldn't be bothered, because that's how they always write Laurel.

[Chaser]

Was on Tumblr and they did a parallel between when SL in s2 told OQ that she "looked into the eyes of the devil and gave her soul to the devil" and he offered to get it back. So kudos to him for keeping his promise. But I brought it up, because it makes me made that they were so lackluster on the whole hot tub rescue. After setting up such a big statement in s2, I feel like they should have had more of devilish or dark-eyed presence in the hot tub vision quest. Like somehow O, L & C really did have to battle to take back her soul. We don't really know about  the afterlife on ARROW, but clearly SL felt she had pre-booked her destination on the devil's tourbus. I just wish the writers had remembered some of what they set up in s2, so as to pay better homage to her sacrifice & loss. Instead of finding the easiest way to explain reversing the tub's effects one simply has to climbing out of it instead of leap frogging.

 

http://dettiot.tumblr.com/post/132875764699/jorahandal-saras-soul

That gifset and the one that parallels Oliver and Sara's journeys gets me emotional about their relationship. Seriously, if they need Oliver to have a platonic female relationship give me Oliver and Sara.

 

Sure. Sara's soul was trapped in the pit for a couple of weeks [maybe it felt like more for her, but we also don't know].  But where was Sara's soul the full year before she was dumped into the pit? That's the unanswered question, and the show didn't establish anything about that. Which they should have, through Laurel, but they couldn't be bothered, because that's how they always write Laurel.

 

This whole thing just reminds of me WM's interviews, esp her latest one. It was long and Laurel wasn't mentioned once. In fact, Laurel is hardly ever mentioned in WM's interviews unless the question is a Laurel question or related to Lance. Sounds like an afterthought.

Edited November 9, 2015 by 10Eleven12

[statsgirl]

That gifset with Sara opening up to Oliver and telling him she gave the devil her soul just shows how not close she was to Laurel.  Did we ever see her saying anything that personal to her sister?  And with Oliver in the past and present offering to help her get it back, and Laurel doing nothing here until Constantine had turned down Sara, kind of says a lot.

 

I wonder if the soul thing was planned or yet another happy coincidence.

 

The problem here is this would have been an entirely different storyline, one that would be about Laurel's lack of faith being tested. They would have had to establish Laurel as an atheist who believes nothing happens after death. Which also means not believing that souls exist. And then she would have been proven wrong, because she brought Sara's soul back not from nothingness, but from an afterlife that she herself saw in the vision quest. But this is not Arrow, nor it is Laurel at all.

They really don't give Laurel any complex emotional storylines at all, do they?  Thea got bloodlust, Sara is going to get dealing what she did when she got out of the Pit plus possibly bloodlust but Laurel doesn't get a moment to wonder if she did the right thing, not even when Sara goes cray-cray.  I'd really like to know why,

[Sakura12]

Oliver and Sara have a reason to stay friends with their sordid history. They spent a year on the hellish island together, they survived together. They both thought the other was dead at one point (for Sara once, Oliver 4 times but still the point remains). That type of stuff bonds you for life. Laurel has no such connection to Oliver. She can walk away and Oliver can walk away from her. He can't and probably won't walk away from Sara. 

 

I really hope we get a Sara re-meets the team in this weeks episode. Just because it will show how connected Sara was to them. Thea was going to give her life to help her, Felicity saved her life, Diggle named his daughter after her and Oliver kept his promise to save her soul. 

Edited November 9, 2015 by Sakura12

[statsgirl]

Getting a "Sara re-meets the Team" scene would make sense.  I'm expecting it to be skipped because it's only the Laurel/Sara relationship that matters.

[Sakura12]

it's only the Laurel/Sara relationship that matters.

 

This season it does. It didn't seem to matter in season 2 or 3. 

[kismet]

I really hope for a meeting between Sara & the Diggles. Because that is an honor to name a child after someone, especially as the first name. That shows a closeness or at least a deep respect.

[bijoux]

Oliver and Sara have a reason to stay friends with their sordid history. They spent a year on the hellish island together, they survived together. They both thought the other was dead at one point (for Sara once, Oliver 4 times but still the point remains).

They really do like killing Sara. I can't even remeber all four times and was shocked when I read it now. Four?! I've got The Queen's Gambit, The Amazo and her death last year. What am I missing?

[Sakura12]

I'm counting her sort of death by snake venom. She was saved by the magical herbs. She kind of looked like she died for a second. 

