The Starling City Times: News and Media about Arrow

[Primal Slayer]

1 hour ago, statsgirl said:

I wonder if they are regretting it now.  A lot of reviewers as well as posters think that Diaz is just too lame to make the Big Bad of the season.

I doubt it. Diaz isn't a failure because he's a male or because he's Diaz. He's a failure because of the writing. 

16 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

The show has never had a female Big Bad.  I think the closest they came was Talia in s5.  Even Flash has Amunet.

Amunet is basically Flash's version of Black Siren or China White. The only difference is she is the boss of her gang but she isnt around enough to be considered a big bad.

[statsgirl]

I know Amunet isn't the Big Bad, that's yet another man  But she is the boss of her gang and scary, and not following the orders of a man who has less ability than she does.

46 minutes ago, Primal Slayer said:

I doubt it. Diaz isn't a failure because he's a male or because he's Diaz. He's a failure because of the writing.

And the casting IMO.  I think Josh Segarra could have made Diaz work. At least work better.

[kes0704]

4 hours ago, Primal Slayer said:

I doubt it. Diaz isn't a failure because he's a male or because he's Diaz. He's a failure because of the writing

I think they were to welded on to executing the villain twist as the ultimate “gotcha” that they ended up spending the majority of 6A ignoring Diaz.  They should have used that time to drop breadcrumbs that gave a hint that there was more to him than just a passive member of Cayden’s villain team.

Then in 6B they took story shortcuts that didn’t work for anyone not familiar with the character as presented in the comic. I think they only did the Dragon episode because they finally realised they had skipped over too many details and the audience wasn’t just going along with it and accepting that Diaz was all powerful and could easily beat Oliver.

3 hours ago, statsgirl said:

And the casting IMO.  I think Josh Segarra could have made Diaz work. At least work better.

I feel like Kirk is going a bit to ”Godfather” with the role and I don’t normally have a problem with accents but I struggle to understand what he’s saying half the time. Plus the delivery can dip into being a bit monotone and so I tend to tune out which also isn’t helping. 

[tv echo]

Arrow Review: Docket No. 11-19-41-73 (Season 6 Episode 21)
May 4, 2018   Brianna Martinez
https://www.telltaletv.com/2018/05/arrow-review-docket-no-11-19-41-73-season-6-episode-21/

Quote

Arrow rebounds from its latest run of episodes with Arrow Season 6 Episode 21, “Docket No. 11-19-41-73,” as the focus returns to the emotional stories for some of our favorites, and common sense knocked into some of them.
*  *  *
Oliver’s willingness to put his family and Rene’s daughter before himself during the trial and sacrifice his freedom and life with his family is one of the signs of just how much compassion, empathy, and heart he puts into his mission and what he stands for.
*  *  *
Stephen Amell plays heartbreak, understanding, and resignation so painfully well throughout the hour, and it shows in moments like Oliver understanding what Rene is up against and his conversation with Jean about what his life as the Green Arrow meant for him.
*  *  *
Felicity’s pain is palpable as Emily Bett Rickards plays the balance between determination and fear of losing someone she loves beautifully.
*  *  *
Her support for Oliver and show of strength for William as he’s faced with losing his father, who he just technically started getting closer to, while also dealing with the prospect of losing her husband is painful.
*  *  *
Rene’s apology is very much appreciated and sorely needed after doubling down on the nonsensical newbie logic as of late. It’s the first step on a very long path to putting things right with Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle, and I hope we see more of it.
*  *  *
Though it feels like it’s meant to be a balm to kind of gloss over everything, it’s definitely not, and I expect more attempts at apologizing from the other two newbies if it’s ever expected that they get even close to reconciling with OTA.
*  *  *
Because let’s face it, if anyone needs to do the apologizing it’s them.

Even with everything, it’s beautiful that no matter what forces may be pulling them apart, Diggle will always be there for his brother as he brings Human Target in for the save. It’s an encouraging constant and a sign of the Diggle we all know and love.

Now, let’s get more of him back with Oliver and Felicity and bring my OTA back.
*  *  *
The Dragon is still not an impressive villain with the tiny exception of escorting Zoe into the courtroom.

Edited May 5, 2018 by tv echo

[SmallScreenDiva]

10 hours ago, kes0704 said:

Then in 6B they took story shortcuts that didn’t work for anyone not familiar with the character as presented in the comic. I think they only did the Dragon episode because they finally realised they had skipped over too many details and the audience wasn’t just going along with it and accepting that Diaz was all powerful and could easily beat Oliver.

I think the Dragon episode was always part of the plan, they just probably thought it would actually be worth it because they'd have a compelling villain. Nope. I think the plan was to give the three main actors — David (518), Emily (520) and Stephen (519) — time off during that period.

It's kinda like 520. I've seen fans say the show gave fans an Olicity ep because they're making up for not having them interact the entire season. That's not quite true, either, IMO. It was always planned, it's just that the previous episodes did such a bad job establishing stuff that it came off as a course correction instead of natural progression. Same with this year's villain ep.

[way2interested]

1 hour ago, SmallScreenDiva said:

It's kinda like 520. I've seen fans say the show gave fans an Olicity ep because they're making up for not having them interact the entire season. That's not quite true, either, IMO. It was always planned, it's just that the previous episodes did such a bad job establishing stuff that it came off as a course correction instead of natural progression. Same with this year's villain ep.

I think there were plans but still tweaked a bit here and there by the time the episode came along. Like, I think 520 was always the plan, but I wouldn't be surprised if the flashback part of 520 wasn't originally planned and was added from reactions since they changed tunes really quick from "Olicity had that talk off-screen, but they are still great partners" to "we'll find out why they've been distant this season." Similarly, I think 619 was always the plan, but maybe aspects of it changed depending on reactions (maybe the episode was originally supposed to get sympathy like 613 with Cayden but then they added him burning that guy alive to try to make him more intimidating instead, etc.) 

Edited May 5, 2018 by way2interested

[tv echo]

Arrow Season 6 Episode 21 Review – ‘Docket No. 11-19-41-73’
MAY 5, 2018 BY JESSIE ROBERTSON 
https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/05/arrow-season-6-episode-21-review-docket-no-11-19-41-73/

Quote

But, actually, this episode killed it in the entertainment category. The actresses playing the lawyers both gave you the right feel, even if the judge was ridiculously over the top. The surprising testimonies from several key players, the twisting back and forth, highlighted by a moment that even had me questioning what we were watching when Tommy Merlyn burst in, wearing full Green Arrow garb. What??? My jaw hit the floor. I knew it couldn’t be but even his testimony was damn convincing and I was sort of hoping this was all true. Then the face comes off and…..hold on, who is this again? Oh, yeah Human Target. Nice callback. So that’s who Diggle rescued at the beginning of the episode in a testosterone fueled action sequence. That combined with Diggle going for blood against Diaz right on the courthouse stairs and I’m thinking “John Mother F***ing Diggle is back!”
*  *  *
I never know what to make of Rene. He and Oliver are at odds so many times, and mostly over ridiculous Arrow drama, so to see his flip flop- and the whole Diaz has his daughter – did no one see that creepy SOB, or care I guess? But, his earned handshake with Oliver to close the show was a damn good moment. And then there’s Laurel….oh lord. In a turn you could pretty much see coming, just her chemistry with Diaz was not working, even after a whole episode devoted to them.

