Arrow Review: The Demon (Season 7 Episode 5)

The Demon’s identity is revealed, Oliver gets one step closer to freedom thanks to some remote teamwork and another familiar face returns in another engaging hour that previews a bit of light at the end of the tunnel on Arrow Season 7 Episode 5, “The Demon.”

Oliver’s time in Level Two leads him to not only the discovery of who The Demon really is but a real shot at getting one step closer to getting out of Slabside.

Even with such a big hint as “The Demon,” it’s still surprising seeing Talia appear in Oliver’s cell.

With Talia and Oliver teaming up to find information about Dr. Parker, the Slabside arc is elevated to a new level that is even able to offer a bit of hope and a hint of an end in sight for Oliver’s time on the inside.

The hour also shows off that, again, Oliver most definitely has the ability to take down multiple people at a time and that he is just as tactically capable of pulling something like their plan off.

It’s interesting that with everything that Oliver goes through at Slabside, he’s still motivated by this need to help others—in this case, it’s the Slabside inmates.

It’s something that he’s always had in him over the years, sometimes to his own detriment. I mean, he went to prison for the city, his friends, and his family.

But with even that sense of obligation to help these people, he exhibits some substantial growth, and it shines in moments like his final scene with Dr. Parker as he and Talia take down the doctor.

Oliver: My father pushed people away. He kept secrets. And I made those same mistakes. But if I choose to break the cycle, I’m gonna do it my way…My name is Oliver Queen!

Oliver confronting Talia about the dual identities to keep the darkness out is another excellent moment of growth, telling her what we—the audience—have known for years.

Oliver: All those years ago, you were wrong. Giving the monster an identity didn’t detain the darkness. It just gave it power. Separating into two selves, hiding in the shadows. That was never the answer.

My question about the kind of man who will emerge from Slabside still stands, though.

While Oliver works with Talia on the inside, Felicity continues her mission with Black Siren on the outside with an assist from Dinah. It’s still a little strange to see the woman who spent last season committed to killing these people working with Felicity and Dinah.

The thing is, I’m actually warming up to these scenes and the way they play with the different dynamics of what used to make up two different teams with polar opposite motives.

It’s so refreshing to hear Felicity work through her emotions about Oliver being stuck in some undocumented sub-level of the prison and still being upset about his choice to go to Slabside.

It makes sense that she would feel both the anger and the guilt considering what’s happening, and it’s fantastic that we get to see these emotions explicitly talked about and not just implied.

Random Thoughts

• It’s disappointing to see Diggle lend his support for Curtis and offering that pep talk, even going back and referring to his time on the time when he couldn’t also do the same for Oliver and Felicity. I’m gonna need some solid explanations.
• Stan speaking with Felicity and conveying her message to Oliver is a nice sign to show that he still has someone on his side on the inside. “Your husband, he’s the best.”  But with Stan’s expression by the end of the episode, I’m maintaining my cautious optimism about where he stands.

Anyone else hoping that Stan doesn’t turn evil? The disappointing character choices aside, I’ve got questions about that painting Curtis discovered. Anyone else? What are the odds that they’ll be able to overturn Oliver’s conviction?

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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