Review: Arrow, “Canaries” (Season 3 Episode 13)

On this week’s Arrow, a Vertigo dealer is on the loose, and literally no one could care less.

The reason that no one can focus on an escaped criminal is, of course, that season long secrets are finally – FINALLY – coming to light.

First, Oliver finally outs himself to Thea. Calm as a cucumber, he takes his sister down to the Arrow Cave and admits that he’s the vigilante. I have to say, after so many people finding out in shocking and dramatic ways, it is almost refreshing to see Oliver sit someone down and explain the whole story on his own terms.

Even more refreshing is Thea’s reaction.

After all this time worrying that his sister would hate him for lying to her for so long, Thea surprises everyone by accepting Oliver’s secret and actually thanking him. She realizes that every time he lied to her or bailed on her or tricked her, he was doing it to save an innocent life. More than once, that innocent life was hers. So, she thanks him in a heartwarming moment of sibling bonding.

Pass the tissues, please?

Elsewhere, Laurel deals with her father snooping around The Canary’s strange behavior and her own feelings of inadequacy. My favorite scene of the night goes to Felicity and Laurel actually. Passing the Bechdel Test with flying colors, Laurel admits to Felicity that she feels unworthy of Sara’s mask. Felicity in turn tells her that Laurel is not her sister, which can be a good thing. These two women support the hell out of each other, which is nice to see on television these days.

If I had to give a second place award for best scene of the evening, it would go to the screaming match that takes place in the Arrow Cave. Oliver might just be underestimating how effective his team can be without him. Felicity doesn’t mince words when she points out that very thing to him. No matter how hard the transition was, Laurel, Diggle, and Roy became the new Team Arrow, able to think and operate by themselves. It’s not Oliver’s way or the highway anymore, and they’ve all got to deal with that fallout.

And now that everyone knows Oliver’s little secret – besides poor Captain Lance of course – that Arrow Cave is feeling a little crowded.

There is also a death in “Canaries,” as hot DJ guy, Chase gets lucky and then gets dead. After sleeping with Thea, Chase exposes himself as a servant of Ra’s Al Ghul when he tries and fails to poison her. Roy and Malcolm show up to save her, but personally. I think Thea was holding her own pretty well.

The episode wraps up with Laurel finally confessing to her father that Sara is dead, Oliver and Thea heading back to the island for training, and flashback Oliver actually returning to Starling.

What do you think past-Oliver got up to in his hometown? And what kind of shenanigans will Thea get up to on the island?

Be sure to give “Canaries” your own rating, and tell us your thoughts below!

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Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.