Edited November 9, 2015 by Sakura12

[bijoux]

I'm counting her sort of death by snake venom. She was saved by the magical herbs. She kind of looked like she died for a second.

Ah, thanks. I honestly handwave that away since it was only a minute and up until that point Oliver believed she was dead for a year or longer.

[Sakura12]

If we're going to be technical than she only died once. The other times Oliver thought she was dead. :D

 

Then we have Oliver saw or thought he saw her die 4 times, for everyone else it was twice. 

[tv echo]

Maybe she was simply saving Sara from the nothingness of death itself. Do we have any indication in show of heaven or hell or purgatory (or that the writers themselves have any belief in an afterlife)? If you believe this life is all there is, then....  

 

I agree with tarotx.  If the Flarrow universe is the same one inhabited by John Constantine, then there is a Heaven and a Hell.  However, I doubt the EPs even thought that deeply about it, but just framed it as Laurel 'saving' Sara from 'death'.

 

The more I think about this episode, the more I believe that it was intended just to bring back Sara in a way that justified keeping Laurel in Oliver's life, with a reason for a guest appearance by Constantine as a bonus.

Edited November 10, 2015 by tv echo

[statsgirl]

I feel like it's writing for plot again -- bring back Sara + give Laurel a storyline + mend Lauriver fences.

 

Which is okay but they forgot the part about writing Laurel so that the audience is rooting for her once again. It wouldn't have been hard; have her acknowledge that she misses Sara so much she acted hastily, have her say to Oliver that she didn't tell him about Sara because she wanted to fix her own mistakes herself (rather than because she didn't want his judgey face), have her insist on being one of the people who gets Sara back in the vision quest because she made this situation rather than Thea volunteering and then Oliver deciding Laurel should be the other one.

[AudienceofOne]

I am enjoying this season but I could have done without all this souls/angels/demons/spirituality nonsense in it. This is the reason Constantine was such a terrible show and why the Messengers didn't work either. The problem with Catholic biblical literalism is that it doesn't make any sense. Trying to make a TV show about it just highlights that. All these elements were meant to be metaphorical so trying to make literal sense of them makes them nonsensical. I get that this was in the comics so that's the source material. But I always liked the lack of supernatural elements in Arrow.

[BunsenBurner]

I found this on twitter and I have to say it is exactly how I feel. It was probably not written by her but I'll give her the credit.

 

tanya
‏@tatia_martynova
bless! go spend 5 years in hell, be tortured 100 times and watch your parents die before eyes then we'll talk. maybe

 

Arrow needs to stop deliberately comparing Oliver and Laurel as vigilantes. Oliver shouldn’t see Laurel as his equal on Team Arrow 3.0 because she isn’t his equal. If Oliver decided to pick up a briefcase and start spending his days at the courthouse like an attorney, he wouldn’t be Laurel’s equal in the law. Vigilantism is and has been Oliver’s profession for years now, the plot needs to not require him to dilute his own skills to make Laurel feel better about her amateur status.  All of the characters have their flaws, and Laurel’s biggest is that she can be a loose cannon that needs to have a wet blanket thrown on her from time to time.  It just shouldn’t come at the cost of the hero’s reputation.

 

 

[JenMD]

That's from Laura Hurley's most recent What Needs to Happen Next.

[BunsenBurner]

Excellent thank you,

[GreatAtBoats]

Oh, that nonsense is from Laura Hurley. Makes sense now.

[quarks]

I abandon you guys for one week and you fill up eight pages of commentary, with detailed analysis of what might, or might not, have been hand sex.

 

This forum :)

 

After all of that, it would seem that I have nothing to add, but since that's never stopped me before, and since I'd like to prove that this episode didn't quite break me:

 

Good things:

 

1. John Constantine! Still not entirely sold on the idea of watching his show, but the character worked here.

 

2. John Constantine scratching himself with a nice dead peacock feather. Never accuse this show of subtlety. 

 

3. The Diggle/Quentin partnership. It helps that they are two of the better actors on the show, but their interactions had a gravitas and tension that, oddly, the "Go get the soul!" plot lacked. Diggle's reaction to getting the file on his brother was one of the best scenes in the episode.

 

4. Caity Lotz pulls off bug-eyed soulless crazy better than expected.

 

5. I'm beginning to think that season 4 is the year of Thea/Willa Holland. She's not just getting a few great lines here and there ("We couldn't get a reservation!") but also some great moments: volunteering to sacrifice herself for Sara not once but three times (hi, Laurel!), arguing on behalf of her roommate and friend, and her strategic moment of tricking Sara. 