You can’t take away that Tommy moment but there were some awful scenes; despite that being quite the elaborate ruse, Diaz countered it immediately? Oliver’s scene with boring ole William- pass. Felicity was very, very fine here. But, oh, now Diaz will kill him? what about last week? I’m sorry this turned into a free form rant. Arrow continues to be ridiculous, action packed and sucking me in.

Edited May 6, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Meanwhile, in Alt-Reality Land...

Why Arrow Season 6 Is Arguably the Best of the Series so Far 
Jennifer Borama  May 5, 2018
https://www.tvovermind.com/arrow-2/arrow-season-6-arguably-best-series-far

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The evolution of the Lance family

The Lance family has been central to the story of Arrow, and so far we’ve seen two Lance sisters die and resurrected. We’ve also seen the head of the Lance family, Mayor Quentin Lance, go through his own ups and downs. He started out as a humble police captain, became a detective, got demoted to officer again before he became detective again, then captain, then a member of the city council, and finally Deputy Mayor of Star City. Paul Blackthorne, who plays the role of Quentin Lance, will not be reprising his role in season 7. This will change Arrowverse forever, and it’s not going to be in a good way.
*  *  *
Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2

This was one of the best crossovers ever, not only in magnitude but in story as well. It was like The Avengers of television except with DC characters, of course. Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2 was one of the best episodes of the show period. The best part about it was having all the characters of Arrowverse in one episode (4 episodes to be exact, but 1 on Arrow).
*  *  *
Deathstroke Returns
*  *  *
Divided

This season, we saw something we never thought would happen—the team split up because they didn’t trust Oliver Queen anymore. It was saddening and heartbreaking, but it made for great story telling. We can’t say that this was our favorite team of heroes (Speedy and Arsenal all the way), but this latest team was starting to grow on us.
*  *  *
The return of Roy Harper

Edited May 6, 2018 by tv echo

[Starfish35]

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

Meanwhile, in Alt-Reality Land...

Lol. :)

[EmilyBettFan]

19 hours ago, tv echo said:

Meanwhile, in Alt-Reality Land...

Why Arrow Season 6 Is Arguably the Best of the Series so Far 
Jennifer Borama  May 5, 2018
https://www.tvovermind.com/arrow-2/arrow-season-6-arguably-best-series-far

LOL Lance family drama got stale in season 1. This is the problem. Shouldn't be central at all in the story of Arrow. Their first mistake. There was more story on them than Oliver's family.

[SmallScreenDiva]

The last time the Lance Family were at all relevant to Arrow was Season 2 and viewers said no, thanks, when the ratings sank during the Lance Family Drama of S2B. 

[tv echo]

Agents of GEEK Podcast Episode 116
Posted on 05/06/2018 Craig Wack & Tatiana Torres
http://agentsofgeekpodcast.com/wordpress/

-- Arrow 621: Craig and Tatiana are down on Arrow right now. Craig just didn't care for Diaz and thought the show "mishandled his introduction." He noted that Diaz previously didn't want to kill Oliver because that would've made him a martyr, but apparently he now wants to kill Oliver and doesn't care any more if that makes Oliver a martyr. 

-- Craig: "I never knew it was so hard to make courtroom drama work." He said that it felt like "we missed a step" between Diggle & NTA saying, "screw Oliver Queen" to them now saying, "I will gladly commit perjury for Oliver Queen." Tatiana disagreed, saying that while they didn't want Oliver as a boss, they still didn't want bad things to happen to Oliver. Craig thought that we needed an episode where Oliver is in jail awaiting trial, and Felicity has to convince Diggle to come help, and then Diggle has to convince the newbies to come help. He said that it seemed like just last episode, the newbies were saying they didn't like Oliver, but suddenly this episode they're committing perjury for him. Craig and Tatiana agreed that the end of this season "feels very rushed."

-- Craig also thought that, since there are still two episodes left, there was no way that Oliver was going to go to jail in this episode.

-- They then talked about the similarities/differences between the Flash trial and the Arrow trial. Tatiana thought that they were different and she wanted the two shows to stay different because she felt that Arrow was still better than Flash overall this season, despite all its problems.

-- Tatiana noted that SA "did a good job of appearing legitimately shocked" at the appearance of 'Tommy Merlyn.' She also liked the return of Human Target.

-- Craig thought Oliver's trial was a series of courtroom cliches.

-- Tatiana said that Diaz was a "dumb villain" and that Prometheus was a much better villain than Diaz.

Edited May 7, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Quote

The Tuesday Spot Feat.....Rick Gonzalez
Its the Tuesday Spot on the D-Hour Radio Network and on this show as always we will be bringing you all the hits from your favorite celebrity, new, amateur, unknown, and up and coming (R&B, Hip Hop, Pop, Rock, and Neo-Soul) artists! We got the Real Men Talking, and many other incredible segments on this show. You're tuning into the Tuesday Spot with D-Slate, Ms Sandy, L.E.O., and DP. Today we will be talking with Phenomenal Actor Rick Gonzalez from such hit movies like Coach Carter, War of the Worlds, and Roll Bounce. Rick also stars in the super hit CW TV series "Arrow" 
in Entertainmenttoday at 9:00 pm 02:00

Edited May 8, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Podcast radio interview with RG yesterday (his interview starts at around the 30:10 mark) - this interview is long and, tbh, I found it difficult to keep listening, so I may have spaced out in parts...

The Tuesday Spot Feat.....Rick Gonzalez
D-Hour Radio Network   May 8, 2018
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dhourshow/2018/05/09/the-tuesday-spot-featrick-gonzalez 

-- When RG auditioned for Arrow, he read for a character with a different name. His audition scene was him playing some military guy who was being court-martialed. But then he found out that he was playing Wild Dog from the costume designer, who had contacted him for a mask & costume fitting.  He thought that she had contacted the wrong person. He "immediately got excited" when he found out that he was playing a superhero vigilante. He read up on the character and thought that Wild Dog "felt like the Wolverine or like the Punisher of the show."

-- The interviewer praised RG for giving "such a fantastic edge" and thought that it was "so refreshing" that Wild Dog is a character who stands up to Oliver.

-- RG said that his character "brings an inner city vibe to Star City" that the show didn't have before and "creates an energy to what's been already established" that the show "desperately needed."

-- RG also talked about his past movies. The two interviewers really loved RG and raved all over him.

-- (49:00) Interviewer: "As far as Arrow... is there a chance that we're going to see Wild Dog back in the next season?" RG: "In next season? ... Yeah, I mean, we definitely got picked up for next season. And, uh, as far as I'm concerned, I better be there next season."

