Jessie Robertson reviews the seventh episode of Arrow season 5…
The only truth I learned as a matter of perspective is not to eat chili dogs before going on the ferris wheel….
I’m quietly liking Arrow better than The Flash this season. Above you, you see Constantin Kovar (or better known to most children of the 80’s, Ivan Drago); he was in full Drago mode in an avant-garde lit fight scene that was one of the more intense of the season, a real street fight. I can’t believe I’m interested in the flashbacks this season; Kovar’s reveals tonight of Tainia’s mother and working with the Bratva are shams; at least to Oliver, but there is always a bit of truth in every conceived lie and we at least saw one part of it was not fiction; this is getting good.
Unlike last night’s disappointing Flash titled after it’s villain of the week, tonight’s “Vigilante” offers up another new character imposing his will upon Star City; but he won’t be vanquished with the headlights of a car, no no no, he’s here to stay and play! Definitely getting a Punisher vibe off of him but I dug the outfit and the disappearing trick when Oliver tried to take off his helmet. He isn’t messing around either; hollow point bullets, semi-automatic weapons, he’s taking people out- I mean, he made a “V” out of human beings!!! What?? This show is forgoing the mystic and magic and bringing you real dirty pain and suffering. I’m glad he wasn’t done away with in one episode as he’ll continue to be a mirror into the past for Oliver as he tries to right his wrong ways and become the hero he was meant to be.
The team got some drills in this week, baton fighting with Diggle, undercover work and they even got to rob a bank! And Felicity was in the field- that feels like forever. Maybe the most key scenes (again) were with Thea and Lance as they continue to lay their emotions out on the table in more incredible acting( which you don’t get to say lightly on an action show). This didn’t rival Paul Blackthorne’s powerhouse performance last season in “Canary Cry” but there are memories of it as he prepares himself to walk into a rehab facility, at Thea’s beckoning. Great stuff.
8/10- This feels like the prologue to more Vigilante/Prometheus deep story as they prepare to put all on hold for mega-crossover event
Other Notes:
– Yeah, Diggle, we’ve heard of Slade Wilson- can’t wait to see how he fits in with this crossover (The commercials have revealed he makes an appearance, against all odds and logic)
– Not convinced Susan Williams is a character I care about yet
– How old is Evelyn again? Because it feels wrong for her to wear a dress Miss Scarlet from Clue wouldn’t wear to a singles bar
– Diggle is so massive now; it’s just about ri-god-damn-diculous.
– DA Chase gets an interrogation scene where he grimaces like DeNiro, just really in the worst way possible
– Anyone else wonder how Lance got that star checked for DNA and the cop doing it didn’t ask a single question about how he got it?
– That Metal Rope Arrow will never get old
– Was it just me or didn’t Curtis get shot point blank?
– Evelyn’s a bad girl…..does this provide any clues to who Prometheus is?
Jessie Robertson
Originally published November 17, 2016. Updated April 16, 2018.
