Arrow Season Two: Suicide Squad

Oh yeah the Suicide Squad!

The episode starts with Oliver having a nightmare about Shado so next morning he uses his Bravta connections for information on Slade however he insults them in the process, Diggle is then seen protecting Felicity from possible attacks and he is still in a relationship again with Lyla. Waller then meets them at their hotel and wants the two of them to go on a mission to retrieve a nerve agent from arms dealer Gholem Qadir who, it is revealed in several Flashbacks, Diggle, Lyla and Ted Gaynor saved his life in Afghanistan. Diggle and Lyla meet their backup on the mission; Task Force X AKA Suicide Squad whose members are Deadshot, Bronze Tiger and Shrapnel, meanwhile Arrow stops two criminals while Deathstroke looks on and leaves his old mask for Arrow to find. Diggle meets Qadir at an auction while the Suicide Squad backs him up and while there Diggle saves Qadir's life because Deadshot fakes assassinating him however Shrapnel is killed when he tries to escape with the bomb in his head exploding. This later angers Diggle but he is invited to a party Qadir is having for saving his life.

"Awww crap I'm screwed"

In Starling City Arrow finds Slade's hideout but only his dead Bravta contact is there meanwhile at the part Diggle, Lyla, Deadshot and Bronze Tiger infiltrate the party. Deadshot finds the nerve agent so Waller orders him to stay put while she orders a drone strike and that the rest of the team should leave however Diggle instead warns the party. Qadir then finds Lyla but is killed by Bronze Tiger and Diggle manages to convince Deadshot to leave by reminding him of his daughter Zoey. The team also manages to avoid the strike by taking out Deadshot's bomb which was a beacon for it, they get away but Waller is angry because of the failed strike. Bronze Tiger and Deadshot return to their cells and Diggle reassures Deadshot he could get out soon however Deadshot is sceptical. The episode ends with it revealing that Waller and Oliver know each other and Oliver asking for information which Waller then does by showing him footage of Deathstroke.

Bronze Tiger should have done more stabbing in this

Finally we get the Suicide Squad which I have been looking forward to ever since Waller said it to Bronze Tiger and it did not disappoint. This was also a Diggle focused episode which is always good because the guy just deserve more in this series, a costume and name to start with! It was good seeing Deadshot again because he and Diggle have an interesting work relationship now because even though Deadshot killed his brother Diggle is starting to understand and sympathise more with the sniper now. For example how he talked him out of being blown up; I think Diggle doesn't blame Deadshot anymore he blames H.I.V.E (which we still haven't seen yet) and I guess working together on missions creates a bit of a bond. Bronze Tiger is still as badass as ever and still one of my favourite villains, it was even good seeing Shrapnel again so he can get his head blown off lol. I kind of wish their mission could have been more action packed instead of infiltrating a party but I blame that on Qadir because he was a really underdeveloped villain and we don't even know how he went from terrorist in Afghanistan to rich guy throwing parties. As always Waller continues to annoyed me because I just do not like her or the casting for her; they haven't done her comic counterpart justice in my opinion. Plus I don't really like Lyla either if I am honest, I know she is Diggle's love interest but I'm just not bothered about her.

"Behind a scope is where I belong"

As for the rest of the episode I liked the moment with Diggle protecting Felicity at the beginning because it shows how much Team Arrow cares for one another, nice scene. Arrow's subplot was also really cool because I just love the way Slade is just toying with him and leading him on a wild goose chase. We also see that Oliver and Waller know each other which is probably going to be explained in more Flashbacks sooner or later and even though I hate Waller I do want to know more of this connection. Lastly I like the appearance of Ted Gaynor once again but more than that the cameo of Harley Quinn! I hope this means that we see her next time in the Suicide Squad because she is one of it's famous members in the comics and one of DC's popular characters overall. I do hope that next time the Suicide Squad is the focus that they get more members and if Diggle gets more involved then I think it would be great if he is the Arrow TV series version of Unknown Solider who is a member of the Suicide Squad in the comics. I think this could work because Unknown Solider is a character shrouded in mystery and they don't even have to use any of his comic backstory; just have Diggle dress up similar to him and give him the name.

Your famous Deathstroke!

Overall great introduction to the Suicide Squad and I hope we get at least one or two episodes focusing on them per season.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Suicide Squad
                   A Diggle focused ep is always good
                   Arrow's subplot

Let - Downs: Waller
                      Qadir was a poor villain


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 Two: Tremors

Bronze Tiger is back!

