Arrow Season Three: Uprising

It would have been interesting if Malcolm took over Team Arrow

With Brick becoming more powerful than ever Malcolm offers his services to Team Arrow and while Diggle, Arsenal and Black Canary consider the proposal Felicity is strongly against it. It is revealed Malcolm has more of a personal vendetta with Brick than anyone thought as Flashbacks reveal how he became the person he is today.

What an end to an awesome three part mini arc in the Arrow TV show; I have said it before and I will say it again I have immensely enjoyed these three episodes and if I did a top moments in Arrow this will be in it. This is probably my favourite of the three episodes because finally my favourite character in the show has the spotlight; Malcolm Merlyn who I have been complaining about lately is too much on the side lines. Finally he got an episode focused on him and I have to say that the writers seem to be trying to redeem his character a bit (such as sparing Brick), I don't think he will ever be a good guy but he is has never been entirely evil in my opinion. It is just as Roy and Thea said, in his own twisted way he protects people and just wants to save the city. Plus we got to see him again as the Dark Archer which is also awesome because his costume is the best and he is the best archer in the show in my opinion. What was also a nice addition was that the Flashbacks where about his past and we definitely needed this and it was good seeing his transformation from a good man to The Magician. I only wish there was more than what we got like him training more with the League because the scene with young Nyssa was just cool but I wanted to know more!

"I'm back!!!"

As for everything else it is good that Oliver is back now and though I think is entrance could have been more grand his speech to the citizens of the Glades was epic. Speaking of the Glades the showdown with Brick at the end was done really well and I enjoyed the massive brawl in the streets, also we got to see two characters again we haven't seen in a while; Sin and Ted Grant. Firstly I have always liked Sin's character and I'm glad to see her again I just wish that she didn't just pop up out of no where and they gave more explanation to where she has been. As for Ted I wanted him to be Wildcat again and he did not disappoint and it was awesome when he fought Brick; he really kicked his ass more than anyone else and I don't even mind he lost because I'm just going to chalk that up to the fact he has been retired for ages and Brick has almost superhuman strength anyway. Another character that was great this episode was Quentin, it was just so funny that he knew Roy straight away as Arsenal and how his joke about how Team Arrow choses names. Seems like he is going to realize Sara isn't the Black Canary soon because of Sin and since next episode is titled Canaries I'm guessing it's in that episode.

WILDCAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

As for Team Arrow they have been great during these three episodes; Roy has really matured in the absence of Oliver, I think Laurel becoming the Black Canary has been handled really well and Diggle is always just great. However the real let down has been Felicity because I think she just become a weak and whiny character lately. She completely ruined Oliver's homecoming and I don't get why, Oliver is basically using Malcolm to train him it is not like he is making him a member of the team. I just really miss the light hearted Felicity before who is super smart but can also cheer up the team and raise their confidence in any situation with her wit and one liners. I just hope they change her back to how she was before because right now I don't look forward to the scenes she is in since she is just a downer. Before I finish I know this episode was similar to the Dark Knight Rises but that doesn't bother me since the people behind the show have said before that Christopher Nolan's Batman has been inspiration for them and it isn't like their completely copying them.

Magic tricks work on everyone; kids or even assassins

Overall great finale to the three part episodes and I am glad that Brick is still alive to appear in future episodes. We got some great action and I actually liked the Flashbacks we got this time and I am looking forward to Oliver being in Star City once again.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Epic three part arc
                   Wildcat and Sin
                   A Malcolm focused episode and Flashbacks
                   Great showdown with Brick at the end

Let - Downs: Felicity has been a constant negative in these last three episodes
                      Wanted to see Malcolm's training in the League

 

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/                

Arrow Season Three: Left Behind

"I'm taking over now!"

Team Arrow has to deal with the aftermath of Oliver's death at the hands of Ra's Al Ghul after Malcolm seems to confirm it. Diggle and Roy continue to protect the city in the wake of a new crime lord named Danny "Brick" Brickwell (Vinnie Jones) however Felicity is distraught and refuses to accept Oliver is dead. Meanwhile Ray tests out part of his new ATOM suit and Laurel takes up the mantle of Black Canary.

Like with The Flash I have been so looking forward to the return of Arrow (why do us in the UK have to wait so long!) and just like with The Flash it did not disappoint. This episode largely deals with how Team Arrow are taking Oliver's death and it is actually really great that we get to have more of a focus on them, especially Roy and Diggle, after such Oliver heavy episodes recently. Roy and Diggle proved that they can work really well as a team and we even got to see Diggle wear the Arrow costume once again. They had some great action scenes together such as the beginning with the truck and in the warehouse where they try to save the evidence and Diggle had a great moment when he said he failed Oliver as a bodyguard. However Felicity I admit was a bit of a let down, this is because despite her strong emotional reaction to Oliver's death I just felt she went a bit over board. In such scenes like when she let Brick escape, when she kept telling Roy to stop with the suit or when she quit Team Arrow. I know her and Oliver have gotten really close but I just felt she would have been stronger than this if something happened to Oliver, like she would want to continue his legacy of saving the city.

I admit, Laurel is growing on me now

We also have two strong debuts with the first being Vinnie Jones who was the most perfect choice to play Brick! I have seen him in a lot of films and he always has a lot of charisma and dominating presence and he uses that has this powerful mob boss. Brick is a Meta - Human in the comics (with super hard skin) and even though Arrow does have powers in it now I don't think they will go that route, however I am glad they didn't just abandon it because of how Brick goes right in to the fights and isn't even scared of guns. So in all it might have been one episode so far but I think Vinnie Jones can be one of the most popular characters in the show and I hope he is around for ages. The next debut is Laurel as Black Canary and I think the ending was a really great introduction for her; the way she took out those two thugs. Her costume is a lot better than Sara's in my opinion such as the wig and outfit and this could really change her character for the better after being so weak the last two seasons. I do hope though that she isn't a complete badass straight away and that they show that she is still a rookie; she hasn't had the training Sara has had.

"It's you and me now Dig"

As for everything else Ray continues to be a great character and I enjoyed his testing the ATOM suit and his tense scene with Felicity regarding his wife. Malcolm, though still plays an important role, was just really random this episode with the way he kept popping up everyone now and again; I just hope he and Thea become more relevant to the show again soon. The Flashbacks are getting more better because I really enjoyed Oliver's and Maseo's break in of the lab to steal ALPHA and we got to see Maseo and Tatsu in the present. This is a negative in the show however because I think Oliver was brought back to life too soon, they should have left us hanging for a few more episodes instead of the one right after the fight. I am disappointed Oliver wasn't brought back by the Lazarus Pit but Tatsu AKA Katana does have the ability to bring people back to life in the comics so that's alright and I still really believe Ra's has a Lazarus Pit. 

"Nice shot Maseo, I'm sure I was supposed to bounce off!"

Overall this was a much needed episode because it gave characters like Roy and Diggle more time to shine and Vinnie Jones simply stole the episode.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Strong Diggle, Roy and Ray moments
                   Vinnie Jones and Brick and Laurel and Black Canary
                   Great action from Present and Flashbacks

Let - Downs: Oliver brought back too soon
                      Felicity might have been too much a cry baby
                      Malcolm and Thea need to be more relevant and not so random

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/