Arrow Review: Taken (Season 4 Episode 15)

Honestly, is anyone else a little upset that Oliver didn’t make reference to a “very particular set of skills” in this week’s Arrow? After all, you don’t get a kidnapping episode named “Taken” without expecting a little Liam Neeson humor thrown in.

Regardless, there were two very strong elements of the episode and two very week ones.

Starting with the positive elements, let’s talk about Felicity and Thea. Both women have been stuck in secretive, upsetting, and — in many ways — unhealthy relationships, which they forcefully (and tearfully) pull themselves out of for their own benefit.

While watching Felicity return Oliver’s engagement ring is definitely painful to watch, it’s a step in the right direction for her character. Pun intended. Oliver’s son has been an axe hanging over the Olicity relationship for months now, and every week that went by without him being honest drove a deeper wedge between the hard-fought trust that had been established between them over the years.

Their breakup may have been hard to watch, but if the alternative is watching Felicity bend and break under the weight of constantly forgiving Oliver for the secrets he keeps, then I’m willing to wait for their reconciliation. And thanks to the super spoilery photo Marc Guggenheim tweeted out, I’m about 99.9% sure a reconciliation is on the way.

Now we get to talk about possibly the most vindicating scene in the whole episode. Thea dropping Macolm Merlyn like a bad habit that’s been haunting her for two years. While it’s possibly the most complex and interesting relationship on the whole show, Thea has needed to have this kind of “Come To Jesus” moment with Malcolm for a long time. More often than not, Malcolm has an “ends justify the means” way of thinking that just does not jive with Thea’s moral compass. It’s a mystery how they’ve managed to go this long without reaching their breaking point. He taught Thea to fight, to survive, and to be strong, but that does not mean that she owes him her life or her loyalty.

Let’s just hope that Thea has washed her hands of her depraved father for more than just the time being. An extended break might do her good.

Finally, let’s get around to the two weakest elements of the night.

First up, Oliver’s son. You knew this was coming if you’ve paid any attention to the ‘other thoughts’ section of my reviews which have included, “So…. where is Oliver’s son?” comments for the past six weeks. Dropping Oliver’s son into the mix was a huge move for Arrow to make, and a move that it never followed through on. When has Oliver been establishing this monumentally important fatherly bond with William? Off-screen?

There are many things that happen in “off-screen land” that are totally justifiable. Showers. Making coffee. Day jobs. Stuff that’s just not consequential to the plot, meaning it doesn’t matter if the viewers don’t see it. Oliver getting to know his secret love child and learning what it means to be a father to a 10-year-old boy? NOT ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

The kidnapping thing is already a bit predictable and overdone in the Arrow universe, but add in the fact that Oliver has shared a sum total of 3 minutes of screen time with William before this whole thing happened and it becomes ridiculous.

Last but not least, the Vixen crossover. While most fans probably never saw Oliver make an appearance on The CW’s animated series, Mari managed to fit in well enough to the Arrow universe. Unfortunately, just because something does fit doesn’t mean it should. The same thing could be said for the The Flash crossovers, but time spent incorporating Mari into the plot could have been better used focusing on William, this near non-entity that has become so important in Oliver’s life.

As we head into the three week hiatus, I’m not ashamed to say that like Felicity, I need some space.

That’s not to say this season of Arrow hasn’t been amazing. It’s truly been masterfully constructed, especially when you factor in just how many crossovers they’re pulling off between The Flash, Supergirl, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, and now Vixen.

However, things have been moving so quickly in the Arrow universe since the show returned in January that it will be nice to get some distance and perspective. And it will hopefully give the plot some time to slow down as well.

Other Thoughts:

• Looks like Cupid’s back, which means my ill-fated devotion to Cupid Shot (Deadshot/Cupid) will no doubt be back in action soon.
• Felicity mastered that walking thing pretty fast. I’ll be pretty upset if her paralysis turns out to be this much of a non-event.
• 10 points to Thea for the upside-down arrow shooting.
• Nobody breathe wrong, Laurel got an actual plot this week.
• Is Olicity really broken up or are they on a break? Olicity fans (and probably Ross Gellar) would like to know.

 

What did you think of this episode of Arrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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