 

6. Curtis Holt also continues to be a lot of fun. The decathlon moment felt a bit forced, but energy drinks and not judging about Nicholas Sparks, hee.

 

7. The Oliver/Felicity loft scene.  Quiet, yet natural. I also liked that they are both confident enough to be able to just discuss their exes without rancor. I am going to leave out any detailed discussion of whether or not that counted as hand sex.

 

8. By mentioning the temptation of cupcakes, and then refusing to actually serve any cupcakes, Damien Darkh has now cemented his role as my favorite villain on Arrow.

 

9. "I parachuted in on a secret spy mission." Gotta love the occasional moments when Arrow admits, in script, to just how ridiculous its plots are.

 

10. "This is your overlord, Felicity Smoak."

 

"We have a PA system?"

 

"Yet another decision I may live to regret."

 

More of this, please.

 

11. Ok, it's wrong, but I did have to laugh when Sara quelled her unstoppable blood lust for Thea the second she realized Laurel was in the vicinity.

 

12. Really liked some of the camerawork in this episode, as well as certain staging decisions – having Sara nearly always between Oliver and Laurel, and, in the resurrection scene, putting Felicity, Diggle and Thea on one side, and the Lances on the other, suggesting the ongoing opposition. Nice to see a return to very different camera angles as well.

Questionable things:

 

1. "Laurel Lance is a constant reminder of that." She's a constant reminder of many things, show, but reminding us of this reminder might not be a great move.

 

2. I realize at this point I really need to give up all hope that the flashbacks are going to make any sense whatsoever, but why are the drug lords driving jeeps around the evil island? Where are they getting their gas from? The Evil Island Gas Station?

 

3. Awww. Even after killing a few people and torturing someone to death to the point where even Amanda Waller is impressed, Oliver Queen is still pure of heart….wait, what?

 

4. Oliver, we're in season four. By now you should not be surprised when ANYONE asks you to take off your shirt. ANYONE.

 

5. Ok, so, let me see if I understand this: Sara is drawn to Thea thanks to this bloodlust/LoA thing, but at the same time, a) is also just drawn to Thea lookalikes, b) doesn't realize/sense that Thea is still in the building and not limping away, wounded?

 

6. Has Thea ever thought of reopening Verdant, given that she still apparently has keys to the place, lots of drug connections, and no other job?

Bad things:

 

1. "She knew exactly which hospital room she could find you in." Or, alternatively, Oliver, Sara just decided to head to the only hospital room ever used on the show, risking the chance that she might end up in Central City under Caitlin's care. Speaking of which, Arrow and Flash, I am bored with this hospital room, especially since you have occasionally pulled out the hospital furniture to use it for other things.  Any chance of switching the set around for the hiatus?

 

2. Evil Island, Evil Hatch. Far be it for me to argue with Constantine, but I'm not sure the Evil Island draws Evil People to it. I think it just draws bad plots.

 

3. But speaking of Bad Plots, much though I love finding out that Oliver is pure of heart, you've only got a little under two seasons to turn his Pure Heart into a Killer Heart, show!

 

4. The entire visit to the LoA Hell Dimension seemed pretty underwhelming. Also, rushed. And, alas, my hopes that it was rushed so that we could see how, exactly, Sara was doing after all that and if ANYONE HAD BOTHERED TO GET THE POOR GIRL A SHOWER AND A CLEAN OUTFIT were dashed.

 

Especially odd since, at least in theory, the entire jumping into a hell dimension was to save Sara. I realize that this was all part of the Oliver healing his relationships with all of the regular characters before one of them tragically died, thus the Oliver having healing moments with Thea and Laurel, but still I was sort of expecting a follow up scene with Sara.

 

5. The underwhelming LoA Hell Dimension created another problem: for all of Constantine's "This is seriously dangerous," all of them returned without a single scratch.  Oliver's gotten worse injuries from street fights. And given that Ra's said something last season about Damien Darhk having some Lazarus Pit water, I think we're meant to assume that at least some of the stuff is out there. Why hesitate to use it? As Oliver said, people will do anything to see some people again, and if the price is some fun with water and an interdimensional trip to a hot tub, why not? And given that Arrow shares a universe with Flash's time travelling shenanigans,

 

6. Why did the LoA Hell Dimension give Constantine, Oliver and Laurel weapons to fight the stunt guys with?  Wouldn't it have been more challenging for them to fight without weapons?

