Arrow Review: Bratva (Season 5 Episode 12)

In an uneven and frankly disappointing season, Arrow Season 5 Episode 12, “Bratva,” should be the kind of episode that stands out.

Instead, it’s the kind of episode that reaffirms the notion that this is just not the Arrow of old. It’s changed.

And not in a good way.

But hey, at least they went out swinging?

If anything,“Bratva” does a good job of playing with the notion of Oliver Queen, the same man who spent “five years in hell” and has done so many questionable things, somehow being the light, not for himself, not yet, but for those closest to him – Diggle and Felicity.

But that’s about all it does right, story-wise.

Diggle’s descent into darkness feels rushed, just like his whole jail-then-out storyline has felt rushed. But then again, we’ve been promised a satisfying emotional storyline for Diggle so many times that, at this point, I’ve just about given up on anything but a couple of episodes worth of surface angst.

The same goes for Felicity, even if the show does a better job with her than it ever has with Diggle.

Yes, it’s interesting to see her going all Slytherin, but since this Robot Felicity and we hardly get to see her express actual feelings these days, it’s hard to believe we’re actually going to get the emotional payoff this storyline deserves.

Or maybe that’s just the lack of trust talking.

The unevenness in the characterization is what makes this episode, and the whole season, frankly, so hard to swallow. Would the Felicity of Season 1-4 have welcomed Diggle back without even a hug? Would she have walked away from Rory in such a cavalier manner?

Would Oliver, for that matter, have trusted Dinah 2.0 to be the one to back him up, and then, give him a pep talk?

Also, would either of them have behaved like the two strangers who discuss Oliver maybe taking Dinah out and make references to “what happens in Russia stays in Russia” like it’s nothing?

Hard no on that one.

At this point, the writers are either going for Felicity being so deep in denial that she can’t see what’s in front of her or they’ve actually forgotten these two people were not just engaged to be married but have risked their lives for each other countless times.

Hell, right now, Oliver looks to be more in touch with his emotions than Felicity is, and he’s sleeping with Susan Williams.

Which, bad idea Oliver. I’m so glad Thea was kidnapped by aliens and isn’t around to see you.

Point is, this could have been a great episode. At times, it was still a good one – the Rene/Quentin scenes were not just entertaining, but actually touching, and Dinah Drake 2.0 is actually everything Laurel Lance should have been and the writers never gave her a chance to develop into.

And yet, as the credits roll, we, the loyal fans who’ve been here from the beginning, couldn’t help but feel unsettled. At any other point in this journey, an episode such as this would have been a dream come true.

Now it’s just another hour of wondering how else the writers can ruin what they so painstakingly created.

The verdict? Not even in an original way.

Same old, same old.

Other things to note:

• If they were going to try to sell the “Oliver didn’t sleep with the reporter” crap,  then WHY DID THEY FADE TO BLACK that one time? That’s the universal signal for sexy times.
• It is known.
• No, but seriously, where’s Thea? If they don’t open the next episode she appears in with a thing about how she was either a) kidnapped or b) having wild monkey sex with Roy, then I quit.
• Is Susan Williams the only reporter in Star City? Because there were like 4 people in that press conference, and that’s counting Oliver, Diggle and Lance.
• The mayor has a private plane he can take to Russia? Really?
• Where in the world did Curtis learn the word creepy in Russian? I’m pretty sure that’s not on ANY phrasebook.
• ARGUS can’t operate in Russia. HOW CONVENIENT.
• Felicity and Dinah 2.0 still haven’t had an actual conversation. If the Iris/Caitlin relationship on The Flash is anything to go by, they won’t anytime soon.
• After all, it took Felicity and Thea a hell of a long time to ever speak to each other.
• Yesterday would be a good time to explain Talia’s motivation, tbqh.
• You know what would have been a good time for Felicity go dark? After Havenrock. But nooooo, we had to wait for her to lose the love of her life what’s-his-name, because imagine giving a woman a motivation that has nothing to do with a man.
• No, seriously …what was his name again?
• Rory was the only one of the newbies I liked. Shame on you, Arrow. Shame on you. That’s officially all of season 5A down the toilet.
• Yay, Olicity hug. *rolls eyes* So, that bone should hold us over till what …May?
• Wait, we also got two OTA scenes. So, until mid-season finale of next year?
• Oliver, dude. Let’s have a serious talk. Didn’t you ever consider that maybe, just maybe, using the same costume that you’d used while you were in Russia would be a bad idea? Never ever?
• I mean, I know you’re not that bright, but this is reaching new levels of stupidity, even for you.
• Like, I don’t even feel bad for what’s coming to you with Susan Williams.
• You sort of deserve it.
• You slept with a reporter. You were JUST in Russia. She has eyes. Your bratva tattoo isn’t some cryptic thing.
• Why am I even watching this show if the main character is an idiot?

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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