S04.E09: Dark Waters

[Primal Slayer]

I've seen reviews mention how Laurel wasn't targeted by DD when it comes to weakening Oliver but it is like people forget that DD/Quentin have a deal so of course he wouldn't target her since it breaks that deal and right now they haven't had DD declare he's been betrayed.

[Guest]

 

HA. I caught this too. There totally was a smell the fart moment going on on her face when Oliver was saying he was particularly grateful for Felicity. Right after the dorky pointing.

 

Involuntary NOTP Syndrome, it is a serious disease, okay.

 

 

I didn't see any reaction from her aside from happiness? I think if her reaction was relevant they would have focused on it but they didn't so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[dtissagirl]

I didn't see any reaction from her aside from happiness? I think if her reaction was relevant they would have focused on it but they didn't so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Oh, it wasn't relevant in anyway, I just notice these things because they amuse me greatly.

Edited December 10, 2015 by dtissagirl

[BkWurm1]

Seriously, I was like screaming from my couch - this is why FS needs training on the show, because hot damn EBR has got the body and the technique to seriously kick ass mask or no mask!

She really learned to solidly  plant her feet.  Sara taught her well!

[Carrie Ann]

I am pretty happy to accept this. Now prove your mettle and help me with what he's mumbling during the exchange with Curtis and his husband.

 

I'm pretty sure all he's saying there is a series of "whats" and "whys."

[apinknightmare]

I've seen reviews mention how Laurel wasn't targeted by DD when it comes to weakening Oliver but it is like people forget that DD/Quentin have a deal so of course he wouldn't target her since it breaks that deal and right now they haven't had DD declare he's been betrayed.

she wasn't ever going to be taken regardless, because they needed her to be around to help with the rescue.

[Chaser]

They also needed to drop the death anvils with Lance.

[Guest]

DD's double-take at Thea at the party combined with the ominous words from Malcolm makes me think DD will go after Thea next which also makes me wonder when he'll figure out that Oliver is GA.

[thegirlsleuth]

I've had further thoughts about Damien Darhk this morning (and could he have a more annoying name to spell?)  Considering his talk of cleansing the earth and starting over/gas chambers and the fact that he was at least semi-immortal, is it possible that he is, in fact, a Nazi from way back?  Rather than being LIKE a Nazi, what if he is a Nazi?  I'm afraid I don't know enough about comics to know if my theory is completely cockamamie or not.

 

Holiday Party starting Emily Bett Rickards.

 

That entire sequence was a Rom Com and it was amazing.

 

It was so much zingy fun, but also points to Amell for playing straight man so perfectly.

[mccartygirl]

Public proposals:  permissible only when you already know the answer is going to be 'yes'.

 

 

Felicity Smoak:  educating girls in science everywhere.

 

Irony -- just when they show they really know how to write Laurel right, she's a grave possibility.

Let's hope Laurel is in the grave. Although I don't think Oliver would be dropping a tear like that. I can't stand Laurel and haven't been able to since Season 2. And that stupid Canary Cry or scream or mouth opened annoying squeal can go.

[marcee]

Can someone explain to me how the flashbacks were supposed to parallel this go 'round?

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV post on the episode!

 

Arrow Raises A Glass To The Holiday Break
Parties! Kidnappings! Cheerful villains! Shocking twists! Boring flashbacks! It's like old times.

[arjumand]

Can someone explain to me how the flashbacks were supposed to parallel this go 'round?

 

Shark rhymes with Darhk? I got nothing.

 

It's interesting to me that they follow 4.08, which could have been literally anywhere in the season, and after which a large section of fandom was baying for Oliver's blood, with this one, because now we feel sorry for him. If it had been followed by Oliver spending a few weeks or months visiting Central City in secret, looking like a cheating husband, the fan reaction would have been interesting, to say the least.

 

So for that, well played, show.

