Arrow Review: Fundamentals (Season 6 Episode 18)

Arrow Season 6 Episode 18, “Fundamentals,” is one of the most engaging episodes of the season. Oliver gets dosed, deals with his guilt, finds that he still has people in his corner, and takes his mission in a different direction.

It’s incredible what choosing character over plot can do to an episode. There is a tighter focus on what’s going on with Oliver (thanks to the Vertigo) and a dive into what his fears are with the ongoing villain story primarily working as a peripheral aspect of the episode.

Quentin making sense for the first time in a while throws you off but pairs nicely with the “devil” on Oliver’s shoulder throughout the hour. The “devil” being, of course, Adrian Chase, the best Arrow villain since Slade Wilson.

Adrian’s return, even in the form of a hallucination, is a reminder of just how much of a lasting mark he’s left on Oliver.

It’s one that Oliver’s subconscious deems emblematic of all the bad thoughts and fears about himself and the people around him. That doesn’t come as a surprise considering what Chase put Oliver through last season.

What’s great and different from the last time Oliver was on Vertigo back in Arrow Season 3 is that at one point he fights back against all these assertions lodged against him by the figments of his subconscious.

His unwillingness to accept what the newbies say about him is a sign that he doesn’t necessarily believe what his fears are trying to suggest about his choices. He’s facing them and acknowledging the falsity of these assumptions.

Moreover, he’s completely right.

None of it is his fault. Not the newbies’ quitting. Not Rene’s injury. Not even Diggle leaving.

That’s not to say there aren’t hints of doubt if those hallucinations of Felicity asking for space and his conversation with Quentin about people leaving him are any indication.

Oliver: Why does everyone keep leaving me?

It’s heartbreaking to see that he still doubts the permanence of some people in his life, but it is a perfect chance to reinforce the idea that these people aren’t going anywhere. This opportunity is taken and done so wonderfully, through Lance’s pep talks and Felicity’s actions.

Lance’s talks with Oliver are sweet and show how much their relationship has grown since Arrow Season 1.

He doesn’t let Oliver fall into a pit of guilt and gives him plenty of examples of how much Oliver has grown as both a person and superhero, despite what Adrian/Oliver’s subconscious tries to tell him.

But when Lance can’t get to him, leave it to the one person in his life that can not only break through whatever he’s dealing with but also offer Oliver that sense of comfort and security.

Felicity is that one person and seeing her run into a Diaz-occupied building to stop Oliver from running into a room filled with “trigger-happy cops” is brilliant and feels so right.

In his darkest moment, she’s able to pull him through the last bits of Vertigo and reassure him that she’s not going anywhere after hearing him say he heartbreakingly can’t tell if she’s real.

Felicity: The real me, is standing right here, and I’m not going anywhere. I’m glue, baby. Please.

It’s in these moments that it becomes clear how integral this relationship is to the story and how beautifully developed it has become over the seasons.

Felicity’s there for Oliver at his lowest and highest points, and this time is no different as she reaches out to ground him in reality. There’s a solid foundation there that continues to strengthen with each conversation and gesture.

Which is why despite the quick pace the story takes, it’s their moments and the Queen-Smoak family moments that stand out.

Between Felicity, William, and Lance, Oliver knows now that he still has people in his corner that won’t leave him.

That doesn’t stop Oliver from making one last questionable decision. Though it’s understandable that he would want to go on his own after having his team leave, it still feels like an odd decision.

I mean, he can’t go out alone without Overwatch after she has had his back for so long can he?

A Few Stray Observations

• The idea that being a happier person, a more fulfilled person would lead Oliver to be a worse superhero is a profoundly flawed idea considering that he was able to manage it throughout all of 6A.
• I could go on for a long time about how much I love the Queen-Smoak and Olicity dynamic. It’s lovely to see and something that they have earned after years of heartache.
• Seeing Josh Segarra return only made me miss Prometheus and take in how great of a villain he was for Oliver.
• Considering that Mayors don’t make it to May (Oliver being the exception), I’m now worried about Quentin.
• I absolutely love that callback we get to early Olicity as they escape from the police station as Felicity says “just like old times.”

Who else misses Adrian Chase? Do you think we’ll be seeing Oliver on his own for long? How wonderful were those Olicity and Queen-Smoak family moments? Anyone else worried about Quentin now that he’s Mayor (and seems to be making a return to the sensible side of things)?

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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