S07.E08: Unmasked

[Lady Calypso]

Quote

FELICITY MAKES CERTAIN DECISIONS FOR HER FAMILY — Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) stands by her recent decisions regarding her family. Meanwhile, Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson) continue to look into the Dante painting that Curtis (Echo Kellum) found. Alexandra La Roche directed the episode written by Oscar Balderrama & Beth Schwartz (#708). Original airdate 12/3/2018.

[Primal Slayer]

[calliope1975]

Soooo that was awful. What exactly am I supposed to come back for, Beth? How did you make me dislike everyone on this show but Felicity and Blackstar? I'm kind of amazed how bad it was. 

I don't really have anything else to say.

Edited December 4, 2018 by calliope1975

[insomniadreams88]

Loved the Olicity scenes. LOVED that Oliver remembered their anniversary (and dying a bit over him rubbing his finger over her ring). Love that they're not glossing over their issues, but I also feel like we needed more from them? Also, that last scene was heartbreaking. 

Loved seeing Oliver adjusting to life out of prison – his reaction in the shower, his reaction to the reporters/Max Fuller and Felicity answering for him, etc. Do like seeing Oliver suited up again, not sure how I feel about him working with the SCPD.  No, wait, I do. I hate it. Because it means more Dinah. Felicity belongs in Oliver's ear, not Dinah. 

Dear Arrow, please stop isolating Felicity if you're not going to actually explore everything you should that goes along with it (and I doubt you will). 

I feel like we're not going to see Oliver find out that NO ONE was there for Felicity while he was in prison. There were multiple times in this episode I wish she had said something to him about that and she didn't, so now I doubt it will happen in the future. I half-expect to see Diggle tell Oliver, "I know, man, she's doing some crazy stuff, I tried to stop her, etc. etc."

Also, WTF Diggle and Lyla. Sure, go to the man who consistently tries to kill your friends for help. I'm actually worried about what kind of deal they may (have to) make with Diaz. I have no idea where this storyline is going (mainly because I zoned out during their first scene), but you know what? Whatever Diaz does, I'm blaming Diggle for it. Because I can't believe this is Diggle. I miss liking Diggle. Also, Diggle, you can NEVER say anything about Felicity working with Laurel again. EVER. 

So Blackstar's reaction to hearing Felicity's "dead" was particularly interesting. Definitely more to her story. I wish Dinah, Zoe and now William would stop talking like Felicity being "evil" is so absolute, even if they're thinking she changed her mind. Definitely thinking Felicity, Blackstar, maybe even Rene (ugh) and whoever else is in the Glades are up to something not evil but kept it from the vigilante resistance for a reason. Just give me more Blackstar ASAP please. 

Too much Dinah. We're now 8 episodes in and I could do with a few Dinah-free episodes. (707 doesn't count) Sadly, I don't think we're going to get any. 

Oh, and hello, Oliver's half-sister. You haven't interacted with anyone without a mask yet, but you know what? I bet I'm going to like you more than Dinah when you do. 

Edited December 4, 2018 by insomniadreams88

[KenyaJ]

I shouldn't be, but I'm amazed that the writers thought "Oliver's finally out of prison. So let's shove Dinah down everyone's throats." God almighty.

[ladylaw99]

All I wanted was one dam episode of happy olicity but nooooooo I got this bullshit instead 

[JamieLynn832002]

 Well, that sucked. Reminder to self: when the critics wax poetic: be very afraid, suckitude is coming. I liked the first Olicity scene but that was pretty much it. It had about 2 billion times more Dinah than I've ever needed. 

[cambridgeguy]

Oliver's long lost sister clearly doesn't realize the workout of choice for Green Arrows is the salmon ladder, not the rings.

[insomniadreams88]

So basically, Felicity suffered for the past seven months while everyone else had a great time and no one was there for her. Now, Oliver's out of prison, but Felicity's still suffering, she and Oliver are going to be struggling for the immediate future, and again, everyone else's lives are great and no one's there for Felicity. 

