Remember the previous 2 or 3 times I declared an episode of Arrow as my favorite? I changed my mind again, This is my new favorite episode of Arrow!! A stellar episode that proved that OTA (Originial Team Arrow) is what drives this show. Focus on them, their stories, and this show will continue to be successful. The episode went back to its root with a balance of action, emotion, and a shocker. The clear MVP of this episode is Emily Bett Rickards, who has elevated her game this season. Let’s get into this:
This season was promoted as “Year of the Diggle”, and outside of one episode, Diggle’s story has yet to be realized. I was cautiously optimistic when I heard that this episode centered around Diggle and Felicity. I was overjoyed after the episode aired because that is exactly what we got.
John and Andy Diggle
Sibling relationships can be complex. Whether you have one or five siblings, the relationships can be rewarding and frustrating all at the same time. On one hand no one understands your life like your siblings, on the other hand some time they know it so well that unrealistic expectations are set. Tonight’s episode explored the dynamic between John and Andy Diggle. John Diggle is your quintessential big brother and first born. His actions and purpose are motivated by discipline, high standards, responsibility, and honor. As a fellow first born myself and over all oldest in my family of many cousins, I completely relate to this. I have always been a natural leader, the person my younger brother and cousins looked up to, and delegated role model by all the elders. As a result of those high expectations, I myself set those expectations on all the young ones, especially my brother. As we were growing up, my brother have always been at odds. Don’t get me wrong, we love each other, but man we push each other buttons. His biggest frustration with me were the expectations I set on him. They didn’t align with his personality, and even if he tried, it seemed I was always setting him up to fail.
This is the nature of the John and Andy’s relationship. John has always had high expectations out of Andy. John talked Andy in joining the Army because he believed the Army would help Andy be a better person like it did for John. Andy being a typical younger brother wanted to please his big brother and followed in his footsteps. Clearly a breaking point occurred. We discover in the flashbacks, that Andy joined a criminal organization masking as specialized Army personnel known as Shadowspire. Andy was tired of being “honorable” and wanted to take the fast track to success. He wanted to be the opposite of everything his older brother, John, stood for. Now John not wanting his little brother to be a member of a criminal organization is a reasonable expectations. But sometimes the only way younger siblings feel the can have their own identity, separate from their sibling, is by going the other extreme. Andy hid behind the perfect little brother mask and gave up his family for this life. This truth about Andy is the most difficult for John to comprehend. He has spent so many years with Andy on his own pedestal, and reconciling this new truth messes with John in big way.
Present day, John and Lyla are taking a stroll on their way back home. I know John is a vigilante and Lyla is ex ARGUS, but I still wouldn’t walk Star City streets at night. Lyla is approached by ARGUS agent, Chang, who has been compromised and Lyla is the only one he can turn to. Unfortunately, he is shot, kidnapped, and dragged away in concealed van. Diggle is shot, but attempts to jump in the van, and drags his knees on the ground instead. How he didn’t break his legs is a miracle. I love that Lyla always carries a gun with her. You can’t ARGUS out of the woman. The Diggles confront Amanda Waller, who slips a USB drive to Lyla, and if we learn ARGUS has a spy and are introduced to Shadowspire. John recognizes the red emblem right away from his Army days and confronts Andy.
How long has Andy been locked up in that cage? It’s been at least a month, and I wonder how his jacket is still in mint condition. Andy is transferred to another cage when Waller learns about his connection and he can provide valuable information. Andy informs John that everything Shadowspire does is a smokescreen. While Team Arrow is camped out at the docks waiting for the crime to unfold, Shadowspire compromised ARGUS and took it over. Lieutenant Joyner (the Diggle’s lieutenant in Afghanistan) threatens Waller that he will kill a member every 20 minutes until she gives him the codes to Rubicon. Waller doesn’t budge because she believes in collateral damage, so in a shocking moment that had me audibly gasp, Joyner shoots Waller in the head and she dies. I seriously was not expecting that at all!
Joyner quickly identifies that Lyla has humanity and would not sacrifice all the innocent lives. John, bless his heart from learning a thing a or two from Felicity, wires the monitor such that it becomes a TV and sees his wife being held hostage. I will be honest, I thought Andy was turn his back on John again. But he proved that bonds of brotherhood surpass any differences that may linger between the brothers. While Lyla is firewalled out by Felicity from accessing the Rubicon codes, Joyner is about to shoot John. But Andy blocks Joyner, Team Arrow shows up, and the group takes down Shadowspire.
