S05.E12: Bratva

[Tara Ariano]

Quote

A mission takes Oliver, Felicity and the team to Russia, where they meet up with Oliver's old friend, Anatoly. Meanwhile, fresh out of rehab, Lance returns to the mayor's office ready to get back to work. However, when Susan asks for an interview with Lance to discuss his addiction, he balks and it's up to Rene to help keep things on track.

[apinknightmare]

That Tinah/Oliver convo came off a lot different on screen then it did in writing, haha.

[ComicFan777]

in a good way or bad way?

[apinknightmare]

1 minute ago, ComicFan777 said:

in a good way or bad way?

In a good way IMO - Tinah was snarky/annoyed with him, Oliver was annoyed back - there wasn't anything "intimate" about it, which is kinda how it came off in the writing (to me).

[Sunshine]

 It wasn't so much a pep talk as a get over yourself talk. LOL.   

DR said he was calling out Felicity.  Unless that's happening later it's Rory who called out Felicity and then tattled to Oliver. :-)

[Mellowyellow]

Guys how did the "What happens in Russia" comment come off? 

[Sunshine]

Rory's alive! He survived the nuclear blast. He absorbed it .(Oliver did get there in time to shield/hold Felicity. LOL!

What happens in Russia was nothing special. LOL!

Edited February 9, 2017 by Sunshine

[calliope1975]

For real though, I'mma need a Felicity and Friends spinoff stat. 

[Sunshine]

Oliver & Rayporter just went all in  She's questioning tatoo he's shutting her down.  She looks worried.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Sunshine

[Morrigan2575]

But it's not about them its about the tattoo and the story she's writing

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, Chaser said:

I need a warning. How much of a scene was it?

It was post-coital. Oliver said that he learned that his past isn't his anchor, he thinks that's what kept him from moving forward with her. She fondles his chest, asks about the tattoo, asks what happened to him on the island. He tells her he doesn't want to talk about it, but maybe one day. 

[DrSpaceman10]

Ha, I was right, although I wish I wasn't. 

[Sunshine]

I was hoping when Rory survived he wasn't going but his rags are useless now.

She and the detective have put 2 and 2 together and basically coming to the conclusion that Oliver is the Green Arrow,  

Edited February 9, 2017 by Sunshine

[Morrigan2575]

It wasn't even about them as a couple. The entire scene was about Susan's story, it even links directly to her final scene about Oliver being Bratva and GA.

[Sunshine]

Where does it go from there?

[mtlchick]

So the cliff notes of the episode are: Rory is gone, Felicity is dipping her toes back into the hacker waters and...Ollie really needs to get to know a lady that isn't a reporter before he sleeps with her.

Better question is, where's Willa at?  It's been a while since we've seen her.  

[Sunshine]

"You, me, Felicity. We make each other better" - John Diggle

Truth

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

It wasn't even about them as a couple. The entire scene was about Susan's story, it even links directly to her final scene about Oliver being Bratva and GA.

I like how they waited until after Oliver was well aware that she's investigating a story about a guy he killed to have him sleep with her, like...it's idiocy x infinity.

[calliope1975]

2 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

It wasn't even about them as a couple. The entire scene was about Susan's story, it even links directly to her final scene about Oliver being Bratva and GA.

I know but I'm irrational and didn't ever want to see the nanosecond of the scene that I caught. My fear is what was discussed earlier today, and that Oliver will compromise his entire team with his stupidity. 

[EmilyBettFan]

I wil not let those last few minutes ruin what was essentially a good episode. Lots of OTA, Diggle and Felicity.

Too much of Dinah thinking she knows shit and this reporter is so ridiculous. Too much of her also.

[insomniadreams88]

Quick thoughts:

LOVED dark Felicity. She was terrifying in all the best ways. And now that Rory's gone (so sad about that, but at least he's alive), is anyone going to notice if she keeps crossing the line? Probably not. Also, Rory should have probably told someone that Felicity was ready to get on a plane with a nuclear bomb and sacrifice herself. I'm really going to miss Felicity/Rory scenes. 

And OTA. Wow, I've really missed scenes with those three. Need at least 2 per episode for the rest of the season.

