Charlone

Fuzzy Dunlop

Malcolm Merlyn has me cracking up every time he suddenly materializes out of the shadows right in the middle of people's conversations. What is he doing just hanging out in Thea's apartment, hiding behind a door until she comes home?

Charlone

He wants to look as a mysterious man, maybe? I don't know but he's been doing it since Thea moved into Starling City again, and, if I were Thea, I'd feel mad because what if she wants to sleep with a guy like the DJ while her father is standing right there into the shadows.

eternalfate

Primal Slayer

It was a good episode overall though I think that Felicity and Diggle should've been left out. I know the actors get paid regardless if they are in the episode or not but not like it would be the first time the left a main character out. The Olicity moment was great for the Olicity fans, glad you got it, but it felt forced to me and it just wasnt needed in this episode.

The Laurel/Lance stuff was great, though it looks like he is heading down that anti Arrow road again which doesn't excite me that much since it seems like they just switch him and Laurel off of who gets to go after Arrow which season.

The training sequence at the beginning with Thea is what I want and expect them from them when it comes to Laurel.

Cmtaylor531

I love tonights episode as well. In fact the last two have been really great for me. They have sort of brought this season together and brought Ollie and Thea back together. I love that Thea knows the entire truth now. She knows what Malcom did to her. I just hope her trust and Oliver saying they needed Malcom doesnt blow up in both their faces.

I was thinking the same thing. We so Thea train with Malcom and now with Oliver. Yet the only real training we so in Laurel so far is the boxing lessons that she doesnt seem to still be taking. Are we going to see her really transform in to BC or what? Though Boxing lesson go told her she still wasnt ready so maybe that will come into play still. It might be part of a later story line.

And Yes seriously Malcom just lurks everywhere in the shadows. Its beyond creepy. Also how does he still manage to spend so much time in Starling city? He murdered over 500 people yet he can still walk around and take limos in the city? I realize he still has money and connection and probably fear installed in some people but come on.

Also... I realize they are pushing the Felicity/Oliver angel right now. Im okay with that because I do like them but at some point you know that have to explore Laurel/Oliver regardless because its cannon. They dont have to be end game because I think the divorce gives leeway but they have to be explored. My issue is right now I dont see how that can happen. In early S1 i really rooted for these two then fell in love with T/L and thought Laurel would be crazy to get back with a guy that cheated on her with her sister. Sure forgiveness can be had but you never forget.... So now with Oliver protecting Thea and lying to her about who/how/why Sara was killed is just another huge thing that I dont see how Laurel can get over. Im sure Laurel could eventually rationalize and realize it wasnt Theas fault but it would still be hard to be around her all the time. So how do they bridge this gape between Laurel/Oliver that the writers have created to get to them?

Another note.... Two weeks in a row Lance/Laurel scenes have been part of the top scenes of the episode for me. I really love their relationship even though it seems like Laurel had a heavy burden of taking care of him its no wonder she did end up just like him and trying to find a way to escape.

Also once again I loved the flashbacks. They have been great this season for me. In the earlier episodes I actually felt the flashbacks were the only keepiing me interested. I just love how once again they connected a lot of things and connected to past episode about how he understood what the list was. Also loved that even back then he was trying to look out for Thea.

Do we think Oliver will ever talk about that night that Shado died? He still seems to hold a lot of pain from it. I was kind of wantng to see him confess to Thea about that night and why Slade was so vengeful against him. I want some one to tell Oliver that that death was beyond his control and not his fault.

kenni727

Malcolm Merlyn is certainly the epitome of creepster. Among other things.

So glad Thea has the whole truth now. I was preparing for the show to leave that hanging over Oliver and Thea for a while longer but am so glad they just got it out of the way. And every time Oliver would say "it's not the right time" I'm thinking "when is the right time? When you're on a cruise in the Caribbean?"

Also glad that Lance is mad at Laurel for keeping Sara's death a secret. It's good to see someone reacting appropriately to that stunt she pulled.

Ron_Beckett

Woah what an incredible episode!

Oliver & Thea:

I've always loved their relationship but I love it even more now that Thea knows. There are no secrets between them.

Them fighting was very cool.

