Arrow Review: Public Enemy (Season 3 Episode 18)

In case you missed it, the BIGGEST secret in the Arrow-verse was spilled last night on “Public Enemy,” and we’re freaking out about it over here!

The entire city now knows that Oliver Queen is the Arrow, and it’s all thanks to Captain Lance.

I have to admit, Lance’s very sudden personality transplant has me a little worried. He was 100% on Team Arrow for the last two years, and now he’s back leading the hunt and screaming like a lunatic about vigilantes? I get that he’s grieving for Sara, but it all seems a little fast.

Mostly, I’m worried that he might not be long for this world. Typically, when you see a character take a very sudden nose dive towards being an antagonist like this, it means their days are numbered. Let’s hope he finds his way back from the dark, crazy place soon, or Laurel might lose another family member…

On the other hand, maybe Ra’s is just that good of a manipulator?

Now that he’s taken up the mission of ousting Oliver from his city, there is no safe place to hide. Even Verdant gets raided by police when Oliver’s identity comes out.

Oliver: “He’s using the city as a weapon. My city.”

The flashback storyline fills in the blank of just how Shado came back from the dead and got to Hong Kong. She didn’t. Shado twin sister (I had to fight an eye roll hard at that one) just so happens to live in Hong Kong, and that is who Oliver runs into.

I did enjoy her lesson about truth, and how it can be a powerful thing. Too often on Arrow, people are bending over backwards to keep secrets and lie about things that should probably just come out — Sara’s death, Oliver’s offer from Ra’s, Ray’s super suit attempts, etc. These things all add tension and drama to the show, but sometimes the truth is really the best option.

While Oliver deals with attacks in both the present and the past, Felicity recovers from her brush with death at the hospital with Ray. Valiant until the end, Ray takes that arrow for Felicity as the episode opens, landing him in the hospital with some serious injuries.

And landing us a visit from Mama Smoak!

Donna: “At least you finally have a boyfriend!”
Felicity: “Mom!”

Visits from Felicity’s mother are my favorite, because she shows us a very vulnerable side to Felicity. Our favorite tech wiz is always so firm in her beliefs and her opinions, that it’s a rare moment when Felicity asks for guidance or seems lost. But mothers have a way of bringing that out in daughters, and Felicity turns to Donna on more than one occasion this time.

The first being whether or not to inject Ray with experimental technology to save his life.

Something tells me this is the start of his days as the Atom, and not the super suit kind. Fans of the comics will know that the Atom’s real “superpower” is shrinking down to the size of – you guessed it – an atom. I’m still a little fuzzy on how Arrow intends to establish that power, but these nanites might be the first step!

The second issue Felicity runs to her mother about is a matter of the heart.

Felicity: “What is wrong with me? He’s brilliant. He knows the plot to every Doctor Who episode, all 34 seasons. He looks like a Disney prince! He’s practically the perfect man!”

Let me tell you, that Doctor Who thing is a serious tick in the pro column. That’s soul mate material right there.

Ray confesses his love, and Felicity… basically says thank you. Oomph. That had to hurt. I might love Olicity, but Raylicity has its charms too. Mama Smoak knows exactly where Felicity’s head is at, and more importantly where her heart is not. Despite spending very little time with each of her daughter’s love interests, Donna realizes that Oliver has Felicity’s heart, and a mother always knows these things.

Too bad Felicity and Oliver might not have time to hash out their romantic feelings, since the episode ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Typical Arrow.

Roy, feeling indebted to Oliver, poses as the Arrow and turns himself in.

I really love the progression of Roy’s character this season. The guilt he feels over the cop he killed, and the sense of duty he feels towards Oliver’s mission come together nicely to inform this decision. Roy feels like he deserves to be in jail, and last night he found a way to make that happen while still preserving the greater good.

Say what you want, but Roy is a hero. Plain and simple.

Do you think Roy will go down for Oliver’s crimes? Will Oliver surrender to Ra’s? Sound off in comments below and be sure to give “Public Enemy” your own rating.

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