As for Tinah? Meh? I liked her more in this episode than last week, but I'm still not wowed. 

Wasn't impressed with the Lance/Rene stuff. They should have had Lance with one of the people who actually know him his first episode out of rehab. (Also, did no one know he was getting out of rehab? I only half-watched that scene at Oliver's office because of Susan.)

Really, Oliver? Hmm, something's going on with Felicity, Rory warns you she's crossing a line, but sure, time to go sleep with Susan? It's like once he had that talk with Diggle, he figured, "everything's okay again" and forgot about Felicity. That was unnecessary. (I feel like Arrow gave us that Olicity hug as a, "here, enjoy this because of what's coming.") They obviously wanted to do something with the tattoo.

Hey, the PI still exists. You know what, Oliver? You deserve everything that happens to you after this. 

Edited February 9, 2017 by insomniadreams88

[Lady Calypso]

3 minutes ago, mtlchick said:

Rory is gone

So they really got rid of my favourite recruit? Boo. That's already strike two with these people this season, the first being them shipping Thea off to Whateverland. Strike three will be them getting rid of Adrian Chase and keeping all the leftover newbies and recurring characters whom I dislike. 

I'll get around to watching the episode, but now I have very little desire to. Unless someone can give me some positives. 

[catrox14]

Why must they make Oliver a complete buffoon now ? That really pisses me off.

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, Lady Calypso said:

I'll get around to watching the episode, but now I have very little desire to. Unless someone can give me some positives. 

I thought the whole thing was great until Oliver doubled-up on the stupid and slept with someone who he knows is investigating the murder of a guy he killed. Unless he's trying to keep tabs on her, which then just makes it extra gross. Other than that, it was pretty great.

[Mellowyellow]

Does Oliver even care that Felicity is going dark?

[wonderwall]

3 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

Does Oliver even care that Felicity is going dark?

Yes.

[insomniadreams88]

I really want to see more of the Felicity we got in Russia in the rest of the season. But at the same time, I'm really worried about her, now that Rory's gone. If Diggle's going to be bonding with Tinah, Oliver's busy as mayor (and apparently only cared about making sure that Diggle was following his advice), Thea's MIA most of the time ... maybe we can get some Felicity/Lance scenes? Please?

[Mrs. de Winter]

Of course Rory is gone - he was the only one who interacted with Felicity in a positive way and the only newbie I cared about at all.  I guess I should just be grateful he made it out alive - and before the writers destroyed his character too. 

Tinah can go any time now.  Yet another newbie who is not needed. 

Oliver is officially too stupid to live.  I would not care at all if he ended up in prison - he deserves it for being so forking stupid and putting the team at risk because he is so desperate to get some.  At this point Diggle and Felicity should dump his ass and form their own team - they would be much better off without Oliver and his stupid weighing them down.  Lance and Thea can go with them too.  And since Oliver is no longer beholden to his past he can keep the newbies.  He deserves them as much as they deserve him.   

Edited February 9, 2017 by Mrs. de Winter
too and to are different things

[apinknightmare]

So, Shady Susie publishes her article about Green Arrow killing Billy, Felicity looks into her and finds out she knows all kinds of stuff about Oliver, finds some blackmail material on her in Pandora, and threatens the hell out of her. Pls happen.

[Mrs. de Winter]

11 minutes ago, insomniadreams88 said:

I really want to see more of the Felicity we got in Russia in the rest of the season. But at the same time, I'm really worried about her, now that Rory's gone. If Diggle's going to be bonding with Tinah, Oliver's busy as mayor (and apparently only cared about making sure that Diggle was following his advice), Thea's MIA most of the time ... maybe we can get some Felicity/Lance scenes? Please?

At this point I think Felicity would be better off with some random person on the street helping her - Oliver is too stupid to be useful and Diggle is on permanent you will love the newbies duty.  I would love it if it was Chase that helps her given he is supposedly operating on the light and dark side too.  But this show doesn't do interesting, good things anymore.  They are too busy giving newbies flashback episodes.  

[Sunshine]

16 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

Does Oliver even care that Felicity is going dark?