 

7. Yikes, that dangling guy in the LoA Hell Dimension is the first hands down sloppy wire work we've seen on the show, like....uh, ever. Suggestion, Arrow: since that's a difficult effect to pull off, never try to do it anymore.  The physical fights in other scenes were much better.

 

And now, Laurel:

 

This episode brought up many, many important questions about Laurel Lance, chief among them, why, is she, as a DA or the Black Canary, showing up to a crime scene where cops are still present in jeans, a T-shirt, and leather jacket, without even tucking her shirt in? 

 

And we were doing so well with Laurel this season.

 

Well. At least with the wardrobe.

 

Running a close second: how, exactly, can Laurel fail so much in what was easily her best episode since season one, and arguably for the entire season?

 

Number of times Laurel fails as an attorney: 1) Concealing the identity of a murderer who is not, technically, her client, 2) see wardrobe fail comment above. (Also, at this point, how is she doing her job? Thea, Oliver and Diggle are otherwise unemployed, and Felicity can presumably delegate and/or continue to make decisions while letting her computers watch for issues, but how, exactly, is Laurel training, chasing bad guys, participating in Arrow meetings, and handling things over at the DA's office now that yet another DA is dead? Has she simply realized that in this city, being the DA is almost certain kidnapping and death?)

 

Number of times Laurel fails as a vigilante: 1) Failing to inform her fellow vigilantes that a crazy, soulless ex assassin is on the loose, 2) Failing to stop Sara in the club, needing Oliver to come to her rescue, 3) talking about Oliver's secret identity in a nice loud voice in a hospital hallway, like, first of all, Laurel, hospitals are uncomfortable places where the least you can do is stay quiet so that other patients can try to get some rest, instead of waking them up, and second, secret identitylike this is again why people don't tell you things, 4) Leaving an injured Thea alone in a hospital room right after learning that Thea is the target of said soulless ex assassin, 5) Failing to notice the soulless ex assassin entering Thea's room, 6) Deciding to just stand in the doorway as Sara merrily tossed Thea from the bed and jumped out the window, 7) Not bothering to at least go to the window to see what direction Sara was running to (I realize that was a production decision, to avoid a second overhead shot, but still), 8) Standing in the doorway again while Oliver brought down the LoA Hell Dimension Stunt Guys, 9) needing Oliver's help to drag Sara out of a hot tub, like, REALLY? Caity Lotz may be muscled, but she's still skinny and not all that tall. She can't weigh that much. 10) letting Constantine and Oliver do all of the fighting against the Hell Dimension Stunt Guys instead of saving her sister herself.

 

Number of times Laurel fails as a human being: 1) Blaming Oliver for not telling her about Thea and the Lazarus Pit, like, Laurel, Felicity, Diggle, Thea, Nyssa and Malcolm also failed to tell you about the Lazarus Pit, so this is hardly all on Oliver, 2) complaining that Oliver doesn't see her as an equal, like, again, Laurel, Oliver has been vigilanting for years now. You have been vigilanting for about a year, and that's only if I include your first outing in which you got thoroughly beat up  3) Asking a guy visiting his sister in the hospital if he's ever asked what she (Laurel, not the sister) might be going through, 4) failing to think about what the two Thea look alikes and Sara's other victims might be going through, 5) focusing on herself instead of the person IN A HOSPITAL BED and the person who has lost her sooooouuulllll, 6) in the hands down most WTF Laurel moment of the entire episode and arguably the series, announcing that her father and Oliver will just see Sara as this thing and try to kill her, only to see Sara as just this thing and try to kill her, 7) letting THEA, who has just been attacked by Sara, and Oliver, who wasn't responsible for this, volunteer to go save Sara before she did; 7) NEEDING TO GET ASKED BY OLIVER TO GO SAVE HER SISTER, like, LAUREL, PEOPLE DIED BECAUSE YOU WERE SO INSISTENT ON SAVING SARA AND NOW YOU HAVE TO BE ASKED TO JUMP INTO A HELL DIMENSION TO GO SAVE HER?