And how Oliver struggled with the secret he was holding back. And Thea could really tell how much it was hurting him. I'm glad he finally told her. Thea's reaction- damn, it was both gut wrenching and incredible at the same time!

Merlyn certainly underestimated their bond. He didn't think how much stronger it would become once Thea found out and so that pretty much has backfired on him.

Merlyn:

Freakin' psychopath!

Love how he keeps underestimating Oliver and Thea though. First with their bond as siblings and then with thinking they could revert back to their killer instincts (in Thea's case something she never realized she had)

Slade:

Totally loved seeing him again. His fighting with Oliver and Thea was incredible!

Laurel/Quentin:

Such a heartbreaking moment between them. I was so proud that neither of them took a drink but how sad that it's come down to their separation. We knew it would but it was sad to see nontheless.

And Quentin called Laurel "Black Canary"!

The Flashbacks:

I really enjoyed the flashbacks. Seeing Oliver back in Starling and being a silent guardian angel for that short time.

Loved how Maseo mentioned the hood and grease paint.

And I totally didn't mind seeing flashbacks of Dig and Felicity. Hell we got to see Andy!

Overall:

Very pleased with the episode. This season is turning out to be one of the best!

Charlone

I would love to get it like you do, I'm a bit dissapointed of how the writers worked with Quentin's character in this episode because it makes me feel like all the development he had since season one went down through the drain. It was hard for me to like him in season one because of how crazy he was about Arrow and Oliver at the same time, the relationship he stablished with Arrow was great while it lasted. But this episode made me think that he will be against vigilantes again. I know Laurel hurt him while she kept with the truth but same happened for Oliver and Thea about who was the killer of Sara Lance. The only thing I liked from their scenes is that he called her "Black Canary".

Now without Wildcat, looks like Laurel is training in the streets as a vigilante. I don't find it weird or wrong, she will learn more in the missions of TA.

I always hate to mention this but Oliver is also keeping another secret the writers revealed the last season. Although he doesn't know he has a child, he knows there was a possibility to have one after cheating on Laurel. I don't think Laurel will be mad with him about hiding from her the real murderer of Sara, if the writers want to use it to make more trouble between them then I will be dissapointed. It's been enough angst for those two, I don't want to see them separated together again. Romantically or not, Oliver needs Laurel in his life and vice versa.
And also I don't think the writers want to explore other relationship of Oliver aside of Oliver/Felicity only for this season. Stephen said something that made me think that is the writers' purpose. I'm not saying they can't explore other ones, but they're also working with some of Felicity/Ray and it's been enough drama with Laurel/Oliver/Sara last season. However, I'd have loved to see a romantic interest for Laurel instead of seeing her alone again in this season.

I shouldn't be laughing at this but I'm doing it. He wasn't so creep (like he has been being in this season with all this Thea stuff) in season 1, I found him very interesting especially for his performance as the Dark Archer.

I'm with you, but I liked those flashbacks mostly because we got to see Andy, I didn't expect we would see him sometime!

Primal Slayer

The reason I liked and didn't mind the L/L scene was because it was very real and raw. Laurels reason for keeping the secret was understandable for a little and she meant no harm but that was his daughter, his baby and he didn't even get to say goodbye or bury her. Everyone knew but him, and in a way Laurel took away his choice to mourn Sara or see her killer brought to justice.

The wrong thing done for the right reason is still the wrong thing.

kenni727

I didn't get that impression at all. I really don't see how his being upset with Laurel, which is totally justified, will in any way affect his relationship with the Arrow.

Cmtaylor531

Quick question. Did we ever figure out why Andy was killed? Originally Diggs thiught it was a mistake but later we learn it was Deadhsots target. I can't recall if we ever learned why he was a target? I do t think we have so it was great having Andy in the flashback cause it made me curious if we would get around to that answer.

I also forgot to mention last post how awesome it was to see Tommy. I really missed him. It was nice to see how affected he was by Oliver's death and how he was trying took out for Thea.

Charlone

I don't remember why he was killed, but I think Deadshot told Diggle that someone paid him to kill Andy. Or maybe I'm wrong, and Deadshot killed him because Andy knew about him.