S04.E09: Dark Waters

[GirlvsTV]

I didn't watch after they went to get in the limo so this episode ended with Oliver and Felicity getting engaged, which felt like a great Christmas - er, holiday present.

This was a really great episode, though! I'm genuinely surprised after last week, but it really felt like that trip to Central City never even happened. I don't remember hearing even one reference to it, so I'm just going to stick with my, "it was all a really bad dream" theory because you can't show me the Oliver and Felicity we saw tonight and have me believe they are the same people we saw last week. Nope!*

I fast-forwarded through the flashbacks too, which made the episode pacing so much better.

*Obviously this is moot if there was some big secret kid reveal/reference in the limo ride of doom . . . Which didn't happen because I didn't see it and you can't tell me any differently.

ETA: Okay I've seen the GIFs. The kissing in the limo definitely happened - but nothing else! Everything was fine and they went home and drank hot chocolate and then made out on their ugly bedspread.

Edited December 10, 2015 by GirlvsTV

[EmilyBettFan]

OMG that episode!

Emily has been filming passed episode 10 so she's not the one who dies

. At least I don't think so.

[SleepDeprived]

That was great! I enjoyed that so, so much. I actually can't wait to watch it again later.

 

God, Oliver and Felicity were perfect in this episode. I almost forgot about the contrived plottiness of last week. I'm so weak! Like, I know what they're doing but I'm falling for it a little bit. My emotions!!

 

So with that corn, is HIVE actually Monsanto?

 

Well, we had Queen Bee last year (on Flash). So, H.I.V.E. Bees. Some whatever bacteria doing something to the air. A cornfield... X-Files crossover!

[EmeraldArcher]

Totally overlooked on first watch: Felicity was NICE to Donna the entire time!! That's a first!

Caught, but forgot to mention: Thea lumped politicians in with pedophiles and meter maids as people MM would bring her to kill to stave off the blood lust!! HAHAHA!

Was anyone else expecting/HOPING Felicity was going to climb on Oliver's lap in th Limo of Love/Limo of Doom?!

[KenyaJ]

So with that corn, is HIVE actually Monsanto?

 

Lolz. Bravo for that one!

[lemotomato]

Their noses brushed together after the kiss... How sweet :')

 

I love how they keep their eyes closed during the nuzzle. ::sigh::

[dtissagirl]

I'm kinda annoyed at myself that Oliver was adorable enough, and O/F were legit incredible, that I'm willing to handwave the lying liar who lies part.

 

[EmeraldArcher]

More stuff I missed:

QL's ADORABLE nose scrunch immediately after being busted by Felicity.

Then, instead of the expected "daughter," he said "boyfriend: "Did you say boyfriend? I thought we were just on a date." SO CUTE!

Did anyone else catch Felicity warning Oliver not to lie when she approached him about the first proposal: "And before you say anything, you should know I found the ring." UGH, she knows he's a lying liar who lies, so maybe they can work through the BM crap?! What has OLICITY done to me? I used to be a woman with principles.

[Guest]

I'm still a bit confused by Damien's plan. I assumed 'genesis' was kind of like another undertaking in that they want to destroy the city but what's with the crops and the clean air underground? I don't understand these things! 

[Lantern7]

Man, does this take me back. Spent years bracing myself for the death of Chloe on Smallville, and I never got it. I like blonde female geeks, I guess. Here's hoping we see one of those gets married to Green Arrow. Again.

 

I'm still thinking Quentin bites it in the end, though it's more about redemption and wishful thinking for me.

 

Fuck Damien Dark. And fuck the writers if they kill off Felicity and use that to fuel Oliver's manpain.

[calliope1975]

I'm kinda annoyed at myself that Oliver was adorable enough, and O/F were legit incredible, that I'm willing to handwave the lying liar who lies part.

 

 

It bugged me when I was watching it, but by the end of the episode, and after thinking about it, I'm willing to give a brief reprieve to my irritation. They are just too damn adorable together, and my emotions are complicated!

[apinknightmare]

I'm still a bit confused by Damien's plan. I assumed 'genesis' was kind of like another undertaking in that they want to destroy the city but what's with the crops and the clean air underground? I don't understand these things! 

 

He wants to kill everyone off and repopulate. He's going to poison the air though, so they need somewhere to live where they can breathe. 

