Originally published October 30, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
Jessie Robertson reviews episode 4 of Arrow season 3…
You can now mark off Malcolm Merlyn on your “Sara Lance Murder Suspects” List. Go Ahead, We’ll wait.
….from the chandelierrrrrrr….
Ok, now that we have established that, it seems the mystery of Sara Lance’s murder will persist, even though we did get our first, and may I add, juicy clue from Merlyn; that the Demon’s Head himself may be responsible. If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, all in good time. The episode itself felt like a red herring just to sort of re-introduce Merlyn to the Arrow world and while it serves a purpose in that regards, it felt like the whole episode dead ends on its way. One important factor it brings up is Oliver’s no-kill policy. Merlyn, especially, seeing as how he was one of Oliver’s victims; it’s a redeeming thing to him that that’s 1 less off the body count. But, he’s pressured from every avenue; in one poignant scene, he tries to stand his ground to Laurel when she finds out and uses Sara’s name to invoke a guilt response from Laurel, who responds resolutely that yes, she does believe Sara would want Merlyn murdered for good. Nyssa al Ghul, Sara’s partner, also has returned and employs her own investigation style, which completely contradicts Oliver’s. They are sneaking into a China garden to track down a lead at one point and everyone’s dressed in comic costumes to the nines and there’s John Diggle, in a windbreaker and khaki’s. Ha ha.
The issue of Merlyn also pits Thea against her brother, not in an adversarial way, but a situation where Oliver is now coming clean on (almost) everything but now Thea is leaving him in the dark with regards to how close she is to Merlyn. She’s re-opening Verdant, with what money I have no idea, which also gives a reason to pull Roy back towards her, which feels like his center on this show. John Barrowman, who plays Merlyn, is featured more here than he has been since season 1 and he wastes not what is given, and filibusters every scene, eating it like raw cookie dough. It’s a joy to watch; and yet, it’s convincing me just as it is Oliver on the screen. The only thing to stick out to me is now Merlyn becomes this well of information, knowing nearly every detail of Oliver’s adventures and life since he’s been gone; while it definitely adds dimensions to him, it feels way too easy and unexplained for him to have all that information, as he even mentions Oliver’s modified prison in Lien Yu. The Magician, by the way, was Merlyn’s code name within the League, and he even does a disappearing smoke trick just to reinforce it.
Arrow is a slow starter, like National League baseball games and most Stephen King novels; this isn’t among the strongest episodes but we got some more good points to grow with.
Other Notes:
– I miss the dry humor between Oliver and Diggle but we did get some tonight as he informs Diggle (who is Felicity’s hacking sub) that she left a program even an idiot could figure out!
– I know it wasn’t supposed to be funny, but I laughed riotously when Roy did a double gainer just to get pinged in the neck by Nyssa’s dart. That must be like his signature move now.
– Was it just me or did anyone else pick up on Nyssa giving Laurel the eye, maybe going after both sisters?
– Ah, The Demon’s Head, for comic fans watching the show, we know who the iconic villain that has been reference over and over again since last season is; Ra’s al Ghul, famous Batman villain; we finally got our first look at him tonight. Hold onto your butts!
Jessie Robertson.
