Arrow Season Two: Birds of Prey

I hope this is the last time we ever see you

The episode begins with Arrow and Black Canary watching over Quentin busting a drug dealer; he is shot so Black Canary throws the dealer out of the window which Quentin reprimands her for. At the Arrowcave Felicity has been tracking Helena who has been killing numerous mobsters for her father's location, in a Flashback Slade is torturing Oliver but then finds out the boat's engines aren't working. Laurel then gets a call from her old boss because he wants her to prosecute Frank meanwhile Arrow, Diggle and Roy track Helena's car but it is a decoy and Roy almost kills the man who shot him in the hand. In a Flashback Slade contacts Sara over the radio and wants the mechanic who is with her for Oliver and in the present The Huntress takes over the court house and says she will execute hostages if her father isn't returned; Oliver having got him out earlier. Oliver is almost found out as Arrow when Quentin uses the phone but is able to come up with an excuse, Black Canary shows up and saves Laurel by defeating several of Huntress's men and they hold up in a room.

"Calm down Speedy.....or Red Arrow or Arsenal, whichever you prefer" 

Roy then breaks up with Thea because of his increased worry about Mirakuru, in a Flashback Slade threatens to kill Oliver but the mechanic refuses to go back. In the present Huntress and Black Canary fight however Huntress gets the upper hand but Arrow stops her from killing Black Canary but then Huntress takes Laurel hostage. Huntress then escapes with Laurel by dressing as a cop and then meets with Arrow and Black Canary to trade for her father; the police show up, Quentin saves Arrow from being shot, Laurel talks Black Canary out of killing Huntress and Frank is killed in the confusion much to Huntress's shock. Helena, in police custody and allowed to see Oliver, admits that he was right all along and that her father's death didn't change anything, in a Flashback Slade inks the same tattoo Shado had on Oliver's back and Sara says they will make the exchange. The episode ends with Laurel getting her job back by blackmailing the district attorney for her being used by them all along and Thea, still upset over Roy, is offered a lift by Slade.

Really wished she just killed her then there is no possibility she could come back

I really hoped never to see The Huntress ever again because as I have mentioned in my reviews in the episodes in season one she is in; they have completely ruined her character and she isn't any better now. She is just so much of a one - note character and when I first saw this episode I couldn't believe that she is still after her father, I mean can't they think of anything else for her to do!? As before Jessica De Gouw was a terrible choice for Huntress; she is not believable as her, she is really unlikable and her acting is just pathetic. I like the Huntress in the comics because she is similar to Arrow in how she works as a vigilante but I hate her in this. Taking hostages, going on a murder spree and just all the other stuff she has done has ruined her character and even after all that she admits she was wrong in the end. I hope this version of Huntress never appears again and that Arrow finds a new female protégé and gives her The Huntress costume and says something like "Maybe you can redeem this name and do good by it" now that would be awesome!

Oliver sure managed to talk his way out of this one

Laurel was really good in this episode because she is beginning to be more like how she was in season one, which I actually liked better. I liked the moment she had with Black Canary when her resolve was weakening for a drink but I wonder why she can't easily tell that it's Sara? Also she was cool at the end with how she blackmailed the district attorney to get her job back. Quentin continues to be a great character as well and him saving Arrow just proves how much he sides with him now but I wonder if there will be repercussions for him attacking another officer next episode? Sara was also great because besides having some great fight scenes with Huntress and her men, she was more of a main focus than Arrow and that always good because she is a badass. Finally the Flashbacks where not really that exciting and I wouldn't have minded if this was an episode that didn't have them, like the previous Huntress episode in season one.

"Wish I can fly like a canary right now!"

Overall this was a decent episode but I just really hate The Huntress and Diggle and Felicity could have had more screen time instead of having using some for Flashbacks. Plus I do know that "Birds of Prey" is the name for a DC heroine group that consists of Black Canary, The Huntress and others so that was another reason this episode disappointed me; we didn't get a cool team up like that because The Huntress isn't going to work with any team.

SCORE: 5/10

Highlights: Strong moments from the Lance Family
                   Great fighting scenes

Let - Downs: Huntress (I freaking hate her!)
                      Flashbacks
                      Not enough Diggle and Felicity

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 One: The Huntress Returns

Why couldn't they kill her off?