I'm Team Felicity, even if she plans to destroy the entire world in the future, because someone has to be. 

[apinknightmare]

3 minutes ago, KenyaJ said:

I shouldn't be, but I'm amazed that the writers thought "Oliver's finally out of prison. So let's shove Dinah down everyone's throats." God almighty.

Words can't express how disappointed I am that he's just gonna be a cop. I'm not sure what exactly I expected, but it wasn't that.

[tennisgurl]

"Well, we finally have Oliver out of prison, writers room! Should we have them reconnecting? Have Oliver adjusting to life outside of prison? Or, and heres my favorite idea, have Olicity fighting, and give Dinah a bunch of scenes being smug as shit, both in the present, and the future!" 

"Brilliant! Maybe if we add NTA to the past AND present timelines, people will see them as the true stars of Arrow that they are!"

[calliope1975]

2 minutes ago, JamieLynn832002 said:

 Well, that sucked. Reminder to self: when the critics wax poetic: be very afraid, suckitude is coming. 

I'm legitimately confused why they loved it so much. Last week, sure, I got that action would entertain critics. But this? I'm so confused. Are they all huge Dinah and her creepy acting fans? 

[apinknightmare]

It's something that the writers can manage to make me enjoy someone I do not like - Black Siren - by writing a good team up with Felicity, and make me bored to tears with someone I love to pieces (even when he's being very dumb!) - Oliver - by putting him together with Dinah and Rene.

[insomniadreams88]

Oh, I just thought of something - DR said KC had a good episode, right? Uh, where? No, really, she had what, three lines? 

Edited because of a misquote

Edited December 4, 2018 by insomniadreams88

[BkWurm1]

I know that this crap is not going to stick forever but it's what they've left us to stew over for WAY too long.  And the midseason finale is only the launch pad for the crap that comes next so our suffering is going to be prolonged for way too long.  Ugh.  It's so much worse for how much hype and expectation went into this episode.  I'm just so disappointed in the writing right now.  

I mean, how is it that Felicity being willing to defend herself makes her evil now?  That's the implication.  And not just evil, but no longer the woman Oliver fell in love with.  It's such bullcrap.  

Edited December 4, 2018 by BkWurm1

[ladylaw99]

This episode  was boring and I don't know why anyone would watch it again,  I am so annoyed right now

[Featherhat]

I just don't get the Dinah thing. Like I know she's BC and JH  openly kisses ass every single chance she gets but even so she's not a good  actress and can't play nuances and never had any kind of real rapport with Oliver.

And the same writers room all know Felicity was abandoned by everyone right? But oh no because plot and now FFS we have to do double the forgetting and handwaving about not even half a season. 

Edited December 4, 2018 by Featherhat

[BkWurm1]

3 minutes ago, insomniadreams88 said:

Oh, I just thought of something - DR said KC had a good episode, right? Uh, where? No, really, she had what, three lines? 

That was a misquote.  He was talking about the episode he directed. 7x12

Edited December 4, 2018 by BkWurm1

[apinknightmare]

1 minute ago, insomniadreams88 said:

Oh, I just thought of something - DR said KC had a good episode, right? Uh, where? No, really, she had what, three lines? 

He was talking about the episode he directed, not this one.

[lemotomato]

I can't remember the last time I been this massively disappointed at the show. First episode with Oliver out of jail after 7 episodes of keeping Oliver and Felicity apart, and they spend the majority of it... keeping them apart? And giving Dinah the majority of the screentime? What in the ever loving fuck?

Edit: 509 was the last time I was this let down. I really don't like being reminded of that dark time.

Edited December 4, 2018 by lemotomato

[insomniadreams88]

Just now, BkWurm1 said:

That was a missquote.  He was talking about the episode he directed. 7x12

 

Just now, apinknightmare said:

He was talking about the episode he directed, not this one.

Oh, thanks. 

(Though I would've preferred one more Laurel scene in place of three or four of the Dinah ones.) 

[calliope1975]

5 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

I mean, how is it that Felicity being willing to defend herself makes her evil now? 