 

I'm torn between "That doesn't make up for the soap opera bullshit!" and "Aww . . . I can't stay mad at you."

 

And the whole

- Felicity is dead, do you hear me? D E A D spells dead! of the promos

- is starting to annoy me a teeny bit.

 

Also they gave SA some crap reactions and lines when they were boxed in by those cars. Or Oliver has really gone soft, because his reaction time was shit.

Edited December 10, 2015 by arjumand

[Actionmage]

The hilarious choice, of course, would have been "Here Comes Santa Claus," MACHINE GUN FIRE EVERYWHERE, but I think it's just as well that Arrow didn't go there.

 

I think "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer" would have been Trickster-level fun! We all knew something was coming.  It's a song not used that much in episodic TV. Plus, it would reflect the Darhk spirit of the holidays. 

[looptab]

Well,  I was a little bothered by the thought of the giant looming secret and Oliver's lying face, but the show wants me to forget 408 ever happened so I'm going to, until I'll necessarily have to remember again, and just enjoy the AWESOMENESS that were Oliver and Felicity :)

 

Laurel was good! Malcolm brought the snark! Donna made the best scream! I have no idea what DD's plan is, and I don't even care, I like him too much on my screen.

It bugged that after kicking in the glass door, Oliver remained planted in the doorway and gestured to Felicity with his hand, shouting, "Hey! Come on, let's go!" and just stood there while Felicity  gasped and staggered toward him.

 

 

Oh my God, yes, that bugged me so much, I was like "why is he so rude?!"

 

I think this moment is my favorite in the entire episode:

 

 

 

THE DORKY POINTING IS ALSO MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS EPISODE.

 

Thank you for providing GIFs to your favorite parts of this episode, which happen to be my favorite too. I don't know how many times I rewound the first one, cause EBR's face was just amazing. And the last one it's just plain adorable. :D

[Orion]

I feel like this episode needs to donate to my health insurance for the amount of anvils that were being thrown around. 

 

I was disappointed at first that Felicity found about the ring (although I was not disappointed at Donna's reaction to the ring. She has a great career at jewelry story if she wants to give up waitressing) but  when the story played out and the show gave Felicity all kinds of agency in the marriage conversations, I cheered.

 

"Just to be clear I shot first." This show does love to reference classic movies.

 

One of my favorite background scenes was when Curtis was holding Donna tight after she tells Oliver that Felicity was taken.

 

Look Show, your CGI is legitimately terrible, if you are going to make me sit through Oliver swimming like he grew flippers like he's in a Harry Potter movie and a shark that looks worst than Sharknado, then I expect you to at least have him swimming shirtless to distract me.

 

There seemed to be more problems with inaudible dialogue this episode than there normally is. And of course Arrow's constant problem with pacing was still a problem.

 

John Barrowman could not have been more gleeful at wearing the Arrow suit.

 

I aww'ed out loud a few times.

 

The last shot of Oliver trying to find Felicity's pulse while he holds her.

 

If anyone is interested the show used the Vienna Boys Choir recording of Little Drummer Boy

 

Overall it was a really great episode. Character development, POV, agency, suspense, drama, wit and characters IN character.

[Starfish35]

Look Show, your CGI is legitimately terrible, if you are going to make me sit through Oliver swimming like he grew flippers like he's in a Harry Potter movie and a shark that looks worst than Sharknado, then I expect you to at least have him swimming shirtless to distract me.

Ahahaha yes totally.

Also, something I'd forgotten until jbuffyangel's review reminded me:

Nobody from Team Arrow actually picked up any trash or did anything to clean up the harbor. They sort of just stood around like a J. Crew cover.

Yes!! I mean, am I the only one who thought, "wow Oliver, it'd probably be a better photo op if you were actually picking up the trash rather than standing on the shore like a general watching his troops going into battle. "

[looptab]

This is probably a dumb question, but was Oliver in on the plan to have Malcolm show up as Green Arrow, or was he really going to trade himself for the others? I thought he knew, but then Laurel's "I helped too" was such a weird thing to say that I started thinking maybe she came up with the idea? 

