Arrow Season Three: Broken Arrow

"I can't wait to form my own super team"

Oliver is forced to keep a low profile with Quentin and the SCPD still suspicious of him even after Roy takes the fall however this changes when Meta Human Jake Simmons AKA Deathbolt (Doug Jones) arrives in town and Oliver is forced to ask Ray for help.

A lot of crazy stuff went on in this episode and I guess I shall talk about the most important one and that is the departure of Roy. Those who have read my previous reviews know that I am a big fan of the Roy character and of his alter ego Arsenal however I felt (and many on the internet agree) that he has taken a back seat for most of this season despite it being the debut of him as Arsenal completely. The only other episode that when he shined was the Wildcat apprentice one where he thought he killed Sara so it was good that he got to play a larger role now. He had some great scenes like when he expressed his gratitude to Oliver, his conversation with Thea and his fights with the prisoners and it is a shame that after all that he now leaves the show. I am sure this isn't the last we see of him but he will probably be in the show now only one or two episodes per season and I am going to miss him because he was a very underused character this season after being developed so well in the previous two. The other main character in the Roy subplot was Quentin and I have to say he is really getting on my nerves now; it was good for one episode but this constant hate from him is damn annoying. It seems his character has gone full circle of hating Arrow, siding with him and now hating him again (and I liked him way better when he was for Arrow) and it is because of this that I think he may be killed off soon. A major character death has been teased and Roy was mostly used as a decoy for it and I think Quentin as a character has run it's course. As for Oliver I did like how frustrated he was with the situation but also learning that his friends can sort it all out by themselves and the Flashbacks where at least good for at least addressing that issue in the past.

As for everything else it was so awesome having a Meta Human on Arrow and we defiantly need more and Deathbolt was just great. Doug Jones has always been a good actor so great casting and I really liked Deathbolt's powers of absorption and releasing that energy in beams and fighting (probably a reference to Superman because of Brandon Roth). What also made this subplot great was that it gave Ray/ATOM the spotlight which is great because he is one of my favourite characters and his suit is so freaking epic! He had a really cool fight with Deathbolt and I liked how it was also a test for him to start being a hero and learning how to fight with his instincts and not just technology. I was disappointed that Arrow didn't fight along side him but that interface system was cool and the reveal that Deathbolt didn't get his powers from the particle accelerator (really funny moment with Cisco then lol) opens a lot of possibilities; was he born with his powers or is there another source? Finally there is the death of Thea by Ra's but I don't believe for a second that she is going to stay dead because since the Lazarus Pit exists I am positive that Oliver will have to accept being the new Head of the Demon to inherit the pit and revive Thea. While all this is some really great material it has reminded me how bad Thea has been throughout this entire show. They have used so much time to develop her character and even after her training she is still the annoy, whinny brat she has always been who does absolutely nothing but talk. It is a shame because they can't kill her off after spending so much effort on her character and that means the important Lazarus revive has to be wasted on her.

Overall a great episode because it's main focus was on Roy and ATOM but Quentin was a real annoyance. Sorry for lack of images but they where yet to be uploaded on Screencapped and I didn't want to wait so I used a image of ATOM from Suicidal Tendencies, luckily he was one of the main focuses of this episode.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Roy focused episode
                   ATOM vs. Deathbolt

Let - Downs: Quentin either needs to change or get killed off
                      Obvious that Thea is going to get revived

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/                        

Arrow Season Three: Midnight City

She should use her sonic weapons more

When Brick kidnaps the city's Aldermen and threatens to kill them all Arsenal, Diggle and the new Black Canary try to stop him despite the former two wanting Laurel to stop. Ray decides to help the police with this problem and Malcolm tells Thea that they have to leave the city because of the League.

Another solid episode from Arrow this week and I have to first say that I am really enjoying this three episode arc without Oliver. Don't get me wrong Stephen Amell was born to play Oliver Queen and is one of my favourite TV protagonists but like I said last review I like that we get this time to focus more on the secondary characters, namely Laurel. Those who have read my previous reviews know I don't like her; she was useless in season one and an annoying weak character in season two but she has gotten a lot better and stronger this season and I am really liking her as Black Canary. I think this is largely do to the fact that she isn't going to be as good as Sara for a while and they do a good job of portraying that; for example she landed badly on the truck, took a beating a few times and chose to run from Brick when she realized she couldn't win. She still has a lot to learn to be a proper vigilante and I am glad she is aware of that as well with the moment where she thought of quitting and the fact she teams up with Team Arrow because she knows she needs the help. Laurel also got some great material when not fighting and that is the way she is handling Sara's death with Quentin; I still think this will end badly but Laurel did have two heart - wrenching scenes when she used Sara's voice to fool Quentin. All in all if I did a top ten Arrow characters Laurel with probably be in it now because she has become a great character.

"I good sure use my bow and arrows right now"

As for other highlights Brick continues to be a great villain and I like how that even though he isn't the final villain of season three he isn't just some one off villain either. They have created a really strong story arc for him and he has become a real threat to the city and probably still would have even if Oliver was still there. Vinnie Jones continues to kill it in the role and he had some cool scenes with Ray where they both threatened each other which makes me think they might have some future showdown. Roy was also great this episode because it feels like he has matured with Oliver gone and has taken some of the leadership responsibilities such as confronting Malcolm and leading the attacks on Brick. I liked that Felicity is over her giving up phase because I would have hated that to continue for ages and has I mentioned above Ray is just always awesome when he is on screen. Plus we had some awesome action sequences this episode such as the attacks on Brick (that helicopter jump by Black Canary was some epic stunt work) and in the night club in the Flashbacks.

Maybe future ATOM vs. Brick?

Now for what wasn't as good was first I am glad that, that I liked how that annoying DJ is in the League because now he is relevant and Maseo and Tatsu had some great moments together in the present. I think it is obvious that their son is dead and you can see how much that has changed Maseo in the present and why he is so committed to the League. Now the stuff in the present between them was good but again I am not really enjoying the Hong Kong Flashbacks; the action is good but I just don't care much for the overall story. While I did like China White before I just don't care much for her now because I think they wasted the opportunity to expand her character because now she is just in the Flashbacks for the sake of having a recurring villain there (it could have easily been anyone else or a new character). Plus unlike other one off villains like Vertigo and Clock King she isn't as interesting as she used to be because she's just so stiff, bland and un - unique. Then there is Malcolm and Thea and while it looks like they will get more involved soon whenever they get a scene now I just feel like they aren't doing anything.

"So it's you and me now, Dig didn't work out"

Overall Laurel has really surprised me with how much they have improved her character and this three episode arc without Oliver has been amazing so far.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Laurel is off to a good start as Black Canary
                   Roy, Brick and Ray
                   Some awesome action scenes
                   Maseo and Tatsu moments in the present

Let - Downs: China White and the Flashbacks
                      Malcolm and Thea  

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/