Arrow Review: Lian Yu (Season 5 Episode 23)

Hi, Arrow readers! Shadia here filling in for Lizzie this week to review Arrow Season 5 Episode 23, “Lian Yu,” which wraps up this rather interesting of a season.

Let’s chat about it, shall we?

Welcome back to Lian Yu, Oliver Queen, where it all began and where this finale brings in the core of Arrow into full circle. As Oliver does whatever it takes to save his friends and his son, we get to see how Oliver tries to grow and become the man he so desperately wants to be proud of.

“Lian Yu” welcomes a familiar face, a.k.a. Slade Wilson, and it totally brings you back to those Season 1 feels. Slade Wilson was the most compelling villain on this show — let’s not forget that. But there was always a mentorship relationship between him and Oliver that still seems to stick around, even after all that has happened between them.

You know, like how he killed his own mother and all.

What works well for this finale is that it’s different from the past. This time, there is no ultimate quest in saving Star City from terror, but it just unfolds some epic showdowns with Adrian Chase showing how psychotic this intricate villain can get.

Oliver’s mission in trying to save the people he loves, including his son, becomes complicated as ever when Adrian plays his mind games with Oliver one last time. Watching Oliver’s hell-bent determination in finding William is admirable when he’s been that absent father and all just trying to do his best to protect his own.

But oh how I wish there was never a kid involved on the show. Not for Oliver at least.

The whole storyline centered around Oliver having a kid is a mess and unnecessary to me, and it makes matters so complicated now that this kid is in the middle of the crossfire between Adrian and Oliver.

Speaking of Adrian Chase, might I add that he has been the most psychopathic villain this show has ever had. I mean, his ultimatums are sickening, it’s stressful and so frustrating to even think about. If I have been able to despise Chase this much, then Josh Segarra has done his job right.

What I find as a strength for Oliver in this finale is his strict rule of not giving Chase the satisfaction of killing him. He has had the chance to do so many times prior to this episode, but even in the moment where Chase tries to manipulate Oliver in killing him, he doesn’t.

Oliver Queen has learned from his lesson and let’s hope he takes that on to the next season of Arrow. It’s not too late to be a hero again, Oliver. It’s not too late.

However, the circumstances that leaves Oliver in the most toughest situation ever leaves us to question what the heck happened to the crew? Because that explosion is HUGE. Not everyone can survive that — let’s be real.

Chase does the unthinkable and points the gun at himself, which is the shocking part of this finale overall. Chase and Oliver chilling on a boat, just like he wanted. The way that Chase tries to use that moment to bring similarity to Oliver and his father’s moment, is brilliantly terrifying if you ask me.

All that trouble, just to prove a point.

I’m left to wonder how Oliver will cope with that, especially with the uncertainty now of who survives and who doesn’t after that explosion. If everyone happens to be totally fine come the Season 6 premiere, then I’d say that was a weak shock value moment. I mean, the whole island blew up.

“Lian Yu” tests Oliver in many ways, ways in which it pieces together the start of Oliver’s dreadful and gruesome time on the island. But the best part of this finale is that it is the last of those flashbacks! Please tell me it’s over?!

We’ve put up with it for 5 years now, it’s time to say goodbye to them. Good riddance.

Other lingering thoughts:

• I’m sorry, but as much as I anticipated a long-awaited Olicity kiss, that kiss was just awkward and it took Oliver off guard. Like, I’m beginning to think it took Stephen Amell off-guard too. But I’m happy where Oliver and Felicity are at now. Their time in that bunker really did clear a lot for these two.
• Malcolm sacrifices himself to save Thea, and I’m mad that was the last of Malcolm Meryln! But something tells me he’s not dead. Not just like that at least!
• Seeing Moira again made me emotional. That phone call with Oliver made my heart hurt. I miss her.
• I enjoyed the battle scenes of Nyssa and Talia, Black Siren and Black Canary. They were cool.
• Even Quentin approves of Dinah being the new Black Canary. Yes.
• “Where is William?!” “Sweet kid actually, you sure he’s yours?” Adrian Chase, you savage man, you.
• Even in the most frustrating situation Team Arrow is faced with, Curtis still has time for his not-so-funny jokes. Please, stop this. He’s been too annoying this season.
• But…like…who is Vigilante?! Arrow writers, what about Vigilante?

What did you think of the season finale of Arrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Watch this episode on Amazon

Arrow returns this fall on Thursdays at 9pm (new night and new time!) on the CW.

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