 

Also, poor Oliver being just in his shirtsleeves during the press conference while everyone else had coats one. I appreciate the look, though. And the armporn.

[blixie]

 

I was a little bothered by the thought of the giant looming secret and Oliver's lying face,but the show wants me to forget 408 ever happened so I'm going to, until I'll necessarily have to remember again, and just enjoy the AWESOMENESS that were Oliver and Felicity :)

 

 

That was my take as well, they fully intend to reunite them and otherwise ignore the whole incident, probably making Felicity look bad for being mad, and woobify/ jusitfy Oliver which would be great if they had allowed a story where Felicity was objectively in the wrong, and Oliver was objectively right, but that was a pipe dream Guggenheim and Mericle are incapable of delivering.

 

Dumbasses.

[Chasity]

This is probably a dumb question, but was Oliver in on the plan to have Malcolm show up as Green Arrow, or was he really going to trade himself for the others? I thought he knew, but then Laurel's "I helped too" was such a weird thing to say that I started thinking maybe she came up with the idea? 

 

Also, poor Oliver being just in his shirtsleeves during the press conference while everyone else had coats one. I appreciate the look, though. And the armporn.

He knew Malcolm was showing up as Green Arrow. Felicity asked him what happens when the cavalry shows up and GA isn't with them? Oliver told her that he had that part covered.

[Delphi]

Sweet Christmas, that was funny, dramatic, intense, it was everything.

First of, I'm just so happy that wardrobe has gotten their act together because everyone looked fantastic. Thea's holiday outfit, yasss. Felicity's dress, Oliver's sweater, man looks good in sweaters.

Katie's face finally seems softer again and the lighter blonde works well. Plus Laurel was very useful. Plus I'm enjoying her relationship with Felicity. From the crossover last week to them this week, I like the progression. I don't care if it's out of left field I'll take that over nothing.

Ugh I hate Andy, I wanted Oliver to beat the shit out of him after he didn't get anywhere on the streets. But I did love dark Oliver on the streets. I completely bought him kicking the crap out of the ghost while screaming.

Donna, you can move in now. That loft is huge.

[nksarmi]

This is probably a dumb question, but was Oliver in on the plan to have Malcolm show up as Green Arrow, or was he really going to trade himself for the others? I thought he knew, but then Laurel's "I helped too" was such a weird thing to say that I started thinking maybe she came up with the idea? 

 

Also, poor Oliver being just in his shirtsleeves during the press conference while everyone else had coats one. I appreciate the look, though. And the armporn.

 

I was actually coming here to comment on this because I think quarks put this in the negative column for Laurel - having to work with Malcolm to save TA and it just dawned on me that I think they were saying that was all part of Oliver's plan.  He used the phone that Malcolm brought and Malcolm said that he implanted a nano tracking implant in Oliver (like Oliver did to Malcolm last season and I'm still trying to remember when that happened.....).  And I swear there was some moment between Oliver and Felicity where she seemed to clue in to the idea that he had backup coming.  So yea I think this was all a plan of action - and I say again, I really do love that Malcolm wore the GA suit.  It not only protected him from Darhk figuring out that the new Ra's was aligning with GA but it also coincidently removes Oliver from suspicion as GA - for awhile at any rate.

Edited December 10, 2015 by nksarmi

[Delphi]

I'm pretty sure it happened when Ollie and Nyssa were hunting him down.

[MsSchadenfreude]

There was no show last week.  I don't know what any of you are talking about? LOL

 

Mini-Felicity was adorable.  Oliver's jacket at the bay clean-up was hideous.

 

I love everything about Donna Smoak.  The blue Santa hat and Hanukkah sweater, calling Quentin her boyfriend, running to Oliver about them taking her baby girl, being so over the moon about the ring and the proposal.  Please stay forever.  If I cannot have Moira, I want Donna.  You owe me this, show!