Edited December 10, 2015 by apinknightmare

[NorthstarATL]

How can these folks NOT know how to write soap opera? Obviously it should have been Oliver at death's door, and the ONLY living relative whose blood/organ/whatever could save him would be.....his SON! That is how you milk a poorly thought out secret.

[Coop33]

It bugged me when I was watching it, but by the end of the episode, and after thinking about it, I'm willing to give a brief reprieve to my irritation. They are just too damn adorable together, and my emotions are complicated!

 

And it just takes too much energy to harbor resentment and anger, right?

 

(I'm a total sucker.)

[Tazmania]

I'm kinda annoyed at myself that Oliver was adorable enough, and O/F were legit incredible, that I'm willing to handwave the lying liar who lies part.

 

 

The level of adorable was sky high ... I think I am gonna go run back in time like Barry and will erase episode 4x08 forever 

[dtissagirl]

It bugged me when I was watching it, but by the end of the episode, and after thinking about it, I'm willing to give a brief reprieve to my irritation. They are just too damn adorable together, and my emotions are complicated!

 

I legit liked this episode SO MUCH, that THAT is influencing me too. Last week was a fluke of artificially constructed dramalhama, this week they came back to the real storyline.

[BkWurm1]

I have to say I'm impressed.  They managed to write the proposal in a way that it would have been unnatural if Oliver didn't propose.  Boo that they've also now gotten my hopes up that they might fight to stay together rather than just break up when BM bomb goes off. 

 

Donna and Quentin were everything and more that I imagined.  Please don't let that be the end of them.  Need more!!  I only worry because QL seemed taken aback that he was "boyfriend" after just a few dates but Smoak woman know what they want quickly. 

 

Oh they really tried to make it seem like Felicity is DOA but I don't think so.   Once they get done playing up this red herring, does that mean she gets to be off the list? 

[Guest]

He wants to kill everyone off and repopulate. He's going to poison the air though, so they need somewhere to live where they can breathe. 

 

Thank you. I totally mind blanked on everything. 

[Tazmania]

 

Felicity's super power is that she may be dying, but her glasses always stay on perfectly. 

[paigow]

If he could see the DC universe Loki of Asgard would be saying "damn, this Darke guy is totally screwed....

...because he will fall down laughing at that ridiculous Canary Screeching. Then the actual heroes will exploit this vulnerability...

[apinknightmare]

Thank you. I totally mind blanked on everything. 

 

He said the air was thin though, so if it's anything like Denver - godspeed, HIVE members. I got winded just thinking about walking there. I actually climbed two miles up the side of the mountain and thought I was probably gonna die. 

[wonderwall]

How can these folks NOT know how to write soap opera? Obviously it should have been Oliver at death's door, and the ONLY living relative whose blood/organ/whatever could save him would be.....his SON! That is how you milk a poorly thought out secret.

 

He 'died' this time last year :p BUT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN SO FUNNY

[statsgirl]

This is the first time that I thought "the Canary cry makes sense" since Sara used it in s2.

He wants to kill everyone off and repopulate. He's going to poison the air though, so they need somewhere to live where they can breathe. 

If you're going to be a supervillain (at last!) go big or go home.

 

Did anyone recognize the actor who played the male HIVE partner?  I've seen him so many times and now I can't remember where.

The woman is Lynda Boyd who played Rose on Republic of Doyle.

 

 

How can these folks NOT know how to write soap opera? Obviously it should have been Oliver at death's door, and the ONLY living relative whose blood/organ/whatever could save him would be.....his SON! That is how you milk a poorly thought out secret.

Unfortunately, they did that last season when they tried to sell that Oliver had died falling off the mountain. Too soon to repeat it.

 

But if anyone has doubts that Felicity is Oliver's mate -- matching pseudo death scenes, same episode, different seasons.

[calliope1975]

And it just takes too much energy to harbor resentment and anger, right?

 

(I'm a total sucker.)

 

It really is exhausting to be an invested fangirl. ;D

 

I legit liked this episode SO MUCH, that THAT is influencing me too. Last week was a fluke of artificially constructed dramalhama, this week they came back to the real storyline.

 

It was so good that I'm less worried about any future drama fallout from last week's ep as well. Keep MG focused on LOT and away from Arrow. Like, why would you mess this relationship up? It's so good when they are together. 

