Amac Productions

Divided.

Wow.

Where do I begin?

Well, firstly, I should explain I am not the best judge when it comes to Arrow. I have watched it from the start. The very first episode. However, I stopped watching somewhere around episode eight or nine of season five. To understand my review of last night’s episode a little better I want to explain why.

The Newbies. When season five kicked off Oliver and Felicity were alone. They started looking for help and the help they found I disliked oh so very much. Sorry. I could never wrap my head around them no matter how hard I tried.

I couldn’t take Rene’s attitude towards everything. He was reckless, rude, and thought he knew better then anyone. Even in his humblest moments it never lasted if he had any at all. I know Roy Harper was very similar – an angry kid lashing out at the world. Well, Rene’s not a kid. He has a kid. In the parts I saw he never gave Oliver or Felicity the respect they deserved and seemed to make light of all they’d been through.

Evelyn or wannabe Black Canary rubbed me the wrong way since she appeared taking Laurel and Sara’s mantle and dragging it through the muck. I’ll be honest Laurel was never my favorite character since they seemed lost as to what to do with her after season one. She became a failed love interest with little to do without pining or being pined after by Oliver. (See James Olsen: Supergirl.) But I think she did the title of Black Canary well after taking over from Sara. The Lance sisters were a tough act to follow and Evelyn never measured up. Worse after she turned out to be a traitor.

As for Dinah I didn’t stick around long enough through season five to see her recruited. I never bothered to catch up either. Everything I know is from season six. And worst of it is, she’s a boring stock character who feels completely lifeless. No matter what’s going on she seems to tackle it with the same bored expression. Even when an old partner shows up. She’s one dimensional at best and no rival for Black Siren when she’s on the screen because Katie Cassidy is shining every time she’s on screen. Black Siren could come off campy but it’s never too over the top. Unfortunately, the boring stock character of goodness boredom never feels real. I don’t know how she got her start but I can’t get invested in what I have seen. Another one ruining the mantle of Black Canary.

Curtis Holt. Okay, from the moment he arrived I knew who he was supposed to become but oh my goodness at no point have they made him a believable superhero. I’m sorry. Curtis seems like the exact type to never win in a fight. He’d never give up, but he wouldn’t win. I’ve thought that since the moment I saw his first episode. He’s got all the heart in the world. But I’ve never felt he has the stomach for the dark and gray world these characters live in. I’ve always thought when push comes to shove he’d never be able to stomach the lengths they’ve gone to protect the city. His morals could hold him back because he’s always come across as a man who’d rather talk it out, work it out, then fight it out. Not that it’s bad but he doesn’t jive with the rest of the darker heroes. He’d do better on Flash or Supergirl given his nature.

I can’t even comment on Ragman or whoever the guy was wearing the indestructible suit because I have no idea when he showed up or left. Sorry.

I returned to season six because I watched five’s finale and rightfully called Samantha, William’s mother would die in the explosion. I wanted to see Oliver Queen deal with the daily struggle of fatherhood.

So, in all honesty, last night’s episode was a bit disappointing. For one, I don’t care about the Newbies. Let them form their own team. Let them get themselves killed because I think they are in way over their heads. The only one I will mourn will be Curtis. I actually really love Curtis. No, I don’t think he fits with these heroes, but I do think he’d fit somewhere, and do a lot of good.

For another I do not believe for one second how last night’s events went. We have watched Oliver take on groups of 20 guys by himself before. We’ve watched him stare down impossible odds over and over. Go after guys impossibly stronger. Fight aliens. Fight Nazis. Fight the League of Assassins. Survive in hell. Are the writers seriously suggesting thugs with guns are a threat? That Vigilante is a real threat? Black Siren?

We’ve seen him take on twice as powerful opponents before and beat them. Making him, Diggle, and Felicity seem useless against them to illustrate needing the other three is just laughable. I’m sorry. OTA has been here from the start and will be here until the end. They have needed help before but not to the extent last night suggested. That was ridiculous.

I do love Curtis. But since when do we need him for tech help? Isn’t that why Felicity was recruited by Oliver in the first place? Making her seem small in comparison is a disservice.

The only believable thing there was Diggle injury preventing him from helping. However, with him back in fighting shape I doubt OTA is going to need the Newbies help. Especially if Roy Harper is making a return. With Arsenal back in play. Why should the Newbies even show up to work?

Sorry. I really have no patience for them. Especially after last night.

OTA tried to be reasonable. Offered to share intel with them. Tried to mend fences to make it right. All they got in response was spit in their faces. And yes, I can see where they were coming from but they aren’t even trying to see the other side like OTA was.

Instead they just saw three people who didn’t trust them.

I’m sorry. Well, DUH! Why should they?

Dinah did lie about Vince. Rene is testifying against Oliver. They lied to OTA. But they act as if they have done no wrong. That all of this was right or doesn’t matter because you snooped behind my back. It doesn’t matter what I did. Only what you did. They sounded like petulant teenagers. They sounded like people who were lashing out because they don’t like to get caught lying so they’ll focus on how they were caught instead of what they did wrong.

At no point did they acknowledge their wrongs like OTA tried. Yes, OTA was wrong to snoop and invade privacy but after all they’ve been through together and the countless near misses. Not to mention someone who actually did betray them. I’m having a harder time blaming them for being overly cautious.

So, goodbye Newbies! I would love to hope and wish and pray this means they’ll be written off into the ether but I doubt I could get that lucky. I hope they learn a valuable lesson that bites them hard in the butt.

Also, the line about a team they could really trust at the end had me laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair. They do realize Rene turned against Oliver, right? They do realize Dinah lied about Vince? Let him escape? Those are not trustworthy qualities as far they should be concerned. One is going to land someone who is supposedly a friend in prison. The other could have gotten people killed. Remember Vince was targeting people when Dinah let him go? Tried to kill them too I believe it was mentioned they’ve been trying to stop him for two years.

BYE NEWBIES. Go away, get off my screen. Got your own TV show for all I care. Just get out of Arrow and stop boring me. Thank you.

Whew, sorry, that got off track. Anyway, I’m excited to see the return of Roy. I wish there was a little more content of the newlyweds in that episode. There wasn’t a peck or a reference of any kind. Not to mention I missed seeing William! He’s been a great addition this year and I’m looking forward to more.

Like finding out his father’s continued green leather fetish. Bonding with his new stepmother. Bonding some more with dear old dad. I’d also love it if he came to terms with his father’s superhero tendencies.

I’m happy Thea is up and moving around. Has a job and bit of a purpose but she still seems lost. I hope Roy’s return sparks something in her because she seems out of it. And Roy was always so good at getting through to her.

Lastly, I’d really like it if Lance could get over the whole Black Siren thing. It’s not really his daughter. Why is this a thing? I’m confused. I think it would dishonor Laurel’s memory to pretend this woman is her. As I stated before I’m not a huge Laurel fan but I don’t want her memory tarnished for this villain. If someone could explain this plotline to me that would be much appreciated.

Moving on. Those are my thoughts on the latest Arrow. Feel free to comment or send me an email or something to talk about if you want. I love a good discussion. As always, keep it civil. I won’t respond to rudeness.

Read on!