 

Aww. Curtis, your husband is a cutie! Fingers crossed, he makes it out of this season alive.

 

Damian you are an evil little bastard, but you are quite witty.  "As the kids say...I got this"  "At best, our deal was implied. Also, bad guy." 

 

Damian knows something is up with Thea. 

 

Damian threw Malcolm and Oliver around like they were rag dolls. Also just a nitpick, but Thea it may not be the best idea to ask when Damian's evil crew are still around "Is that my father being the Green Arrow?"  

 

No, not corn!  Children of the Corn scarred me for life.  Nothing good ever happens in cornfields.

 

I liked Laurel this episode and the canary cry was actually useful.  But I was ROTL at Malcolm's bondage comment.

 

Does Oliver telling Dig (regarding Andy) that being in a cage for a few weeks changes people foreshadow that evil Island bad guys are going to put FB Oliver in a cage next week.

 

Not sure what is going on with Andy, but I'd be fine with him just being a bad guy and Diggle never really knew him.

 

Oliver and Felicity were perfection this episode.  From the Christmas/holiday party comments, the mature discussion about marriage and that sweet proposal at the end.  However, my favorite part was the final scene where Oliver/Felicity got busy in the limo as they rode off to celebrate their engagement as the snow gently fell.  That's totally what happened and no one can tell me any differently. 

Edited December 10, 2015 by MsSchadenfreude

[TVHappy9463]

First I was spoiled both from the forums and twitter before I watched, I live on the West Coast.  For me this was all about how it played out vs. how i imagined it. And it pretty much went the way I thought it would. Even though the where some nicer moments, the ones that should have packed a punch totally lacked. But, I still enjoyed the episode, 

While we are all up in arms about Felicity ( not dead), the show dropped some major anvils about fathers doing anything to protect their daughters.  Lance/Laurel, now Damien knows Thea is speedy and he will put it together that Malcolm was in the arrow suit and Thea is his daughter, and now we know about Damien's daughter.

I still think it's Lance in the grave, and that clip of Oliver at the graveside is not in the next episode. They did that last year, in the preview for the episode when they resurrected Thea they showed a shot of Sara as BC, but she wasn't in the episode, it did foreshadow she would be resurrected.  

This is foreshadowing Lance dies as a result of everything that has been going on. And his move against Damien last night was the nail in his coffin.

Some have asked if Oliver would go after Damien's kid, he wouldn't, but Malcolm would. 

[KenyaJ]

she wasn't ever going to be taken regardless, because they needed her to be around to help with the rescue.

 

Yep. And even if that weren't the case, let's be real. Harming/threatening Laurel is never going to provoke the same sense of urgency that threatening Felicity, Thea, and/or Diggle does -- not for Oliver and certainly not for the audience because we've had three seasons of seeing that she's not a priority in his life. The writers were smart to use her as part of the cavalry instead last night.

[Delphi]

So I just realized Thea was doing all her fighting barefoot. Good for her.

[bijoux]

Yes!! I mean, am I the only one who thought, "wow Oliver, it'd probably be a better photo op if you were actually picking up the trash rather than standing on the shore like a general watching his troops going into battle. "

Oliver's doing extremely well regarding photo ops. He saved a little kid from a damn drone attack, exposed the guy ruining the city and then came to light a Christmas tree after his friends and family were taken to show that he is not backing down. Oh, and then he dropped to his knees and proposed. If the elections were tomorrow, I bet some teenagers would try to use their fake IDs to vote for this guy. I don't know if Alex and Thea will even be able to measure his approval rating after all this.

 

Oh! And he flashed his forearms while denouncing Darhk. I guess he really was telling Barry the truth, he doesn't get cold.