-- When interviewer asked if he was working on any new tv or film projects, RG said that, right now, all of his time and attention is devoted to Arrow. RG added: "We're excited for Season 7."

Edited May 9, 2018 by tv echo

[Trisha]

Looks like SA's appearance on Kelly & Ryan was moved from May 16 to May 15. He's also going to be on KTLA on Thursday morning:

[Angel12d]

33 minutes ago, tv echo said:

-- The interviewer praised RG for giving "such a fantastic edge" and thought that it was "so refreshing" that Wild Dog is a character who stands up to Oliver.

 

They must've missed the countless times Felicity and Diggle (and others actually) have stood up to Oliver but okay. I mean, the first time Felicity joined the team she stood up to him. LOL.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Angel12d

[bijoux]

32 minutes ago, tv echo said:

 

-- The interviewer praised RG for giving "such a fantastic edge" and thought that it was "so refreshing" that Wild Dog is a character who stands up to Oliver.

Can someone name one character who hasn’t stood up to Oliver?

[EmilyBettFan]

LOL it's so funny. That's all they talk about when they mention Wild Dong. Get out of here.

[apinknightmare]

44 minutes ago, bijoux said:

Can someone name one character who hasn’t stood up to Oliver?

Raise is the only one I can think of. Even his own kid has done it LOL. 

[SmallScreenDiva]

I remember when AK was trying to sell Sara's relationship with Oliver by saying it's different because she stands up to him and all of us were like, "Did you forget Diggle and Felicity?" At this point, it's like a rite of passage to stand up to Oliver if you're working with him in any capacity. 

[EmilyBettFan]

3 hours ago, SmallScreenDiva said:

I remember when AK was trying to sell Sara's relationship with Oliver by saying it's different because she stands up to him and all of us were like, "Did you forget Diggle and Felicity?" At this point, it's like a rite of passage to stand up to Oliver if you're working with him in any capacity. 

Which I don't understand this. These people write this show, oversee it and everything. How can they forget such a thing as both Diggle and Felicity not being afraid to share their opinions with Oliver. What makes them think it's so important to keep mentioning with wild douche?

[statsgirl]

1 hour ago, EmilyBettFan said:

What makes them think it's so important to keep mentioning with wild douche?

Because there's nothing else positive about him?  They can't say that he cares about his daughter because he was going to leave her in foster care until Oliver and Quentin pushed him to try to get her back, and now he leaves her with a babysitter while jobless, he goes out and beats up people.

[Mellowyellow]

The whole "standing up to Oliver" thing is just an excuse to explain why Wild Dung acts like such a rude d#ckhead all the time.

[tv echo]

Docket No. 11-19-41-73 - Arrow Music Notes 6x21
Austencello   May 9, 2018
https://austencello.tumblr.com/post/173755000164/docket-no-11-19-41-73-arrow-music-notes-6x21

Quote

However, after Rene gives his testimony, she admits that things look bad and point blank asks Oliver if he is the Green Arrow.  As he tells her that he is, high electronics begins the track of “The Essence of Heroism” (2x22).  She tries to convince him that they will tell the truth and show all the good he has done to sway the jury.  Oliver does not want to do that because it will put a target on Felicity and William.  He was hoping to live a normal life at some point and that will never happen if he confesses to the world.  The theme continues as he speaks to Felicity before she stands as a witness, telling her that she does not have to lie for him.  She responds that she will take any chance to bring him home.  The music slightly alters as the harp (Felicity’s instrument) plays the Arrow string theme underneath the main theme.  They are a team together.
*  *  *
“The Essence of Heroism” is one of the more memorable tracks of the series.  The main theme was first introduced in “Just Listen” (1x08) as Oliver shares about Sara’s death to Helena, admitting that he wasn’t a good person and it affected the people he loved.  It is a theme of failure and loss: “I who Failed” against Malcolm Merlyn (1x09), the death of Tommy “Sacrifice” (1x23), and the death of Laurel “Canary Flies away” (4x18).  It is also a theme of inspiration and victory: saving Roy “Salvation” (1x18) and then later revealing himself to Roy in 2x12, as well as defeating Malcolm in 4x13 “Taking a hand.”  In 2x22, it was a mixture of both.  In fact, the same track and moment has two different titles.  On Blake’s website it has the title “Oliver gives up” while the “Essence of Heroism” is on the soundtrack.  Oliver had given up and felt like he had lost everything to Slade and had no idea how to beat him.  It was Felicity in this scene that reminded him that he can’t give or stop fighting.  She didn’t know how they were going to win but she told him that he was not alone and that she believed in him.  It is this strength and belief that bolstered Oliver to keep going.
*  *  *
Oliver has kept fighting for Star City with Felicity at his side for years.  He grew tremendously as a person, a hero, a friend, a husband, and a father.  He could tell the city all the things he has done for it, saving them numerous times and yet if it was a choice between that or keeping his family safe, he would always choose his family even if that means going away to prison.  Using a theme of sacrifice and heroism for three different scenes in this episode gives each moment a sense of deep emotion and gravitas reflecting the heart of Oliver: the sacrifice and strength that he would do anything to keep his family safe.

The theme returns as he tells Felicity that he cannot put a target on them and while he can handle losing his freedom, he can’t lose her and William.  She responds with a very similar line to 2x22: “We fight for each other, we protect each other, we can save each other.”  She tells him that they can break him out of prison while he tells her that he has arranged a place with John and ARGUS to keep them safe if things don’t go well.  He can’t lose another person he loves.
*  *  *
As they wait for the verdict, Felicity brings William in to speak with Oliver.  The cello theme from “I forgot who I was” (1x05) plays as Oliver tells William that he doesn’t want to go to prison and leave him.  He tells William that he is strong and that he will always be with him in his heart.  “I forgot who I was” is a theme for Oliver and his family.  While in the beginning, it was about the numerous lies and the toll that it took on himself and Moira, trying to protect their family in their own ways, later it played as he met William in 4x08 “Oliver meets William” and then later sent him away in protective custody in 4x15 with a video message “Message to William.” It is a theme of deep love for his family when he said goodbye to his parents in the dream world in 5x08 “Not my Life now” and Thea in 6x16.  When he said goodbye to William in 4x15, it was with the hope of one day knowing him as a father.  Now, he has been with William for a year and the idea of saying goodbye is almost unbearable but he has to be strong for all of them, knowing that Felicity will be with William to help him become a good man.
*  *  *
The verdict was declared guilty by the jury but the “judge” overruled the verdict due to reasonable doubt with conflicting evidence.  As Oliver is released, a little snippet of “The Essence of Heroism” returns as Oliver turns and hugs Felicity and William.  They will not be separated or alone after all.  There is hope and victory in this moment.

Edited May 10, 2018 by tv echo

[Trisha]

Stephen Amell is doing a Facebook Live with ET right now:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/EntertainmentTonight/videos/?ref=page_internal

[tv echo]

A.V. Club reviewer gave 622 a grade of C...

