That wasn’t very good.
The most notable thing about Broken Arrow is that it featured a sendoff for one of Arrow’s regulars, Colton Haynes – at least for the foreseeable future. While Arsenal took part in a number of cool action moments over the course of the past year, I don’t think the character of Roy was ever utilized to his full potential. He never really added anything to the show, so I wasn’t particularly sad when he left town at the end of this week’s hour. Maybe a break from the character will allow the writers to figure out how to properly employ the budding superhero in the future (whether that’s in Arrow, The Flash, or the upcoming Atom spinoff). In fact, the most intriguing thing to me about Roy’s departure was just how effectively Team Arrow managed to craft such a complex bait and switch right under Ollie’s nose. And hey, maybe Roy’s exit means Thea could potentially step up and take over as Ollie’s sidekick. Which brings me too…
… Thea’s apparent death at the hands of Ra’s Al Ghul! While I would have loved the show to take a risk and really kill her off, I have no doubt she will be resurrected via Lazarus Pit come next week. Perhaps that’s for the best, as an unhinged and insane Thea might be exactly what the whiny character needs. Plus, the deal to revive her will almost certainly come at the cost of Ollie finally taking Ra’s place. Hmm.
Although I haven’t been Brandon Routh’s biggest fan this season, this was the episode that finally sold me on The Atom. If the hero’s going to headline a third spinoff, then he needs to be likeable, and Broken Arrow succeeded in making him a viable, dorky, and just downright likeable lead. I don’t think he suits Arrow‘s tone, but I can totally see him leading a show that I might grow to love (particularly since that upcoming series will feature a number of intriguing characters from both Arrow and The Flash). Conor me intrigued.
Bits & Arrows
– Broken Arrow featured a meta-human villain not unlike the ones we’re used to seeing on The Flash. Sadly Deathbolt didn’t leave much of an impression, although I am intrigued to find out how he got his powers.
– Why did Laurel only get one measly scene this week? Not okay writers! At least she secured Ollie’s release.
– For a second there, I thought the Arrow Cave was gone for good when Lance discovered it. A pity; a fresh start would have done the show some good.
– Most hilarious moment of the week: Ray high-fiving Ollie. The latter’s reaction has to become a GIF for eternity.
– Flashbacks: more of the same uselessness. Oliver discovered that Waller had been captured by General Shriever, and that the virus would soon be released in Hong Kong. It’s now up to him, Maseo, and Tatsu to save the city. So unexciting.
– The fight scenes featuring Atom (and Oliver using his body) weren’t too impressive. I much preferred a handcuffed Roy kicking ass in prison. That was some nifty choreography!
– Oliver pushing Diggle; not cool man.
– Loved Felicity saving herself. Reminded me of the season two finale.
– Oliver’s cheesy “it’s all about heart” speech to Ray was atrocious. What the hell show?
– Why didn’t Roy hug Ollie goodbye?
– For the second episode in a row, Arrow repeated the same line in both the flashbacks and present day. This week it was “let people help you.” Seriously, this show couldn’t get more heavy-handed if it tried.
– Ray and Cisco had a very cool scene at the end! And Ray even asked who feeds the inmates in the S.T.A.R. Labs prison which is something I ALWAYS wonder about while watching The Flash.
– Ra’s smashing Thea into the glass table was BRUTAL. And at least she kinda put up a fight.
Starling Quips
Ray: Let’s–let’s not get into that. Uh… I said “I love you,” but it was like, heh, it was like with a lowercase “l,” you know, not, um, so let’s not make it a thing.
Felicity: So, obviously we need to catch this plasma death thing guy. Ugh, now I see why Cisco gives them all names.
Oliver: The second that you get in over your head…
Ray: I’ll run. Fly, probably.
Oliver: Do you get this anxious when I’m out in the field?
Felicity: I honestly can’t think of an answer to that question that doesn’t get me in trouble.
Ray: Not a visual sighting or any other reading at all from the atom. And when I say atom, I mean the suit, not myself in the third person.
Oliver: (to Felicity) There’s a decent chance that you and Palmer are related.
Oliver: You need to trust your instincts and not just your tech.
Ray: My instinct is to trust my tech.
Oliver: Ray, when I’m out in the field, my bow, my arrows, those are just tools. I’m the weapon.
Ray: That’s poetic.
Oliver: I was told once that a man cannot live by two names. Well, right now, I can’t live by either. So I don’t know who I am.
Felicity: I just think sometimes you’re so focused on people you love, you forget… to see that there are people who love you.
Conclusion
While Broken Arrow contained some enormous developments, I was extremely underwhelmed by the hour as a whole. It felt clunky and far from thrilling.
Nad Rating
B-