 

Ugh I hate Andy, I wanted Oliver to beat the shit out of him after he didn't get anywhere on the streets. But I did love dark Oliver on the streets. I completely bought him kicking the crap out of the ghost while screaming.

I didn't know I needed it before you wrote it, but I do. Here's hoping for it happening after the hiatus.

[kismet]

Also, poor Oliver being just in his shirtsleeves during the press conference while everyone else had coats one. I appreciate the look, though. And the armporn.

It's like classic Political PR. Showing him without a coat shows that he is strong. He has his arms visible to show he is willing to get his hands dirty to get the job done. It also shows that he is one of the people and doesn't need fancy jackets.

 

Yep. And even if that weren't the case, let's be real. Harming/threatening Laurel is never going to provoke the same sense of urgency that threatening Felicity, Thea, and/or Diggle does -- not for Oliver and certainly not for the audience because we've had three seasons of seeing that she's not a priority in his life. The writers were smart to use her as part of the cavalry instead last night.

Well, they've done it before in previous seasons and OQ response has been "The City comes first". Or  I have more important things to do. I'm actually gonna give props to the writers that they found a believable reason to not have LL at the party, so she couldn't be kidnapped even if DD wanted to. If you have trouble making a character useful, they found an "organic" way to make her the only option for the rescue team. Probably also an indirect reason they kept Curtis out of helping TA, because it would have weakened how "important" LL is to the team.

[Primal Slayer]

she wasn't ever going to be taken regardless, because they needed her to be around to help with the rescue.

Bts of course, when you talk in show, it would be a bit of a different story.

[apinknightmare]

Bts of course, when you talk in show, it would be a bit of a different story.

 

In show she wasn't even at the party where all of Oliver's other loved ones were, so who even knows what the reasoning would've been.  DD seemed to think killing Diggle, Thea, and Felicity would be enough to give Oliver a reason to stop fighting, so...there's really no indication that he believes he can even use Laurel like that against Oliver. 

Edited December 10, 2015 by apinknightmare

[wonderwall]

*sigh* I rewatched the episode :) 

 

I love how even though we expected the proposal, it was still very unexpected.

 

Still on cloud 9 with this episode.

[Primal Slayer]

In show she wasn't even at the party where all of Oliver's other loved ones were, so who even knows what the reasoning would've been. DD seemed to think killing Diggle, Thea, and Felicity would be enough to give Oliver a reason to stop fighting, so...there's really no indication that he believes he can even use Laurel like that against Oliver.

For some reason DD doesn't want to break his deal with Q so i think Laurel would've been safe either way, unless he just waned to send a message to Quentin. Wonder if they are no longer partners after Q came with backup to save F/D/T.

[DeadZeus]

Man i hope Oliver (and the writers) realise Oliver has gotten weak by taking a full team on missions he used to do solo, so i hope he sharpens his skills again by NOT relying on his teammates so much. Though that's just wishful thinking of me... But Oliver kicking ass is still a big concern for me and very happy it happened

[apinknightmare]

For some reason DD doesn't want to break his deal with Q so i think Laurel would've been safe either way, unless he just waned to send a message to Quentin. Wonder if they are no longer partners after Q came with backup to save F/D/T.

 

I'm not sure what the deal with Quentin and DD is. DD said he didn't trust him, and I thought for sure Quentin was made a few weeks ago when he gave Oliver the slip information that he found on the Post It, but then he said that he didn't make a play against DD last night because he didn't want to blow his cover, but then he teamed up with the group against the HIVE people in the hallway or whatever, so...I have no idea. 

[Guest]

It was definitely great to see Oliver kick some ass again even though it was barely a minute. I'm kind of sick of him being defeated by the bad guys this season and always in need of saving. I mean, even MM saved him in this episode. How did DD manage to keep him down to punch him so many times? I'm assuming it was his magic but eh. It's hard to buy when the guy was doing this all by himself at one stage.

