Arrow Review: Crossing Lines (Season 7 Episode 3)
Another solid hour sees Felicity teaming up with the FBI, Oliver getting to a whole new level of Slabside, and Lyla keeping a secret on Arrow Season 7 Episode 3, “Crossing Lines,” which is a really spot on title for the episode.
But while there are some characters that find themselves crossing these “lines,” the hour also does an excellent job pointing out that not everything is clearly defined by lines, and that sometimes the line gets a little blurry when necessity arises.
Felicity’s determination to get her family and life back ramps up another notch after she goes to Samanda at the end of Arrow Season 7 Episode 2, “The Longbow Hunters.” It’s fun to see Felicity go toe to toe with Samanda while convincing her that the pair together with Rene can bring Diaz down.
It’s a solid team up and despite their vastly different ideas on how to best get justice—with Felicity opting for the vigilante route while Samanda sides with the FBI and the courts—they still go out into the field and work really well together.
Seeing Rene willingly support Felicity’s plan, even with his concerns about keeping Silencer in some sort of basement, is great to see. If there’s anyone that would understand crossing lines to get it done and why Felicity has to do it, it would be Rene.
It’s his support to help take down Diaz and his willingness to “get the team back together” that makes it feel like he’s one of the few members of the team, aside from Oliver and Felicity, that hasn’t lost sight of what the point of their team leader’s sacrifice was.
There’s really something irksome about the fact that some of these members of Team Arrow spent years living in the grey as they fought as vigilantes to keep their city safe only to suddenly believe that it’s all a matter of black and white when it comes to something this important as taking this man who has torn the city apart down.
From Diggle and Curtis bowing out from offering any help in “The Longbow Hunters” in favor of working for ARGUS to Dinah begrudgingly helping Felicity and Rene out with their plan throughout the hour, it’s just so frustrating to see this kind of hand-wringing given the situation.
Oliver’s desperation to get what he needs to help protect his family leads him to a prison fight club and incapacitating guards, crossing his own line, and landing him closer to this mysterious Demon.
Oliver’s arc so far has been interesting because he’s so determined to do what needs to be done. Though everyone thinks he’s not willing to cross any of those lines because everyone thinks he has this need to be a hero, he seems to surprise them.
His story is probably the best representation of how those lines between what’s considered heroic and what’s not begin to blur when it needs to be done.
Stan: You were never going to be able to stay a hero…not in this place.
But with the ominous hint of what’s to come for Oliver down in Level Two, it feels like his mental well-being might be taking a big heartbreaking hit.
Oliver and Felicity’s choices continue to parallel and show that though they’re apart, they’re still working towards a common goal. Here’s hoping they get close to accomplishing it soon.
Meanwhile, Lyla’s own secret-keeping throughout Arrow Season 7 Episode 3, “Crossing Lines,” reminds me of how her point of view has mirrored Oliver’s for so long and now feels like it falls in line with how Oliver and Felicity are operating within the grey.
Given the choices, Diggle has made regarding Oliver, Felicity, and their situation; it’s interesting that he still accepts Lyla’s decision to follow the trail, going behind ARGUS’ back, albeit begrudgingly.
Random Thoughts
- He may be surrounding himself with more capable villains, but I still don’t see Diaz as this formidable villain that is to be feared and listened to.
- Lyla’s undercover dress is absolutely fabulous.
- It’s always fun when they remember that Oliver Queen has taken on The League, The Bratva, Ghosts, Mirakuru soldiers, and countless other formidable forces at times on his own. That’s what that prison fight scene feels like, and I am all about it.
- So, any guesses as to who The Demon is? Will it be someone we know? Anyone else irked by some of the choices a few of the former Team Arrow members are making? Will Felicity and Rene be able to crack The Silencer? Will this be the last we see of Stan, Oliver’s prison buddy?
What did you think of this episode of Arrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Arrow airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.