Attention, Arrow villains: Find a new angle, you're embarrassing yourselves
Allison Shoemaker  May 10, 2018
https://tv.avclub.com/attention-arrow-villains-find-a-new-angle-youre-emba-1825940114

Quote

An Arrow villain has had it, well and truly had it. He is done. He loathes Oliver Queen and wants to scorch the earth on which he stands. He wants to inflict maximum suffering. So he does something that’s extremely dark and heavy and climactic. He targets the people he loves.

Now, guess the villain!
*  *  *
If your answer was, “well, pretty much all of them,” you’ve arrived at the primary issue with “The Ties That Bind,” a relatively well-constructed hour of television that nevertheless wholly underwhelms. Ricardo Diaz is dangerous in a way none of Team Arrow’s other foes have been dangerous, or so we’re told, over and over, again and again. I will admit that having the entire (and apparently super corrupt) police department on his payroll is something new. But Arrow seems to have forgotten that Adrian Chase was pretty damn lethal, not to mention a government official with a ton of knowledge about Oliver’s life and seemingly inexhaustible resources. It seems to have forgotten about evil wizard Damien Darhk, and Malcolm Merlyn, and dark days Slade Wilson, and poor old Cayden James, and the whole freakin’ League of Assassins.

You know what nearly all of those people did? Showed how serious they were about inflicting misery on Oliver—which is clearly way better than killing him—by targeting his loved ones. It’s a storytelling trope that’s not unique to Arrow, of course, but at this point they’ve rung that bell so often one could be forgiven for feeling slightly deafened by it. And yet for all the sturm und drang, pretty much nothing happens. It’s as though the show had one hour they needed to fill, so they shot up a bunch of sets, injured Curtis, gave Felicity and Oliver a bit of a fight, got rid of the whole Quadrant story, blew through a chunk of their pyrotechnics budget, and called it a day. In this episode, stuff explodes. Let’s move on.
*  *  *
Let’s start with that first one. This isn’t the most stylish or flashy (not Flash-y) episode in Arrow’s history, but you can’t say it doesn’t make good time. Miele’s tasked with quite a few big set pieces here, and while a few stretch this often implausible show past its plausibility breaking point, they’re all relatively easy to follow and reasonably compelling. The first in particular is a tense, even thrilling affair, and while there’s no way an unarmed and unarmored Oliver could take down all his suited-up, automatic weapon-wielding visitors without injury, it’s still a really well-handled scene. I hope she returns for season seven (seven!), because fight scenes you can actually follow and montages that don’t feel forced aren’t easy to come by.
*  *  *
Now that the bunker is toast, I’m guessing that’s a wrap on salmon ladder.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

ARROW: "THE TIES THAT BIND" REVIEW
BY JESSE SCHEEDEN  10 MAY 2018
http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/11/arrow-the-ties-that-bind-review

Quote

But while there was plenty of property damage to go around this week, the physical toll take on our heroes was fairly minimal. That’s my one big complaint here. So much was made of the all-encompassing threat posed by Diaz and his army of loyal police officers, yet Team Arrow survived multiple encounters with the enemy at little cost. At worst, Curtis and his boyfriend both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. At some point the show struggles to establish a sense of stakes and danger when these characters start to feel invincible. It doesn’t really help that Lyla was so quick to provide a disposable army of ARGUS redshirts when the situation called for it.

Not that I necessarily feel one or more Team Arrow members absolutely have to die to give the finale weight, but I think we need some reminder of the threat Diaz poses. And given how badly this season started off on the wrong fitting by wasting Season 5’s dramatic cliffhanger, it would sure be a nice mea culpa if it managed to up the drama and danger here at the end.
*  *  *
One other thing this episode made pretty clear is that the Quadrant probably won’t be sticking around as a lasting threat in Star City. Diaz made sure of that by killing two of its four leaders. While on one hand that only elevates him as a threat and illuminates his sadistic state of mind, it doesn’t do much to establish the Quadrant as a credible threat in the Arrowverse. Why do these seemingly all-powerful crime lords leave themselves in the position to be murdered so easily? Why is there no retaliation against Diaz? It feels like more could have been done with this shadowy organization. On the other hand, perhaps the inevitable power vacuum in the criminal underworld will be one of the driving forces of Season 7.
*  *  *
Following last week's disappointing courtroom drama, "The Ties That Bind" was a solid return to form for the series. This episode wasn't quite as dramatic as it could have been, as never did Ollie and his friends feel like they were in mortal danger. Even so, this episode set the stage for an epic finale, stacking the odds ever higher against our heroes and highlighting the deranged madman that Ricardo Diaz has become.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 22 - The Ties That Bind
Starman   May 10, 2018
http://www.mygeekygeekyways.com/2018/05/arrow-episode-guide-season-6-episode-22.html

Quote

Lyla says that she can't bring in ARGUS to help with the fight in Star City because what Diaz is doing is a law enforcement matter outside of their jurisdiction. While this does make sense from a legal and logistical standpoint (The CIA is not allowed to get involved in affairs on American Soil, to give a real world example), surely Ricardo Diaz is a person of interest as a known associate of the cyber-terrorist who recently threatened Star City - a matter which ARGUS could act on?

For that matter, surely as the Director of ARGUS, Lyla knows who to contact at the FBI, the DEA, the ATF or countless other government agencies that would be empowered to arrest Diaz legally? (It might have been easier for Lyla to say she'd have to coordinate with the FBI to operate and it would take too long or for Oliver to point out there's no way to know Diaz didn't have connections in the local FBI as well.)

Kirk Acevedo goes full Shatner with his pauses and line breaks in this episode. (Why would she tip off Queen (pauses) and then DRAAAAG OUR AAAAAASES (pause) out of the fire?)

Diaz surviving the explosion at point-blank range and going flying down a staircase into a stone wall is complete and total bullshit.
*  *  *
Why do The Quadrant leaders agree to a meeting with Diaz on his own turf with none of their own bodyguards close at hand?
*  *  *
As is tradition for the penultimate episode of every season of Arrow, the title is taken from a Bruce Springsteen song. As usual, the song ties into the theme of the episode, as The Ties That Bind is about someone who has been trying to stand tough on their own because they're afraid of the pain that relationships with other people can cause.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

DIAZ TRIES TO KILL OLIVER AND EVERYONE HE LOVES IN THE LATEST ARROW
Trent Moore   May 10, 2018
http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/diaz-tries-to-kill-oliver-and-everyone-he-loves-in-the-latest-arrow