 

Sometimes I wonder if it's been part of the plan this season for him to be relatively light in the field and then come 410 and 411 when he obviously goes batshit, his rage and skills will be more obvious? I don't know. 

Edited December 11, 2015 by Guest

[BkWurm1]

Oliver's doing extremely well regarding photo ops. He saved a little kid from a damn drone attack, exposed the guy ruining the city and then came to light a Christmas tree after his friends and family were taken to show that he is not backing down. Oh, and then he dropped to his knees and proposed. If the elections were tomorrow, I bet some teenagers would try to use their fake IDs to vote for this guy. I don't know if Alex and Thea will even be able to measure his approval rating after all this.

 

Oh! And he flashed his forearms while denouncing Darhk. I guess he really was telling Barry the truth, he doesn't get cold.

 

And then just minutes after all the channels broadcast his triumphant return after his loved one were rescued and the proposal (Alex must have been over the moon with that) then he drives off and another attempt is made on his life and this time the woman he just declared his light is critically wounded. 

 

How this is not an international story I don't know.  As for the voters, he already had the sympathy vote with the kidnappings.  If he doesn't have the highest approval numbers ever for a Mayoral candidate, then DD is rigging the polling numbers. 

 

And talk about reforming his image.  After this nobody should ever see him as the playboy that peed on the cop.  I was glad when they said National news was interested in the drone shooting but the kidnapping and the limo driver killed and his fiancé hanging on for dear life...Star City should be overflowing with news vans.  Lifetime should be making the unauthorized movie as we speak. 

[BkWurm1]

I'm not sure what the deal with Quentin and DD is. DD said he didn't trust him, and I thought for sure Quentin was made a few weeks ago when he gave Oliver the slip information that he found on the Post It, but then he said that he didn't make a play against DD last night because he didn't want to blow his cover, but then he teamed up with the group against the HIVE people in the hallway or whatever, so...I have no idea. 

 

Quentin said he wasn't sure if not acting against DD at the party was the right move but Oliver said it was.  Then later QL wanted to go in with them for the rescue and Laurel said no, he'd spoil his cover and Lance questioned just how much cover he had at that point and then when he showed up with actual police back up, yeah, I think he was done being undercover so once DD gets around to it, QL likely will be targeted...or Laurel will.  But she'll probably survive.  Maybe Thea will be able to save her since they are room mates?   

 

It was definitely great to see Oliver kick some ass again even though it was barely a minute. I'm kind of sick of him being defeated by the bad guys this season and always in need of saving. I mean, even MM saved him in this episode. How did DD manage to keep him down to punch him so many times? I'm assuming it was his magic but eh. It's hard to buy when the guys was doing this all by himself at one stage.

 

Sometimes I wonder if it's been part of the plan this season for him to be relatively light in the field and then come 410 and 411 when he obviously goes batshit, his rage and skills will be more obvious? I don't know. 

Oliver also had to save MM so I was ok with that.  Actually I was very happy that Merlyn was getting his ass kicked.  I wondered if Oliver was holding back when DD was punching him.  OQ maybe shouldn't be able to overcome DD in that moment.  He could though serve as a great distraction by taking a punch. 

 

Hey, maybe that is what the tattoo Constantine gave him does!  Keeps his face pretty no matter how many hits to his mug he takes!

[Guest]

Oliver also had to save MM so I was ok with that.  Actually I was very happy that Merlyn was getting his ass kicked.  I wondered if Oliver was holding back when DD was punching him.  OQ maybe shouldn't be able to overcome DD in that moment.  He could though serve as a great distraction by taking a punch. 

 

I didn't have a problem with MM saving him, just that this is definitely not the first time this season that he's needed saving. It's just a little odd to me. This is the guy who took on a whole casino full of bad guys by himself. Basically I'm glad we'll be seeing a bit more rage because that means the fight scenes will be focused on him for a change.

[lemotomato]

*sigh* I rewatched the episode :)

I love how even though we expected the proposal, it was still very unexpected.