I need to pause for a moment to appreciate the badassness that is Lyla Diggle. This is how you throw a punch:
John realizes his expectations of Andy may have been too high and that his brother deserves another chance. In what was my favorite scene of the night, John introduces baby Sara (who wasn’t prompted), and hearts melted everywhere.
Felicity Smoak/Olicity
I want to start and giving a standing ovation to Emily Bett Rickards for her outstanding performance in this episode. Arrow writer Brian Ford Sullivan posted a series of tweets after the episode aired detailing the creation of Goth Felicity vs Arrow Felicity scenes(the link Brian Ford Sullivan Twitter). The scenes required Emily to change her look, act across a tennis ball, mimic the camera movements from previous shots, and play 2 different characters. And she nailed it. Emily played the nuances of her two selves to perfection and creating character distinction for the audience. Even if Goth Felicity’s physical appearance wasn’t obvious, I as a viewer, was able to discern Felicity’s 2 personalities. Bravo again Emily. Please start compiling your Emmy reel.
I was a bit apprehensive as to how the writers and producers would approach Felicity’s paralysis. Felicity’s whole way of life has changed and that requires a huge readjustment for her personally. As much as this show is about Oliver Queen, his life is intertwined with Felicity’s. Her journey is equally as important in the context of Oliver Queen/ Green Arrow’s life. Felicity’s emotional journey is directly related to Oliver’s emotional journey. It would have been a disservice to Felicity and her disability to make it about Oliver’s reaction. Yes, he is affected by it, but he should not be the focus. I was extremely happy with the way Felicity’s story was handled in the aftermath of her paralysis.
We learn that Felicity has not left the loft in 10 days. While her wit and humor are in tact, her confidence in her abilities and herself, is diminished. Oliver was the perfect fiancee this episode. He knows he made a mistake not being by Felicity’s side when she was in the hospital, and he is more than willing to put Green Arrow duties aside while she recuperates. If it wasn’t Dig or Lyla involved, Oliver would not have left her alone. I need to pause and comment how adorably diametric Oliver can be. On one hand, he is heading out to kick ass being the Green Arrow. But before he does that, he takes care that Felicity follows her medication regimen, and she preheats the oven to 425 degrees when she warms up dinner.
Despite Oliver’s encouragement that Felicity’s superpower is her brain, she is having serious self doubts. She is not ready to join the team, that she doesn’t add any value. Any time a person has a traumatic experience whether big or small, it’s normal to have these self doubts. And for someone as high functioning as Felicity, these self doubts are exacerbated. Felicity starts hallucinating her Goth rebellious self. Now I know on screen it seems that her extra dose of pain medications caused the hallucinations. I’m a pharmacist, and yes, pain medications are capable of causing hallucinations to a low percentage of patients. But, Felicity was already at the precipice of the hallucinations, the meds pushed her over the edge. She hadn’t left the loft in 10 days, she is having a self esteem battle in her head of epic proportions, and dealing with some minor PTSD. It is appropriate that Felicity was reading “The Shining”. A story about a hallucinating man who is living in isolation. I see what you did there writers.
Goth Felicity is brutal. She pokes at Felicity’s insecurities. While Oliver and Team Arrow are in the middle of a mission that requires Felicity’s expertise, she questions Felicity’s abilities and purpose. Goth Felicity constantly reminds Arrow Felicity of the person she used to be. The person that rebelled and wasn’t going to settle for a life in the background. Her old self was destined to change the world one super virus at a time. She continues to pick at what Felicity has become, a person that got so scared by Cooper’s death, that she settled herself into the background. She changed her looks, took a job below her qualifications, and settled for normalcy. Goth Felicity calls Arrow Felicity the mask and where did it get her, into danger and a wheelchair. What was it all for? Felicity has always been a confident person, and bless his heart, Oliver keeps trying to remind her that she is the strongest person he knows. But Felicity’s insecurities are reaching new heights while battling herself and pushes Oliver away. Oliver is clearly frustrated, but he knows when Felicity needs her space to figure it out.
In my favorite scene of the night, Felicity shows up to the lair, with a great speech in tow.
