Review: Arrow, Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fonder? (Season 3 Episode 11)
These writers are trying to kill us with Olicity, I’m sure of it.
I had a brief round of ugly sobbing after that dream kiss on “Midnight City,” which got even worse when I realized it was Oliver’s dream — not Felicity’s. Someone pinch me.
Even though I’m dying for Team Arrow to find out Oliver is alive, I’m actually really enjoying this small bit of time without him in Starling. Let’s just hope they don’t drag it out too long.
Without The Arrow patrolling the streets for crime, Laurel decides to take up the crime-fighting mantel herself, donning her sister’s Canary costume because of the fear it inspires in criminals. Unfortunately for her, Captain Lance suddenly gets very suspicious why his beloved daughter Sara is back in town and not bothering to call.
The best part of this subplot, for me, is the clumsy and ineffective fighting style Laurel is sporting more often than not. She was not trained by Oliver, Ra’s Al Ghul, or the US Army, so naturally she’s not going to be the ass kicking machine that our other heroes are. If she’d too easily slipped into the Canary role with fierce fighting skills, I would have been a little disappointed. It feels like she’s earning her stripes this way, which is always great for character development.
In flashback land, Maseo and Oliver go after Tatsu, who is being held by the triad. These flashbacks aren’t good for much besides showing us how fiercely protective Maseo is of his family, which is a sharp contrast to how coldly he treats Tatsu in the present. There are some pretty strong hints that their son we’ve seen in flashbacks is dead in the current storyline, and their grief tore them apart.
Can’t those two crazy kids just work it out?
Speaking of romance, Felicity and Ray seems to be getting closer and closer. I’ve got to say, the actors have amazing chemistry, and I’m a big fan of the sort of “brain trust” ship these two create. But still, my Olicity shipper heart tells me that they’re probably not going to make it across the romantic relationship finish line. Especially once Felicity finds out Oliver is alive and kicking.
The most shocking revelation of the night comes from Thea and Malcolm Merlyn. Instead of packing up and fleeing the city like her father asked, Thea decides she’s not going anywhere without the full story. Malcolm obliges, filling her in on Ra’s Al Ghul and his league of assassins. In true Queen fashion, Thea convinces Malcolm to stay in Starling and fight, instead of running like a coward.
Thea: “I’m not afraid of him, and you shouldn’t be either. He should be afraid of us.”
That all seems well and good until Thea’s latest crush, DJ Chase comes into the picture. For the longest time I was annoyed with this kid; he just seems so superfluous in the greater story. Well count me wrong, since Chase reveals in the final sequence of the episode that he is actually an agent of Ra’s Al Ghul, and part of the League of Assassins.
What did you think of this episode? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below, and give “Midnight City” a rating all your own!
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Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
Lindsay MacDonald
Lindsay is an associate editor for Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer, viewer, and internet addict. Her obsession with TV started with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and has been going strong ever since; current favorites include Scandal, The 100, The Walking Dead, and Arrow. She considers a perfect Friday night to be a joint-cuddle-session between an adorable puppy dog and her Netflix queue. Follow @lindsayjoane