Still on cloud 9 with this episode.

I spent the day looking at gifs of the proposal (and all the other Olicity moments) on my phone instead of working. I almost don't even care about hiatus because this episode was so great (ignoring the last minute) I don't want to have to see the aftermath.

[Tazmania]

I've seen reviews mention how Laurel wasn't targeted by DD when it comes to weakening Oliver but it is like people forget that DD/Quentin have a deal so of course he wouldn't target her since it breaks that deal and right now they haven't had DD declare he's been betrayed.

 

I don't think Darhk would have cared for his deal with Quentin but the most logical answer to that is that she was not at the party and Darhk picked up people from the party. 

Secondly, her role was written in the rescue of the team with her sonic cry. She has played the damsel far too many times, I am glad the writers actually used her character differently this time. 

[Guest]

I must not have been paying attention the first time around but OMG the CGI of Oliver swimming underwater has to be some of the worst I've ever seen. 

 

Also how anticlimactic is it to show a shark and then just have Oliver come out of the water like 'Oh, I got bitten, no biggie.' LOL.

 

In other news, the flashbacks SUCK. 

Edited December 11, 2015 by Guest

[DrSpaceman10]

I think I'm actually starting to like Quentin again. Now that he's integrated more into the plot, he's not against Oliver and all of his scenes aren't about his daughters, he's actually a decent character. This episode reminded me of Quentin from early Season Two, when I think he was at his best.

Plus, if more Quentin means more Mama Smoak I'm all for it.

I think the two most likely candidates for the grave are LL and Quentin, hopefully they do the right thing and kill Laurel. In my opinion, not only is Laurel a pointless character, Arrow is overflowing with masks and the show was best when it was a more even mix of both masked and non-masked characters.

[BkWurm1]

Tsk, tsk to whoever is the Previously Recapper for Arrow.  They got a number of facts wrong.

 

 

First, Felicity is the one that shut down the drone.  Diggle shot at it, but must have missed since it kept flying and shooting until Felicity did something with her tablet at which point it turned off and fell into the bay. 

 

 

Second, the mention of Felicity being Jewish and the inclusion of Hanukkah at the Christmas party does come up again, several times actually.  Every time someone called it a Holiday party, it was a call back and certainly we in the audience were supposed to remember it when DD was talking about Nazi’s and gas chambers.

 

 

Third, sigh, Laurel wasn’t even at the party so no, DD did not overlook her as part of Oliver's inner circle.  Quentin yes, Laurel no.   

 

 

Fourth, Laurel and Quentin have their conversation about his association with DD at the Police Station, not the DA’s office.  They are in an interrogation room.

 

 

Details matter!

[quarks]

I was actually coming here to comment on this because I think quarks put this in the negative column for Laurel - having to work with Malcolm to save TA and it just dawned on me that I think they were saying that was all part of Oliver's plan.  He used the phone that Malcolm brought and Malcolm said that he implanted a nano tracking implant in Oliver (like Oliver did to Malcolm last season and I'm still trying to remember when that happened.....).  And I swear there was some moment between Oliver and Felicity where she seemed to clue in to the idea that he had backup coming.  So yea I think this was all a plan of action - and I say again, I really do love that Malcolm wore the GA suit.  It not only protected him from Darhk figuring out that the new Ra's was aligning with GA but it also coincidently removes Oliver from suspicion as GA - for awhile at any rate.

 

Right. I should have clarified this point. In my defense the spiced hard cider last night was OUTSTANDING.

 

Malcolm wearing the Green Arrow suit was definitely part of Oliver's plan - Oliver told Felicity that he had the Green Arrow part covered, and having Malcolm wear the Green Arrow suit both hid Oliver's secret identity and hid that the League of Assassins was also aware that Darhk was in Star City and allying with the Green Arrow against him. It was a win-win situation, especially since Malcolm was one of about three people who could easily impersonate Oliver.  This was about the only secret in the episode that Laurel was fully aware of and involved in other than Team Arrow generalities, so in that sense it was a plus. 

