Arrow Review: The Devil’s Greatest Trick (Season 6 Episode 13)

Cayden gives OTA a deadline until destruction on Arrow Season 6 Episode 13, “The Devil’s Greatest Trick” while the team tries to figure out who set Oliver up.

Remember when I said in my review of Arrow Season 6 Episode 12 that it feels like the story’s going somewhere?

While that remains true as the “real” big bad is revealed, that forward movement comes at the cost of beyond frustrating story choices and a disappointing ending to one arc.

Here’s the thing with Lance’s continuing crusade to save the person he thinks is his daughter: Black Siren is not his daughter, never was his daughter, and has no desire to take his daughter’s place (as creepy as that whole idea is) or to be redeemed in any way. If she says as much, shouldn’t we just take her word for it?

That’s what makes this whole situation frustrating and seeing Quentin’s unwillingness to come to terms with it every week makes it much more upsetting, especially when he’s attacking the people who were there for him.

He’s been through so much and to see him unable to move beyond this seems like another way to just keep him stuck without a chance for growth in any substantial way.

With the focus on villains, the reveal that we’ve been waiting for drops, as Ricardo “The Dragon” Diaz takes the stage. It’s a surprise, and I’m still not sure what to make of it. Beyond what happened between him and Diggle, there’s nothing substantive on the man.

There were no signs that indicated he even seemed like the tech-y, manipulative type of villain that could have pulled off that video doctoring. But there’s still time to flesh The Dragon out, I suppose. Though the villainy bar is set at Adrian Chase/Simon Morrison/Prometheus and only time will tell if whatever The Dragon is planning will rise to it.

While I’m on the topic of villains, can I say one of the biggest disappointments has been how the Cayden James story played out?

Michael Emerson’s limited time on screen is compelling when he isn’t being crowded by this cabal, with an air of looming danger. But James’ ending feels like a fizzle instead of a pop.

There were opportunities to have him loom larger with his abilities and focus on each member of the team. But those opportunities were lost as each episode went along and a few threads, like Felicity’s digital fingerprints all over that system on Arrow Season 6 Episode 4, “Reversal,” that just continue to dangle.

James’ story is most interesting just as he’s leaving, with a chance to see why he’s gone through everything, and how he ended up at ARGUS. That last flashback manages to tug at the heartstrings, as the ARGUS agent tells him that Owen was murdered. Emerson’s facial expression alone break my heart.

Meanwhile, Dinah’s anger and actions continue to feel like a mirror to Oliver’s actions from the earlier years.

There’s one particular moment that is reminiscent of how Oliver dealt with Damien Darhk and the Ghosts after they had kidnapped Felicity, Diggle, and Thea. There’s the understandable visceral anger at what happened, and the only thought is to go out and attack.

This is what makes her and Oliver’s thorny dynamic work now. They may be at odds, but he’s been there before, and he’s really only reacting the way he is to keep her from doing something she’ll regret.

Dinah’s currently the only newbie with any justified anger, and it’s not even directed at Oliver and OTA.

The others continue their same song and dance, and it’s getting tired. The repetitive nature of what Rene and Curtis are doing is hurting their chances of the pair ever looking even remotely reasonable.

The good news to come out of all of this is that the real big bad is now out there, and my hopes are high for a stronger story to close out the season when we come back from hiatus.

A Few Stray Observations:

• I can’t be the only one who thinks that this drama with the newbies is getting stale with the same lines being thrown around every week. You know the one.
• Felicity, Thea, Alena, and William in the bunker while the clock continues to count down, though quick, is great to see.
• William channeling his father and going out into the field and just generally interacting in the bunker is a highlight of the hour.

What did you think of this episode of Arrow? What are your hopes or expectations for the Dragon? Anyone else tiring of the newbies’ drama? Thoughts on the situation with Lance? Can we just send Black Siren to an ARGUS facility or Earth-2 already?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Arrow airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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