The episode opens at a strip club and Helena AKA The Huntress has killed her father's attorney Gus to find his whereabouts. In Starling Laurel has told Quentin that Dinah has returned and the evidence she has brought to suggest Sara is alive but he doesn't believe them meanwhile Thea runs in to Roy and offers him a job at Oliver's new club. After talking to Diggle about Gus's murder he returns home to find Helena who wants his help to kill her father; he refuses but Helena threatens his family. In a Flashback Slade thinks Fyers is going to use the missile launcher to start a war and in the present Laurel convinces Quentin to look at Dinah's evidence. At the opening of the club Tommy is still having a hard time dealing with Oliver but is soon threatened by Helena which forces Oliver to help her kill her father. Later Thea goes to Roy's place to find out why he didn't go to work but he says he doesn't need charity however he helps her later by beating up muggers but sustains a knife wound and she later accompanies him to the hospital. Helena and Oliver don their disguises and try to ambush the truck Frank is in however it is a set up by Quentin and McKenna who arrest The Huntress.

"Same plan as always kid; I do all the work"

Oliver later frees Helena and gives her a ticket to leave the country and in a Flashback Slade plants explosives on the launcher after taking out the guards but Oliver thinks they just need to take out the circuit board. While Oliver is at McKenna's he gets a call from Felicity who has been tied up by The Huntress and forced to find her father's whereabouts. The Huntress gets to the safe house but runs into The Hood and the two fight it out however just when The Hood is about to finish her off McKenna arrives; this creates an opportunity for The Huntress to shoot her and escape. Later at the hospital McKenna says she needs a year off to heal and needs to move out of town, ending her relationship with Oliver, elsewhere Quentin is ready to listen to Dinah. The episode ends with Oliver admitting to Tommy he can't have a normal life and we then have a Flashback where Oliver wants to trade Fyers the circuit board for a way off the island.

"Ok, lets start our own investigation"

Well looks like we have the return of the worst character in the Arrow series who I really wished didn't have to return so soon. I mean here we have to sit through again The Huntress's incredibly weak storyline of wanting to kill her father (it was almost a repeat of what she did before) and the poor acting of the one who plays her. She is just so poorly written and handled and after threatening Oliver's family and friend and killing those cops just doing their job I am completely unsympathetic to her cause, I just hated her superior attitude she had to Oliver in being like "I can tell on you or kill your love ones if you don't do as I say" or the way she injured Tommy. Why the hell can't Oliver see how much of a threat she is and just kill her? At least then maybe a new and better character can take up the mantle of The Huntress. The only good thing about her is that her costume is good and the final fight with The Hood at the end was alright too (I admit the arrow catching was cool).

At least your red hoodie doesn't show any blood

Because she took up the majority of the episode there really isn't much else going for it besides a few others. I do like the Roy/Thea subplot and them looking to start a relationship makes more sense then any of the other ones that have been in this series and I still really like Roy because he did kick some ass and save Thea. I do still think Dinah's subplot is too forced in to the series but at the very least it gives Quentin something else to do then hunt the vigilante but I don't think it will last for too long. As always the Flashback is always good with some great action from Slade and Oliver coming up with the idea to make a deal with Fyers, seriously doubt that will end nicely for both of them. Lastly I knew Oliver's relationship with McKenna wasn't going to go anywhere and now that the writers have dropped her out of the series it seems like it was a waste of time these past few episodes.

You could have easily knifed her right in the head Oliver

Overall it was a poor episode but that is because The Huntress brings it down because they have completely ruined her character. If they gave more screen time to Roy, Quentin/Dinah and the Flashbacks I would have given this a higher score.

SCORE: 4/10   

Highlights: Roy/Thea
                   Quentin getting something else to do
                   Flashbacks

Let - Downs: The Huntress who took up most of this episode
                      McKenna subplot wasted a lot of time these past few episodes
                      Can't they find The Huntress anything else to do besides kill her father?

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 One: Vendetta



At least the costume for The Huntress is good and that's the only good thing I'll say about her

The episode begins with Helena leaving Oliver in bed to track down the Triad but is stopped by Oliver who followed her as The Hood. Helena agrees to go to dinner with him but is not swayed to change her ways, Diggle thinks this is a good things because he believes Helena cannot be saved. Oliver then visits Helena in the cemetery and tells her about Sara Lance which convinces her to listen to him, Oliver then brings her to his hideout which annoys Diggle. Meanwhile Laurel wants Tommy to ask Oliver for a job and Felicity tells Walter she has found more information but he doesn't want to hear it. Later Oliver equips Helena with a crossbow and costume and takes her stop a drug dealer who works for her father, Oliver says this proves she can seek justice with killing innocents. Walter then searches through Moira's things and finds a blank journal with the same symbol Felicity had found.