There's something about this that seems really gross to me. If it was framed as Oliver was disappointed he wasn't there to protect her, fine, I get that. But it wasn't. Was she supposed to let herself and her son be murdered? And she's to be looked down upon for willing to use lethal force on someone trying to kill her? It doesn't sit right to me in a real world sense. 

[Soulfire]

Too much Dinah.

(GIFs are coming!)

[Mary0360]

6 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

  

I mean, how is it that Felicity being willing to defend herself makes her evil now?  That's the implication.  And not just evil, but no longer the woman Oliver fell in love with.  It's such bullcrap.  

I'm upgrading my spoiler post about the writing being kinda sexist towards Felicity to absolutely sexist. 

[Mrs. de Winter]

Dear so-called-writers, 

Stop trying to make Fetch happen.  DD sucks no matter who she is paired with and no matter what time line she exists in.  How this show keeps finding the most insufferable people to play the Black Canary role I will never know.  I swear it must actually be in the casting directions. 

You have tried to have every character carry her feckless worthless ass - and it doesn't work.  She is too horrible.  Sacrificing Oliver for he is just stupid.  And not your normal stupid - even more stupid that you usually are.  

You suck, 

A close to ex-viewer

PS - Dear Felicity - burn the world down. None of these people deserve you. Light them on fire and then get on with building your new company.  And when they come to you for help?  Laugh.  And go back to being your fabulous, strong self.  

[BkWurm1]

Glutton for punishment or something, I am rewatching the Olicity scenes.  I take some comfort that despite how much I dislike Oliver now working for Dinah, the idea of him going out and being a hero without the mask is firmly planted by Felicity in their very first scene.  So he's still listening to her at least.  

Edited December 4, 2018 by BkWurm1

[KenyaJ]

6 minutes ago, apinknightmare said:

Words can't express how disappointed I am that he's just gonna be a cop. I'm not sure what exactly I expected, but it wasn't that.

I blame myself for putting it out there in the spoiler thread. Did I not say it was the overabundance of Dinah in the promo that made me suspect it? Ugh. I hate being right about that.

[Mrs. de Winter]

1 minute ago, Mary0360 said:

I'm upgrading my spoiler post about the writing being kinda sexist towards Felicity to absolutely sexist. 

It is amazing that it seems to have gotten worse with MG gone.  Who would have thought it?  I swear if there is not a Felicity-tells-them-all-the-hell-off-for-being-such-massive-hypocrites-and-failing-her-completely scene coming I may truly be done with this crap.  

[GHScorpiosRule]

The FUCK??!!!🤯🤯🤯 What the FUCK was THAT??!!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

I am SO PISSED NOW that I can’t type. I have only said these words to the FAKAKTA show runners and hacks of that FAKAKTA General Hospital-But...FUCK YOU, Schwarz. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

And Fuck You, future William, you whiny, ungrateful little SNOT.

Bad enough that Diggle’s been a shitty friend to Felicity, but now both he and Lyla approach that Marblemushmouth, who has TERRORIZED Felicity, for help??!!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬

Edited December 4, 2018 by GHScorpiosRule

[ladylaw99]

Oliver being a cop  is just as stupid as laurel being the DA, I can't with this show right now

I don't know why I do this to myself, i should never believed this was going to be a good epsiode 

[Mary0360]

4 minutes ago, Mrs. de Winter said:

 

PS - Dear Felicity - burn the world down. None of these people deserve you. Light them on fire and then get on with building your new company.  And when they come to you for help?  Laugh.  And go back to being your fabulous, strong self.  

What Felicity should say to all the other characters when they ask her for help.

 

[calliope1975]

The more I'm thinking about it, the more mad I'm getting. Does Oliver not get how close Diaz was to killing Felicity and William? As in dead dead. Like I'm so irritated I want to buy a ticket to the next con, stand up, and ask SA What the Fuck Dude???

