Arrow Season Two: Seeing Red

 

You shouldn't have done that officer

The episode begins at the Arrowcave and Diggle and Felicity are surprised at there is no news on Isabel's death however Roy then wakes up and escapes, so they call Oliver and Sara who are in a hotel together. Thea and Moira argue over her campaign and we then get a Flashback and Oliver says to Moira that he got another girl pregnant while he is seeing Laurel. In the present Roy has been making numerous attacks on people, even on Sin who runs into him and who later tells Sara about it meanwhile Moira tells Sebastian she is dropping out of the running (since she now wants to focus on her family). Arrow and Black Canary find Roy in the clock tower who easily overpowers them (even catching an arrow) before he escapes and kills a police officer. Sara is forced to bring Arrow to a doctor, who actually thanks him for the things he has done, and Thea sees a report on the rampaging Roy while with Diggle. Sara and Oliver later aruge about Roy because Sara thinks they need to kill him and Roy begins to have hallucinations about Thea who wants him to kill her.

"Just remember; no questions doctor"

Oliver asks Moira why she is dropping out of the running and thinks her running for Mayor will be good for Thea and Moira admits she knows Oliver is Arrow and that he does good, in a Flashback Moira bribes the pregnant girl to leave and never tell Oliver, possibly believing he is not ready. Thea then uses Moira's speech at The Verdant to draw out Roy which works and Sara shoots him in the leg but Oiver knocks him out with viper venom. Sara then leaves Team Arrow and Oliver because she thinks she is just a killer and Oliver deserves better and while the Queen Family is in a limo Moira says to Thea that their will be no more lies but before she can say something about Malcolm the limo crashes with another car. Slade then makes Oliver chose who lives between Moira and Thea however Moira steps up, something Slade admits is brave of her, before killing her and leaving. The episode ends in a Flashback where Oliver is told the girl lost then baby but says he wasn't ready to be a father however Moira says she will always be there for him.

"Bet this situation feels familiar, doesn't it boy?"

We got the death of a major character in the series again and unlike Tommy this wasn't saved until the finale. Moira really has come such a long was from season one, she definitely the strongest and most interesting of all the female characters, so it is sad to see her go. I almost kind of thought this was her punishment for all the secrets and lies but despite that everything she has done is for her family, especially in season one and it was nice seeing her do good (running for Mayor) this season. Her death was also handled really well because it forced Oliver to make a choice like he did on the island and I am sure her demise is going to have a lot of repercussions. I am glad Oliver made his peace with her before she was killed (she even knew his secret!) but I wish Thea wasn't still so hostile towards her. The Flashbacks where also a change; it does show Moira's motherly side but it also puts her in a bad light for handling Oliver's child the way she did in my opinion. For those who don't know Oliver does have a son in the comics named Connor Hawke so he might be the child if we ever do see it.

Get through to him Thea!

As for the rest of the episode I really didn't like the finding Roy plot because it felt like filler to me, just to stretch out the episode, which is a shame because he is one of m favourite characters. Plus since he is back in a coma at the end, which was how he started, it almost felt like there wasn't much point in all of it. I also really didn't like Sara in this episode (again a shame because she is one of my favourite characters) because of her willingness to kill Roy and her admitting she is a killer. I just didn't believe any of that because ever since she joined Team Arrow she has become a good vigilante and even spared The Huntress so I just wondered what the hell she was going on about. Speaking of The Huntress, Sara using a gun was a stupid move because we never saw her with them before, now that was acting too much like that Huntress b***h for my liking. I guess that is it for this episode, there just didn't seem like much to talk about because the Roy and Sara moments where just filler.

Goodbye Moira

Overall I will give this episode I higher score than I might have usually given it because of Moira and her death scene.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Moira
                   Flashbacks
                   Roy vs. Arrow and Black Canary was good

Let - Downs: Roy subplot felt like filler
                     Sara just didn't make sense in saying she is always a killer when she has proven she isn't
                     Thea could have been less hostile to Moira

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 One: Salvation

Was The Saviour decorating that train?

