*****SPOILERS*****
Last week’s cliffhanger ending had Oliver revealing his Arrow identity to his bodyguard John Diggle. It also had more than one gratuitous shirtless man. Seeing as the latter is a gimme, I was most curious to see how Dig will handle the news and incorporate into Oliver’s world.
(Need to catch up? Don't miss Tori Benson's thoughts on the pilot episode, Heather and Chris's episode 1.02 recap, or Chelsea Mueller's episode 1.03 recap. Plus, read Jennifer Proffitt's report on the Arrow cast panel at NYCC!)
I’ve liked the way Dig has stuck to the job up to this point, and the way he doesn’t really take Oliver’s attitude. So, it was pleasing to me that his reaction to discovering his charge was “that vigilante” was to try and deck him. He’s still woozy from being shot with a poisoned bullet, but I give him an A for effort.
“Oliver, you’re not a soldier. You’re a criminal. And a murderer.” With a response like that, maybe Oliver needs to work on his “be my secret agent best buddy” pitch.
The love interest angle the H&H team has been backing shows promise when Laurel is waiting back at the Queen estate. She heard about the shooting and is worried about Oliver. She thinks he’s being selfish, but I think it’s more about being on his own for five years. Why would he think about people waiting up for him?
Some days I think flashbacks are required in all CW shows. However, they actually matter here. I love getting flashes of context into why Oliver is the way he is, even if they’re short glimpses.
It’s nice to see Ollie opening to his sister a bit. As much as I am all about rebuilding the relationship with Laurel, I want Oliver to be well rounded. He needs a family support base, too, and his sister needs more than a bossy archetype.
Dig resigns. Oliver is not pleased. New guy looks like a tool...and is treated as such.
Not sure I buy that Oliver would immediately put together a news story about a guy who murdered his wife with a name in his little hit list book. Did I miss something? I know he’s perceptive, but immediately assuming there’s something shady about a man up for execution seems off.
That said, um, he’s right. Looks like the guy set for execution was married to a whistleblower about toxic dumping. They murdered her and framed her husband. Bad dudes need to be shot by arrows.
In the meantime, though, the man facing a state-ordered death needs a good attorney. That means Oliver-As-Arrow visits Laurel, who totally pulls a gun on him. I love her. (She did take the case.)
Oliver’s second pitch to Dig is much better: “Do you remember when the people in this city helped each other? They can't do that anymore because a group of people—people like my father—they see nothing wrong with raising themselves up by stepping on other people’s throats. It does need to stop.”
Laurel has a thing for the Arrow. Is this a Spider-man/Mary Jane thing? I’m cool with that.
Interrogation by threat of train. That’s how Oliver does it.
Laurel is officially on Team Arrow (even if she’s unsure about his morals). Less officially on Team Why Is Arrow Wearing A Shirt?
Dude, Arrow can break into a prison?
Looks like Oliver’s step-dad may be on to Oliver’s mom Moira’s sketchy business. Will he survive discovering the truth? She has a warehouse holding the remnants of the yacht that killed all but Oliver five years ago...
Even better: Dig is in and he isn’t about to be a sidekick. LOVE the idea of them as a team.
Laurel’s dad arrests Oliver on suspicion of, you know, being Arrow.
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Are you officially Team Arrow? Are you disappointed at the lack of abs this episode? How do you think they’re going to get out of the whole going-to-prison bit?
While Chelsea Mueller runs Vampire Book Club, she won’t turn down a sexy werewolf, demon or faerie. Her appreciation of Alexander Skarsgard is well documented. Bother her on Twitter — @ChelseaVBC — she likes it.