 

It's not that Laurel lacked her good moments – like her scene with Thea, where she finally apologized, and told Thea that her death wasn't a cure. That's a Laurel that I could get behind if that Laurel appeared more than once every eight episodes. She even sorta had a point when she called Oliver out on his hypocrisy, in the sense that Oliver is a major hypocrite, although it was also a point that really should have been made at another time, and the show has never given us a reason to think that Oliver should tell Laurel anything: generally speaking, whenever he does, it leads to terrible things, as far back as season 1, episode 4, where Oliver telling Laurel something led directly to a prison revolt and the near death of several people. And of course, that statement was followed up by two of Laurel's worst statements of the episode: her "Did you ever stop to think about what I might be going through?" somehow making the murders of several people and an attack on her friend all about how awful it's making her feel, and her statement that she just wants Oliver to think about her family, like, first of all, Laurel, Oliver caring about Sara was exactly what got all of you into this mess in the first place (with a little help from our friendly neighborhood murderer Malcolm), and second, Oliver has saved your life and Quentin's multiple times.  (Not Dinah's, but since it's not at all clear that Laurel stays in touch with her mother, let's not count on that.)

 

But what's odd is that although three scenes (Thea's Go Lances Go scene, the hallway scene, and the final Oliver/Laurel hug) seem intended to establish them as equals and teammates, to the point of - almost - raising the faint spectre that they might rekindling their relationship again, the rest of the episode keeps emphasizing, over and over, just how not equal they are. It's not just that Oliver and Laurel have been lying to each other: it's that Laurel's way of bringing Sara back, and not involving Oliver, forced most of Team Arrow to spend the episode chasing down and saving Sara - instead of focusing on the real, non-spinoff related issue: whatever is going on with Damien Darhk. Not to mention that Oliver ended up saving Laurel yet again on two separate occasions, and that Laurel needed Oliver and Constantine to save Sara, since she was unable to do so herself.

 

Laurel wasn't, of course, the only character to need help in this episode - Quentin needed Diggle, Damien needed Quentin, Felicity needed Curtis, and Oliver and Sara needed Constantine, but all of those characters had earlier competent/heroic moments. Laurel hasn't, to put it mildly. I noted during the first season rewatch how infrequently Laurel managed to accomplish anything, and how she only managed two, maybe three, heroic moments during the first season, and one, maybe two, during the second season: it was not until the third season finale that she pulled off a genuine heroic moment - and even that moment didn't involve any self-sacrifice or major risk. Here we are in season four, and although Laurel is finally doing better with the action moments, she has yet to have a big heroic moment where she risks herself to save others, or is injured while saving others, the only major/regular character on either show other than Damien in this position, including Not-Wells, Slade and Malcolm.  She had a chance to do more in this episode. 

 

That chance wasn't taken.

[kismet]

3. The Diggle/Quentin partnership. It helps that they are two of the better actors on the show, but their interactions had a gravitas and tension that, oddly, the "Go get the soul!" plot lacked. Diggle's reaction to getting the file on his brother was one of the best scenes in the episode.

 

2. I realize at this point I really need to give up all hope that the flashbacks are going to make any sense whatsoever, but why are the drug lords driving jeeps around the evil island? Where are they getting their gas from? The Evil Island Gas Station?

 

2. Evil Island, Evil Hatch. Far be it for me to argue with Constantine, but I'm not sure the Evil Island draws Evil People to it. I think it just draws bad plots.

 

3. But speaking of Bad Plots, much though I love finding out that Oliver is pure of heart, you've only got a little under two seasons to turn his Pure Heart into a Killer Heart, show!

 

She lives!! I thought we were going to have to send you some magical teas/herbs... :)

 

Awesome commentary as usual... Love the subtle shade "Go get the soul". Like speaking to little children.... Haha:)

 

I really think they are channeling LOST. So I wouldn't be surprised if there is a Evil Gas station. I totally expect the Polar Bear & smoke monster to come any episode now. There is probably a whole secret Stepford wives Dharma Initiative on this island too. It's probably why OQ is so comfortable in suburbia.

Edited November 11, 2015 by kismet

[EmilyBettFan]

So much truth to what Laura Hurley said and [Edited by mod: don't be rude about other people's opinions] Laurel will never be equals with Oliver. It's just not possible.

Edited November 15, 2015 by MuuMuuChainsmoker

[quarks]

She lives!! I thought we were going to have to send you some magical teas/herbs... :)

 

 

Nah, just shirtless moments. Those revive me :)

[BkWurm1]

Nah, just shirtless moments. Those revive me :)

So just wave some sweaty, half naked Oliver under your nose and it's all good?  ;)

[quarks]

So just wave some sweaty, half naked Oliver under your nose and it's all good?  ;)

 

What can I say? I'm shallow.