"I just love going through other people's things"

Oliver, Helena, Tommy and Laurel have dinner but Tommy storms out when Oliver makes fun of him wanting a job (Oliver does not know Tommy is cut off yet), Helena then leaves when she realizes Oliver may still love Laurel. Tommy however later apologies to Laurel and Oliver admits to Diggle that Helena may really be beyond saving and he is proven right when she kills the head of the Triad and frames her father. China White leads an attack on Frank's house but Oliver is there and manages to get him out however Frank is then shot in the leg by Helena. She and Oliver then fight however Frank shoots Helena from behind but is arrested sooner afterwards. Oliver treats Helena's wounds but an ungrateful Helena is furious at being cheated out of revenge against her father and tells Oliver not to follow her before leaving. The episode ends with Felicity, after being asked for help again by Walter, discovers the journal is written in invisible ink and Tommy apologizing to Oliver and asking for an actual job after turning down his money.




This fight could have been a bit longer

This episode was better than the previous one, mainly because The Huntress actually had a cool looking costume and the fight scenes where good, but again I just can't stand her or her attitude towards Oliver. I really wish that she changed her ways when she teamed up with Oliver because she could have been a good character then but no they had to let her still go on her stupid vendetta and kill more people. I just felt like any hype that was felt when The Huntress was introduced just didn't live up to it; her character and backstory was just poor and Jessica De Gouw just was not convincing at all as the badass Huntress. Also once again it is a subplot that involves another pair of secondary characters, Felicity and Walter, that was far more interesting. I'm glad that Felicity is given more and more stuff to do in the series and I liked how she didn't back down from the investigation even though Walter said it could be dangerous. Things are also getting more interesting for them since they have found another journal and I wonder what Walter will do with the information he finds? However I guess I should be more worried with what Malcolm might do when he finds out Walter is still snooping around. Speaking of Malcolm it is a shame we don't see him again in this episode however I am still really liking Tommy's subplot about his financial situation.

"One of these days Oliver you'll fall and I'll be there with my camera"

Overall I am just finally glad that Huntress plot is finally over and I hope we don't see her for a very long time and if we do then they kill her off and introduce a new Huntress. Tommy had some good scenes but it is a shame Malcolm wasn't in this episode and as I said the fight scenes involving Oliver and The Huntress where really good. I know I haven't said much in this review but that is because like last episode not much happened in it because it was largely focused on The Huntress.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: The fighting at the mansion was really good
                    Walter and Felicity's investigation/ Tommy continued subplot

Let - Downs: Again The Huntress
                      Again the main plot wasn't as good as the subplots
                      No Malcolm when we just found out he is Tommy's father

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 One: Muse of Fire



Didn't put much thought in to a costume

The episode begins with Oliver meeting his mother outside Queen Consolidated who is turning down a building contract offer from a man named Paul Copani. Shortly after this a helmeted person on a motorcycle shoots and kills Copani and speeds off, Oliver tries to give chase but is unable to catch the shooter. Quentin later concludes that Moira is not in any danger from the shooter since Copani had mob connections, elsewhere Tommy wants to start a proper relationship with Laurel. Later in his hideout Oliver discovers that Copani worked for a man named Frank Bertinelli who is head of a major construction company but also is part of Starling City Mafia, Oliver wants to investigate him. Somewhere unknown a dark haired women, who was driving the motorcycle, crosses off Copani's picture on a board full of them.

"No one gets away from me!"

Tommy then arrives at Queen Manor and tells Oliver he wants a relationship with Laurel, Oliver wishes the best for both of them. Thea takes her mother out and says she doesn't like Oliver's recent behaviour but Moira thinks they should be easier on Oliver because he spent 5 years on an island. Oliver then goes to Bertinelli manor to discuss business (while really investigating him) and meets his daughter Helena (Jessica De Gouw), Frank is busy however and asks Helena to take Oliver out to dinner. Frank then meets with the Chinese Triad enforcers Zhishan and China White to see if the Triad are responsible for several attacks on his people, they deny this but Frank does not believe them. Meanwhile Quentin has been listening in on this conversation and thinks that the Triad wasn't responsible for Copani's murder since it wasn't done by a pro.