 

But.

 

Despite the fact that I keep getting told how fundamental the Black Canary/Green Arrow partnership is, since Laurel donned the Black Canary costume, she has so far teamed up with Oliver exactly once - back in "Canaries," when Oliver, apparently under the impression that allowing Malcolm to stay on Thea's couch wasn't enough proof that he was not, perhaps, making the best decisions, decided to leave behind the trained Special Forces guy and bring Laurel along instead. Good times.

 

Since then, they have only worked together as part of the overall Team Arrow group, when they've worked together at all.  We've had the rare, occasional Black Canary/Green Arrow framing shots - about two this season - but for the most part, Laurel is placed either on her own,  with Thea or Sara or both, or with Oliver plus someone else. Laurel and Oliver actually teamed up as partners more before she became Black Canary than afterwards. For that matter, season two had a number of Canary/Arrow moments when Diggle and Roy were elsewhere.

 

So it was rather striking that the season's first Black Canary/Green Arrow partnership was Laurel and Malcolm, not Laurel and Oliver. It to me was yet another sign of just how much Arrow has moved away from that partnership, no matter who is wearing the costume.

[statsgirl]

I noticed that as the announcer said all the people came out to help Oliver Queen's camp, none of Oliver's people (Thea, Parker, Diggle, Felicity, Laurel and Oliver himself) were actually doing any work.

 

The actress who played DD;s wife is Janet Kidder, who played Sara in Gracechurch, Ann Sadler in Continuum and Marina in Tom Stone among other roles.  I'm thinking that unless she did it as a favor, I'm going to guess that she will return in future episodes.

 

At the "holiday party from hell" when Felicity found her mother and Quentin, he had a big red lipstick mark on his cheek. You go, Donna.

 

When Laurel gave her "Buck up, Oliver" speech here, it was all about how they could take care of themselves and how Oliver had inspired them.  None of the "I know you like I know my own name" and it worked so very much better like this.

 

Malcolm was grinning as he planted the explosion arrow beside Darhk.  Yay, Barrowman.

[Starfish35]

When Laurel gave her "Buck up, Oliver" speech here, it was all about how they could take care of themselves and how Oliver had inspired them. None of the "I know you like I know my own name" and it worked so very much better like this.

I agree. I know some had issues with how unconcerned she seemed, and I can definitely see that viewpoint, but to me, KC does better when they are keeping her emotionally low key. It seems like the times that they need her to really emote, she either way overdoes it, or doesn't do it at all (see her robotic performance in Restoration). Here she was just calm and together, not giving some passionate speech or appeal, which always seems to backfire with her. And it worked for me, and honestly, no one is more shocked than myself, after how hard I've been on her acting this season.

[statsgirl]

It's like this episode somehow, after more than three seasons, found the magic place for Laurel.  I agree, she's better when the emotions are low key and she was just right in that scene with Oliver and later in the scenes with Quentin first when she finds out he's working for DD, and later when she tells him she's the one who gets to say if she needs to be protected.

 

And they even brought in her job as an ADA, which is something that's been missing for 8 episodes now.

 

In terms of her as the Black Canary, I liked when they went to rescue Thea, Diggle and Felicity and she did the Canary Cry to shatter the glass and then threw her stick to Oliver so he could break a hole into it and free the prisoners.  Good teamwork, nothing got in the way..

[looptab]

Thank you to everyone that answered me, you've restored my faith in humanity :) I totally forgot that bit of conversation when Oliver told Felicity.

In other news, is it a tradition for Stephen Amell to flex his pecs in epidode 9? Hee hee

[Actionmage]

is it a tradition for Stephen Amell to flex his pecs in epidode 9?

 

Hopefully it is a lovely, nondenominational tradition that lasts for years. *g*