 

(also need more shirtless Diggle thanks show)

[spaulding]

I finally watched this episode.  I really miss Constantine.  The ending seemed anti-climatic, but I'm not going to complain if the focus was on John. 

 

Unexpected surprise: Parker Young and Echo Kellum.

 

I might start to watch this show, except that Laurel character makes my eye itch. 

[tv echo]

405 (Haunted) – No Oliver Queen voiceover intro.

405 (Haunted) – Felicity asks Curtis to help her clean up the audio file of Ray Palmer’s last recorded message: 
Felicity: "Curtis, I need you to do something for me."
Curtis: "Felicity, look at me. Gym clothes, gym bag - do either of those suggest anything to you?"
Felicity: "Physical fitness. But then I remembered you're a tech guy."
Curtis: "I'm also a bronze medal decathlete."
Felicity: "Bronze medal, huh?"
Curtis: "Beijing, 2008."
Felicity: "Beijing, as in the Olympics?"
Curtis: "Mr. Palmer's recording. Did you play it?"
Felicity: "Yes. There's something off about it."
Curtis: "You sure it's not the fact that it's a dying declaration from your ex? I mean, that is some serious Nicholas Sparks-level stuff. Don't judge. The man can write emotion."
Felicity: "No, not that. I mean, yes, there's that, but there's still some artifacts playing that shouldn't be there. What about your work-out?"
Curtis: "Didn't seem to concern you 20 seconds ago."
Ray (recorded voice): "I'm sorry, Felicity, this is my fault. I - I got -"
Felicity (pausing audio): "You hear that?"
Curtis: "Like there's more to the recording. Something overlapping with it."
Felicity: "I was hoping you could clean it up for me. I mean, after your workout."
Curtis: "It can wait. I'm glad you changed your mind about hearing Mr. Palmer's final words."
Felicity: "Thank you, Curtis."

405 (Haunted) – We learn that the new Arrow Bunker has a P.A. system: 
(Oliver and Thea are sparring with sticks.)
Oliver: "Whatever that spa weekend did to clear your head, it also improved your technique. You're effortless."
Thea: "Yeah, well, you know how I love my hot stone massages."
Oliver: "By the way, that political strategist was a good call."
Thea: "But his advice was a little harsh. I mean, distancing yourself from Laurel?"
Oliver: "I wasn't expecting that, but he made a few good points."
Thea: "What, like kicking your friends to the curb?"
Oliver: "Well, my friendship with Laurel is... complicated."
Thea: "We have been in each other's lives for like forever.  I mean, you have been in love with Laurel and Sara, and Laurel, she - she took me in at CNRI when I was completely lost. Even Captain Lance, okay, he has been there for us since mom died."
Oliver: "Okay, but your point?"
Thea: "My point is that pretending that you don't know who your friends are, it... just doesn't feel very united."
Felicity (over P.A. system): "This is your overlord, Felicity Smoak."
Thea: "We have a P.A. system?"
Oliver: "Yet another decision I might live to regret."
(Oliver punches intercom button.)
Oliver: "Hi, what's going on?"
Felicity: "Code 47 at a nightclub on Ninth. A blonde woman going cray cray. And since I'm down here, it's probably the blonde woman we've been looking for."
Oliver: "The woman who's killing people in Pennytown. (To Thea) Suit up."

405 (Haunted) – Felicity identifies the RAT device that Quentin got from Darhk:
Quentin: "We need to talk."
Oliver: "About Sara?"
Quentin: "Laurel told you?"
Oliver: "Not exactly."
Quentin: "You got to admire her consistency. Keeps her death secret from me, her resurrection secret from you."
Oliver: "Are you okay?"
Quentin: "Am I okay? I think there are certain situations in life where the word 'okay' does not apply."
Oliver: "Well, we're working on finding Sara."
Quentin: "Good. Because we got other problems." (Shows him device)
*  *  *
Felicity: "It's a RAT - a Remote Access Trojan. Basically a computer virus. A polymorphic code designed to target and erase certain pieces of data. It's buried under three levels of encryption. By the time I've cracked it -"
Quentin: "Darhk could be wondering why I haven't run his errand for him."
Oliver: "I'm not sending you to break into a federal facility without backup."
Quentin: "I don't want Laurel knowing about me and Darhk."
Oliver: "I wasn't suggesting Laurel."