Quote

The entire season has been about pulling Team Arrow apart, and as the man at the heart of it all, Oliver Queen as well. He’s lost his extended team, his original team of Oliver and Felicity, and even his old pal Anatoly along the way. After making a go of it completely alone, Oliver finally took a step toward realizing that was clearly the wrong lesson to learn from this season.
*  *  *
With the city (not to mention their lives) on the line, Team(s) Arrow work together to make a play on Diaz — and sure, it pretty much failed — it did give Oliver a chance to reevaluate his new priorities and have a bit of long-needed growth along the way. The team failed to score Diaz’s data, but Oliver confronted his fear of losing those close to him that has caused him to push them away in the first place (a bit heavy-handed, but par for the course when it comes to Oliver Queen’s emotions). Oliver realizes the people around him are his true strength, and he even has a reconciliation his Diggle, acknowledging he took his criticisms to heart and has tried to make some changes since then.
*  *  *
*So in the span of a couple of weeks, Diaz has effectively taken over the most powerful criminal enterprise in the country? Really? And he did so by simply killing off the members, folks who are presumably supposed to be the most powerful criminals in the world? That entire subplot seems rushed and bordering on silly at this point. If the Quadrant is half as formidable as its supposed to be, there’s no way a mid-level thug like Diaz could’ve walked in and simply taken it over by force. The point of the Quadrant is that it has resources, and it’s insane to think they’d all just fall in line with a guy none of them have ever heard of.
*  *  *
*It looks like Diaz’s thumb drive could be the deus ex machina Oliver & Co. have been hoping to find. The team believes the drive includes all of Diaz’s financial information — including proof of everyone he’s paid off in the Star City government. If the team could get ahold of it, they believe it could be the smoking gun to finally take Diaz down. It stands to reason that will come back into play next week.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow: Oliver and Felicity's Latest Spat Proves There's Still Olicity Stories to Tell
By Lindsay MacDonald | May 10, 2018 10:21 PM EDT
http://www.tvguide.com/news/arrow-season-6-episode-22-recap-oliver-felicity-fight/ 

Quote

"It's just where he is right now," Stephen Amell told TV Guide of Oliver's overprotectiveness. "He was trying to go about his business alone, but I think that William (Jack Moore) is a real game-changer. Making sure that he has at least one parent, and essentially that's what [Felicity] has become, changes the stakes for him."
*  *  *
Fans might not love to see Oliver and Felicity at odds with one another, but this episode actually proves that Arrow has a lot more story to tell for a couple that's already run the gauntlet. They've only just begun to explore who they are as parents (Felicity is the fun one, and Oliver's the grumpy one, obviously), let alone what their new family does to their romantic relationship. The ins and outs of a mother and father dynamic are very different than that of a husband and wife or a vigilante and hacker. The fact that they're still able to have these little spats and come out of them changed (and stronger) bodes well for the future of this ship and the show as a whole.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

It's like this writer has selective amnesia when it comes to what Black Siren did this season (no surprise that she writes for TV Fanatic)...

Arrow Season 6 Episode 22 Review: The Ties That Bind
Candice Horde at May 11, 2018 
https://www.tvfanatic.com/2018/05/arrow-season-6-episode-22-review-the-ties-that-bind/

Quote

Speaking of Dinah Laurel Lance, I missed her in this episode. Siren would've made this good one even better with her quick retorts, dripping sarcasm, and expert fighting moves.
*  *  *
A story we see over and over again revolves around Felicity and Oliver fighting and bringing their arguments into the field. Although it's exciting to see that they won't drag the drama to the finale -- it would be nice to put a plug on the arguments that affect their field work, in general. 

It's like every time these two go into a big fight; it's when everything is on the line. 
*  *  *
About 95% of Felicity and Oliver's arguments stem from his mentality, and it would be wonderful if we could either change what they argue about or the fact that they argue at all. 
*  *  *
Additionally, Siren, played by the exceptional Katie Cassidy, gives us an antagonist that has a good heart. So, we can explore that nuance of a character who lives in that gray area, but doesn't default to hypocrisy to explain the wreckage they've caused away. 

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[apinknightmare]

1 minute ago, tv echo said:

Additionally, Siren, played by the exceptional Katie Cassidy, gives us an antagonist that has a good heart.

LOL - what show is this chick watching

Edited May 11, 2018 by apinknightmare

[KenyaJ]

And "expert fighting moves"? How embarrassing.

[tv echo]

EW reviewer gave 622 a grade of B...

Arrow recap: Diaz declares war in the solid penultimate hour
CHANCELLOR AGARD May 11, 2018 at 10:10 AM EDT
http://ew.com/recap/arrow-season-6-episode-22/

Quote

I was hooked into “The Ties that Bind” from the minute it opened. We begin with vignettes of everyone on Team Arrow enjoying some time with their loved ones, save Dinah, who is hitting the streets. Oliver is whipping up breakfast-for-dinner at Chez Queen, because we all forgot that Oliver developed a love for cooking in season 4. Like Felicity, I really can’t take him seriously when he says things like “Salt me,” but it’s cool because I found this little scene very charming. Meanwhile, Curtis is on a date with his man, Diggle and Lyla are at the hospital for Diggle’s final check-up, and Rene’s watching hockey with his daughter.

Obviously, all of that immediately goes to hell as Diaz launches attacks on everyone. Thankfully, Anatoly warned Oliver right before gunmen opened fire on his apartment. Everyone makes it out alive, although Curtis’ boyfriend gets injured in the shootout. This thrilling opening effectively set up the destructive tone for the rest of the episode, and I especially loved watching Diggle and Lyla fight together in the field because they’re just so in sync and so cute.

... There’s a little plothole here: How does the all-knowing Diaz not know that New Team Arrow is shacking up in Helix’s old hideout? Diaz worked with Cayden James and probably knows that this place exists. But, that’s a small quibble.
*  *  *
... Felicity going out in the field is the last thing Oliver wants because he’s worried about her safety and worried that worrying about her will split her focus. You’d think after six seasons Oliver would trust Felicity to be able to handle herself, but alas he doesn’t. Nevertheless, Felicity forces him to go along with the plan, which obviously doesn’t go as planned.

Diaz’s men quickly detect what Lyla’s up to and begin converging on her as she tries to escape the precinct. So, Green Arrow and Diggle bust into the station to help her out, and Felicity pulls a Chuck Bartowski, which means she leaves the car and wades headfirst into danger, in order to retrieve the sniffer device. And here’s where I feel it’s necessary to call out director Tara Miele, who made her Arrow debut tonight and handled this episode’s many action scenes incredibly well. I loved how this particular sequence followed Felicity as she ran through the precinct while the Green Arrow-Diggle-Lyla fighting happened in the background. Diaz almost gets the drop on Felicity, but Oliver saves her before he manages to fire a shot off.
*  *  *
As we head into the finale, Diaz is running the Quadrant after taking out most of its leadership, Team Arrow is reunited, and pretty much all of Arrow‘s sets have been destroyed. I have no idea what to expect from the finale, but I suspect that it’s going to set up a very different and interesting season 7. 
*  *  *
“Oh, frak it! Felicity, before running into the precinct like a badass.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow, ‘The Ties That Bind’: End-to-End Action Buoys a Sinking Plot
BY CRAIG WACK · MAY 11, 2018
http://oohlo.com/2018/05/11/arrow-the-ties-that-bind-end-to-end-action-buoys-a-sinking-plot/

