Arrow Review: Brothers in Arms (Season 6 Episode 17)

The hits keep coming for the team as Oliver and Diggle face off on Arrow Season 6 Episode 17, “Brothers in Arms,” as the unfounded finger pointing at Oliver continues.

If there is a highlight of the hour though, it’s a moment that’s 6 years in the making.

Oliver: [the hood] it’s a part of me. It makes me feel like I’m the best version of myself. I feel whole, and I feel complete…

Oliver’s explicit acceptance of who he is and the fact that he’s as much a father, husband, and mayor as he is the Green Arrow is so significant as a show of growth from the days where he was uncertain and unwilling to embrace every side of himself. It’s a heartening, earned moment for Oliver.

That moment is short-lived, though.

The tense and painful conversation that follows between Oliver and Diggle feels nonsensical in the face of what’s happening. Digg’s points in the argument ring hollow, from the way he frames the newbies’ decision to leave to his questioning Oliver’s leadership.

There’s a sense that there is so much more that Diggle is not addressing when he speaks to Oliver. I mean, there must be more to it beyond these uncharacteristic comments.

There is something at the root of it, and not even Diggle knows what it is. Does anyone at this point?

What’s troubling is that Diggle acknowledges he is acting unlike himself, even seeking out Lyla’s advice about his issues with Oliver but chooses to double down on the faulty reasoning that unfortunately echoes the newbies’.

However, this heavy-handed attempt at further fracturing the team resonates more.

Oliver and Diggle have years of history. There’s a deep bond there that is being hurt by this unnecessary choice to pick this fight. There’s a lot at stake for these two and not much clarity on why they make these decisions.

I’m still not clear on what’s at the root of Diggle’s decision to leave, and that feels like a big problem story-wise.

David Ramsey and Stephen Amell do an extraordinary job of really playing the tense and emotionally-fueled moments to the point where you feel the rift. The heartbreak is palpable as Diggle leaves the team with those hurtful (and contradictory) parting remarks.

Diggle: Truth is Oliver, you have become a better man. But with your focus split, a worse leader…but if I want to become a better version of myself, it can’t be with you.

Felicity’s attempts at diffusing the arguments fail but add to the pain of this breakup.

Because it’s not just Oliver losing out on a best friend and someone he considers a brother, but Felicity as well. It’s OTA that has become heartbreakingly fractured with no real understanding of how to fix things (and what exactly needs to be fixed).

A Few Stray Observations

I love that we continue to see that despite the chaos in their world, Oliver has those quiet moments where he can take a breath with Felicity and ground himself. It’s sweet as she tells him “I know it’s rough, but you’ll always have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Lyla’s return in time to counsel Diggle is much appreciated and offers a nice parallel to Oliver and Felicity’s moments.

Oliver handling Armand and Hill as Mayor and trying to get ahead of what is happening is entertaining, though it probably backfires spectacularly if that obstruction claim is any indication.

That hint of vertigo at the end is a sure sign of more trouble heading Oliver’s way, and I can’t help but wonder when he’ll catch a break.

Did we get to the heart of Diggle’s troubles or are we just scratching the surface? How painful were those scenes between Oliver and Diggle? What about Diggle as an ARGUS agent? How long before OTA makes up?

What did you think of this episode of Arrow? 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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