405 (Haunted) – Oliver and Felicity realize that Sara is targeting women who look like Thea:
(Oliver & Felicity are at home in the loft.)
Oliver: "Any luck connecting Sara's victims?"
Felicity: "Just that she's only killed muggers and street thugs. I still can't believe that it's Sara we're talking about. That she's alive. I mean, I know how it's possible, but how is it possible?"
Oliver: "The world is a much more... complicated place than most people are comfortable believing."
Felicity: "I received an old message from Ray, in the moment right before he died. I almost didn't listen to it, because... I didn't - I didn't want to feel that grief again. The threat of zombie apocalypse aside, isn't it kind of nice not having to deal with the pain of saying good-bye?"
Oliver: "Well, if it were that simple. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my parents... or Tommy. And I think about what I would give just to spend another minute, but what's happening with Sara isn't healing anyone's pain.  It's just - it's making it worse. She almost killed those two girls. I mean, why would she even go after them?"
Felicity: "Her marble collection's a little incomplete. Just guessing."
Oliver: "Well, they have something in common?"
Felicity: "Well, the waitress was Stephanie Dangess and the girl at the club was Lindsay Paulson. Oh my God, both these girls -"
Oliver: "They look like Thea."

405 (Haunted) – Oliver and Felicity visit Thea in the hospital; and Oliver confronts Laurel about taking Thea to Nanda Parbat:
(Oliver and Felicity are in Thea's hospital room.)
Felicity: "I just can't believe that Sara would do something like this."
Oliver: "She's not Sara."
Thea (regaining consciousness): "No, that's not it."
Oliver: "Hey, hey. How you feeling?"
Thea: "Ah, Sara, she -"
Oliver: "Ah, I know, it's okay. You're safe."
Thea: "She tried to kill me."
Oliver: "She's not in her right mind."
Thea: "You have no idea. This is the Pit. She's going through the same thing I am. I -"
Oliver: "Thea, I thought that you were better."
Thea: "When I went to Nanda Parbat, I... killed two guys. Malcolm... Malcolm served them up on a platter for me, and helped keep my blood lust at bay."
Laurel (entering): "Oh, my God. Thank God you're all right."
Oliver: "Laurel, come with me." (He and Laurel exit hospital room.)
Laurel: "Is Thea okay?"
Oliver: "No. Not only is Thea hospitalized, but she has Merlyn influencing her to kill people."
Laurel: "What are you talking about?"
Oliver: "Oh, just another thing that happened on your secret trip to Nanda Parbat."
Laurel: "Hey! I didn't tell you that I took my sister to Nanda Parbat because I knew that you wouldn't approve."
Oliver: "Why didn't you tell me you took Thea?"
Laurel: "What does that have to do with anything?! It's the hypocrisy that I can't stand!"
Oliver: "What?"
Laurel: "It's okay for you to do whatever you have to for your sister, but it's not okay for me to do the same to mine?"
Oliver: "Sara was dead. Thea wasn't."
Laurel: "Then why didn't you tell me about Thea seven months ago? Because you don't see me as an equal."
Oliver: "What? Oh, come on. Laurel, of course I see you as an equal."
Laurel: "No, you don't! You never have. You never told me that you were the Arrow -"
Oliver: "Keep your voice down!"
Laurel: "[Unintelligible words] becoming the Black Canary. And you never would have told me that there's a way to save my sister. My sister, she's out of her mind right now. Because of something that I did. A decision that I made. Did you ever just stop and think for one second about what I might be going through? I'm sorry about what happened to Thea. I really am. I love your family - I always have. I just wish that sometimes you would give a damn about mine."

405 (Haunted) – Team Arrow talk about Sara (Felicity is present but has no lines in this scene):
Diggle: "You sure you want to be here?"
Thea (sighing): "I hated hospitals before tonight. Ah. It's just another excuse to stay away."
Oliver: "At the hospital, I looked Sara in the eyes. She wasn't there."
Diggle: "What does that mean?"
Oliver: "The Pit is not supposed to be used on the dead. It brought Sara's body back, but all of this is happening -"
Laurel: "Because it didn't restore her soul."
Oliver (nodding): "We still need to find her, okay? Sara died long before you moved in with Laurel, and she knew exactly which hospital room to look for you in."
Laurel: "What, you think Sara can sense Thea somehow?"
Diggle: "And here I was just wrapping my mind around metahumans."
Thea: "Wait, we've both been in the Pit. Maybe - maybe that gives us some type of connection.  A connection we can use."
Oliver: "Thea, you just got out of the hospital. I don't want to use you as bait."
Thea: "Well, I guess it's a good thing you're not in charge anymore."
Diggle: "We'll have her back, Oliver. All of us."