He probably thinks his little talk about needing them in the light worked.  It did on John.  Actually, he was concerned about her but he doesn't know what she's up to.  Rory only got as far as saying Felicity crossed a line when a scream was heard in the distance and Oliver was off.  No other questions were asked.

Felicity considers Dinah an unknown quantity which is why when she went to the Russian Tea Room she had Curtis and Rory play Bratva.  Since Rory's not around who's going to be worried about Felicity?

I actually thought this was a good episode.  I hate the ease/frequency with which the sonic scream is deployed though.  

I'd feel better about the reporter story if WM wasn't saying they have genuine feelings.

Lance and Rene were pretty good scenes.  Rene told Lance the story about being a kid when Lance wondered why SW went easy on him.  SW never even had a scene with Rene or Lance.

Edited February 9, 2017 by Sunshine

[Mellowyellow]

Anything to imply romance/flirting/potential between Tinah and Oliver?

Thanks guys! 

[apinknightmare]

1 minute ago, Mellowyellow said:

Anything to imply romance/flirting/potential between Tinah and Oliver?

No.

[Lantern7]

Prediction for the season finale: Everybody is happy, none of the good guys are remotely damaged, and then they realize that Wild Dog is missing. Cut to Rene, sprouting white wings and ascending to heaven, leaving the jersey, mask and guns behind. I'm okay with him, I'm good with him and Quentin bonding, but I can get why some people wouldn't like that.

Damn, having enchanted rags comes in handy. Natch, the most powerful player on the show is now off the board. Poor Rory. At least he and Curtis looked tough. And Felicity was hot, as usual.

Dinah is totally going to be the rebound girl, and the third "Canary" in Oliver's life. "Am I any different than them?" "Well, you haven't died yet. That's a good thing."

And damn, I keep forgetting about Diggle's gun show. If some of you got the vapors from him pummeling an extra like Rene on the punching bag, I won't blame you one bit.

ETA: Oliver/"Tinah" might not be a thing. It just feels obvious, if the show has one more season. Over on The Flash, they're hinting at Julian/Caitlin to the point when I expect him to ask Cisco if the regular "protection" would work against temperature drops.

[Mellowyellow]

14 minutes ago, Mrs. de Winter said:

Oliver is officially too stupid to live.  

Are we at Barry levels of stupid yet? I adore Barry but you guys hate him so I thought I'd check as he is usually the measure for stupid on this board! 

[wonderwall]

Stephen looked like he wanted to die in that post sex scene with Susan I'm LAUGHING. STEPHEN'S NOTP FACE LIVES.

Edited February 9, 2017 by wonderwall

[apinknightmare]

4 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I'd feel better about the reporter story if WM wasn't saying they have genuine feelings.

I'm hoping this is just another Mericle Special that doesn't actually play out at all. Because she obviously slept with him to get a peek at his chest, and he slept with her because...he's a dumbass, I guess? I keep hoping he's not as oblivious as he seems, but good night nurse he makes that difficult. I'm hoping him not being willing to talk to her about any of it was an indication that he's not as dumb as he seems but LOL @ me, etc. 

[Soulfire]

 

(GIFs not mine. OTA and Olicity 5evah and stuff.)

[BkWurm1]

9 hours ago, wonderwall said:

This makes me wonder if the season will end with Oliver revealing his identity to everyone like what happened in Smallville. 

This very well may happen but it will still be the the stupidest thing ever.  It's pretty much why I could never not think of Oliver on Smallivlle as forever a dumbass.  Our Oliver is already dumb, I don't know if I'd be able to handle that much more stupid.  

[Sunshine]

2 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

Anything to imply romance/flirting/potential between Tinah and Oliver?

Thanks guys! 

I didn't think so.  Right now she's just muscle.  The team filled her in on Prometheus, etc off camera.  Oliver didn't.

Dinah strikes me as more alpha than Oliver.  I'm not sure we've even been shown the beginnings of a great work partnership.  It's just slightly off to me somehow but I'm not sure what. (I don't dislike Dinah, just the scream.)

[tennisgurl]

So, they get rid of the ONE newbie who was really unique and likable? I just...why? I'm officially baffled.