[tangerine95]

I'm just not exactly sure what's so wrong about Felicity's actions.She didn't find any enjoyment out of being ruthless or hurting someone.She just got sick of being attacked and almost killed so she decided to be more active about protecting herself.Oliver acting like Felicity having a gun is the worst thing imaginable was very weird considering their lives.And it's not even new,she shot at bad guys before to defend herself and others.

And I found it pretty annoying the implication that maybe she's changed too much from who he fell in love with.It's clearly meant to up the drama and will resolve with Oliver saying he loves her either way or something.But Felicity loved him through some pretty dark stuff he did so to even go for the is Felicity to dark for Oliver story beat is dumb imo.

It feels like everyone on the show put Felicity in a box where she's held to a higher moral standard while they all get to do whatever and still be forgiven without much drama.I mean Oliver is fine being friends and teammates with Dinah who went on a revenge killing spree over Vince and Rene who shot at Felicity,Digg and Lance to get to BS and almost killed him with an axe.You'd think that would be a bigger issue.

 Way too much Dinah for an episode that was supposed to focus on Felicity and Oliver.And she didn't even do anything relevant,she's just there constantly,pushed into every scene they can force her in.Not surprised but so annoyed at the fact that no one mentioned that Felicity was pretty much abandoned by the whole team when she begged for help.

[DrSpaceman10]

Serves me right for watching a full episode. So. Much. Dinah. And somehow she never manages to have more than one expression, including in the future. Even BS can emote more than that. Is this a preview of what the show's going to be like when it comes back from hiatus, Dinah/Oliver + Rene working on cases at the SCPD? The driest trio ever, imo. 

And Felicity's "no longer the woman Oliver fell in love with" because she defended herself and him? Since she was doing whatever it took to get Oliver out of prison and no one bothered to help her (which we know the show's never going to address or admit to)? WTF?

If they were going to have Olicity go into the hiatus "on a break" they could have at least given us a better sex scene, that one was lame after how long they were separated/are going to be separated.  

Spoiler

Or at least give us the Blackstar/Maya is Olicity's daughter reveal to balance it out. 

 

Anyway, back to not watching. At least until spoiler happens. 

Edited December 4, 2018 by DrSpaceman10

[Featherhat]

Just now, calliope1975 said:

The more I'm thinking about it, the more mad I'm getting. Does Oliver not get how close Diaz was to killing Felicity and William? As in dead dead. Like I'm so irritated I want to buy a ticket to the next con, stand up, and ask SA What the Fuck Dude???

He should do considering he was bracing himself for news of her death in ep 1 and she was beaten up. This is all in service of the crappie FFS where we're supposed to believe she's "evil" . They're 10 times worse than the flashbacks because it will continue to be vague the rest of the season. With lots of Dinah. 

[apinknightmare]

4 minutes ago, calliope1975 said:

The more I'm thinking about it, the more mad I'm getting. Does Oliver not get how close Diaz was to killing Felicity and William? As in dead dead. Like I'm so irritated I want to buy a ticket to the next con, stand up, and ask SA What the Fuck Dude???

He must have, because he thought she was dead, and he saw her after!

[tennisgurl]

I am just so disappointed that, after all this, we get Olicity drama so quickly into the reunion. I can get them dealing with some stuff, and Oliver being a bit freaked out by Felicity being darker, as its not what he is used to, but his "oh my God, you cant shoot a guy trying to kill us!" freak out was just ridiculousness, patronizing, and rather out of character for Oliver. Yeah, Oliver does tend to want to protect her, and keep her in her happy Overwatch chair, but he has always respected her as his partner and teammate. Its like he joined Diggle and wants to keep her in their little adorable box, and when she dares try to leave it, usually out of survival, they freak out about her doing stuff that they do every day! What, are they afraid she might break a nail? It comes across as shockingly sexist and patronizing to a woman who has basically been running the show all on her own this whole season. I mean, what was she supposed to do? Just stand there, and wait to die? 

I cant believe that we waited all this time for this. Instant angst for my favorite couple, and minimal time to enjoy their reunion, and WAY too much time with NTA, especially Dinah and her one smug facial expression. Oh, and we get another female authority figure to have a weird hate on for Oliver. 

