Arrow Review: Unchained (Season 1 Episode 12)

For an episode that is about as surprising as Oliver’s “secret” identity, Arrow really and truly delivers with “Unchained.”

Not plot-wise, no. The Calculator being Felicity’s father? Sorry, we called that one months ago. Felicity being a BAMF and still beating him? Meh, no one’s surprised. Damien Darhk’s wife running for Mayor? Well, it wasn’t going to be him. Roy and Thea destroying us with the feels? Okay, that caught me off guard; I’m not going to lie. But the rest of the episode? Sorry, no. It didn’t take a genius to see all of that coming.

Then again, Arrow’s strength has never been its perfectly crafted storylines, or its over-abundance of common sense. It’s always been its characters. And it’s in that respect and that respect alone that this episode feels like a win.

After all, the Damien Darhk subplot is still moving at a snail’s pace. Yes, he’s there, yes, he’s evil, and yes, a confrontation is coming …one of these days. His wife is now running for Mayor, and she didn’t seem to be playing dumb, so that’s something, at least. But, as has been the case lately, this episode focused on our Villain-of-the-week, even if this villain is clearly going to be with us a few more episodes.

Lame name aside, The Calculator was a nice change from our usual bad guys. Arrow has always been more about fight scenes than brains, and though I enjoyed Oliver parkouring his way into catching Roy, I enjoyed the showdown between Felicity and her father even more.

Not that she knew she was dealing with Daddy Dearest. Not that Oliver knew. Really, the show did a great job of concealing it. Except for where they’d been teasing it for so long that we’ve been expecting this since the casting announcement broke.

Still, the appearance of Papa Smoak, and his obvious pride in Felicity make for an interesting subplot. He might have contributed biologically to the creation of the Felicity we know and love, but he had nothing to do with the amazing person that she is. He wasn’t there. Donna was.  And the Felicity who looked at herself in the mirror and only saw her father has been defeated and buried …or has she?

The past few months have been – let’s say complicated, for Felicity. In Arrow land, they always are, but this time the changes she’s dealing with are internal, not external. Couple that with the big secret Oliver’s keeping from her and we might have a roadmap as to how this Felicity became the Felicity we saw in that limousine.

Hardened. Angry.

And Oliver? Well, with a character death rapidly approaching, and Thea in the hospital, we look to be in for a revisit of the tried-and-true How far are you willing to go? question.

We already know the answer.

Predictions aside, this was a wonderful character episode. Felicity’s growth was pretty well exemplified, not by her doubts, but by the fact that she conquered them. Oliver played the part of supporting “husband” to perfection. Curtis was not only helpful to the plot, but pretty funny; Malcolm was as delightfully wishy-washy as always, and Roy and Thea?

They had me tearing up.

I admit they’ve never been my favorite couple, and I’m not usually the type to go for doomed love stories, but this time, Colton Haynes and Willa Holland sold it. Roy coming back could have felt out of place – it didn’t. His leaving could have seemed as absurd as last time – it didn’t. Somehow, someway, by the strength of the performance, and a script that finally seemed to understand these two characters, Roy and Thea were merely two people that life was pulling in opposite directions. Two people who loved each other. Two people who, maybe, one day, could get a chance.

Other things to note:

• At this point, when Oliver’s lie is revealed, I’m going to go: WHAT? HE HAS A SON? Even I’d forgotten!
• I was very, very happy to have Nyssa and Tatsu back on my TV screen.
• Oliver and Felicity are still unheard-of levels of adorable.
• Thea’s clearly not the one in the grave. They wouldn’t show their hand in episode twelve, for one, and of course, there’s the been there, done that.

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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