Felicity and Oliver been battling themselves in their own head.
Oliver, once again, feeling the overwhelming guilt, taking the blame, and experiencing the frustration for what happened to Felicity. His strength has always been protecting the ones he loves, and feels he has failed. But here is where we see the change. He doesn’t push Felicity away or distance himself. He has committed himself to this woman and to be her support system through better or worse.
Felicity feels compromised not just by her immobility, but by her mind. She is hallucinating with her rebellious self, questioning her role on the team, questioning her whole purpose.Her strength has been her mind, being a support system, and she feels she has failed. But she chose this superhero life, she knows her worth, her capabilities, and that is who she is. She also knows her man very well and the guilt he carries. She comforts him that her condition is no ones fault but Damien Darkh. And that they are in this journey together for better or worse.
It’s only with each other, do they understand the purpose of their mission, who they are individually, to each other, to the team, to the city. Only Felicity can get through to Oliver in a way no one else has ever been able to. And only Oliver can provide that foundation that Felicity has always desired.
It’s in the quiet moments, they find strength in each other.
Stray thoughts:
- The last bedroom scene with Oliver and Felicity proves that these are basically married already. The way Oliver positions himself on the bed, facing Felicity, while barefoot is domesticity at its best. Felicity adorably shares a Goth picture of herself and the two reflect on how much they have changed. Felicity would have released Rubicon as a political statement and Oliver would have snapped Joyner’s neck. Oliver takes a moment to remind Felicity, that while living in delusion is not healthy; he has seen enough crazy things in the world and won’t stop until he finds a way for Felicity to walk again.
- This episode was perfectly balanced. I love Olicity, but I don’t need them to be front and center every episode. I started and fell in love with Arrow because of the darkness, action, and emotion. And at the heart of that has always been Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity. They are the heart and soul of the show. This episode was stellar because Diggle’s and Felicity’s characters are being fleshed out. They are two of the most important people in Oliver’s life, and their character development is vital to Oliver’s.
- I also want to appreciate that Oliver always came down to Felicity’s level when they interacted. He has always seen her as his equal and sees past her disability.
- I wanted more Diggle and Felicity scenes, but what we got warmed my heart. There is no greater compliment than when someone learns something from you. Diggle learned a thing or two about circuitry from Felicity and he made her proud. Conversely Diggle propped Felicity for her blocking the Rubicon access codes.
- This episode was also great because Laurel and Thea were sidelined. Laurel, who amazingly didn’t cross her arms, purpose was to remind us how much Oliver is in love with Felicity. Laurel was actually bearable and I am even more convinced she is in the grave.
- Lyla Diggle needs to be a series regular. I suspect that with Waller’s death, she will become head of ARGUS. Hopefully that leads to moments working with Team Arrow
- Felicity finally has a codename and it is : Overwatch. I like it, but not overwhelmed by it. My favorite line by Oliver though ” I was thinking Oracle, but it was taken” HA!
- When Goth Felicity and Oliver are talking to Felicity at the same time, it seems like Emily and Stephen were talking at the same time, and Stephen is trying to talk louder than Emily. It also seems like he almost broke character. It was a fun scene to watch.
- We finally got a scene where Oliver and Felicity say “I Love you” to each other. Why we had to wait this long is a mystery.
- As action packed as this episode was, it was the emotional performances that stood out. Stephen Amell plays a supportive and optimistic fiancee. Then he guts us with his tears as you feel the pain and guilt overwhelming him regarding Felicity. Emily Bett Rickards plays her fears up as she shivers on the couch, screams at Oliver, and closes in on herself. But then she warms us with her playful punch her charisma, and inner strength. These two elevate each other in a way none of their other costars do.
I will leave with this. It seems that Felicity’s acceptance with the paralysis and her feelings were wrapped up in one episode with a tiny bow. However, Oliver’s secret kid is still out there and crap is about to hit the fan. Felicity can reconcile her physical disability because she has Oliver as her foundation. Once she finds out Oliver kept this major secret from her, that foundation will crack. That will be something Felicity will have difficulty reconciling. We saw in the flash forward a vindictive Felicity. I suspect we are about to see Felicity embark down a dark path when this secret comes out.
Once again, none of the GIF’s are mine. I’m not a professional anything in the entertainment industry. I like to share my own thoughts for whatever they are worth. Let me hear yours!
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