The episode begins with Oliver going after a slum lord named John Nickel but he is caught by someone else who Oliver thinks could be another vigilante, in a Flashback Oliver and Slade go over the arrangements for the deal with Fyers. At Roy's place Thea is angry that he has to hold on to a gun for someone while Quentin helps Dinah with her investigation but Laurel doesn't really believe Sara is alive. Later a live video on a website sees Nickel killed by someone and after Diggle uses one of his contacts finds out he was killed by a vigilante and former Glades resident called The Saviour who then shows a DA as his next victim. Moira later meets with Frank who suggests they should just run and Laurel investigates the photo Dinah has after giving advice to Thea. Oliver later tries to track down The Saviour's after Felicity finds a signal but soon loses it; Oliver tries to reassure her but she blames herself after the DA is killed. In a Flashback Oliver and Slade meet with Fyers who changes the deal and says he will kill Yao Fei's daughter if the circuit board isn't returned.

That is a really cool coat that Oliver is wearing

In the present Laurel finds out it isn't Sara in the photo which upsets Dinah because he blames herself for Sara death, having known beforehand she was going with Oliver. Thea then visits Roy and stops him from committing a crime however he is soon kidnapped by The Saviour and a video of him is shown on the website. Felicity then figures out that the ambient nose in the video is from an old subway and in a Flashback a huge fight breaks out where Oliver, Slade and Yao Fei's daughter escape but Yao Fei himself is injured and left behind. While Roy says no one would care if he dies The Hood breaks into the subway and kills The Saviour after failing to negotiate with him, Roy is then reunited with Thea. Dinah then leaves town and Oliver attempts to cheer Laurel up because he doesn't want to be alone anymore, in a Flashback Fyers has played them since he has already took the circuit board. Moira then meets with Frank who says she is sorry because she has told Malcolm everything and Frank is then killed by the Dark Archer. Oliver then tries to cheer up Felicity who finds out the journal and everything Moira and the Dark Archer are working on is connected to the Glades.

"It's good to be back"

We got something a bit different this episode, besides The Hood facing off against a villain or corrupt businessman he faces off with a rouge vigilante which is a vigilante that kills and uses sinister methods. I liked The Saviour because he represents the negative effects of The Hood is having on the city because The Saviour did say he was inspired by The Hood. This is something the sometimes troubles heroes like Batman because if he never became a vigilante would villains like The Joker, Riddler or Two Face even exist? Still The Saviour was a villain in the end because he only used his wife's death and helping the Glades to make himself feel better because his victims did only commit minor crimes that normal vigilantes would leave to the police. I also liked The Saviours methods and putting his kills on the internet because it was really different from what he have seen before and he provided quite the challenge for Felicity too.

"Two guns, twice the amount of killing"

I did like the majority of what else happened in the episode such as the progression of Thea and Roy's relationship because like I said before it gives Thea a better storyline and out of all the other romantic subplots, so far it is the only one I could stand to watch. I like how these two are complete opposites as well such as when Thea got angry with the gun because I bet she never really set foot in the Glades before, most likely just doesn't understand how things works for those who live there like Roy. I also liked the appearance of the of the Dark Archer again as well and killing off Frank because it really puts Moira in a predicament. She did is doing all these bad things to protect her family but she is crossing over the line more and more; It sabotaged Robert's boat, got Walter kidnapped and now she framed Frank and got him killed, when is it going to stop for her?

"You've cracked the code Felicity!"

The Flashbacks where great again and we got some great action between Fyers's men and Oliver and Slade. Too bad Yao Fei didn't make it but I guess most of their efforts now will be to rescue him and stop whatever Fyers is going to do with the missile launcher. As for what I didn't like it would have to go to the Quentin and Dinah subplot, don't get me wrong I actually enjoyed it and it did get pretty emotional at the end when Dinah admitted she knew about Sara (strong moment from the Lance Family). However I have said it before and I will say it again; this subplot does feel forced in to the episode, it was like if it was not there it wouldn't really have mattered overall. Maybe it would have been better if once whole episode was focused on this subplot rather than splitting it up over three episodes, now that would have worked in my opinion!