Quote

At different points in this episode, the characters onscreen seemed to echo the audience’s sentiments when they asked why didn’t Diaz just attack Oliver and his allies weeks ago? This action-packed hour brought more drama and tension than last week’s courtroom episode ever dreamed of bringing. And if one was willing to set aside that the team’s breakup was ultimately six episodes of filler, this was the most enjoyable one of the series since Cayden James was still kicking. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest episode of Arrow:
*  *  *
Sex and the Olicity:  In between at the explosions and gunplay, Oliver and Felicity were able to spend some meaningful time onscreen together. Most of it was spent debating Felicity’s role, now that she is a stepmother to William. It gave Felicity the opportunity to give voice to the frustrations that I’ve had concerning Ollie’s “I need to work alone” phase. After the climactic battle where everyone barely made it out unscathed, Oliver was freaking out that Felicity risked her life to retrieve her gizmo, and it once again reminded him of his need to work alone. To her credit, Felicity stopped him short pointing out that the effectiveness of working alone is a fabrication of his imagination, and that the rings and vows they exchanged means they are a team –- in all facets of their lives. Someone’s parental status doesn’t excuse them from doing their part for the greater good, no matter how dangerous the situation may be.
*  *  *
...  I was very concerned about Lyla throughout the episode, because she was in the fray often, and in that sweet spot of secondary characterdom that we often forget she exists, but it would be a gut-punch if anything truly bad happened to her (think Agent Coulson in the first Avengers movie)....
*  *  *
Last impressions: Taken individually, this episode had all the pieces that a good episode of Arrow has. There was well-choreographed action, solid pacing, characters interacting and behaving in proper ways, and the feeling of real stakes and characters in real danger. Any misgivings I had about the episode stem from the overall mismanagement of the back half of the season and at this point, are best voiced in the wrap-up next week. In a season as inconsistent as Arrow‘s, it’s just best to celebrate the bright spots because you don’t know when the next one will come.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[insomniadreams88]

22 minutes ago, tv echo said:

It's like this writer had selective amnesia when it comes to what Black Siren did this season (no surprise that she writes for TV Fanatic)...

Arrow Season 6 Episode 22 Review: The Ties That Bind
Candice Horde at May 11, 2018 
https://www.tvfanatic.com/2018/05/arrow-season-6-episode-22-review-the-ties-that-bind/

Quote

Additionally, Siren, played by the exceptional Katie Cassidy, gives us an antagonist that has a good heart.

 

21 minutes ago, apinknightmare said:

LOL - what show is this chick watching

Yeah, if this writer thinks BS has a good heart, then she has to consider all the heroes saints ... right? 

[Primal Slayer]

If they are basing it off of the last episode.... that was a good hearted action. 

[tv echo]

Arrow: Enough Talk, Time for Action
By Matt Ross May 10th, 2018
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/05/10/arrow-enough-talk-time-for-action

Quote

In terms of second-to-last episodes of a season, tonight was solid. It certainly set up what I assume will be an explosive (pun intended) finale next week.
*  *  *
Something I really liked in this episode was the race to download and decode the flash drive. The “what could be on it” angle totally drew me in. I know Felicity says that it contained a list of everyone connected to Diaz and whom he has control over. However, I’m not sure we know that as a fact. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was different info on there.

Obviously, whatever it is, Diaz wants it bad. His behavior would suggest that maybe it’s a breadcrumb trail of people that leads to him, but I feel like that’s too easy, and Arrow likes to throw some curveballs just when you think you have an idea of what’s going on. For example, even though they say the drive was destroyed in the fire, I’m don’t think that’s the last we’ll see of it… 
*  *  *
The biggest twist tonight came when Ollie goes to Agent Watson—the FBI agent who was investigating him earlier in the season. Personally, I don’t really care too much for this character. She always seems like a walking cliché to me—the classic by-the-book, no BS authoritative figure. I was shocked Ollie went to her, but now I know why—she’s clean. She’s not owned by Diaz or anyone else. But more importantly, she’ll do the right thing and take Diaz down, no matter what it takes. I’m assuming she’ll have to bring in a hefty crew to do that. It’s going to be something of a monumental task of unraveling Diaz’s web in order to get to him.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, Primal Slayer said:

If they are basing it off of the last episode.... that was a good hearted action. 

No it wasn't - she didn't not rat Oliver out for Oliver, she did it for herself - to stand up to Diaz. 

[Mellowyellow]

haha I'd be so wary of that woman who wrote that BS is good hearted if I knew her irl! BS killed a defenceless father with kids! If the writer thinks that's good hearted what's to stop her from thinking it's ok to go after me with a hatchet! 

[apinknightmare]

8 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

haha I'd be so wary of that woman who wrote that BS is good hearted if I knew her irl! BS killed a defenceless father with kids! If the writer thinks that's good hearted what's to stop her from thinking it's ok to go after me with a hatchet! 

I mean, Oliver's also ruthlessly killed people and I would consider him good-hearted, because we've seen him do good-hearted stuff throughout the years. But the only thing that Siren's done that isn't in her own best interest is not testify the way Diaz wanted her to, but she didn't do that because she didn't think it was the right thing to do, she did that to stand up to Diaz. And then went to kill him afterward. 

[tv echo]

‘ARROW’ 6×22 REVIEW: ALL YOU NEED IS OTA
Posted on May 11, 2018 By Alyssa Barbieri
http://fangirlish.com/arrow-6x22-review-all-you-need-is-ota/

Quote

While most of this season has been infuriating and laughable — whether it’s because of Diaz as the punk ass Big Bad or the horrific writing of its characters — there’s just something about the end of seasons that Arrow seems to do so well. The beginning is usually promising, the middle is rocky as hell, but they usually manage to pull it together by season’s end and deliver some good stuff. It’s almost as if 23 episodes is just too much.
*  *  *
With that said, Arrow’s penultimate episode of season 6 (“The Ties That Bind”) was probably one of the more well-rounded episodes in recent memory due in fact to the focus on characters and how they were the ones that drove the plot. Hell, it even reminded me what it felt like not to hate the Newbies. For like a second. It certainly helps when they’re doing the job and not trash talking the people that got them there.
*  *  *
But perhaps the most important reason why this was one of the better episodes of late was because of the focus on the core three, the beating heart, of Arrow: Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle. Seriously, anytime the show focuses on the thing that defined it as a success many years ago, you can feel it. I felt it in this episode. I felt the emotion, the connection, and there was even a moment — however fleeting — that I was concerned about Diaz hurting Oliver and Felicity. A fleeting moment, as I said.