The episode begins with Bronze Tiger being busted out of prison and Arrow is teaching Roy the hitting water technique however Roy is impatient with it, in a Flashback Oliver and Sara begin to look for Slade. Quentin then visits Laurel to talk about her recent addicts, even trying to take her to an AA meeting but she is uninterested and Bronze Tiger meets with Milo Armitage who arranged his escape because he wants to employ his services. Roy still finds it hard to learn self control during the training so Arrow takes him along for the next mission which involved stopping Bronze Tiger stealing a prototype earthquake machine at Merlyn Manor however Roy gets in the way and the machine is stolen. Elsewhere Moira is invited to dinner by Walter because he believes that Sebastian's policies, though good, will bankrupt certain banks and wants Moira to run for Mayor instead. In a Flashback Oliver and Sara arrive at the cave with the skeletons and Oliver, after seeing calculations written on the wall identical to what Fyers had done, deduces that Slade wants to destroy Ivo and his ship with Fyer's missile launcher.

"You must learn patience young Padwan"

Though Moira doubts herself Walter and Thea believe she has a shot at being Mayor and Roy walks out on Arrow after losing patience again. Oliver then is called by Thea to the Verdant where Laurel is completely wasted because of being disbarred from her job and in a Flashback Oliver and Sara find Slade at the missile launcher but he threatens to kill them both if they stop him. Later Arrow tracks down Bronze Tiger and Milo but is to late to stop Milo turning on the earthquake machine however Roy shows up and Oliver reveals his identity to stop him killing Bronze Tiger and to turn off the machine, he then tells Roy to join him. In a Flashback Oliver manages to talk Slade out of blowing up the ship by saying it is their only way off the island and in the present Bronze Tiger is in prison but is asked by Waller to join a special squad. The episode ends with Oliver showing Roy the Arrowcave and introducing him the Diggle and Felicity, Moira accepting Walter's offer to run for Mayor and Laurel falling unconscious from alcohol poisoning but seeing Sara before passing out.

Welcome to the team Roy

Wondering when we will see Bronze Tiger again and I am glad that episode has finally arrived. He was awesome the first time I saw him and he was just as awesome in this episode where he continues to be quite the opponent for Arrow. The guy always brings a great fight sequence when he appears and even though I liked his team up with China White in episode two I am glad this one focused more on him. Plus we finally get a mention of the Suicide Squad with the appearance of Waller near the end of the episode and that is something else I have been waiting for; everyone who reads DC know that the Suicide Squad is a group of villains sent on dangerous missions by Waller. So hopefully we will see Bronze Tiger again soon and maybe a slew of new and old villains in the squad. Thought I might add that how the prisoner delivered Bronze Tiger's weapons was pretty damn gruesome.

"You know maybe you should calm down just a bit Slade?"

This was also a great beginning to Oliver and Roy teaming up because those who have read my previous reviews know I am a big Red Arrow/Arsenal fan and I am just waiting for Roy to get a costume. As we've seen in the previous episode Roy is still dealing with the side affects of Mirakuru but it's great that Oliver refuses to give up on him because I guess he sees this as a second chance to save someone from Mirakuru because he obviously must have failed with Slade. I like that Roy was introduced to Team Arrow at the end because this means he is now an official member of the team and will take an even more active role in fighting crime. As for Slade he was in the Flashback this time and because of that they where a lot more entertaining however not much really happened overall except that they found Slade and Oliver managed to talk some sense into him.

Damnnnnnnnnnn

As for everything else I am glad that Walter is back again because I just really like Colin Salmon and it is a shame he doesn't have a larger role but it was also unexpected that he suggests Moira run for Mayor. I am really interested to see where this goes because all last season Moira was Malcolm's lackey and had to do a lot of things she obviously regrets but this could give her a more positive storyline for once. What I didn't like in this episode was Laurel because she is turning into a completely unlikeable bitch (only uncensored it when I really hate the character) and seeing her abuse alcohol more than ever. Like I have said numerous times if the writers want some sympathy out of me for a character than don't let that character become addicted to drink and drugs because I just think it is self - harming nonsense. Plus it is just annoying to see her constantly insult her father, Oliver and Thea for just trying to help her; I mean where does she get off still thinking she is better than them? She has lost her job, ruined her life and it is all her fault, she is just an incredibly weak person now and deserved a slap at The Verdant.

