Spoilers have failed this city. My quiver of spoiler puns is running thin.
Arrow 4×04: Beyond Redemption cemented things a little more on the serious side. You can see how much of a risk is Oliver taking by running for Mayor. Don’t be surprised, Mr. Queen – not everyone loves the idea. Specially with all the stuff that has happened so far. Curtis Hold actually standing up to Felicity was a good thing. But unfortunately, I still can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for Sara Lance… Or for Quentin, when it comes down to it. I wasn’t altogether satisfied with the last episode. This time, we get some solid performances from Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance and Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen.
There’s a group of highly trained police task force members killing their fellow officers. In a strange move by Oliver, he brings in Quentin Lance… into the brand new lair. Oh yeah, there’s a brand new lair paid with Palmer Technologies money. Quentin does seem to want to help, but he’s not convinced they’re cops. As it turns out, they’re highly trained cops for the defunct and reinstated anti-vigilant squad, and known by the police captain. Unfortunately, recognition goes both ways and they’re quick to recognize him back. They want to kill him, but their leader Liza (Rutina Westley in a short but memorable role) quickly “convinces” them.
There’s something about this episode that circles around Quentin. He’s usually the naysayer and the skeptic, but in this one he’s certainly the father. He’s the father to Laurel and the returned Sara and the father figure for Oliver. He probably never guessed it, but Ollie has always looked at him as a model of rectitude. Although Quentin has kept him at a distance, Ollie has seeked in some way or another his approval. When he discovers Quentin is working with Damien Darhk, it’s a shock to everyone. Also, Laurel just brings him to see Sara with zero warning. I thought he was going to die right there.
The thing is, Quentin turns out to be the only person that Laurel trust with Sara’s return. Ok, aside from Thea. And Malcolm Merlyn. Nyssa too. Also, the entire League of Assassins. But yeah, other than all those people, Quentin is the one. To be precise, Laurel would trust anybody but Oliver with this one. The thing is, Sara has a non-lifetime to get over from and she’s really not handling it well. I’m not sure how Quentin didn’t have a heart attack. Of all people, Quentin decides to confide in Damien with Sara’s return because… A faint hope he’ll have something that can ail Sara. To be honest, Damien does give Quentin advice: she’s not your daughter, put her down.
It’s another heart stopping situation for Quentin as he almost puts a bullet in his daughter’s head. Fortunately, Laurel stops him because I think he would have died if he had taken that shot. But he doesn’t do it, and the surprises don’t end there as his former task force takes him prisoner the moment he’s getting home. Team Arrow is on the case. But their commanding officer Liza is an elite combatant personally selected by Quentin. She ends up putting a knife in Ollie’s back and threatening to mess up his spine. Quentin actually applies some heartfelt reasoning here and gets her to stand down.
In the end, Oliver will actually go through with his decision to run for Mayor. Quentin will agree to continue talking to Damien Darhk and report back to Team Arrow. As for Laurel, she can’t keep her sister chained in the basement forever. Actually she couldn’t even do it for the whole episode. Right as she’s seen bringing her food, she finds what’s left of the chains on the floor. Sara has fled.
Highs/Lows/FelicityForPrez:
- The canary cry is back. As it seems the anti-vigilante task force is ready for her the first time, but she changes the frequency for the next encounter. Clever girl. See, I do like Laurel. Which is why I don’t like that she was so adamant in bringing her sister back at any cost.
- Quentin. Great performance on this episode. The fact that he was Ollie’s inspiration to run for mayor is obvious, as well as the disappointment in Ollie’s voice as he tells him he knows he’s in league with Darhk. He also delivers some zingers. When everyone is moving into position for the trap, “Don’t I get a codeword like everyone else?” When he finds Oliver in his place the first time, “You guys know I have a heart condition, right?” And the second time, “What is it, you got your own key or something?”
- So, Damien Darhk is also a father? And he actually gives Quentin some advice. Sound advice, but worth years in therapy.
- What’s in the box, Darhk? Are we supposed to know?
- Curtis Hold actually tells Felicity to listen to Ray Palmer’s last transmission. It seems to be inconsequential once she actually consents to put in the password (which is password, btw). I still think Felicity’s phone and now Arrow-computer glitches are caused by Ray, somewhere in the atomic world.
- Thea remembering high school because clubs, dancing and tons of coke. Diggle remembering why he doesn’t like the idea of raising a daughter in this city.
- Sara Lance, fugitive. Is it a good thing? It’s a better thing that being chained to the basement, but not necessarily for the safety of all out there.
- Oh yeah, the flashback to the island… Forgot about that. Oh well.
That will do for now.
Never Think Impossible 