This show is at its best when it’s focusing on the characters that got it here. “The Ties That Bind” was so beautifully crafted around Oliver & Felicity’s marriage and Diggle & Lyla’s marriage, and it managed to once again beautifully parallel the two relationships. These characters — their actions, their motivations — drove the plot. Everything they did, how they communicated, what they learned was all based on who they are as individuals dictated the events that unfolded. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it should be. Always.
*  *  *
Nevermind the Noobs. Nevermind the ridiculous villain this show continues to insist is “threatening.” This episode was all about Original Team Arrow. This was a damn OTA lovefest. Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle working together again. Oliver and Diggle. Felicity and Lyla. Oliver and Felicity working through marital issues like the healthy couple they are. Diggle and Lyla continuing to prove why they’re couple goals. I felt like I was dreaming.
*  *  *
But the only thing I’ve ever really needed from this show is OTA. That’s all I need. I don’t need excess characters that suck up air time and storylines. I don’t need pointless drama for the sake of drama to “keep me on my toes.” All I need are Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle to remind me why I kept watching this show in the first place. Just as they sometimes need a reminder of what they’re fighting for, I needed a reminder of what I’m still watching for. And “The Ties That Bind” gave it to me.
*  *  *
Perhaps the only thing that hasn’t been tainted this season on Arrow has been Oliver and Felicity because, let’s face it, at this point they’re untouchable. The writers tried to throw some shitty curveballs their way and saw how well that worked out. It’s like they realized, hey, our fans actually want to see a married couple working together — out in the field, as a family.
*  *  *
Oliver didn’t like that Felicity went head-on into a firefight after she’d promised not to. Not that she hasn’t been out in the field before or held her own on several occasions. Again, he was concerned about her safety and even tried to convince himself this was justification for him wanting to work alone. But then Felicity Smoak-Queen — goddess that she is — laid it all out in glorious fashion:

“We’re married. We’re supposed to be each other’s strength. So there’s no alone for us anymore,” Felicity says.

Bingo! Marriage is about being a partnership. It’s about supporting each other even when you don’t agree, it’s about protecting each other, and it’s about accepting that when you’re in a marriage, it’s not just you anymore. There are two of you.

I appreciate that, while Oliver was in the wrong, his intentions were understandable and came from a place of love. That’s the kind of stupid that I can accept. Because it’s based in the character’s DNA. We know that Oliver Queen will do anything to protect those he loves, especially Felicity. We know that Oliver Queen has done some stupid shit in the past to protect those he loves, including Felicity. And that’s something that’s not only understandable but commendable because it shows that this show does in fact understand its characters, it just chooses to sometimes ignore them.

Leave it to John Diggle to be Captain of the Olicity ship as he knows exactly what to say to make Oliver think about his actions when it comes to his relationship with Felicity. Because, simply put, Oliver can be stupid. I love him. But he can be real stupid sometimes. Sometimes he just needs a slap in the face to start using that brilliant brain of his. But bless Diggle for reminding Oliver that Felicity is his strength, not his weakness.
*  *  *
And it’s true. Oliver and Felicity have always protected each other. From the very beginning, they’ve protected each other. Albeit in different ways, but they’ve only desired to keep each other safe. So while Oliver has the right to be concerned about his wife’s safety, he doesn’t have the right to demand that she not act on her volition. And the great thing is, he didn’t. Instead of questioning her reasoning for staying behind while the intelligence was decrypting, Oliver chose to remain by her side because this was something she needed to do. He understood that. Just as Felicity has understood what Oliver has to do as the Green Arrow — including putting himself in harm’s way — Oliver has to understand what Felicity has to do as Overwatch. It was a beautiful moment that showed growth in a character that I’d never thought could get here — well, without Felicity.

And because that moment wasn’t a true moment of growth — complete with verbal confirmation from Oliver himself — we got a lovely scene at episode’s end where Oliver owned up to his misstep.
*  *  *
It’s a damn shame that such a solid episode like “The Ties That Bind” had to be led by perhaps the worst villain I’ve seen on Arrow. But, don’t worry, I didn’t let it ruin the otherwise glorious hour. Honestly, I’m kind of glad that Diaz has been forced upon us this season. Because you know I like to write some good shade.

The simple fact of the matter is that Ricardo Diaz is a terrible Big Bad. He’s a punk ass loser that is in no way menacing or threatening. He’s whiny, annoying, and quite frankly sucks at being evil. This is a guy that, just in this episode, hid in a van while a whole slew of his “people” did the dirty work for him.

And I just keep wondering: How the hell did this guy get to this kind of power? How are people actually afraid of this guy? Why is Arrow insulting my intelligence here?
*  *  *
This annual Big Bad is supposed to be someone that we believe can actually get close to defeating Oliver Queen. The Big Bad will never win, but they’ll come close. Diaz is not that Big Bad. He’s not a worthy adversary for Oliver. This show has dumbed itself down to the point where we’re expected to believe that this weasel can actually face Oliver Queen and live to face another day? There’s no way you could ever convince me that this tool could actually defeat Oliver Queen. Not the Oliver Queen that took down Malcolm Merlyn, Slade Wilson, Ra’s al Ghul, Damien Darhk, and Prometheus.

Diaz is an embarrassment to villains everywhere. He’s not worthy of the title villain yet along Big Bad. He’s like Oz hiding behind the curtain. He’s nobody. And he’ll always be nobody. Well, he’ll always be that shitty Big Bad from Arrow season 6.
*  *  *
“This guy’s got an army.” So has every other big bad you’ve faced, Oliver.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[Primal Slayer]

2 hours ago, apinknightmare said:

No it wasn't - she didn't not rat Oliver out for Oliver, she did it for herself - to stand up to Diaz. 

She also partially did it for Quentin.

And she wants to keep him safe in general so good ounce of heartedness!

[tv echo]

Entertainment Weekly - Superhero Insider Talks Riverdale, Gotham, Supergirl And More!
May 11, 2018  Natalie Abrams and Kyle Anderson
https://soundcloud.com/ewradio/superhero-insider-talks-riverdale-gotham-supergirl-and-more

-- Arrow 622: Natalie said, "What I really loved about this episode was kind of the juxtaposition of Diggle and Lyla's marriage to Oliver and Felicity's... and just how wildly different they are, and how different they work together, um, with Oliver kind of like being like, 'Felicity, don't go out in the field' ... And that's purely born out of Oliver being worried, you know, and I totally get that and understand that. And even Felicity, during the hour, jokingly turns to Lyla and is like... basically asking her for marriage advice (Laughs) ... which was really delightful. At their core, these relationships are so different, so it was fun to see those play out. It was also great, I will admit, to see OTA and NTA back together."

-- Kyle reminded Natalie that he's "mildly allergic to when this show turns domestic," but he still agreed with her that he liked that they "set up those two dynamics." He thought it "added to both of those relationships." He said that he has "at no point been engaged in the marriage of Oliver and Felicity." However, he said that "this was probably the first time that I was engaged in their relationship and their personal dynamic," but that "it required that sort of weird, parallel mirroring of Diggle's relationship."

-- Natalie liked the two teams setting aside their mutual distrust and that Oliver didn't take charge of everybody, but it was everybody working together.

-- They then talked about the ending scene with Oliver admitting to FBI Agent Watson that he was the GA. Natalie speculated that the "second thing" was that Oliver would go to jail after she helped him take down Diaz.