[wonderwall]

I thought this was adorable too T_T

 

[Guest]

I do kinda hate myself but I also don't even care about Oliver proposing while lying. THEY GOT ME GOOD. Just the way it unfolded? The whole episode was basically them proposing to each other and I LOVED IT. 

[InsertWordHere]

she knows he's a lying liar who lies, so maybe they can work through the BM crap?! 

 

 they might fight to stay together rather than just break up when BM bomb goes off. 

I know "BM" means Baby Mama, but reading these quotes out of context makes me think of the other meaning of "BM" and Oliver and Felicity breaking up because of it. I am having an inappropriate bathroom humor moment. 

[apinknightmare]

I do kinda hate myself but I also don't even care about Oliver proposing while lying. THEY GOT ME GOOD. Just the way it unfolded? The whole episode was basically them proposing to each other and I LOVED IT. 

 

Yeah, I'm a sucker and I hate myself for it. They even got me to not hate the public proposal because they'd already agreed to get married at that point. Good night.

[popgoesculture]

I love that Diggle and Thea follow behind like, "we're good, too, everyone." Poor Digg and Thea... (And I would've loved a scene with Digg and Felicity about the pre-engagement or the actual engagement!)

 

Also, I'm glad everyone else also got swept away by the adorableness. It makes me feel less guilty. 

[Guest]

Let's count the death anvils:

 

Thea in her scene with Malcolm where she thought she was cured of her bloodlust and Malcolm was all ominous and concerned about what it meant.

 

Laurel with Quentin and him saying he basically doesn't know what he would do if something happened to her.

 

Felicity with well, everything, and the bleeding and the general being near death. 

 

Oh, and Quentin maybe being exposed as a double agent.

 

Any others?

Edited December 10, 2015 by Guest

[wonderwall]

Also Kudos to Wendy and Ben for making that proposal scene make sense and stay true to Oliver/Felicity's characters. I honestly was worried when I first saw that scene from canadadouche because I thought "That does not look like something they would do WTF WRITERS". 

 

I only trust in Wendy and Ben now. 

Edited December 10, 2015 by wonderwall

[EmeraldArcher]

PROOF THAT LL IS IN THE GRAVE: She asked about MM, seemingly out of concern, TWICE! The first time saved his life.

And, woah! Right before they head to the tree lighting, Felicity smiles at Oliver and says: "What? You're not the only one who can keep a secret." Hmmmmmm.

[Chaser]

I want to keep DD and NM for a long time. He dethroned Slade Wilson as the best Arrow villain. That being said: References to the Holocaust. I didn't like that at all.

 

The SmoaknLance reveal was hilarious. EBR shocked, appalled delivery totally worked. Happy looks good on Lance. Also want someone lying to Laurel to be a running joke.

 

I hate the FB. I DON'T CARE.

 

Strong Diggle/Andy stuff too. Nice set-up.

 

Malcolm calling Laurel's outfit bondage. I'll take that writers. Speaking of Laurel. Con: More Laurel than I thought there would be. Pro: Easily her best episode. I will admit that the only fault I found with her was the Canary Cry. Which is awful. And stupid. Laurel got some death anvils. Heavy ones. The parallel of her words to Lance and Felicity's to Oliver. Dang.

 

I wiped 4x08 from my brain. The Olicity was beautiful. I loved the scene in the cage. I'm surprisingly okay with the public proposal. 

 

Thea needed more to do. 

[Guest]

309 - Oliver gets stabbed and bleeds from his mouth.

409 - Felicity gets shot and bleeds from her mouth.

 

My OTP and their gross bleeding death parallels.

[SleepDeprived]

Also, I'm glad everyone else also got swept away by the adorableness. It makes me feel less guilty. 

 

I know! I'm like, self, you are better than this! You have principles! The baby mama drama plot contrivance actually insulted your intelligence! Oliver is still a lying liar who lies. And poor Felicity will be gobsmacked when the shit hits the fan.

 

But, then, we have this episode with Oliver and Felicity talking out the aborted proposal (like actual adults!) from the premiere. Then the out-of-breath, desperate ILUs. Then the actually adorable public proposal. And the limo sweetness. And Felicity being in danger and Oliver not knowing what to do with himself. I'm actually eating it all up! Hahaha!