405 (Haunted) – Constantine performs a magical ritual to restore Sara’s soul, with the help of Oliver and Laurel: 
Laurel: "So what, you're going to perform some kind of exorcism on my sister?"
Constantine: "No, an exorcism is a removal of demonic possession. What your sister needs is a restitutionem - the restoration of her soul to her body."
Thea: "And you've done this before?"
Constantine: "Ah, once. Maybe a year ago. But don't worry, it's just like riding a bike."
Oliver: "I'm sure we have a lot of work to do to prepare. I assume you brought a list?"
Constantine (handing list to Felicity): "Apologies. I didn't have time to translate that from its original Aramaic. You know, if I knew you were surrounded by so many pretty girls, Oliver, I would have stopped by sooner." 
Diggle: "Where did Oliver find this guy, the Luxor?"
Felicity: "Oh, I'm just glad that the latest person from Oliver's past is not another gorgeous woman."
*  *  *
(Oliver places Sara's body into the circular symbol that's been drawn on the floor.)
Quentin (entering): "I'm not even going to ask."
Laurel: "You got my message. I'm so happy you came."
Quentin: "I'm her father too."
Diggle: "I hate to be the one to say this, but what if something goes wrong?"
Constantine: "Oh, don't worry. If things go wrong, then we'll all be too dead to care. Well, then. Now we just need a -"
Felicity: "I think I got everything in here that you wanted, although I am not entirely sure what you need a dead peacock feather for."
Constantine (taking the feather and using it to scratch his back): "Ah. Ahh. Oh, nice one. That's been bugging me for hours. Now, I've only got enough juice to send myself and two of you to the other realm and back, so -."
Thea: "Oh, I think it should be me. Um, I'm the reason why she's like this right now."
Constantine: "No offense, love, but from what I hear, you're not exactly bringing out the best in Sara right now, are you?"
Oliver: "Laurel. Do you trust me? Trust me when I tell you this will work."
(Oliver and Laurel step into the circle and grasp hands.)
Constantine: "Oh, there's, uh, one more thing. Whatever's locked her soul away, it's not going to give it over without a fight. So be ready. All right, then. On with the show...  Pelako ameso yobe eleggua imbone ukuchila panshita. De domino vestro, aliquis. Et stabit de domino vestro. Audite vocem meam. (Electricity flickers)  Ancor, anchor, candones helosi et vos eleutis phugori... (Sara groans and gasps) De cruinne-ce agus akasha seall me do solas!"
*  *  *
(Oliver and Laurel are back in the Arrow Bunker. They unclasp hands and stumble back out of the circle.)
Constantine: "Whoo!"
Quentin (hugging Laurel): "Laurel, you're all right."
(Oliver stumbles to Felicity and hugs her.)
Laurel: "What happened? What is she? Did we -?"
(Sara opens her eyes and is lucid.)
Laurel: "Sara! Sara! Oh Sara." (Hugs her)
(Quentin hugs both his daughters)

405 (Haunted) – Felicity finds out that Ray is alive: 
Curtis: "Felicity! Welcome back! Welcome, welcome, welcome!"
Felicity: "How many of these have you drank?"
Curtis: "It's 'drunk', actually, and many. But worth it."
Felicity: "You cleared up the rest of Ray's message?"
Curtis: "I think so. Uh, the playback was rendering when you came in. So, propitious timing."
Felicity: "Okay, you're not even allowed to say 'energy drink' while on company time ever again."
Curtis: "That's okay, I think I might be having a cardiac incident, anyway. So, the message, check it out. I was just about to call you. Wait, where's my phone? Wait, did I call you already?"
Felicity: "Curtis!"
Ray (recorded voice): "I'm sorry, Felicity, this is my fault. I - I got myself into this mess screwing around with my exosuit and nanotechnology. But recriminations probably aren't probably the best use of this limited bandwidth. What I need you to know is... I'm alive, and I'm in trouble."

Edited February 25, 2020 by tv echo

[tv echo]

405 deleted scene...

Arrow 4x05 Deleted Scene - Sara returns home

(Hermandat)