TV Month - TV Retrospective: Arrow series 1 episodes 16-18

This one's both a TV Month entry and a TV retrospective

As we take a look back at Arrow, as Oliver faces up against 2 old enemies, a character makes her departure, and another makes her entry, and departure

Dead to rights

So we start the episode with some random guy with knives being killed, does anyone know who that is, is he a comic book guy?

McKenna Hall, is she still here?

It’s Tommy Merlyn's birthday, and Malcolm comes to say happy birthday, but only to invite him to his humanitarian gala.

Honestly Oliver, it's like you want everyone to find out you're the vigilante. You keep on dropping these hints, and it'll be a miracle if someone doesn't

Oh and Floyd Lawton's back, with China White, another episode with villains that are semi-interesting.

Laurels' mother calls, and she shows up at the end and she thinks Sarah is still alive… erm… moving on

Malcolm Merlyn's being honoured as a humanitarian? Was Lex Luthor unavailable? Or you know anyone else?

So, the main story is the Chinese triad are carrying out the hit on Malcolm Merlyn using Deadshot as their trigger-man. It's a fairly basic story laced with a considerable number of character moments and Tommy finding out that the vigilante is Oliver Queen, and being terrified of it.

On the Island Oliver uses his ingenuity to fix a radio, and they hear Fyres' communication with an unknown source, revealing a weapon that can shoot down a commercial airliner.

Rating 8/10

The Huntress Returns

It’s McKenna Hall's last episode. She will not be missed, by anyone!

Ah, and the Huntress is back, still after her father.

The club's been set up, it looks a lot nicer than it did last episode, how long has it been?

Obviously not long, because Mrs Lance has only just got round to revealing her revelation to Quintin, he quickly dismisses it.

Thea offers Roy a way to possibly get him a job. He rejects the offer, in favour of criminal acts, but isn't such a bad person that he'd not help out Thea when she needed him. In return, she kisses him? Did this relationship just jump over 5 steps?

Oliver has a rather hypocritical with Helena talk about the difference between revenge and justice. “It’s not justice, it's murder” and what makes Frank Bartinelli any different from anyone you've stuck an arrow into, you hypocritical sonuvab*tch?

On the Island, Slade and Oliver figure out a plan to destroy Fyres' rocket launcher, and end up getting a targeting chip to use to convince Fyres to give them a way off the island

Tommy's still dealing with the burden of keeping secrets, distancing himself from Laurel and high cost with everything on the line for her.

So, Helena uses the power of arm breaking to coerce Oliver into helping her deal with her father. Unfortunately it’s a trap, and she's arrested. She sort of reveals his secret identity, but no-one believes her and she's soon rescued.

When Helena attacks Felcity, that's enough to make Oliver angry and he's suddenly sort of willing to kill her.

Rating 7/10

Salvation

So we come to the turning point for Roy Harper. Yup this is only his 3^rd episode and already he has a turning point. Having said that there's not much you can do with a character like him without a turning point.

There’s a new vigilante in town, the saviour. A guy who knows more than a little about computers it would seem.

Also ProxyMcSoonToBeDead is killed when he's used as a proxy for the assassination attempt on Malcolm Merlyn (well, sort of) Moira did however managed to spare his family, even if the blood is (literally) in her hands

Also he shows off some impressive stunt moves, in the middle of the day out of costume!!! Jeez, put it on a poster board. I AM THE VIGILANTE!!!

Meanwhile on the Island Slade and Oliver are forced to abandon their plans when Fyres approaches them offering Shado in exchange for the targeting chip. Fyres may well regret that decision, especially after Shado escapes on her own.

Meanwhile Mrs Lance (I can't remember her name) breaks down after discovering the woman in the photo wasn't Sara. Revealing that she felt responsible for what happened. Alex Kingston does a brilliant job as Mrs Lance (her name's Dinah, I just discovered, the same name as Laurel, so I'll continue using the name Mrs Lance)

We also get the revelation of something about the undertaking, and how it's connected to the glades.

Rating 8.5/10

For more reviews click here

Images used in this review are from Arrow and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use.