"I knew me and my white hair would be back!"

At dinner Oliver and Helena are hitting it off and Oliver finds out that Helena had a late fiancé named Michael Staton but the dinner is cut short when Oliver gets a call from Diggle, another dinner has not ended well when Tommy finds out his credit card is declined while out with Laurel. Oliver goes to stop one of Frank's enforcers named Nick who is violently attacking a family for information on the recent murders but both Oliver and Helena, dressed in their disguises, arrive at the same time and fight Nick and this men. Nick escapes and Oliver and Helena fight but Oliver manages to get her helmet off and is surprised it's Helena, he lets her go. At the hideout Oliver wants to know the reason Helena is targeting her family but Diggle isn't interested because she is just a killer. Quentin later warns Oliver at Queen Manor to stay away from Helena because her family is dangerous.



I'm sure Oliver was going easy on her

Tommy later confronts his father about his being cut off and Malcolm, revealed as Tommy's father Malcolm Merlyn, says he is finally tired of his son's irresponsibility and laziness. At a cemetery Oliver and Helena are kidnapped by Nick shortly after Oliver meets Helena at Michael's grave. Nick has found out Helena is killing her father's men and her reason is because Michael was killed by Nick and her father for being an FBI informant. Oliver and Helena break free of their restraints and fight Nick and his men which ends with Helena snapping Nick's neck. Tommy then goes to see Laurel and admits he has no money and lost his apartment and car, Laurel says it will be alright. Walter has now come back to Starling City and Thea apologises to Oliver about her attitude earlier. The episode ends with Oliver visiting Helena's apartment, who has figured out he is The Hood based on his fighting style, and they kiss.

"Your wishing you made those restraints tighter, don't you b***h?"

SPOILERS FOR TWO COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS BELOW




We have two comic book character introductions this episode with the first being Helena Bertinelli who is The Huntress and if I am honest I was not very impressed by her. I am a big fan of The Huntress in the comics (one of my favourite appearances of her was the Hush storyline) and I do not think they have done her justice here. In the comics she is rash and violent to the point that even Batman rarely relies on her but I still considered her a hero; I hate in this that she is an unlikable anti - hero with one of the stupidest back stories ever. In the comics she does harbour a grudge against the mafia but that is because as a child she witnessed the slaughter of her mafia family at the hands of a rival, she then travels around the world while training with her bodyguard. I don't see how after the murder of her fiancé she could suddenly think "I'll ride on a bike, kill everyone all my father's men and then him", I am just not buying it; it is just like Diggle said she is just a plain murderer in this. Not to mention her methods are sloppy when she kills and there's no explanation to how she became so good a fighter. Lastly I just think the acting of Jessica De Gouw was just poor; her best moment was during the dinner with Oliver not when she is The Huntress because then she is melodramatic and too emotionless really.

Big epic reveal!!

Now Malcolm Merlyn is a comic character that has been done right and looks to be an intriguing villain this season. I won't say now who he will be (wait till future episodes) but lets just say it could have been him or Tommy however Malcolm has already been seen as being involved in a conspiracy with Moira and seems to have impressive fencing skills. I have already liked Malcolm since he has been introduced (knew he was Malcolm Merlyn then but didn't say) because the guy just seems like he is going to be a great villain and I hope he is revealed to be the main antagonist.

Yay Walter's back!

As for the rest of the episode because I have said already that I hate the version of The Huntress and the storyline involving her it was something I really didn't care for. If I am honest I found the subplot involving Tommy and his no money predicament more enjoyable to watch and that didn't include any fighting. I just really liked how the playboy Tommy now has absolutely nothing and I think this will really develop his character into more than just Oliver's friend. From this we can also see that the relationship between him and his father isn't on the best of terms and hopefully we'll find out more about it.

"So this is how the poor live.......I'm not going to make it"

Overall I am glad that we have the first two - parter in Arrow but I hate that they had to ruin The Huntress and the short re - appearance of China White didn't really do anything. The only things I liked about this episode was the scenes involving Tommy and his father and Walter coming back to Starling. Also they didn't have any Flashbacks in this which was quite the change but I kind of wished they did have some since they provide some of the best moments.

SCORE: 4/10

Highlights: Tommy's character development
                   Malcolm and the moment he had with Tommy

Let - Downs: The Huntress and the casting for her
                      Didn't really care for the anything else in this episode      

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/