[Mellowyellow]

34 minutes ago, insomniadreams88 said:

Really, Oliver? Hmm, something's going on with Felicity, Rory warns you she's crossing a line, but sure, time to go sleep with Susan? It's like once he had that talk with Diggle, he figured, "everything's okay again" and forgot about Felicity. That was unnecessary. (I feel like Arrow gave us that Olicity hug as a, "here, enjoy this because of what's coming.") They obviously wanted to do something with the tattoo.

Isn't that a step up from them insulting us usually?

Edited February 9, 2017 by Mellowyellow

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Dinah strikes me as more alpha than Oliver.

Yeah, she definitely comes off as the type who would be leading her own team, not on someone else's. I didn't dislike her here either, and yeah - that cry is stupid. Was she trying to learn how to control it in the mansion they were staying in? When she knocked over that vase? 

[Hiveminder]

Wow. I was surprised when I read the comments here because I really liked this episode, and I liked Oliver in it. I definitely think being in a relationship with Susan is dumb and I don't like that he's with her instead of Felicity, but I'm not angry at him for having sex with her. We all know she's not here for the long haul. 

And I like Dinah, and her interaction with Oliver. I'm not seeing any romance between them, and she seems pretty decent so far. 

[Sunshine]

1 minute ago, apinknightmare said:

Yeah, she definitely comes off as the type who would be leading her own team, not on someone else's. I didn't dislike her here either, and yeah - that cry is stupid. Was she trying to learn how to control it in the mansion they were staying in? When she knocked over that vase? 

Yeah.  It seems like she was try to control and was Curtis trying to record it.  Please don't create any weapons that use that repeatedly.

[Trisha]

56 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

Guys how did the "What happens in Russia" comment com

It was so weird. Felicity was super perky when she said it and shrugged like "hey bro, you do you." Definitely one of those moments that makes it seem like the show forgot they were ever together. But then there were other scenes that really highlighted OTA's importance to each other so I think that was just a dumb throwaway line / nod to the past Russia ep.

As  much as I didn't want to see them in bed, I'm really glad that the episode made it clear Susan is just using Oliver.  Their post sex pillow talk was basically her grilling him about what happened on the island, she specifically pointed out his tattoo, and then her next scene is her talking to the PI about him probably being a Bratva captain and the Green Arrow.  If she develops "genuine feelings," she sure hasn't yet. As of right now, she's totally playing him and he looks like an idiot. 

[Mrs. de Winter]

10 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

So, they get rid of the ONE newbie who was really unique and likable? I just...why? I'm officially baffled.

Because now Tinah is the specialist snowflake newbie with her meta powers and you can love her (and the Wild Dong) the best!

[Sunshine]

2 minutes ago, Hiveminder said:

Wow. I was surprised when I read the comments here because I really liked this episode, and I liked Oliver in it. I definitely think being in a relationship with Susan is dumb and I don't like that he's with her instead of Felicity, but I'm not angry at him for having sex with her. We all know she's not here for the long haul. 

And I like Dinah, and her interaction with Oliver. I'm not seeing any romance between them, and she seems pretty decent so far. 

I liked it too.  Oliver in Russia was fine.  It's the sleeping with the reporter when she's investigating Billy's death dumbness I have a problem with.

I don't have a problem with Dinah other than the use of the scream which I hate.  I just thought she came across as more alpha than Oliver and I'm not sure how I feel about it.  I'm used to Oliver being THE alpha on this show.

[apinknightmare]

Yeah, I liked it too which surprised me because I thought I'd hate it. My only issue was Oliver continuing his dumbass streak, but I don't think that's going to be broken anytime soon. 

[benteen]

18 minutes ago, wonderwall said:

Stephen looked like he wanted to die in that post sex scene with Susan I'm LAUGHING. STEPHEN'S NOTP FACE LIVES.

LOL, yes!  He looked like he was trying to hold her as far away from his body as he possibly could.  Carly was doing her best to look into it but Stephen was having none of that.

Despite Oliver's stupidity at the end, I really liked this episode.  It was great having the Original 3 working so closely together like in the old days.  Liked the Russian mission.  Liked Lance and Rene.  Very disappointed that Rory, the best new recruit by a mile is gone.  I think he would be a good fit though on Legends of Tomorrow.

Where is Thea?