 

 

 

[catrox14]

It was the one misstep (and it was a HUGE, GROSS MISSTEP) in the whole episode IMO. 

 

I honestly think that was completely intentional to make us really despise Darkh as much as possible. 

[dtissagirl]

PROOF THAT LL IS IN THE GRAVE: She asked about MM, seemingly out of concern, TWICE! The first time saved his life.

And, woah! Right before they head to the tree lighting, Felicity smiles at Oliver and says: "What? You're not the only one who can keep a secret." Hmmmmmm.

My deluded fangirl scenario going into hellatus is Felicity somehow already knows about the kid, and is just giving Oliver the time he needs to process. Yes.

Also unicorns are real.

[wonderwall]

Biggest anvil for Laurel's death was her telling Oliver not to blame himself for whatever was happening...

 

Definitely a parallel to the first grave scene.

 

Just sayin'

[Guest]

I need a gif of Felicity whacking those guys while wearing a smoking hot red dress and heels. Yassssss Queen yassss!

[catrox14]

Ugh. I just love SA and EBR together so damn much. It's all the little things that have sold me on Olicity.

 

All throughout the series..and no different here. The little nose snuggles and forehead touches...the smiles....The way he looked at her like she had lost her damn mind when she was babbling at Curtis' husband... the way he carried her as she is desperately clinging to him after the rescue from the gas chamber.

 

 

Ahhh...just....I don't even care that he didn't tell her everything yet. I'm a sucker.

[wonderwall]

Holy shit look at EBRs muscles 

 

[EmeraldArcher]

Laurel used the F word with Oliver; she actually said "fault" and echoed what he says at the grave. The Felicity anvils were so over-the-top, but there were a lot of Laurel anvils.

Were there any for Digg?

There were at least 5 for me--each of my 5 shots of Bourbon! No worries; that includes pre, during live, and second watch. Any other revelers out there?

[NumberCruncher]

Anyone else see the cornfield and get major flashbacks to Fight the Future? I thought for sure I was gonna see black eyes next, heh.

But in all seriousness, I was pleasantly surprised by that episode. They even managed to make me forget my rage for a moment, mostly because the proposal became inevitable due to Felicity finding out, confronting Oliver, and being so damn adorable about it all. THIS IS WHY I HAVE SUCH A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, ARROW WRITERS.

Everyone was pretty much in top form...well, except for everyone having to do with the boring-ass flashback scenes.

And sorry CW, you ain't gonna make me believe that Felicity is in the grave. This isn't my first rodeo.

Edited December 10, 2015 by NumberCruncher

[quarks]

This show. Often so frustrating that it's easy to forget, but when Arrow is on, it's on. As in this episode:

 

Good things:

 

1. Malcolm Merlyn. Sauntering into the Arrow Cave and complaining about security, the bondage comment, failing to bring his daughter (or anyone else) a single Xmas present (not even a nice sweater, Malcolm?), and, suddenly, one week after collecting Vandal Savage's ashes to say weird things over them. I don't know what any of this is, but it's all awesome.

 

2. Damien Darhk, happily reminding us that he's evvvvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil! My favorite moment was a tie between his decision to take a glass of wine from a party he was crashing and his carefully pointing out to Oliver that he's a bad guy.

 

3. Finally, someone on Team Arrow remembers that if you haven't seen the body and/or haven't taken care of it, the bad guy isn't dead! Where was this thinking LAST week? Watch more horror movies, Team Arrow!

 

4. Felicity's horrified reaction to finding out that Quentin and Donna are dating, and Quentin's almost as horrified reaction to realizing who Donna's daughter is, and the immediate agreement not to tell Laurel about this, along with Felicity's attempt to forget it.

 

5. And Donna's immediate ability to size up the ring.

 

6. The baby steps to the proposal - from Felicity finding out about it, to panicking when she realized he hadn't proposed, to not beating around the bush and directly confronting him about it (and for what it's worth, something in that scene suggested to me that Oliver was just about to tell her about Samantha anyway, and then Damien waltzed in and started killing people which was a big conversation dampener), to Felicity explaining what she thought their marriage should be about (sniffle) and their later hugs and then the proposal and then --

 

7. Berlanti, my threat about those green rings that I made post Supergirl? I can also track you down at SDCC with little Felicity dolls and wave those in your face too.

