• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Arrow Season 8 Episode 2 Review – ‘Welcome to Hong Kong’

October 23, 2019 by Jessie Robertson

Jessie Robertson reviews the second episode of Arrow season 8…

Earth-2 is no more. I did not actually pick up on that tidbit last week (so apologies) but it’s a major, major event that’s happened in the Arrowverse. The Flash did a whole season on characters from Earth-2. And it’s the impetus for much of Laurel Lance’s plot here in, maybe, one of that character’s best episodes. I know Katie Cassidy has gotten some bad feedback (from me as well, in certain seasons) and it’s almost impossible to convey how you mourn the loss of your entire world, but she did some good work here tonight.

So, it’s the final season of Arrow – we have our plot in place. Oliver has to travel all over the multiverse to complete missions for the Monitor in hopes of quelling the upcoming Crisis. Tonight’s mission finds Oliver back in Hong Kong to grab a Dr. Wong for the Monitor. They have a bit of a tiff regarding Oliver not good at following orders (as John says you’d think a cosmic being would have known that wasn’t Oliver’s wheelhouse). From there, in all honesty, this is just a regular old hour of Arrow. There’s a near miss grabbing Dr. Wong, Ollie & Diggle get into multiple fights with thugs all over town, Katana comes to help in a great scene and there’s a fortified warehouse to sneak into and fight waves and waves of guys. I guess in my head, I expected more nuance, more over-arching plot from the final 10 episodes of Arrow. There’s very little here that would fit into that category.

There is some good callbacks in this episode though. Oliver and Tatsu (Katana) have a good chemistry on screen as two warriors who keep fighting the fight, even if their families are lost to them. A lesson she imparts on him sticks with him here: to make sure this mission is worth the sacrifice, despite a cosmic being telling you what to do. China White shows up as well, when Oliver discovers the re-emergence of the Alpha-Omega virus (which was around in season 3, I believe). Oliver recalls their history together as her and Katana have a pretty good fight scene, that was well shot, on this barge.

There’s a great speech by Oliver when talking to Katana about how he has to believe this mission is correct because he’s sacrificed everything he has just to do it, so it’s not the time to question it. That’s pure Oliver logic. Diggle is also there and I’m glad, even if it doesn’t feel right. He joins in by always saying the most obvious things in the room. And then there’s Lyla. She shows up out of nowhere, helps Laurel get right, drops a cute line on John and then, we see her talking to the Monitor where it appears she’s in league with him. If you’ve actually read Crisis on Infinite Earths, then this will not be a surprise to you. If you haven’t, this was a great twist.

6/10– This was a very rote episode of Arrow– we’ve seen many like it and while mechanically it’s fine, I was expecting more.

Jessie Robertson

Filed Under: Jessie Robertson, Reviews, Television Tagged With: Arrow, DC

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Rise of John Carpenter: Maestro of Horror

10 Great Val Kilmer Performances

Robin of Sherwood: Still the quintessential take on the Robin Hood legend

Out for Vengeance: Ten Essential Revenge Movies

Underrated Movies from the Masters of Action Cinema

When Movie Artwork Was Great

10 Must-See Horror Movies Guaranteed to Make You Squirm

The Worst Movies From The Best Horror Franchises

10 Great Modern Horror Classics You Have To See

The Kings of Cool

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

Movie Review – Good Fortune (2025)

Movie Review – Black Phone 2 (2025)

2025 BFI London Film Festival Review – Is This Thing On?

Comic Book Review – Star Trek: Picard Omnibus

Movie Review – Ballad of a Small Player (2025)

10 Must-See Horror Movies Guaranteed to Make You Squirm

Movie Review – Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025)

The Top 10 Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes

Hasbro unveils new Star Wars: The Black Series Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Purge Trooper & Patrol Trooper figures

McFarlane Toys launches new wave of DC Multiverse action figures

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

10 More International Horror Movies You Need to See

Dust in the Eye: Ten Tear-Jerking Moments in Action Movies

20 Epic Car Chases That Will Drive You Wild

15 Movies To Watch On Tubi UK

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles and Opinions
  • Write for Flickering Myth
  • About Flickering Myth
  • The Baby in the Basket