"I was so sceptical at first but now I've made this whole work station"

Overall this was a great episode that we needed after that horrible Huntress one and since Felicity figured out more of that journal maybe Oliver will be investigating The Undertaking more and may even suspect Malcolm soon.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: The Saviour was a great villain
                   Moira continues to tread a dark path with Malcolm
                   The interaction with Thea and Roy

Let - Downs: The Quentin and Dinah subplot was good but felt out of place                

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: Dodger

The red hoodie isn't exactly subtle lol

The episode begins with a guard in a museum helping a criminal named The Dodger (James Callis) steal a large jewel because he has an explosive device attached to his neck. At the Arrowcave Felicity quits after a disagreement with Oliver and we get a Flashback where he is treating Slade's wounds but leaves to get the special herbs Yao Fei treated him with earlier. In the present Moira meets with a man named Frank Chen and they both agree that The Undertaking is getting out of control meanwhile Felicity re-joins the team after Oliver agrees to stop The Dodger. The Dodger later kills someone who is trying to steal from him and Team Arrow figures out how to find him; Felicity thinks Oliver should ask McKenna out so they can bug her phone which he does. In the Glades Laurel and Thea are mugged by someone who runs off with Thea's purse but they then investigate and get a suspect named Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), we then get a Flashback and Oliver encounters a badly injured man who begs for help.

Just play it smooth Diggle

McKenna and Oliver have dinner but she is soon called away because of The Dodger and Oliver follows her as The Hood however The Dodger gets away by setting off explosives. At the Arrowcave they come up with a plan to lure The Dodger at the fundraiser for the Starling City Cancer Society, later Roy is interrogated by the police but Thea decides to let him go after hearing about his mother. At the fundraiser Felicity is caught by The Dodger and attached with an explosive collar, Oliver manages to chase after him and knock him out, freeing Felicity of the collar. We get a Flashback and Oliver decides to leave the injured man because he cannot trust him and lies to Slade earlier about not encountering anyone. Diggle and Carly (his sister in law) then start a relationship and Oliver and McKenna start the possibility of one. The episode ends with Thea finding out Roy was lying abut his mom after visiting him and Moira contacting China White about putting a hit on Malcolm.

"Just take one step and BOOM!"

We keep getting more and more comic characters now with this latest one being the introduction to Roy Harper AKA Red Arrow/Arsenal. Roy was the side kick of the Green Arrow in the comics called Speedy but eventually quits and then returns as Red Arrow and then as Arsenal, he is a great character and I am glad that even though where probably going to be sticking with his origins for awhile at least he has been introduced early. I like the casting for him as well and how he is portrayed because he is like the opposite of the rich families with mostly seen so far. Also that Thea is most likely going to play a major part in his subplot is good because of course I have been going on for ages that she has no decent story and at least this is the start of one and again Laurel played a good part as well. Plus we also got more of a look at the Glades, it has been mentioned a lot but barely seen and kind of like Gotham does really represent the divide between the rich and poor.

"I like how we decided to take a walk in the worst part of Starling"

As for the Flashback even though they were not as action packed or as strong as the one in the last episode they where still good because of the situation Oliver was in. I mean that beaten guy looked and acted so genuine that it makes you think if his story is true or not and whether Oliver made the right call to leave him. If the guy really was telling the truth and Oliver finds that out somehow then I wonder if this decision is going to haunt him. I wonder if those special herbs will play more of a role soon because has lots in the present, is there a story to how he got them? Speaking of the past I like that we got some more insight into The Undertaking because Moira did say it was to help the city at first which is why Robert and Frank where involved in it. However what was really cool was Moira finally trying to break free of Malcolm and move against him; good luck to her but Malcolm just seems like the kind of person how has prepared for everything.

I know she has a bomb attached to her neck but damn does she know how to look good for the occasion

As for the rest of the episode The Dodger was actually an awesome villain and an example of how a one off villain should be. Cyrus was just uninteresting and generic but The Dodger was way cooler because of his unique explosives method, expert in hand to hand combat with a stun stick and his personality was overall just more cool and suave. I doubt we will see him again which is a bit of a shame because he could have made a good small recurring villain like China White and at least he isn't wearing some obvious white wig. Felicity was also great in this because she has become a valuable member of the team and didn't just spend the episode behind a computer screen. Lastly I didn't really care much for the romantic subplots in this because they kind of fell flat for me and it is obvious it is not going to work between Oliver and McKenna.

Play it smooth Roy

Overall this wasn't as exciting as last episode but it was going to be hard to top those awesome Flashbacks anyway however the ending was interesting because it might men Malcolm will have to be the Dark Archer again to defend himself.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Colton Haynes strong introduction as Roy Harper
                   The Dodger and the team going after him was good
                   Felicity was great in her first mission with the team

Let - Downs: Flashbacks wasn't as strong as in the last episode
                      Didn't care for the romantic subplots

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/