-- Kyle thought that it "would work out better narratively" if Diaz stuck around for S7. He would like that threat to come to a head in the season finale but then carry over to next season. Natalie noted that we still don't know a lot about Diaz. However, if one villain was going to take up two seasons, she would've preferred Prometheus. Kyle said that the show keeps talking about what a big threat Diaz is, but it never seems that way on the show. In contrast, he said that Prometheus was a big threat every time he appeared. Natalie was curious as to whether or not Diaz's story would end in the season finale or whether he'll carry over to S7.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[KenyaJ]

17 minutes ago, tv echo said:

-- Kyle thought that it "would work out better narratively" if Diaz stuck around for S7. He would like that threat to come to a head in the season finale but then carry over to next season. Natalie noted that we still don't know a lot about Diaz. However, if one villain was going to take up two seasons, she would've preferred Prometheus. Kyle said that the show keeps talking about what a big threat Diaz is, but it never seems that way on the show. In contrast, he said that Prometheus was a big threat every time he appeared. Natalie was curious as to whether or not Diaz's story would end in the season finale or whether he'll carry over to S7.

So, by all means, lets keep him around for another season of telling rather than showing. 

[tv echo]

‘ARROW’ SEASON 6: IS LATEST IDENTITY REVEAL A BLESSING IN DISGUISE?
BY AUTUMN NOEL KELLY ON 5/11/18 AT 3:25 PM
http://www.newsweek.com/arrow-season-6-finale-life-sentence-promo-episode-21-recap-922795

Quote

Arrow has been off lately, but the most recent episode (sort of?) turned things around. The fight scenes were good and subplots back on track, but this season’s recurring problem remains unsolved: the villain. It’s understandably hard to come after Josh Segarra’s Adrian Chase: last season, he was extraordinarily compelling and downright brutal. But this new guy whose been in the shadows for 21 episodes, Ricardo Diaz, is basically an amped up villain-of-the-week. He wants to take down Green Arrow and go after everyone he loves. Sound familiar?
*  *  *
Heading into Season 7, the series needs a substantial change. Though Season 5 was one of the best in the series so far, Season 6 has been particularly dull ever since Team Arrow 2.0 separated. There are good things, though. Dig finally has a storyline that’s not just Oliver’s sidekick, and more Lyla is never a bad thing. The Felicity and William subplot also works, and seeing Oliver as a lone wolf again was a reminder of just how good the second and third season of Arrow were.

As for the finale, hopefully we’ll learn more about the power of The Quadrant, the mysterious criminal organization Ricardo Diaz has been trying to gain control over all season. It’s also worth noting pretty much every set on the show was destroyed last episode--not only the superhero lair, but everyone’s home.

Spoiler

It’s also Paul Blackthorne’s last episode as Quentin Lance, which could be the reason we’ll be getting a cameo from Caity Lotz as his daughter Sara. We’ve been waiting for Black Siren to meet White Canary for a while now, and who knows, maybe evil Laurel will land a seat on the Legends squad?

Whatever the outcome of Green Arrow’s identity being revealed, hopefully it can set up a fresh start in Season 7.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[way2interested]

I just still don't get where this idea of him carrying over to s7 comes from and keep getting perplexed at it coming up in various aftershows/reviews.

[Mary0360]

28 minutes ago, tv echo said:

Entertainment Weekly - Superhero Insider Talks Riverdale, Gotham, Supergirl And More!
May 11, 2018  Natalie Abrams and Kyle Anderson
https://soundcloud.com/ewradio/superhero-insider-talks-riverdale-gotham-supergirl-and-more

-- Arrow 622: Natalie said, "What I really loved about this episode was kind of the juxtaposition of Diggle and Lyla's marriage to Oliver and Felicity's... and just how wildly different they are, and how different they work together, um, with Oliver kind of like being like, 'Felicity, don't go out in the field' ... And that's purely born out of Oliver being worried, you know, and I totally get that and understand that. And even Felicity, during the hour, jokingly turns to Lyla and is like... basically asking her for marriage advice (Laughs) ... which was really delightful. At their core, these relationships are so different, so it was fun to see those play out. It was also great, I will admit, to see OTA and NTA back together."

-- Kyle reminded Natalie that he's "mildly allergic to when this show turns domestic," but he still agreed with her that he liked that they "set up those two dynamics." He thought it "added to both of those relationships." He said that he has "at no point been engaged in the marriage of Oliver and Felicity." However, he said that "this was probably the first time that I was engaged in their relationship and their personal dynamic," but that "it required that sort of weird, parallel mirroring of Diggle's relationship."

Why when Natalie and cohort talk about Olicity even in a positive way I still read bitterness in their answers and like they are subtly trying to put them down by giving them reluctant backhanded compliments?  

[tv echo]

‘Arrow’: Oliver Queen Finally Said Those 5 Words
Lauren Gallaway  May 11, 2018
http://fandom.wikia.com/articles/arrow-oliver-queen-those-5-words

Quote

Now that the FBI knows the truth, what will they do with that truth? Agent Watson said she would help Oliver out on two conditions, what is the second? While the episode cut to black before she could answer, we have a few ideas about what she could want from Oliver.

First, she could want Oliver to do time for his crimes as the Hood and the Green Arrow. That could be why the final episode of the season is called “Life Sentence”. Second, she could ask him to hang up his hood for good. She may see the need to use him to take out Diaz, but once Diaz is down, she could want Oliver to retire the Green Arrow for good.

Third, she could want Oliver to work for her. With the Green Arrow on the payroll of the FBI, Watson could send Oliver out on all kinds of dangerous missions. This could actually be the direction the show takes in Season 7. Watson could stand in for a version of Amanda Waller and she could run Team Arrow for the course of the season. That would definitely change the dynamics of the show and possibly give the team a hefty new budget to build a new bunker, considering they torched their own.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

TV Review: ‘Arrow: The Ties That Bind’ (Season 6 Episode 22)
MAY 11TH, 2018 BY NICHOLAS GRAFF
http://sciencefiction.com/2018/05/11/tv-review-arrow-ties-bind/

Quote

Well, being the second to last episode of Season 6, this one had a lot of work to do. And I’m pleased to report, for the most part, it did not disappoint. The stakes have been raised about as high as they can go, the heroes are reunited, and yet still at a low point, we got a lot of great action, and I still have no idea how they are going to wrap everything up in the finale, which is a good thing for a show (no one likes predictability in a TV series).
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Anatoly gives them intel on Diaz after persuading the man to change hide-out locations and the team attacks the caravan. Curtis flies off the handle and goes after Diaz alone and gets a beat-down for it (been some time since we’ve seen “Mr. Terrific” remind us that he is awful in the field and gets beat up a lot)....
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And another HQ bites the dust. Added bonus, they also lost their backup HQ. They really do seem to want to reboot the series next year. AND this lends credence to my theory that Oliver is probably going to “die” at the end of this season, they even reminded you about his ridiculous promise to William this episode to always comes home

Even if the FBI woman got a confession for Oliver, he can’t be tried for it again, can he? Does that fall under double jeopardy?

How stupid are these Quadrant leaders? For an organization as “bad ass” as they supposedly were set up to be, they fell pretty easily under Diaz’s sway and then died pretty easily by his hand. I’m not that impressed.

Edited May 11, 2018 by tv echo