 

8. And if Arrow had to ruin a Christmas carol, just as glad it was that one.  (Can you imagine if "Joy to the World" had been playing instead? Actually, let's not.)

 

9. Really liked the scene between Diggle and Andy.

 

10. It was a throwaway line, but I liked that Arrow recognized that helicopters shooting people up during a volunteer event would also gain the attention of the national news, and that yes, Oliver Queen would be asked to make a comment.

 

11.. On a small note of representation, the happily married gay couple showing up at the campaign party, and of course their proposal had a marine theme to it since everything in this episode did.

 

12. And I have to say, ok, yes, it does mean it's the second year in a row that Arrow has pulled a stunt like this, but I do like the parallelism of Oliver dying and falling off a cliff last year, and Felicity getting shot and dying in his arms this year. 

 

13. And one major change: Oliver finally deciding to go public about one of the Big Bads. Although that does lead me to Questionable Things.

 

Questionable things:

 

1. So, Damien's picture has been plastered all over the news as an Evil Guy, right? And he has a family, including a wife and daughter, at least as close as Nanda Parbat, also right? So...does this presumed wife know, or does she just never watch the news or get on the internet?

 

2. On the topic of the marine theme, ok, yes, the bay and algae turned out to be very very important to the plot. Ok, yes, there was a shark. Ok, yes, the episode was called "Dark Waters."  By the time Curtis and his husband proposed marriage on the Great Barrier Reef, it was all getting to be way way too much, and that was before the shark and the algae showed up. You can overdo things, Arrow. I love you, but you can overdo things.

 

3. I have officially lost track of what is happening on Evil Island. Why was anyone swimming through shark infested waters?  Is the other bad guy going to kill Poppy now that Oliver has been downed by shark bite?  Why did the drug dealers not check out the evil abandoned ship since apparently they aren't drug dealers but archaeologists going after evil items? 

 

4. Also, why, exactly, did Oliver need Poppy to come with him on the shark dive if all she was going to do was stand there on the beach and watch him get almost eaten by a shark? Did I miss something? (I'm sure I missed something, which is part of the problem here.)

 

5. See, this - Felicity, Thea and Diggle getting kidnapped - I would have bought as a reason for an Arrow/Flash crossover. "We need to protect winged people from immortal dudes so we're heading to people without superpowers," not so much.

 

6. Uh, ok, a, is that really enough light to grow corn, which typically likes, you know, sunlight, and b, if it is, how did Team Arrow not notice the arrival of a new power plant capable of providing the energy to grow underground corn fields?

 

7. How the hell is Thea walking in those pants, much less fighting in them?

 

8. For medical reasons I have just consumed a lot of ice cream. And a bit of booze. I think the results of this are going to be very questionable. Berlanti, you owe me.

[Chaser]

Biggest anvil for Laurel's death was her telling Oliver not to blame himself for whatever was happening...

 

Definitely a parallel to the first grave scene.

 

Just sayin'

I missed that one. I was thinking about Felicity and Laurel having similar dialogue. Both told Oliver it wasn't fault/not to blame himself and both said they could take care of themselves. I was thinking it was a bait-and-switch. All eyes on Felicity, they miss all the signs pointing to Laurel.

[Ann Mack]

I totally missed Oliver getting bitten by the shark - did they actually show that? If so, I tuned right out.

I missed that too. I'm going to watch the episode again in about 10 minutes maybe I'll catch it then. The flashbacks this season is beyond a snooze fest!

[Primal Slayer]

I thought this was adorable too T_T

 

Only thing I wish they added was having Oliver go check on Thea as frantically as he was about Felicity.

[Chaser]

Holy shit look at EBRs muscles 

 

Wasn't there a storyline where Oracle got her legs back and became Batgirl again?

 

How about Felicity loses her legs and then becomes bionic? I really want to see if EBR can handle fight stunts. At least one episode.

[popgoesculture]

I can't stop looking at the gif of EBR's muscles. Her arms and legs are amazing! She's so strong. 

[wonderwall]

Only thing I wish they added was having Oliver go check on Thea as frantically as he was about Felicity.

 

Thea had her time last year... Let me be selfish for once! :p