Actually, maybe the mayor is one of Roberts kids, or former mistresses, and wants to screw with Oliver out of misplaces revenge? He seems to have left those all over the freaking place!

[GHScorpiosRule]

And how lame to use the same fucking teaser for next week that Supergirl used. Too cheap? Betcha we’ll see the same 1:50 minutes after Flash tomorrow and LoT tonight.😒😒😒😒

[Primal Slayer]

This was their glorified mid season finale...I want to be set up for excitement when the show goes away, not be annoyed because they failed to set up anything interesting outside of Oliver being a glorified cop and Emiko being another half sibling out for justice. This is the time to set up all of your main characters for something exciting. Giving 90% of the screentime to Oliver/Dinah/Rene was not the way to go, especially when they could've used multiple characters throughout all of these scenes to break it up more evenly. 

[calliope1975]

1 minute ago, apinknightmare said:

He must have, because he thought she was dead, and he saw her after!

Hah, oh yeah, I forgot about that though I was thinking he saw how beat up she was. I guess I only have a fuck you Oliver! then.

[Mellowyellow]

Does Oliver even love Felicity anymore? Cuz I'm reading all your posts and it's freaking me out. 

[calliope1975]

1 minute ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

And how lame to use the same fucking teaser for next week that Supergirl used. Too cheap? Betcha we’ll see the same 1:50 minutes after Flash tomorrow and LoT tonight.😒😒😒😒

You will. I read something that said they were putting it after every show because not everyone watches all of them.

[Primal Slayer]

Can't even get a fun Laurel/Max scene. Him talking to her, her not knowing him or breaking his arm...such a failure.

[JamieLynn832002]

Right now, I'm not even sure I want Olicity to work it out. Part of me wants Felicity to be like "Fuck all these judgmental assholes!" and just leave town (but only if we follow her, I can't take any more of the Dinah Drake Hour.) She shot someone who was trying to kill her husband and almost killed someone who'd been actively trying to murder her, her husband and their child for months, this "Oh, my God! The horror!" reaction is infuriating. They're pushing so hard on Evil!Felicity to try and make the flashforward seem plausible but she's only doing what every other character has done a 1000 times for often fewer reasons so I'm over here going " Yeah, still don't believe this but if Felicity wants to blow up Judgmental Asshat City, I'm on her side!"

Edited December 4, 2018 by JamieLynn832002
judgmental always looks wrong to me but it's not

[Soulfire]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(From here.)

Edited December 4, 2018 by Soulfire

[Primal Slayer]

Just now, calliope1975 said:

You will. I read something that said they were putting it after every show because not everyone watches all of them.

Which doesnt make much sense since they themselves expect us to watch all the shows. At least show differnet tidbits of the same scene. Different shots, do somethin.

[calliope1975]

1 minute ago, Mellowyellow said:

Does Oliver even love Felicity anymore? Cuz I'm reading all your posts and it's freaking me out. 

He does and I am 1000% certain this is all for lame plotty purposes and not character driven, but it was infuriating (see? I keep getting progressively madder) how it  played out. 

[ErrantViewer]

Good job, Writers, if your goal was to send a message to young girls that standing up for themselves will cost them friends and loved ones.  I am taking a looooong break from this show.

[apinknightmare]

1 minute ago, Primal Slayer said:

Can't even get a fun Laurel/Max scene. Him talking to her, her not knowing him or breaking his arm...such a failure.

I know - that was a missed opportunity, and like we talked about before definitely one of the missing pieces to her whole arc of masquerading so far.

[insomniadreams88]

I'm especially annoyed by this whole "Felicity is so dark and evil and ruthless and how dare she do what she's doing in the present and she's totally evil and planning to destroy the city in the future" when DIGGLE WENT TO DIAZ FOR HELP AND IS KEEPING IT FROM OLIVER AND FELICITY.

And since I don't know who this Diggle is anymore, I'm really worried about where they're going with this.