Always good to see Walter

Overall this was a great episode but Laurel does ruin quite a bit of it because the writers are just ruining her character. Luckily Sara is probably back now which is good because she definitely the better sister and it is no wonder that Oliver chose Sara over Laurel.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Bronze Tiger
                   Oliver and Roy team up
                   New and unexpected direction for Moira

Let - Downs: Laurel

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 Two: Identity

"I want your head Arrow"

The episode begins with a truck heist by China White, Roy attempts to stop it but is instead arrested by the police. At the SCPD Laurel, Thea and Oliver try to talk him out of his vigilantism but Roy says the Glades hospital's medical supplies are being stolen, in a Flashback Slade finds a map on the men they killed. Oliver visits the hospital where he meets Sebastian Blood (Kevin Alejandro), an alderman for the Glades, who insult's Oliver's family for The Undertaking on TV. Felicity meanwhile is not happy with her new job as Oliver's secretary and we have a Flashback and Oliver and Shado are getting intimate. Oliver then suits up as Arrow to stop another heist but China White has backup in the form of Ben Turner AKA Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White) who uses his claw weapons to put up quite the fight however they are interrupted by the police and they flee. Thea later tells Roy that she wants him to chose her or the Arrow and Sebastian later visits Oliver to apologise for earlier and two agree to hold a charity event.

Blood for Mayor!!

In a Flashback Slade, Oliver and Shado follow the map while in the present Arrow visits Laurel for help on the heists but she refuses because she blames him for Tommy's death. Oliver is later forced to abandon the charity event because of a report of a new heist which causes Sebastian to slander him. Arrow and Diggle arrive at the heist where Arrow holds back and defeats Bronze Tiger, made difficult again by the interference of the police. Diggle drives the truck away but his attacked by China White but Arrow arrives in time to pin her to a post and later employs Roy's help to be his "eyes and ears" in the Glades. In a Flashback the group arrive at a cave where they find many deformed skeletons and Oliver finds the stone he would later give to Thea. The episode ends with Arrow trying to convince Laurel he is not a criminal but she has set him up and is surrounded by the police.

Awesome!

Season two looks like it is not going to hold anything back with episode two bringing back China White (who also debuted in episode two of season one) and a new antagonist Bronze Tiger. China White was good in this because I have always liked the character but it was Bronze Tiger who stole the spotlight. We got some truly awesome fight scenes from him, with a great use of martial arts, combined with those cool claws and the fact he swatted away the arrows. This is the kind of villain I wanted to see more of in season one; someone who could psychically stand up to Arrow so much it didn't faze him being shot by an arrow and took an electric shock to put him down . I liked his personality as well; they way he taunted Arrow to fight better and mocking him for his choice not to kill, it was like he cared more for a great battle. Also I did like the team up of China White and Bronze Tiger because whether it's comics, TV or films I just really like villain team ups and they had a great two vs. one fight against Arrow.

"Things just got weird"

Another great new character was Sebastian Blood who was really charismatic in every scene he was in and I just liked his character straight away. With the introduction of Sebastian it again shows that they are not abandoning the Glades and will play an even larger in this season. I'm sure Sebastian will continue to play a large role as well and from the looks of it in this episode he will be more of an enemy to Oliver, though that was largely Oliver's fault lol.

"I was just in a car crash, show a little compassion?"

As for the rest of the episode I did like that Arrow has employed the help of Roy because it is one more step for him becoming his side kick.  I was annoyed however with Thea, Laurel and Oliver constantly trying to dissuade him from his vigilantism because to be fair in Roy's mind he is the only one protecting the Glades right now. Speaking of Laurel she again proves to be the bad thing about the episode because again her turning on the Arrow just doesn't work because it was such a sudden change in her attitude. Not to mention she betrayed him at the end and was probably the one who made the police keep interfering and why did she go with them as well? she has just become really unlikable so far. Lastly there is the Flashbacks and I know I didn't mention them last review and that is because I don't really think much has happened in them yet. Them finding the skeletons was pretty interesting but other than that it hasn't been too exciting.

"How to get out of this one?"

Overall we have got some great new characters in this episode along with some awesome fight scenes.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Bronze Tiger kicking ass!
                   Strong introduction for Blood
                   Awesome fight scenes

Let - Downs: Laurel once again
                      Flashbacks haven't been that exciting

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